Where Did Hawaii's Affordable Housing Go?
VloĆŸit
- Äas pĆidĂĄn 13. 03. 2023
- There's a lot of talk about affordable housing in Hawaii and trying to build more affordable housing for locals. However, we don't often talk about how long that affordable housing should remain affordable. It's great that there are affordable housing options for sale in Hawaii, but once those units are sold at affordable prices, they often aren't affordable after that, as the units are often sold at market rates. And so I think it's important that we ask ourselves whether these affordable housing units are meant to remain affordable or just initially affordable, knowing that if they are only meant to be affordable initially, Hawaii's affordable housing problem will probably not be solved.
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#hellofromhawaii
#hawaii
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đ· IG - / hello_from_hawaii
So should affordable housing in Hawaii remain affordable in the long-term? I think that's an important question we need to ask ourselves.
I think the problem is that they are trying to create "affordable housing" through these special sales of "affordable housing" units in really expensive buildings where the HOA fees alone make it not affordable. The obvious solution is instead of trying to build special "affordable units" make it easier to profitably build smaller and cheaper units (e.g. rezoning, streamline the permitting process for Accessory Dwelling Units) and let deluxe condo makers in Kaka'ako or elsewhere just pay a percentage of sales into a fund subsidizing affordable housing projects.
That said, this proposals probably never going to happen because it would require beating the NIMBY lobbies that don't want denser building in their single family neighborhoods or at the end of the road where it will increase their traffic. In that regards, I don't really think Hawaii wants affordable housing. Hawaii politicians want the illusion of actions towards affordable housing without upsetting the status quo in ways that true reforms would require.
What is affordable now? i am seeing locals consolidating their skills and becoming housing developers either buying fixer-uppers or cheap land, building and flipping but itÊ»s still not cheap at $800k-$1m, so what is âaffordableâ?
I think you are right about rentals. When I lived in Tokyo, I was perfectly content renting and I assumed that I would never own. Many years later I did buy a condo, and was again perfectly content that I would never own a single family home. Many years after that, I did buy a home!. Rentals are not the problem, they are a tool to get to where you want to go. That said, Hawaii needs to zone, and build infrastructure to support his better. Affordable housing should be built not downtown , but at the end of the metro line.
Mahalo for sharing your experience in Japan. The home prices seem pretty affordable, especially the further you move away from the major cities.
Once people get their hands on a subsidized unit, sometimes they are now happy about the rapid appreciation. I think there needs to be a rule that the property needs to be sold at a discount in perpetuity. Thatâs the only way there will always be affordable housing.
That hasn't worked out on townhouses/homes where they were discounted at the time of purchase but when owners fell into challenging times, did the State/County buy the owners out? Even then, whether condo/townhouse at a development, as maintenance increases, who determines the discount rate? The developer? The State? It might make a difference if the project was a private developer (which most high rises/townhouses are) or a non-profit. Who will enforce it? If it's a State or County project, will it require a separate State & County office of enforcement? Two agencies, offices/personnel to do similar work? Different bosses, budgets, duplication of services, processes.... One thought might be to have the State and County administration with approval of legislature/councils to a singular office to manage such oversight/enforcement, so that it reduces government duplication of services, personnel, operations for each island, at reducing costs to taxpayers and consumers. Why have multiple agencies, processes etc.... for oversight/processes. Sort of a top down approach if elected officials want to help their area's housing problems.
They try to do that with shared appreciation and first-buyback rights, but if the State doesn't buy it back, it just goes on the market at market rates.
@@HelloFromHawaii That approach is flawed. How often does that happen? Not common. The cost of buying back property for the government is far more that it is for the government to subsidize via incentives for builders.
Furthermore, politicians commitment to fixing the housing shortage currently is trivial at best. Corporations and the rich control housing prices and buy up local properties at will beating out locals. Corporations and the rich buy when itâs low, rent at high prices and sell at high profits. Period.
@@chriss2295: The perpetuity discount might be flawed as how would such a property (house/condo/townhouse) be earmarked for perpetuity for future sales? Additionally, if it is on a multiple dwelling (townhouse/condo) how would it work if the entire complex were damaged/significantly or condemned? Would the perpetuity clause end then? It would seem a new buyer would be anxious to see the property terminated immediately, so they could rebuild immediately and sell for market price. If it continues, then the new owners might not be interested in a property that forces them to offer discount rates for that portion, at which point prices will be jacked up higher to offset those few discounts. Ownership comes at a price that may/may not be for everyone at points in one's life, it's an individual choice on what is important at that moment in time.
