Real Estate Investing in Kapaa, Hawaii (96746)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Kauai County • Population: 20,566 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 96746 (Kapaa, HI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (40/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 19.1% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Kapaa, HI (96746)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $958,375
Avg Monthly Rent $3,473
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $90,939
% Renters 31.5%

Market Analysis: 96746 Kapaa

Investors eyeing 96746 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $958K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $958K asset, 96746 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

The gap between 96746 and stronger Kapaa ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Employment concentration in 96746 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Strategically, 96746 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Kapaa:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 56/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 10.5× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $3,473/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Kapaa, HI Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
5.5%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Kapaa, HI metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 96746

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
2.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+9.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$288,658/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $671,784 $1,910 2.0% +8.7% $671,784
2BR $954,352 $2,510 1.9% +8.0% $477,176
3BR $968,361 $3,080 2.3% +7.9% $322,787
4BR $1,217,700 $3,420 2.0% +8.4% $304,425
5BR $1,443,291 +9.1% $288,658

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$1.0M$874K$725K$576K$427K$278KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

No data available

📊 How Does 96746 Compare?

Metric 96746 Kapaa Kapaa, HI Hawaii
Home Value $958,375 $958,375 N/A $824,731
5-Year CAGR 5.6% 5.6% N/A 5.4%
Avg Rent $3,473 $3,473 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.8% 2.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 96746? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 96746 (Kapaa, HI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.6%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Kapaa, HI metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
72%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $958,375
Monthly Rent $3,473
Price-to-Rent 23.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.4%
Cap Rate 2.8%
5-Year IRR 8.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.8%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
19.1%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 96746

Population: 20,566

💰 Median Household Income
$90,939
This area
$90,939
State
$87,967
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
31.5%
This area
31.5%
State
37.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
State
-27.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
34.8%
This area
34.8%
State
-0.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
45.3 years
This area
45.3 years
State
-1.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
19.1%
This area
19.1%
State
18.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 38.3%
Other/Mixed 36.3%
Asian 25.0%
Hispanic/Latino 5.7%
Black/African American 0.4%
👶 Under 18
19.5%
This area
19.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.7%
This area
21.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.3%
This area
3.3%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 96746

B+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
17.0:1 Avg Class Size
$19,381 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Kapaa Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
824 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$19,381 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Kapaa High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,038 Students
👨‍🏫
17.9:1 Class Size
💰
$19,381 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Kapaa Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
523 Students
👨‍🏫
18.0:1 Class Size
💰
$19,381 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby 286 Off-Campus Students
C
Kauai Community College
1,298 students · 9.0 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What are vacancy rates like in Kapaa, HI?

Occupancy in Kapaa, HI runs even-keeled with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $3,473/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

Is Kapaa, HI better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?

Most investors in Kapaa, HI run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 3.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

What are home prices like in Kapaa, HI?

Kapaa, HI median home values land near $958K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $3,473/mo-per-month rentals.

Are eviction rules reasonable in Kapaa, HI?

HI ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Kapaa generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

How strong is tenant demand in Kapaa, HI?

Kapaa, HI offers a reliable renter base at the $3,473/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

You know 96746 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 96746 ranks in Kapaa, HI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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