The Honolulu real estate market consists of nearly the entire island of Oahu. Also known as The Gathering Place, Oahu has become the third largest of all the Hawaiian Islands. It also serves as the home to almost 75% of the entire population of Hawaii. As the biggest city in the state of Hawaii, it also serves as the capital city of the state. With its miles of pristine coastline and fine harbors, it has become the economic, cultural, and political center of Hawaii. Here are a few things you need to consider before buying a home in Honolulu.
Honolulu – an overview
As the economic center of Hawaii, Honolulu is located on the southern area of Oahu. Most of the people confuse it for a small area, which locals usually call downtown. You may also hear locals say that they are going to town, but this actually means a lot of things. Usually, it just means that they are going to commercial areas in the business district of Waikiki. While the areas in Honolulu are not really considered as towns, some areas that are considered suburban include Kahala, Diamond Head, Manoa, and more.
At first, you might get confused while trying to get around Honolulu. If you are in Kailua, you are still within the borders of Honolulu. The moment you move there, you will get the chance to live on the windward side or on the town. Wherever you live in Oahu, your address will still be Honolulu. The County and City of Honolulu is also used to describe the governing body in the land of Oahu. In the Honolulu real estate market, you will see a wide range of communities and small cities.
Living in Honolulu
After browsing through some of the homes for sale in Honolulu, you will get the chance to choose between living in one of its rural and suburban areas. Metro Honolulu, an area that includes Salt Lake, Downtown, Ala Moana, Old Pali, Waikiki, Manoa, and Pacific Heights. There are actually more areas in this city but most locals do not even remember all of these communities. Honolulu is a big area, especially in terms of its population. This is primarily one of the reasons why it has become one of the most densely populated areas in Hawaii.
If you decided to live in Honolulu Town, be prepared to be branded as a townie. Hundreds of condominium buildings and single-family homes for sale are available in Metro Oahu so you have to know exactly where certain houses and condo units are located before you go looking for them. The prices of houses in the town of Honolulu are actually more expensive than those that are located along the outskirts of the island. The main reason is that it is easier to commute to work from town than the outskirts of Honolulu.
Homes are more affordable in Pearl City, Kapolei, and Aiea. However, you have to endure lots of traffic jams once you decided to live in one of these areas. Thirty minutes away from Downtown Honolulu, you will also see some of the most beautiful beaches where influential people and celebrities have estate homes. Honolulu real estate has continued to experience a big boom because this place is perfect for all kinds of people.
