Real Estate Investing in Kilauea, Hawaii (96796)
Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.
Should you buy in 96796 (Kilauea, HI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.
Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.
A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.
- Elevated vacancy: 11.2% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
- High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 35.3 — 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 Kilauea, HI (96796)?
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Market Analysis: 96796 Kilauea
ZIP 96796 inside Kauai County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $770K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.
Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 96796 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.
The gap between 96796 and stronger Kilauea ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.
Resident income in 96796 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.
Strategically, 96796 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.
Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Kilauea:
Property Strategy for 96796
Which property type performs best in this market?
📊 Compare All Property Types →
| Type | Median Value | Est. Rent | Cap Rate | 5yr CAGR | $/Bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2BR | $668,955 | $2,020 | 2.2% | +8.1% | $334,477 |
| 3BR | $784,547 | $2,530 | 2.3% | +8.8% | $261,516 |
Market Trends
Home Value History (with trend line)
📊 How Does 96796 Compare?
| Metric | 96796 | Kilauea | Kapaa, HI | Hawaii |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Value | $769,805 | $1,303,665 | N/A | $824,731 |
| 5-Year CAGR | 5.6% | 5.1% | N/A | 5.4% |
| Avg Rent | $1,818 | $2,007 | N/A | - |
| Cap Rate | 1.8% | 1.4% | - | - |
Similar ZIPs Within 25 Miles
Compare other nearby markets to see if a neighbor offers a better fit.
Landlord Ground Truth
Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 96796 (Kilauea, HI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.
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📊 Market Snapshot
| Home Value | $769,805 |
| Monthly Rent | $1,818 |
| Price-to-Rent | 35.3:1 |
| 1% Rule | ✗ Fails |
💰 Return Metrics
| Gross Yield | 2.8% |
| Cap Rate | 1.8% |
| 5-Year IRR | 7.4% |
📈 Home Appreciation
| 1-Year | +0.6% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +1.3% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +5.6% ▲ |
| 10-Year CAGR | N/A |
🏠 Rent Trends
| 1-Year | N/A |
| 3-Year CAGR | N/A |
| 5-Year CAGR | N/A |
The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.8%). 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.
Demographics in 96796
Population: 2,070
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 96796
Schools in This ZIP Code
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
Is Kilauea, HI suited for a house hack?
Kilauea, HI is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $770K price point reasonable to enter.
Where do rents currently stand in Kilauea, HI?
Kilauea, HI rentals go for roughly $1,818/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $770K acquisition costs.
What is the best play in Kilauea, HI?
Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Kilauea, HI. With home values at $770K and rents near $1,818/mo, other strategies can work but produce stable rather than outsized returns.
Are landlord laws favorable in Kilauea, HI?
HI ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Kilauea generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.
What is the typical home price in Kilauea, HI?
Kilauea, HI median home values land near $770K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,818/mo-per-month rentals.
You know 96796 now. You don’t know where it ranks.
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How 96796 ranks in Kapaa, HI
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