Real Estate Investing in Pahala, Hawaii (96777)

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

Hawaii County • Population: 1,838 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 96777 (Pahala, HI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (55/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 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
2 flags
  • Elevated vacancy: 11.7% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • Higher unemployment: 10.8% unemployment — tenant risk signal.

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

What’s happening in Pahala, HI (96777)?

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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 $293,548
Avg Monthly Rent $1,683
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $55,395
% Renters 17.9%

Market Analysis: 96777 Pahala

This part of Hawaii County is not an easy win. The 96777 ZIP reports softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

For an experienced owner, 96777 can be a a strong candidate for hunting ground — but the discount at $294K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

The gap between 96777 and stronger Pahala ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Resident income in 96777 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

New investors are better served looking at Pahala's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 96777. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Pahala:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 60/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.3× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,683/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

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$335K$303K$271K$240K$208K$176KFeb 2018May 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 96777 Compare?

Metric 96777 Pahala Hilo, HI Hawaii
Home Value $293,548 $293,548 N/A $824,731
5-Year CAGR 3.3% 3.3% N/A 5.4%
Avg Rent $1,683 $1,683 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.5% 4.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 96777? 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 96777 (Pahala, HI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.5%
Fair
5yr Growth
+3.3%
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 $293,548
Monthly Rent $1,683
Price-to-Rent 14.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.9%
Cap Rate 4.5%
5-Year IRR 7.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR -1.4% ▼
5-Year CAGR +3.3% ▲
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: 4.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.5%). 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
11.7%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.3%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 96777

Population: 1,838

💰 Median Household Income
$55,395
This area
$55,395
State
$87,967
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
17.9%
This area
17.9%
State
37.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
10.8%
This area
10.8%
State
-27.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
24.2%
This area
24.2%
State
-0.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
26.7 years
This area
26.7 years
State
-1.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
11.7%
This area
11.7%
State
18.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Other/Mixed 58.7%
Asian 32.7%
White 7.7%
Black/African American 0.9%
👶 Under 18
32.7%
This area
32.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.2%
This area
19.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
10.6%
This area
10.6%
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 96777

A+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
11.7:1 Avg Class Size
$19,381 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Kau High & Pahala Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12
👥
520 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should investors worry about vacancy in Pahala, HI?

Vacancy in Pahala, HI is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $1,683/mo.

What are rental rates like in Pahala, HI?

Rental rates in Pahala, HI average $1,683/mo. Tenant demand and $294K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

How strong is the working-renter base in Pahala, HI?

The renter base in Pahala, HI is reasonable for the $1,683/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields consistent tenants.

What is it like being a landlord in Pahala, HI?

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

How does Pahala, HI stack up for property investment?

Pahala, HI comes in at an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $294K and average rents around $1,683/mo. That combination puts it in the impressive tier for investor interest.

You know 96777 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 96777 ranks in Hilo, HI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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