Market Pulse - April Oahu

🏠Single-Family Homes (SFH): More Competition, Higher Prices

The Oahu single-family home market in April was a bit like trying to find parking at Ala Moana on a Saturday—plenty of people were looking, but not as many were actually landing a spot. Sales dropped 8% compared to last year, with just 241 homes closing escrow. Year-to-date, we’re still trailing 2024 by about 5.3.

But don’t expect a sale at the checkout: the median price for a single-family home actually climbed 6.4% to $1,170,000. That’s a hefty price tag—enough to make you wonder if your aunt’s ohana unit is available. Homes are also taking longer to sell, with the median days on market jumping to 29 (up from 17 last year). More sellers are putting their homes up for grabs, too, with inventory up 30% to 805 active listings.

Condos: More Choices, Softer Prices

Meanwhile, the Oahu condo market is starting to look like the buffet line at Zippy’s—more options, but folks are taking their time to decide. Condo sales slipped 8.4% to 395 units in April, and year-to-date, sales are down 2.3% from last year. The median price for a condo dropped 4.4% to $505,000, though prices did tick up 1% from March—so still no dollar-menu deals in Waikiki.

Condos are also lingering longer on the market, with the median days on market rising to 43 (up from 29 a year ago). Inventory is way up—there are now 2,512 condos for sale, a 59.4% jump from last year. New condo listings soared nearly 30% in April, with almost 60% priced under $600,000. That means buyers have more choices than flavors at Waiola Shave Ice.

Featured Listing

✨Pearlridge Square—Bright, Convenient, & Full of Potential! ✨

I love this unit’s location and the fantastic natural light from all the windows. It makes the space feel airy and inviting!

This one-bedroom, one-bathroom condo offers 515 sq. ft. of easy living, complete with an in-unit washer & dryer, dishwasher, and window A/C for year-round comfort.

If you're into open-concept living, there's even potential to knock out a wall to create a more spacious feel—but the layout works well!

Enjoy stunning city views, a covered, assigned parking stall, and unbeatable access to Pearlridge Center, restaurants, and entertainment. Simple, stress-free island living at its best!

📅Open house on May 25th 2:00 to 5:00 PM—don’t miss out! For full listing details, Text Code: 98-288KAON to Smart Number: +1 (808) 374-5621.

The “A-PEELE-ING” Edge

Unlocking Oahu’s Housing Future: New Law Starting September 2025

Oahu’s housing scene is set for a significant transformation. Starting September 30, 2025, Ordinance 25-2 will permit homeowners to have both an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) and an Ohana unit on a single-family lot. This means you can legally have up to three separate dwellings: your main house, an ADU, and an Ohana unit. Here’s what this change entails, how the two units differ, and what it means for homeowners and buyers.

May Day Memories: From Mūmū Mishaps to Watching My Son Shine

May Day in Hawaii has always been one of those timeless and ever-changing traditions. I enjoyed attending my son’s May Day celebration this year, watching him step onto the stage with his classmates. It was a beautiful reminder of the past—my May Day experiences at Lincoln Elementary, where things weren’t always as graceful.

I still remember standing in the sweltering heat, stuffed into a floral mūmū that clung to my skin, battling humidity and rain showers that never cared to coordinate with our outdoor performances. And then, just as I tried to focus on the hula steps we practiced for weeks, the roaches 🪳 —the sneaky, uninvited guests of every outdoor event—decided that my leg was their stage. The panic, the silent screams, the desperate attempt to keep dancing while nature had other plans—it was a real-life survival exercise disguised as a childhood memory.

Back then, one thing that always stood out was how every single song was in Hawaiian. The music, chants, and hula are deeply rooted in tradition, carrying the islands' spirit in every lyric and movement. These days, it’s a little different. While the effort to keep tradition alive is still there, the songs have become more varied, blending Hawaiian classics with more modern tunes. It’s a shift that still carries the same heart—the desire to celebrate, connect, and honor Hawaiian culture.

Watching my son on stage, I smiled at how May Day is still deeply rooted in Hawaiian tradition, yet refreshingly new through his experience. There were no roaches this time (thank goodness), just a proud parent taking in the moment and realizing that even decades later, May Day remains a day of aloha, connection, and memories—some delightful, some traumatic, but all part of the story.

Stay Inspired,

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