Recently got into the market in Hawaii. $3,500 mortgage for every 400k. Most homes in Hawaii are 1 million for a 3bd 2ba. Rent on an equal property is $3,000-$3,500 a month. Buying is much more expensive than renting but owning in Hawaii will build equity at an “almost” guaranteed 10x over the 30 years. Sit down and talk to core team, they are honest and will hold your hand, no matter how long it takes for to buy.

The best time to buy in Hawaii was 89 years ago

I knew a kid in high school whose dad blew all their money on two plane tickets to Hawaii, believing that once they got there they could just "live on the beach". He said being homeless there was horrible (as I suspect it is anywhere) and after a couple of years they finally got two tickets back to the mainland.

I always said when I lived in Hawaii… That the best thing about living in Hawaii was telling people that you live in Hawaii. 😉🤙🏻 I also lived ocean front in Kaneohe. The rust on my appliances and vehicles was definitely a “Con”.

I lived a very good lifestyle on the big island of Hawaii for 23 years. Ocean front very successful, very blessed. Loved it, but decided retirement will be better in Florida, Naples area and honestly I could not be happier, so much better. As expensive as Naples Florida is, it’s still light years cheaper than Hawaii. Hawaii taxes everything and sadly you get nothing for your tax dollars. It all goes somewhere, but not to the residents and native people, and certainly not the infrastructure. Government in Hawaii is a horrible joke. Tax and spend state. Aloha and Mahalo Hawaii, glad I experienced it, just so I could appreciate better. 🤙

I grew up in Haiku, Maui. I lived in Maui until I retired and moved to Oregon and then Virginia. Hawaii has cars that are dirty everyday. Here, if its not pollen season, our cars just don't get that dirty. I left when I had to retire due to disability and my broken down house I owned in Kahului had a mortgage over $500k. Disability led to foreclosure and bankruptcy. Bank wouldn't work with me and instead sold that broken down home for $350k to a Filipino family that combine income and could afford it. It was over $600k at on time when I looked back. Now that Lahaina burned down, most people I grew up with left or got caught up in drugs and many died, there isn't much to come home to Maui anymore. I do have family, but I prefer the freedom of Virginia and have since gotten my myself up above 750 credit score, bought 1.6 acres and raise chickens, turkeys, geese and ducks. I love the place and am able to go on road trips. I could go on and on about how Hawaii has changed for the worst and has been taken over by developers and speculators, but I'm going to go do some yard work and enjoy the beautiful weather here today.

On Oahu, I saw a lot of homes that looked right out of Compton - chain link fence, pit bulls, junk cars, and hoarding. I’m not paying over a million to live in a rat’s nest. If you choose to buy a condo, you get stuck with sketchy land leasing problems and huge HOA fees, not to mention giant bills to keep the a/c running. Good luck !!!!!

My former in-laws sold their Bay Area home and moved to Hawaii. They didn't have that much equity in their home, but thought they had enough to get a house on Maui. They rented a shoebox apartment, saying they would buy a house in a year. The year became 2, became 3. Then former father-in-law had health problems. He passed away and former mother-in-law moved back to the Bay Area and moved in with my former brother-in-law. I knew when I saw the tiny apartment that they would never end up buying. You confirmed why.

My brother and his wife upon retirement moved 3 years ago from the San Francisco Bay Area to Maui & bought a 3 bdrm home in a great community overlooking the Kaanapali golf course They love living there and have he wherewithal to travel back to Calif. often to visit family & friends. They are both healthy but I wonder if they’ll regret not being close to major medical services if their health takes a downward turn in the future.

Thanks for being so real. I’m also a cancer survivor. It’s my dream to be a homeowner in Hawaii 🤙

Brah keepin it real🤙Like the river metaphor Derek. Mahalo

I think one important thing you missed is pest. Roaches, Ants, and termites. I hate ants in my kitchen. I really enjoy your videos, btw. Keep it up.