The Park on keeamoku is 30 year lock. Canât resell affordable units until 30 years. To prevent flipping. That is one tactic to prevent flipping overnight. But public housing systems in Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong is something to look into but people have to realize that it means they donât own but just lifetime lease within the family.
What about renting and short-term rentals? Will there be enforcement?
It was changed I believe to 20 years or less.
A lock doesn't solve the problem. Now this building is guaranteed vehicle for generational wealth. E.g. pass it on to kids.
@@jordan0chang your explanation is lacking context. Could you provide a bit more explanation?
My wife was born and raised in Kailua, Oahu. The home she lived in as a kid her parents bought in 1969 for $14,000. That home today is worth about 1.2 million. Mahalo.
The problem with HI is too much demand and not enough inventory, which continues to drive up prices in perpetuity.
Watched your videos for 4 months and then made the move to Hawaii. I live Ina room for 575 all Included, makiki. 15 min walk to thee beach. Yea, it's rough around the edges, & there's a roach or two BUT Im so so happy to be here from LA. The people and beauty of the landscape are enough for me. †I absolutely love it here and feel like there is opportunity to elevate.
I looked for least expensive condos (cheapest housing I could find) and the HOA fee was another $1,300.00! Truly unique housing issues in paradise. No easy solutions.
Yeah, the HOA fees are going to start climbing as these buildings age. A lot of them were built in the 70s and 80s.
@@HelloFromHawaii I recognize them from the original 5-0 series đ
1300 a year or month? Yikes.
@@secretadmirer5006 A year. Totally outrageous.
@@Nightbird. So a little over $100 a month, that's a bargain! Maybe you meant $13,000 a year?
The most obnoxious thing is Hawaii builds a new water park resort when we are literally surrounded by beaches naturally instead of using that area to build more affordable housing.
I really hate what Hawaii has become on a government level. Pure greed. Pure evil.
I saw that. Surf park?
Pure Democrats.
@@dominysynclair I call BS on your comment. Everyone knows it's the Republican's who don't care about the poor and are for big business. Republican's are trying to cut ALL social services so that their big business buddies will even charge us for the air we breathe one day. But nice try trying to blame the party of the people for what the party of big business is doing. Not today, Satan.
I moved to Waikiki in August 1968. Went to UH and worked. I lived on Cleghorn in an old WWII studio 4-plex. Termites had taken their toll. My rent was 62.50 a month. I worked in the International Market Place at the International Bazaar upstairs in the back. The good ol'days but alot of work âŒïž I had a Honda 50 and was the first girl to drive a motorcycle. It didn't work very well but it served the purpose đ Not very many haoles then and we all respected the Hawaiian ways. Best experience of my life. đđ€
Mahalo for sharing đ€
@@HelloFromHawaii My great-grandfather, my grandparents, my parents all went to Hawaii. I have a big ribbon with Kalani Kawananakoa printed on it and signed on top LILIOKALANI. It's probably from early 1900s or late 1800s. I have some little pictures.
I was married in Hawaii and our daughter was born in Queens Hospital 1971. She and her husband went to Hawaii to see Old Mo, last chance. Waiting for my grandchildren to go to Hawaii. That will be 6 generations. My great-grandfather went on a ship with the Mason's. Can you imagine âŒïž đ€
YES, I need affordable rentals! I don't want to own, I just want to rent until I die, but we need to take care of the Kanaka Maoli first and quickly.
So true đđ€
awesome view you have thanks for sharing
The state should require that if you bought your unit as an affordable unit, then you have to sell your unit as an affordable unit to the next buyer. Then buyers who only can afford affordable units can get their home. We can't catch up on building all the apartments that is needed each year for the population. So we should keep all affordable units permanently affordable . That's my thoughts.
It would be nice. Like I mentioned, I would love to sell our place at an affordable price if it meant we could also buy at an affordable price.
You are a very thoughtful person!
The sad truth is anyone with a vested interest in keeping housing affordable in Hawaii is in the pocket of some profit-making entity.
There is a reason why there is no "cheap" housing. It's because it is not sustainable. The space is just about gone. I remember living in Ewa Beach where the whole town was surrounded by cane fields, look at it now. There was not one house between Ewa Beach and Ewa. Look at the traffic, and roads, both are horrific. What about water, there is only so much of it. You can only generate so much electricity. You can only bring in so much gas. I'm not trying to sound mean, it just won't work anymore.
China and North Korea have affordable housing, but I don't think we want to go there.
