Discover the Best Residential Properties in Honolulu, HI: 2026 Market Insights

Honolulu is really two markets: condos and single-family homes. They're moving at very different speeds in 2026. I'm Holly Shankleton, a REALTOR® with eXp Realty here on Oʻahu, and in this guide I'll walk you through what homes and condos actually cost across town, the neighborhoods I'd look at first, and how to write an offer that works in each market. Every number here comes from the Honolulu Board of REALTORS® (HBR) unless I say otherwise.

Honolulu's market at a glance

Here are HBR's island-wide numbers for September 2026, from its Monthly Stats Report:

• Single-family homes: $1,110,000 median sales price, down 3.9% from a year earlier. Homes sold in a median of 16 days, and 31% closed above the original asking price. There were 3.2 months of inventory.
• Condos: $523,000 median, up 2.8%. Condos took a median of 41 days to sell, only 12% sold above asking, and there were 7.0 months of inventory.

Here's what that means in plain words. Single-family homes are still competitive, and good ones go fast. Condos are a buyer's market right now. There's plenty to choose from, and you have room to negotiate. Nearly half of the condos for sale at the end of September were listed under $500,000, according to HBR.

What homes and condos cost by neighborhood

HBR breaks Honolulu into regions. These are the 2026 year-to-date medians for January through August, from HBR's Local Market Update:

• Ala Moana–Kakaʻako: condos $797,000 (too few single-family sales to report)
• Waikīkī: condos $470,000 (no single-family sales)
• Makiki–Mōʻiliʻili: single-family $1,637,500, condos $372,693
• Downtown–Nuʻuanu: single-family $1,435,000, condos $470,000
• Moanalua–Salt Lake: single-family $1,316,000, condos $430,000
• Kapahulu–Diamond Head: single-family $1,390,000, condos $660,000
• Waiʻalae–Kāhala: single-family $2,655,000, condos $605,000
• Hawaiʻi Kai: single-family $1,635,000, condos $788,000

Some regions only had a few dozen sales, so one big sale can move the median. Use these as a starting point, not a price tag.

Neighborhoods I'd look at first

Kakaʻako and Ala Moana

This is Honolulu's high-rise condo district, and it's where most of the new towers have gone up, including Ward Village. You're close to Ala Moana Center, Ala Moana Beach Park and downtown jobs. The condo median here ($797,000 year to date) runs well above the island-wide median, and that's mostly because the buildings are newer. There's also a lot for sale in this region right now, so shop around and compare buildings.

Mānoa

Mānoa is a green, quiet valley near the University of Hawaiʻi, and it's mostly single-family homes, many of them older. Homes here don't come up often. In HBR's neighborhood breakdown, the Mānoa area had a single-family median of $1,840,000 on just 22 sales through August, which shows how small that market is. Budget for updates if you buy an older home.

Kapahulu, Kaimukī and Diamond Head

These are walkable older neighborhoods full of small local restaurants, close to Waikīkī and Kapiʻolani Park. The Kapahulu–Diamond Head region had a $1,390,000 single-family median through August, and condos were a much lower $660,000.

Makiki and Mōʻiliʻili

If you want an affordable condo close to town, look here first. The Makiki–Mōʻiliʻili condo median was $372,693 through August, one of the lowest in urban Honolulu, and the region has a good mix of older walk-up and mid-rise buildings. The few single-family homes that do sell here go for a lot more.

Waikīkī

Waikīkī had more condos for sale in August than any other region on the island, and its year-to-date condo median was $470,000. A lot of these are older, smaller units, and many buildings have their own rental rules. Before you fall in love with a unit, check whether it's fee simple or leasehold. With leasehold, you own the unit but not the land under the building, and that changes the price, your financing options and what the unit is worth later.

Hawaiʻi Kai and Kāhala

On the east side, Hawaiʻi Kai ($1,635,000 single-family median) has marina living, family neighborhoods and townhome communities. Waiʻalae–Kāhala is the priciest region on this list at $2,655,000.