I grew up in London, moved to NZ for my work, discovered Kailua Oahu and decided that’s my place. Followed condo market for 30 years and finally bought a 2bd condo in 2015. Immediately found a tenant to share, the rent covers the maintenance fee. The property tax is low. I don’t need or own a car, because everything you need is walking distance in Kailua. You don’t need a family cos you make friends on the beach which is 10 mins by bike. I have a very different story from this video. Ps. I managed to get US per res so all is very cool.

That salt spray goes up mauka for a few blocks when the surf is big. Even Kona has bad traffic now. I live 3 miles from where I surf. In the morning before sunrise, it may be an 8-minute drive. Coming home can be 30 - 40 and you idle the entire way. I would add don't buy next to a house with a pool. Especially if it's a vacation rental. Living next to smokers sucks. Like the video. I might add don't move here to change Hawaii. I moved to the Big Island in 91 for what it was. Not what I thought it should be.

The river metaphor was dope 🤙

Don't forget to check for location of the house on the lot, and the street. Just on the opposite side of the street make a big difference in good living or paying for AC on all the time. (No trade wind)

We just returned from Hilo a couple days ago. Our Daughter and her partner have built an "off grid - tiny home" on some acreage. It's in a lush rural area with a water catchment system for water, solar panels with a backup small generator for power. They recently added a small "guest house" for their visitors. They can see the ocean from their location although it is quite a few miles away. Many varieties of mature fruit trees line their property. Security is a big issue. Thievery is common everywhere on the island. It is important to know your neighbors and look out for each other. One, two, and three acre tracts can be found for $20k and up. Partially finished project homes come up for sale occasionally for under $100k. Humidity is high and rain comes and goes often. Insects are minimal from what I saw. We thoroughly love to visit the area but aren't too interested in moving there at this point. We visit for a few weeks per year and enjoy every minute of it. Mahalo

Good information. Thank you.

I have lived in Hawaii for years now, and I love your videos!

Great video bro🤙🏾

1⃣ Schedule your free consultation with us www.coreteamhawaii.com/ 2⃣ Use Core Team Hawaii for all your Hawaii real estate needs: (808) 202-9194 support@coreteamhawaii.com

Appreciate the Channel. Video made me nostalgic - 8:00 see my old condo in the Salt Lake neighborhood - Century West. I left in 95 and when I visit, everyone says .... "Those were the good old days" - which they were when you look at the Traffic, lack of parking and Cost of Living. Your grocery prices are much higher than the Mainland. I feel for the old Mom & Pops businesses - their overhead is so much higher than before. I feel for your young adults Starting Out. Life in Paradise is getting too expensive. You got to be super smart and lucky with your money to get housing you can afford and hope you got a good paying job paying $100K minimum.

Very insightful stuff, appreciate all the great info. We visit every year, and when we retire in 8-10 years we’d love to live there at least a couple months out of the year.

Great presentation thanks. You make many good points. One that a lot of people don't think about until they're confronted with it is the wind. My wife and I are from Oahu, and at one point we lived in Kaaawa/Hau'ula on the beach. It was great, but there's a reason they call it the "Windward Side". The wind is usually direct onshore and it will wear you down. Also, the windward side weather is usually cloudy because of the proximity of the Koolau mountains. I actually preferred living in town on the leeward side as the trades didn't bother me unless they were really blowing. Also, as much as I loved surfing Crouch, my home spots were in MBay (used to surf big NShore but those days are over).

I had friends on the crew shooting Hawaii 5-0. My joke for them was that you NEVER saw the boys stuck in traffic on H-1. I wanted to know where all these backroads were they took from one side of the island to the other!

Great video!!

I appreciate your honesty! You are spot-on about all of your topics! Mahalo for your transparency.

For ocean front property, that is true even here in California. We have cliff that erode in bad weather and floods are a problem along with fires. Every place, even ‘paradise’ has its downsides. People routinely ruin paradise by wanting to take with them or build everything they had in their non-paradise location!

