Buying a home in Hawaii

Property taxes, transfer taxes, home values and first-time buyer help in Hawaii.

Effective property tax rate

0.27%

Median tax $2,239 ÷ median value $839,100 (ACS 2020–2024)

Typical home value

$833,340

Zillow ZHVI, 2026-08

State transfer tax

Graduated by price

Usually paid by: seller. Haw. Rev. Stat. 247-2 (rate); 247-4 (paid by grantor/seller). Official source. Local taxes may add more.

Estimated buyer closing costs Estimate

$5,600–$7,400

On a $833,340 home: typical lender fees + title insurance + deed recording (TallyClose) + the buyer’s share of transfer/recording taxes. Excludes prepaids, escrow and local taxes.

At Hawaii's effective rate of 0.27%, a typical $833,340 home would owe about $2,250/year ($188/month) in property taxes. Actual bills depend on your county, city and exemptions. Run your numbers.

First-time homebuyer programs

Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation

Your state housing finance agency offers down payment assistance and low-rate mortgages for eligible buyers. Visit Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation →

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year (B25103, B25077); Zillow Home Value Index; TallyClose closing-cost dataset (CC BY 4.0), which cites each state statute; NCSHA HFA directory. Last updated 2026-10-15.