The perception is that Hawai’i homes are often scooped up by out-of-state buyers with cash and used only as vacation rentals to supplement income. While the majority of homes in Hawai’i are purchased by locals (not out-of-state buyers), it is still a frustrating reality for those who don’t have that kind of buying power. One solution could be to further restrict units only to Hawai’i residents who would be owner-occupants, ensuring that these properties actually house locals. Currently, several programs have restrictions to sell market-rate and affordable housing to owner-occupant Hawai’i residents for the first 30 to 60 days. After that time period expires, units are available for anyone to purchase.