I remember sleeping over a friend's house right on the beach. You wake up with a layer of salt. That layer is hard to remove from electronics and cars.

Hey I’ll be moving to Hawaii in September, I seen your ad on indeed for a photo/video person. Would love to work with you guys in September. Love watching your videos!

I just subscribed. I like your no nonsense straight talk. It's what I want to hear.

My first visit to Hawaii I thought I wanted to move there. But upon my first visit to a grocery store, sticker shock arrived. Everything was anywhere between 30-60% higher depending on what you wanted. So folks who don't also incorporate this weekly needed cost into their budgets are going to be woefully surprised. I still love it there, but now I am happy just visiting every few years for a couple of weeks.

I was stationed at Schofield 97-2000, and lived in Mililani a while. I was searching for beachfront till I saw the waves wash over the roads a few times on North shore (washed out the road completely in like 2000). Then I was fine making the short drive for my surfing 😂

Thank you for this realistic video about the paradise.

Ocean view homes will be worth more than ocean front in the future. Our dream home is on the cliffs of Diamond Head or Black Point. Elevated enough at 50-100 feet so as not to be in mother nature's way but close enough where you can still smell and hear the ocean. And make out details in the waves and a surfer's shaka. One day...one day.

Derek, great comment about how Mother Nature can erode homes that are near the ocean. It’s not just the outdoor fixtures, it’s the roof, it’s the windows, getting sandblasted at times. It’s part of the price you pay to live next to the ocean. Great video. You did good here Derek. Best wishes from Oregon, my friend, Larry

Commission breath. That's a good one!

I love these videos

I grew up on Oahu, but live on the mainland now. Being able to live on several acres has spolied me to a point I cannot move back and retire because there's no space and privacy in Hawaii. Living on the islands exposes you to all of everything all the time.

Thanks for video. I sometimes need my fix of Hi world. Was stationed at KBay and for years I could move back. But videos and TV shows help me so much.

I rented in Kapolei for 3 years, then bought home on Big Island, been here a total of 11 years. One negative you did not mention is homeless population. The climate is conducive to it and it is a problem. I now live across road from Ocean and yeah, outdoor rusting is real!

Recently been involved in a family estate issue where a house on Oahu was sold. Coming from the rural mainland myself, and having to visit Hawaii a few times as part of the process... you forgot the major thing that will give many shock. The cost of living difference. From my rural mainland (low cost of living) perspective, everything in Hawaii was 150% to 200% (on average) of my expected prices in stores, at restaurants, etc. Everything. Plan for this if you intend to move to "paradise". It costs a lot, daily.

You are right about all the thieving. They cut my catalytic converter…..WITH A SAWZALL……out and ransacked my piece of crap frontier!🤙makes me think twice about parking in those nice little beach front trailheads

One thing that I didn't know before moving to Hawaii is the number of homes that don't have AC and reliance on the tradewinds to cool the home. Then, if you do have AC, how much your energy bill is gonna be if you run it most of the day.

Haha! Yeah, all so true. I never bought real estate when I was in Hawaii. A decade ago, I rented a 1,000-square foot guest house from a wonderful co-worker and her husband for a low $1K a month in Pauoa. I couldn’t save enough to buy property but I was able to invest in other assets that have since gone up in value.

Please mention how ridiculous to get a permit to get anything done. It takes years and the more the Mayor gets involved the longer it takes.

Great vid and appreciate the honesty. Loved the river analogy. We’re looking at the big island and hope to fulfill that dream one day after my parents pass. Mahalo brotha.

Love the River analogy! Well said brother!

I love your candour, A-LOT!

Great video! I hope to be reaching out to you and your team soon. Keep up the great videos! 😊 We soooooo appreciate your integrity and honesty. It speaks volumes of your business ethics! Mahalo Derek! 🏠🌺

Derek knows his stuff. His knowledge about finance, listen up. He's got em licked.

