Real Estate Investing in Honokaa, Hawaii (96776)

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

Hawaii County • Population: 1,629 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 96776 (Honokaa, HI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (34/100)

Multiple negative signals. Better options likely exist nearby.

📈 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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 19.6% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 25.8 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

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

What’s happening in Honokaa, HI (96776)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $542,994
Avg Monthly Rent $1,755
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $67,951
% Renters 29.0%

Market Analysis: 96776 Honokaa

This part of Hawaii County is not an easy win. The 96776 ZIP sits at softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 96776 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Nearby ZIPs in Honokaa have seen price recovery that 96776 has not matched. Hawaii County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

The demographic picture in 96776 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Honokaa averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. resilient returns are possible in 96776, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 Honokaa:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 55/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 8× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,755/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
❄️
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

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$572K$525K$478K$431K$384K$337KFeb 2018May 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 96776 Compare?

Metric 96776 Honokaa Hilo, HI Hawaii
Home Value $542,994 $600,341 N/A $824,731
5-Year CAGR 3.8% 4.0% N/A 5.4%
Avg Rent $1,755 $1,769 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.5% 2.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 96776? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 96776 (Honokaa, HI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.8%
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 $542,994
Monthly Rent $1,755
Price-to-Rent 25.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.9%
Cap Rate 2.5%
5-Year IRR 6.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR N/A

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.5%). 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
19.6%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 96776

Population: 1,629

💰 Median Household Income
$67,951
This area
$67,951
State
$87,967
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
29.0%
This area
29.0%
State
37.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.3%
This area
3.3%
State
-27.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
27.9%
This area
27.9%
State
-0.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.8 years
This area
38.8 years
State
-1.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
19.6%
This area
19.6%
State
18.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Other/Mixed 39.5%
Asian 30.8%
White 29.7%
Hispanic/Latino 5.0%
👶 Under 18
22.0%
This area
22.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.8%
This area
21.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
19.1%
This area
19.1%
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 96776

A+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
11.9:1 Avg Class Size
$19,381 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Paauilo Elementary & Intermediate School

📚 Pre-K – 09 High School
👥
202 Students
👨‍🏫
11.9:1 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are rents high in Honokaa, HI?

Average rent in Honokaa, HI is approximately $1,755/mo per month. Against $543K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

How strong is tenant demand in Honokaa, HI?

The tenant pool in Honokaa, HI is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $1,755/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

What is the investability score for Honokaa, HI?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Honokaa, HI reflects its $543K prices and $1,755/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within HI.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Honokaa, HI?

House hacking works a challenging in Honokaa, HI. Rents of $1,755/mo against $543K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

How high is vacancy risk in Honokaa, HI?

Vacancy in Honokaa, HI is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $1,755/mo.

You know 96776 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 96776 ranks in Hilo, HI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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