Honolulu, Hawaii Real Estate
Properties for Sale In Honolulu, Oahu
Honolulu is the heart of Oahu! From the busy streets of Waikiki to the serene neighborhoods of Manoa, Honolulu caters to diverse lifestyles. It’s home to excellent schools, fine dining and shopping, along with endless outdoor activities. With Honolulu’s rich history, thriving economy, and welcoming community, it provides the perfect balance of work, play, and paradise living. Ready to start your next adventure in Honolulu? Check out the available listing below!
What it is actually like to live in Honolulu
Honolulu is not one place. Buying in Manoa is a completely different life from buying in Kakaako, and the price per square foot tells you almost nothing about which one you would rather live in. It helps to think of the city as a handful of distinct neighborhoods that happen to share a zip code range.
Kakaako and Ala Moana are where most of the new high rise inventory is. Modern buildings, walkable to Ala Moana Center and the beach parks, and the easiest part of town to live in without a car. You pay for that in maintenance fees, which on newer towers run well above what most mainland buyers expect.
Manoa, Nuuanu and Makiki are the older residential valleys. More single family homes, more mature trees, more rain, and a quieter feel five minutes from downtown. Manoa in particular draws university families and people who want a yard without leaving town.
Waikiki is its own market. A lot of the inventory is small, a lot of it is investor owned, and some buildings allow short term rentals while others do not. That distinction matters enormously and it is worth confirming before you fall in love with a unit.
Downtown and Chinatown offer some of the lowest entry prices in urban Honolulu, with the trade offs you would expect from any dense city core.
Who Honolulu suits
Buyers who want to be near work, want to walk to things, and are comfortable trading square footage for location. If your commute is downtown or to Tripler, living in town is worth real money in hours you get back every week.
The honest trade off
Most of what you can buy here under a million dollars is a condo, which means a maintenance fee and an association. That is not a problem in itself, but it changes how you should evaluate a purchase. Two units at the same price can carry very different monthly costs, and a low fee is not automatically the better deal if the building has underfunded reserves.
If you are using a VA loan
Honolulu has 487 VA approved condo projects, by far the most on the island. The building has to be approved, not just you, so it is worth checking before you write an offer. Send me a building name and I will look it up.
Honolulu homes for sale by zip code
Honolulu covers several zip codes, and each one feels like its own neighborhood. Here is a quick guide to what you will find in each, so you can narrow your search.
| 96813 | Downtown Honolulu, Chinatown and the Capitol District Mostly condos, including some of the lowest entry prices in urban Honolulu. |
| 96814 | Ala Moana and Kakaako Newer high-rise condo towers near Ala Moana Center and the beach parks. |
| 96815 | Waikiki and parts of Kapahulu and Diamond Head Mostly condos. Some buildings allow short-term rentals and some do not, and some are leasehold, so check both before you write an offer. |
| 96816 | Kaimuki, Kahala, Palolo and parts of Diamond Head A mix of older single-family homes, townhomes and low-rise condos. |
| 96817 | Nuuanu, Liliha and Kalihi Single-family homes up the valleys plus condos closer to town. |
| 96822 | Manoa and parts of Makiki Many single-family homes in the valley and condos toward Makiki. |
| 96826 | McCully and Moiliili Walk-up and mid-rise condos between Waikiki and the university. |
First condo in town? Read my first-time buyer checklist for Honolulu condos. Ready for a plan? Get your Buyer Game Plan or call or text me at (808) 459-6450.
Honolulu home buying FAQ
Are most homes for sale in Honolulu condos?
In town, yes. Most of what sells under about a million dollars is a condo, so the maintenance fee and the building matter as much as the unit. Single-family homes are more common in the valleys like Manoa, Nuuanu and Kaimuki.
What should I check before buying a Waikiki condo?
Whether the land is fee simple or leasehold, whether the building allows short-term rentals, what the maintenance fee covers, and the health of the reserves. Start with my leasehold vs fee simple guide.
Can I use a VA or FHA loan on a Honolulu condo?
Often, but the building has to be approved too, not just you. See what to do when a building is not on the VA list, or send me the building name and I will check it.
How much are maintenance fees in Honolulu?
They vary a lot by building, age and what is included. My guide to Oahu HOA fees explains what drives them and how they affect your loan.
Is East Honolulu and Hawaii Kai on this page?
Hawaii Kai, Aina Haina and the rest of East Honolulu have their own page: East Honolulu homes for sale.