What to check before you buy a condo

Condos make up a big part of Honolulu's market, and the building matters as much as the unit. Before you write an offer, I go through these with my buyers:

• Maintenance fees and what they cover. Some include water, sewer or utilities, and some don't. Compare buildings on what you'll really pay each month.
• Reserves and special assessments. Read the reserve study and the board minutes. Older towers can have big projects coming, like elevators, plumbing or fire sprinklers.
• House rules. Look at pet limits, rental minimums and parking.
• Financing. If you're using an FHA or VA loan, the building (or sometimes the individual unit) has to meet that program's approval rules. FHA down payments can be as low as 3.5%, according to HUD, so ask early whether the building qualifies.
• Fee simple or leasehold. See the Waikīkī section above.

Rail and getting around

Honolulu's Skyline rail line now runs 16 miles with 13 stations, from East Kapolei to the Kalihi Transit Center, according to HART. The next segment, through Chinatown, Downtown and Kakaʻako to the Civic Center, is under construction, and HART projects passenger service there in 2031. If you work near the airport or in Kalihi, or you'd like a car-light commute in the future, think about how close you'll be to a station. Most of town still gets around on TheBus or by car.

How to compete in Honolulu's 2026 market

For single-family homes, be ready to move fast. With a 16-day median and almost a third of homes selling over asking in September, the good ones don't wait. Get fully pre-approved, know your top number before you tour, and keep your contingencies clean.

For condos, take your time and negotiate. With 7.0 months of inventory, you can often ask for seller credits or repairs, or negotiate on price, especially on units that have been sitting. A low-rate assumable loan can also help a lot if you can find one. My buyer's guide to assumable loans explains how.

Know your all-in monthly cost. Rates matter a lot at these prices. Freddie Mac's 30-year average was 7.40% in early October 2026. For the full picture, including electricity, groceries and property tax, read my Oʻahu cost-of-living guide.

Plan for property tax. For the year that started July 1, 2026, Honolulu's residential rate is $3.50 per $1,000 of net taxable value. If you live in the home, the home exemption takes $120,000 off its taxable value ($160,000 if you're 65 or older), according to the City.

If you're thinking about the Windward side too, see my guides to Kāneʻohe and Kailua. And for market notes in your inbox every week, sign up for my free newsletter, Hawaiʻi Home + AI.

Frequently asked questions

What is the median home price in Honolulu in 2026?

In September 2026, the Oʻahu median sales price was $1,110,000 for single-family homes and $523,000 for condos, according to the Honolulu Board of REALTORS®. Prices vary a lot by neighborhood, from a $372,693 condo median in Makiki–Mōʻiliʻili to a $2,655,000 single-family median in Waiʻalae–Kāhala (January–August 2026).

Is it a buyer's or seller's market in Honolulu right now?

It depends on what you're buying. Condos are a buyer's market, with 7.0 months of inventory and a 41-day median time on market in September 2026. Single-family homes are more competitive, selling in a median of 16 days, with 31% closing above the original asking price.

What are the most affordable condo areas in Honolulu?

Based on Honolulu Board of REALTORS® medians for January–August 2026, Makiki–Mōʻiliʻili ($372,693), Moanalua–Salt Lake ($430,000), Waikīkī ($470,000) and Downtown–Nuʻuanu ($470,000) had the lowest condo medians in urban Honolulu.

What is the difference between fee simple and leasehold?

With fee simple, you own the unit and your share of the land. With leasehold, you own the unit but lease the land under the building for a set term. Leasehold units usually cost less up front, but the lease terms affect your financing, your costs and the unit's future value.

Does Honolulu's rail line reach downtown yet?

Not yet. Skyline runs from East Kapolei to the Kalihi Transit Center, with 13 stations. The next segment, through Chinatown, Downtown and Kakaʻako to the Civic Center, is under construction, and HART projects passenger service in 2031.

Whether you want a Kakaʻako condo, a Mānoa home with a yard, or a fee-simple unit in Waikīkī, Honolulu has something for every budget. You just need to know where to look. Contact me here and tell me what you're looking for. I'll send you homes that fit and help you put together an offer that stands out.