Home buying guide
Buying a home in Hawaii
Hawaii's effective property-tax rate is about 0.308%, below the U.S. average of 0.888%. It's a title/escrow state (a title or escrow company handles closing). What buying here costs, and the steps to get the keys.
What's different about buying in Hawaii
- Property tax (0.308%)
- Lower than most states
- Who closes
- A title or escrow company closes — no attorney fee
- Transfer tax
- A transfer tax applies, set locally — confirm the rate where you buy
Property taxes in Hawaii
Hawaii's effective property-tax rate is about 0.308%of a home's value per year, lower than the U.S. average of 0.888%. On a $500,000 home that's roughly $1,540 a year.
That puts Hawaii 50th of the 50 states for effective property tax — one of the lightest in the country, which stretches what you can afford.
Effective property-tax rate by state (2024 ACS) — your county or municipality may differ; confirm locally. Source: Construction Coverage 'Where Are U.S. Property Taxes Highest?' (2026 ed.), US Census 2024 ACS effective owner-occupied rate; pub. 2026-02-09.
Closing costs in Hawaii
Hawaii is a title/escrow state (no attorney required), and Transfer taxes vary in HI — confirm locally. On a $400,000 home, estimated closing costs run about $6,855–$10,155 on top of your down payment.
Who conducts the closing: DocJacket / ALTA (2026), Superior Notary Services, HomeLight — cross-referenced; practice varies and changes, confirm locally. Transfer tax: each state's own transfer-tax statute or revenue department, read directly (NY: NY Dept. of Taxation & Finance); accessed July 2026. The estimate is illustrative — a $400,000 single-family home, conventional loan, 10% down, good credit. The dollar ranges behind it — loan origination, the appraisal, title insurance, homeowners insurance, and the attorney or settlement fee — are typical ranges rather than sourced figures: they vary by lender, provider, and market.
First-time buyer programs in Hawaii
Hawaii runs a housing finance agency with first-time-buyer help: down-payment assistance, below-market first mortgages, and mortgage tax credits.
How much house can you afford in Hawaii?
At 0.308%, Hawaii's property tax lands in the monthly payment lenders measure against your income — so it moves the price you qualify for, not just your annual bill. Enter your numbers once:
The steps to buy a home in Hawaii
The process is the same everywhere; what changes in Hawaii is the three lines at the top of this page. Start here:
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