I thought Honolulu was LA with a crowded beach. But back in 79 Kawaii was beautiful with only two stoplights on the island and no hotel higher than three stories

My sister lived close to the beach and always had damp linens. Bath towels were never dry and were musty. She washed and dried them then bagged them in spacebags

I have lived in many parts of the US and have never experienced more property crime or disregard for quiet than here in Hawaii. I have seen mopeds chained to a tree be stripped for parts overnight. Friend has been robbed of his bike twice, while he is riding it. Stereos blasting regardless of whether it bothers others or not are a common thing. Street racing in Waikiki and vehicles with no mufflers is a norm. Angst against mainlanders is palpable. Then there are the trucks with train air horns. I have heard more explosions here than anywhere in my life. Its actually quite ridiculous behavior. Weather though is perfect.

Interesting what you said about security. I lived in Honolulu in Moilili, near Ala Moana Mall, and in Mililani for 26 years from 1969 to 1995. We almost always left our doors unlocked. Is it different now? I first visited Hawaii in 1957, staying at my Uncle's posh seashore home in Portlock. A bit different then.

I stayed on the Big Island for 10 days in March, 2024. A few locals told me that at least 30% of the local population are on food stamps.

Shipping. The cost to ship things to the mainland or from the mainland can be so much more. One thing I didn't consider, but probably should have, is how many places dont even ship to Hawaii. You go shopping online and then you hit the dreaded "We only ship to the continental US." Also, the time difference needs to be considered. If you're into any mainland sports teams you watch in the morning or afternoon instead of at night. If you trade stocks you gotta be up early in the morning when the market opens. Then, for daylight savings, you gotta adjust your time differences for everything because Hawaii doesn't do daylight savings.

People move to Hawaii and complain about the rent. They call the locals greedy and feel entitled to pay a rent they feel is fair.

Damn! that river analogy is golden!

Never had the urge to go to hawaii. I do like hawaii 5.o.

This is true both physically and metaphorically.

Good job discouraging the main-landers from moving there. I don’t blame you

Before you buy ocean front call your insurance agent.

I like renting because maintenance is DONE for you, and there is always a handyman around to do something for a Senior Citizen.

My buddy has been on the big island 3 years now, says he cant wait to get back to Oregon.

Son moving with Navy soon....looking to rent. Do you show rentals?

I’m actually from Hawaii. Lived in Vegas for 23 years. I actually would love to move back but only way I’m doing it is if I’m only able to buy a home straight up. Can’t survive with a high mortgage.

I believe every word. I don’t know Hawaii but I live ocean front on the Gulf of Mexico. It’s not what people think. It’s dirty, windy, sandy, and humid all of the time. Everything rusts in record time. My appliances are pock marked. Have been flooded twice this year already. Waterfront House for SALE.

I bought my house in Makakilo back in 2011 when I was stationed in Hickam AFB. I received orders for a remote duty to Kunsan AB Korea in 2014 (My family stayed here). I retired from the US Air Force in 2016 and returned to Oahu. IMHO, I think that was the best decision ever. Take advantage of the BAH while on active duty instead of trowing all that money away in rent. Mahalo for the video!

I live within a 10 minute walk to Puget Sound. It’s crazy how much of a difference being 1/2 mile from the water makes from being right on the water. Much windier, colder and houses on the water occasionally fall in due to erosion. No thanks 😂

BJ Penn is that you??

I live in Ewa, about a mile from the ocean. 12 years and dont have half the problems he mentions

Damn I don’t even want to move but love the vid and honesty

Accidents happen almost every day on H1! 😂😂 Fireworks go off every other day at the least where we live in Waipahu! A typical house you could buy for $250,000 on the mainland is almost $1,000,000 here. A two bedroom apartment that is decent will cost you $400,000 at the least here to buy. That is outside of Honolulu. It is ridiculously expensive here compared to the mainland. When they say it’s the price of paradise they mean it! 😂😂

I recently visited Oahu. Kinda upset me that the locals seemed to be priced out of the real estate market.

