Oahu Housing Market Holds Steady Ahead of Holiday Season Lull

Median prices of single-family homes stand at $1 million, condos at $500K

Closed sales rose year-over-year with single-family homes ticking up modestly 10.4% and condo properties surging higher to 27.3%. The median sales price for a single-family home fell slightly from the August 2021 record of $1,050,000 to $1,000,000, while the median condo price tied the August record of $500,000.

Single-family home sales in the top price range of $2,000,000 and up range skyrocketed 188.2%, followed by closed sales of properties in the $900,000 to $1,099,999 range increasing 67.2% compared to October 2020. Year-over-year, the condo market recorded more than double the sales in the $600,000 and up range, though the bulk of sales occurred in the $300,000 to $599,999 range. The Metro region accounted for the majority of the sales volume growth, with 343 condo sales in October, rising 68.1% or 139 sales above last October. So far this year, closed sales of single-family homes and condos are up 22.6% and 58.8%, respectively. 

“The market appears to be holding steady, and the increase in closed sales for all properties is a welcome sign that Hawaii families are getting their offers accepted and moving into their homes,” said Shannon Heaven, president, Honolulu Board of REALTORS®. “Home ownership is about much more than simply owning a home. It poses many benefits including building equity and generational wealth and reaping the benefits of tax deductions and deductible expenses.”

2 Out of Every 3 Single-Family Homes Sell for Over the Asking Price in September

Year-over-year market activity continues to mark gains, but month-to-month closed sales dip

Closed sales of single-family homes and condos in September continued to outpace sales activity from the same time last year, recording 8.4% and 34.9% increases, respectively. However, sales dropped slightly compared to August, with single-family homes down 0.2% and condos dipping 8.9%. The median price for a single-family home remained at $1,050,000, while the median condo price rose 7.4% year-over-year to $478,000.

Around 57% of single-family homes sold in September were priced at $1 million and above, and the most volume growth occurred in the $1,000,000 to $1,399,999 range, with more than double the sales as last September. Roughly two out of every three single-family homes sold last month closed above the original asking price. The practice of bidding over the asking price was most prevalent in the Ewa Plain region, representing more than 80% of the region’s third-quarter sales.

Sales of condo properties in the $700,000 and above price range more than doubled year-over-year with 129 closed sales compared to just 57 last September. Meanwhile, 39.6% of condos sold for more than the asking price in the third quarter, especially in the Central, Ewa Plain, and Makakilo regions, where this occurred in over 70% of sales.

“We’re seeing a slight decrease in total sales month-to-month as families focus on the return to the school year and prepare for the holiday season, which is typical for this time of the year,” said Shannon Heaven, president, Honolulu Board of REALTORS®.“Despite the modest dip in market activity, the majority of home buyers continue to bid over the asking price in the hopes of securing a property to call home.”

Median Price for Single-Family Homes on O‘ahu Tops $1 Million

Sustained demand for housing and significant sales volume at higher price points drive record-high median prices for single-family homes and condominiums in August

Last month, single-family homes and condos reached new record-high median prices for the second consecutive month at $1,050,000 and $500,000, respectively. The persistent competition in affordable price ranges and more closed sales at higher price points in both single-family home and condo markets are putting upwards pressure on median home prices.
 
The $1,050,000 single-family median sales price is 25.1% higher than a year ago and up 5.8% above last month’s record. This is the fourth consecutive month single-family homes have set a record median, and except for April, a new record has been set each month this year. Sales jumped 14.9% compared to last August.
 
The condo market attracted buyers at all price points, with year-over-year condo sales rising 65% last month. The $500,000 condo median sales price is up 16.3% over last August.
 
The statistics in both single-family and condo markets followed similar trends with more new listings, low median days on market and increased offers over asking.

Single-Family Homes, Condos Hit New Record-High Median Sales Prices in July

Dwindling inventory, low mortgage rates push the median price of 
a single-family home to $992,500

O’ahu single-family homes and condos set new record-high median prices in July at $992,500 and $475,000, respectively. Summer sales continue at the rapid pace the market has been experiencing the past few months, with single-family homes recording 404 total sales or an 11.9% increase in July. Condo sales continue to rise significantly year-over-year, outpacing single-family home properties with 671 total condo sales resulting in a 57.5% increase.

The new single-family home median sales price jumped up 21.8% compared to one year ago, while the condo median sales price rose 8.0% above last July’s median price. The new single-family home record ticked up slightly – 1.4% – above the previous record set just last month, while the new record price for condos was 2.9% higher than the previous record of $461,500 set in July 2019.
 
“We’re seeing these record-high median sales prices because inventory in the affordable and mid-range price brackets are dwindling,” said Shannon Heaven, president, Honolulu Board of REALTORS^®. “Mortgage rates also continue to hover near record lows, enabling buyers to secure cheaper financing that, in turn, helps them to close on properties at higher price points.”

Condo Sales Far Outpace Single-Family Home Activity in Bustling Housing Market

Metro region surges in popularity, marking substantial increases in property sales for single-family homes, condos

Closed sales of single-family homes rose 49.3%, and condo sales skyrocketed 134.0% compared to this time last year when real estate activity first began to pick up following the economic standstill brought on by the pandemic. The median sales price of a single-family home edged past last month’s record to reach $979,000, while the condo median sales price of $460,000 was just shy of the standing record of $461,500 from July 2019.

The condo market continues to bustle with activity, setting a new record low days on the market at a median of just 11 days. Single-family homes continue to move into escrow quickly, spending a median of 8 days on the market. Sellers added much-needed inventory to the market, with June marking a 23.0% increase in new single-family home listings and a 31.1% increase in condo listings.

“We are in a vastly different market now compared to this time last year, when activity was slowly starting to ramp up versus now where properties are moving into escrow in record time,” said Shannon Heaven, president, Honolulu Board of REALTORS^®. “In particular, the condo market surged in 2021 because some buyers decided not to pursue a single-family home due to the severe lack of inventory and competitive bidding wars.”

Steep Competition, High Demand Drives Record-Setting Month for O‘ahu Real Estate

Median sales price for a single-family home reaches $978,000 in May 

Closed sales of single-family homes climbed 63.3% and more than doubled for condos with 135.4% more sales compared to this time last year on O‘ahu. In stark contrast to the low activity of May 2020 amid pandemic uncertainties, May 2021 set new records with the median sales price of a single-family home rising to $978,000 – breaking the previous record of $950,000 set in March 2021 – and properties flying off the market at an unprecedented pace.
 
The median days on the market for single-family homes and condos hit new record lows of 8 and 12 days, respectively. In May, sellers added 430 new listings for single-family homes and 683 new condo listings to the market, representing 24.6% and 34.2% increases over last year. However, by the end of May, 61% of those new single-family home listings and 51% of new condo listings were already sold or in escrow.

“The market’s rapid pace is showing no signs of slowing, and buyers entering the market continue to face stiff competition, especially for homes under $800,000,” said Shannon Heaven, president, Honolulu Board of REALTORS®. “Every day REALTORS® are working with buyers to submit their strongest offer and with sellers to secure the best price for their home. As we mark Homeownership Month in June, we encourage anyone thinking about buying a home to work with a REALTOR®. No one knows the market better and is uniquely qualified to help clients work towards their homeownership goal.”