Oahu
According to information provided by the Honolulu Board of REALTORS®, the O’ahu real estate market showed mixed tendencies in August 2023. Closed sales for single-family houses decreased significantly year over year (down 19.7%) and for condos (down 16.9%). While condo sales remained steady, single-family house sales saw a noticeable 12.5% increase over the previous month. Single-family homes witnessed a minor year-over-year decline in median sales prices, falling 1.4% to $1,110,000, but condos saw a 3.3% increase to $515,000 instead. Positive trends are developing despite obstacles like increased interest rates, particularly in the active inventory and a minor increase in single-family home buying activity month over month.
Maui
Higher mortgage rates, increasing sales prices, and a housing shortage have all had an impact on the summer homebuying season. Since May, mortgage rates have been above 6.5%; in August, they reached their highest level in two decades. As a result, existing-home sales have decreased by 2.2% from month to month and by 16.6% from the same period last year, according to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).
Condominiums (31.4%) and single-family houses (49.1%) saw large drops in new listings. For single-family homes, pending sales grew somewhat (1.6%), but for condos, they significantly decreased (37.1%). Single-family house inventory fell by 31.5%, while condominium inventory fell by 12.1%.
Due to the insufficient supply, property prices remained high despite reduced sales. A 1.9% increase from the prior year, NAR reported a national median existing-home price of $406,700. The decrease in the number of available homes—14.6%—increased competition and price inflation. Closed sales decreased by 16.3%, the median sales price increased by 1.7%, and there were 18.2% fewer properties for sale.
Kauai
When compared to the same month in 2022, Kauai’s real estate market experienced a significant increase in median sale prices in August 2023. The price of a home increased by an astonishing 77% to $1,725,000, while the price of a condo increased even more dramatically by 89% to $1,012,500.
However, sales activity on Kauai decreased despite the price growth. Comparing August 2018 to August 2022, home sales were down significantly (53%) and condo sales (-45%).
In August 2023, Kauai likewise had a rise in the median days on the market. In comparison to the prior year, homes took 88% longer to sell, with a median days on market of 15, and condos had an 86% rise, with a median days on market of 13.
Big Island
The Big Island’s real estate market showed higher median sale prices in August 2023 compared to the corresponding month in 2022. In comparison to the prior year, home prices increased by 3%, reaching $497,000, while condo prices increased by 3%, reaching $612,500.
Sales activity on the Big Island decreased despite the price increase. Comparing August 2022 to August 2023, there was a noticeable -10% decline in home sales and a -14% decline in condo sales.
In August 2023 on the Big Island, the median days on the market increased. Compared to the prior year, homes took 32% longer to sell, with a median days on market of 29, while condos had an 80% rise in market time, with a median days on market of 18.