Wish I could get back to HI. I miss it every day.

My family was stationed on Oahu when I was five years old. We lived there (mostly at Barber's Point NAS) for three years. Then, my parents separated and my mom had to leave with us children for the mainland. I have missed Hawaii ever since. Actually, I've missed 1972 Hawaii and my childhood ever since, but what can be done about that? I want to go back so badly, but I'm afraid that I have no place there, especially as an adult. Or, maybe I should go to some other islands, like Yap or Fiji or Samoa or Tonga? I regret that I haven't been living in Hawaii, but I think I need to live on the mainland. I need a job, and I want to accomplish things. The islands are for when I want to disappear.

WOW! Great topic and all good points. I guess I’ll have to take my $8 million and look elsewhere.

What's your opinion of the Big Island? Still very affordable. About twenty miles south of Hilo you can still buy a 3+2 new home on a quarter to a half acre for about $400,000. Let me know what you think, affordable, crime, seems to be more rural.

Lol "shakas from da braddahs" I grew up in Hawaii during the 90s and I miss island life still to this day. I always love hearing pigeon... Go Mules!!!!

That military housing looks pretty sweet.

What about humidity, do your clothes almost rot on the clothes line?

Bro you have awesome analogy of explaining 🤙

You get mold and mildew on everything. The red dirt stains everything. Traffic sucks!

Never really had a thing about going to Hawaii and over the years hearing the downsides likely will never go.

Traffic is nuts

Mahu's everywhere

Most the most part, you are addressing problems people can run into Oahu, not the other islands. Other islands have their share of problems, but things there are not the same.

Great shirt bro! Smart for getting the f^&k out of Cali...

I lived in Ewa beach in 1977. I thought it was a long commute to Pearl Harbor then.

I stay Mākaha 6 years now - have bought and sold, now renting. Good info. Solid and real. Mahalo!! TRAFFIC?! THE worst! Fireworks?! Neighbors love them, no need wait one holiday- AnY NiGhT braddah! No need touchdown to light ‘Em up! LOUDER than military. Dogs barking, constantly. Yup. It’s sad, and annoying. But it’s the racket from the oh so very very many Rudy the Roosters, as I like to call them - they’re SO! RUDE! in da hood, each clearly devoid of previously purported instinctual internal time awareness or ability to regulate their acknowledgement of the dawn’s new day. Those feral and quite disturbed mother cluckers (er, I mean father cluckers) are over here creaking , croaking and crackling, trying to cock-a-efffing-doodle-y-do out into the salty night air - and into the day air. The 3:00am air. The 11:22am air. Sometimes the noon air, but always some afternoon delight too. Any hour, any time, all day, most of the night. Ah, country living!

Brah what about the hungry ghosts in the house where the violent murders took place? Maybe they can buy for cheap?

I’m from Florida currently in Kansas. My boyfriend is in Waianae. He inherited his grandparents condo in makaha valley. Every time I go there it reminds me of rural north Florida where I grew up but with less hand sizes spiders and no alligators or raccoons getting into everything. A lot of the houses with plyboard make it look like my hometown too. I guess to me it’s like home but less dangerous. Less crime, animals, hurricanes, and tornadoes. If my job wasn’t so good in Kansas I’d move. We’re still trying to work out where we should live. He owns that place there and I rent here but my job is better. I also can’t drive because disability and Hawaii has better public transport.

The same goes for the Philippines.

So true. Mainlander’s think we all have an ocean front view. It’s the paradise only for the rich.

I love dogs too.Just not other people's dogs

I don’t mind the fireworks or noise 😂 I’m from Oakland hahaha

Raised in Hawaii, moved to the mainland. Still have family there and I visit every other year. Would not want to live there again though

EXPENSE is a relative term. If it's worth it to you, it ain't "expensive"....

❤❤❤