Real Estate Investing in Mountain View, Hawaii (96771)

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

Hawaii County • Population: 7,736 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 96771 (Mountain View, HI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (49/100)

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

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 15.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Mountain View, HI (96771)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $326,122
Avg Monthly Rent $1,746
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $57,116
% Renters 27.5%

Market Analysis: 96771 Mountain View

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Mountain View's 96771 ZIP comes in at signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $326K pricing implies.

The 96771 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Regionally, 96771 sits on the difficult end of the HI spectrum. The worth a close look for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Resident income in 96771 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

trends toward the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Mountain View:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 62/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,746/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Hilo, HI Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
87 days
Average time to sell
Slow
6.1%
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 Hilo, HI metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 96771

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
5.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+5.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$120,276/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $192,885 $1,500 5.6% +1.6% $192,885
2BR $280,531 $1,940 5.0% +5.1% $140,265
3BR $369,289 $2,450 4.8% +5.8% $123,096
4BR $481,105 $2,830 4.2% +5.5% $120,276

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$366K$323K$280K$237K$195K$152KMar 2015Nov 2020Jul 2026

📊 How Does 96771 Compare?

Metric 96771 Mountain View Hilo, HI Hawaii
Home Value $326,122 $326,122 N/A $824,731
5-Year CAGR 3.2% 3.2% N/A 5.4%
Avg Rent $1,746 $1,746 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.2% 4.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 96771? 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 →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 96771 (Mountain View, HI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 96771 (Mountain View, HI)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.2%
Fair
5yr Growth
+3.2%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Hilo, HI metro

4/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
68%
Days Pending
2/2
87 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $326,122
Monthly Rent $1,746
Price-to-Rent 15.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.4%
Cap Rate 4.2%
5-Year IRR 7.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR -0.7% ▼
5-Year CAGR +3.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.2%). 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
15.2%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 96771

Population: 7,736

💰 Median Household Income
$57,116
This area
$57,116
State
$87,967
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
27.5%
This area
27.5%
State
37.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
6.4%
This area
6.4%
State
-27.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
14.8%
This area
14.8%
State
-0.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.2 years
This area
40.2 years
State
-1.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.2%
This area
15.2%
State
18.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Other/Mixed 63.3%
White 29.1%
Asian 6.7%
Hispanic/Latino 1.4%
Black/African American 1.0%
👶 Under 18
25.1%
This area
25.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.3%
This area
15.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
18.8%
This area
18.8%
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 96771

A Avg School Grade
2 Schools
9.2:1 Avg Class Size
$19,381 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Mountain View Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
484 Students
👨‍🏫
12.7:1 Class Size
💰
$19,381 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Na Wai Ola - PCS

📚 Pre-K – 06 School Charter
👥
97 Students
👨‍🏫
5.7:1 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

2 Nearby 1,312 Off-Campus Students
C+
University of Hawaii at Hilo
2,781 students · 12.1 mi
C+
Hawaii Community College
2,260 students · 12.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,312 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should investors worry about vacancy in Mountain View, HI?

Vacancy risk in Mountain View, HI is elevated. That supports steady cash flow for typical rental holds.

Are tenants stable in Mountain View, HI?

The tenant pool in Mountain View, HI is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $1,746/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

Is Mountain View in HI worth investing in?

Mountain View, HI rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $326K and rents near $1,746/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

Is HI a landlord-friendly state?

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

What is the average home sale price in Mountain View, HI?

Mountain View, HI median home values land near $326K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,746/mo-per-month rentals.

You know 96771 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 96771 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

Compare Plans

How 96771 ranks in Hilo, HI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 96771 (Mountain View)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 96771 (Mountain View, HI).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.