ARRIVAL Your assignment in Hawaii can be a wonderful and enriching experience in the right home that makes you and your loved ones feel safe. Finding the right home can be a frustrating and stressful process. Here are some tips and considerations that will help you successfully secure your place in Hawaii’s paradise. Enjoy the Great Outdoors! With Hawaii’s mild climate and natural beauty you won’t be cooped up all winter or feel stuck indoors if you pick a home or condo with a personal outdoor space such as a yard, lanai, patio, or balcony. Look for communities or buildings with outdoor amenities such as parks, pools, walking or bike paths, or access to beaches and trails. Hawaii is an island and land is limited so yards tend to be smaller than you’d find for most mainland homes. For a feeling of greater freedom, space, and higher value if you buy and later sell, pick a corner lot or an end unit townhouse, or a home with a view. Buy? Rent? Or Base Housing? This key decision requires you to balance the needs and preferences of your lifestyle with investment opportunities and financial realities. Average Rental Costs in Hawaii are among the highest in the nation and often exceed the mortgage costs for comparable homes. Renting and Base Housing comes with restrictions that may limit your ability to modify or use and enjoy the home such as no changes to paint, no pets, or no EV Charger or Air Conditioning. There are many techniques available to you to reduce your mortgage payments such as interest rate Buy Downs, buying a property with an assumable VA loan, or obtaining a Mortgage Credit Certificate. As a trusted professional Realtor, with over 30 years of military service and over 35 years experience in Hawaii’s home communities, Dawn can guide you through the comparison process and help you make the best decision for your Hawaii home. SUCCESSFULLY FIND YOUR NEW HOME IN HAWAII 44 Hawaii Military Guide • Summer-Fall 2026
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