Home / Areas we serve
Where we lend: Oahu and the rest of Hawaii
Oahu is our focus: urban Honolulu and Waikiki, the Windward side, Central Oahu and the Ewa plain. We finance investment property on the neighbor islands too.
Local guides
| Market | Part of the island | What investors buy there |
|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | Town and Waikiki | Condos and condotels, older homes in Kaimuki, Kalihi and Manoa to renovate, small multifamily |
| Kailua | Windward | Higher-priced homes near the beach, rebuilds and long-term rentals |
| Kaneohe | Windward | Older single-family homes to renovate, rentals near Marine Corps Base Hawaii |
| Pearl City | Central and Pearl Harbor | Hillside homes and condos, rentals near Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam |
| Waipahu | Central and Leeward | Older plantation-era homes, multi-generational rentals, flips near the rail line |
| Mililani | Central | Planned-community homes and townhouses, rentals near Schofield Barracks |
| Kapolei | Leeward | Newer homes in master-planned communities, resort condos at Ko Olina |
| Ewa Beach | Ewa plain | New subdivisions, long-term rentals and older homes near the coast |
Anywhere in Hawaii
You do not need to be in one of those markets. We lend across Oahu, from the North Shore to Hawaii Kai, and on Maui, the Big Island and Kauai. Through Optimus Capital Corp we also finance property on the mainland.
What to know about lending here
- Rental rules are set by zoning. Outside resort-zoned areas, Honolulu does not allow residential rentals of less than 30 days, and a 2025 city ordinance raises the minimum for many properties to 90 consecutive days. Stays shorter than that are legal mainly in resort districts, such as much of Waikiki, Ko Olina and Turtle Bay, and in units with a nonconforming use certificate or a city registration. Most investor-owned homes on Oahu are therefore underwritten on long-term rent.
- Property tax on rentals. Honolulu taxes a home its owner does not live in at the Residential rate if it is assessed under $1 million, and in the Residential A class if it is assessed at $1 million or more, where every dollar over $1 million is taxed at more than three times the base rate. Legal vacation rentals fall in their own, higher class.
- Condo fees and leasehold land. Association fees, special assessments and any lease rent all count in the monthly payment.
- Insurance. Hurricane coverage is often a separate policy, and coastal parts of the island are in FEMA flood zones. Both belong in the payment.
- Permits. Renovations that need a building permit can take months to approve. Choose a loan term that covers it.
- Closings. Hawaii closings are handled by an escrow company. Have yours chosen when you apply.
Loan programs available everywhere we lend
| Program | Use it for | Top leverage |
|---|---|---|
| DSCR rental loans | Purchase or refinance of long-term rentals, condos, condotels and permitted vacation rentals | 85% loan-to-value to buy, 80% on a cash-out refinance |
| Ground-up construction loans | Building a home or rental from the ground up, with the lot included | 90% of cost for experienced builders, up to 70 to 75% of the finished value |
| Fix and flip loans | Purchase plus renovation of a property you intend to sell | 90% of the purchase price and 100% of the rehab, up to 70 to 75% of after-repair value |
| Portfolio and commercial loans | A group of rentals under one note, or multifamily and commercial property | 80% on a portfolio purchase; commercial priced per deal |
Have an Oahu deal in mind? Run it by us.
Send the address, the price and what you plan to do with the property. We will reply with the leverage and pricing that fit your deal.