I believe the main reason is that we allow mainland and foreign buyers to purchase expensive property that they use as investments, "summer homes" or time shares, and that drives up the prices in homes in the area; thus, the high property taxes we are now experiencing. Why else do developers make expensive condos that cost upwards of $3,000,000 or more. I once got to tour a $32,000,000 penthouse near Ala Moana. Tell me what local person will live there? We need to find some way to make sure people who buy property in Hawaii actually LIVE in the units; otherwise, prices will continue to soar unabated.
Well said. Exactly âŒïž There ought to be a law. Build for residents and then for rich investors. Put a percentage on investors property. Only a certain amount of property can be used. They're so expensive they will make more money per square foot. Mahalo đ€
Wow, $32 million? Crazy!
@@HelloFromHawaii Yes, and this was back in 2017. My wife works for a local contractor and when they finish a project, the staff gets a tour before they officially turn it over. Everything was of course, beautiful but I was impressed at the separate wine chiller. It was bigger than most master bedrooms.
I think the low-cost rentals would be a great idea for people that prefer to rent long-term. A good way for that to be set up would be that their rent is locked in at the price. They moved in at as long as they stay in the condo. that would deter them from moving and help. Keep cost stable.
That would be nice. Lock the rent for a set amount of time. Then reevaluate after 5-10 years.
Only work in commercial rentals since it's based on interest rate and as growth in state economic outputs
Most couple have to work full time and maybe a part time job on their days off in order to buy a home in Hawaii. I agree when Covid happened their were a lot of realtors that bought up their homes and apartments and made a profit when they flipped it. And your right we do need more affordable housing. And like you said cheaper rentals so people can save money. Excellent topic.
To be able to buy a home you almost have to leave Hawaii and go to an area that is affordable and growing. Wait 10 or more years until that market catches up with Hawaii. Sell and take your equity to make a nice down payment on a home in Hawaii. Then you leave everything that became part of your life, like family, jobs, friends etc to start all over again back in Hawaii. Kind of like that Monopoly board. You must pass GO to collect unless you draw the Get-out-of-jail-free card.
đ Gotta get that get-out-of-jail free card
Thank you đ đ
You're welcome đ
I left Honolulu in 1996 and I was renting a top floor studio in Prince Tower at Queen Emma Gardens with ocean and city view for $875 utilities included and shortly after moving out the studios became available to buy as condos for $120,000, a GREAT price by todayâs market prices. That would have been an amazingly lucrative investment as the value of it is way higher now.
Thereâs a CZcamsr from Germany Felicia and she was explaining how in Germany almost nobody owns their own home. They have some rental programs and almost everybody rents.
Interesting. Mahalo for sharing đ€
When you said affordable housing, I kind of laughed. There is no fordable housing in Hawaii. Thatâs why thereâs over 17,000 people that live on the streets and get all kind of government benefits. Families live with families way before Covid. In this recession that weâre going throughGREAT CONTENT Keep up the good work.
who said paradise was cheap?
@@BobbyHo2022 really I do think Its freakin cheap to live anywhere right now and the poeple of hawaii should not be run into the street just becuase they where born there!
I remember 1972 when 5 generations were living in a small house. Tourism was down. There were no jobs. It's real rough on the mainland. Houses worth nothing are very expensive. Tiny houses and Tiny house communities are popping up. Pay low amount each month toward ownership. Or rental. Aloha and mahalo đđ€
â@@BobbyHo2022 Funny âŒïž Mahalo đ€
There is affordable housing. Just not enough and it doesn't necessarily last very long. I think that's the big question. Should affordable housing stay affordable? Or is it just for initial prices?
Great conversation thanks. Maybe for another video would be the conversation about what type of person should then be living in HI? Affordable housing brings people from other places which I'm not against since I wasn't born in HI. Should anyone be able to "afford" to live in HI? If "paradise" becomes too easy to move to...then what happens to people already living in HI? Locals unfortunately are often forced to move and leave HI..."priced out of paradise"...should there be a priority list? There are already programs encouraging tourists to respect "local culture". Should there be similar expectations for people who want to live in HI? Just some ideas to talk about.
Mahalo for the suggestions. I think it's complicated because we can't discriminate against people moving here from other parts of the US. So what type of person should be living in Hawaii? I'm not sure.
HI is one of the states, just like any other you canât legally sort who can or cannot live in a State. There are housing discrimination laws that state that.
@@sfrealestatedealmaker6001 yes, not "legally sort", more like educate, inform, and persuade/dissuade. Let's face it, different parts of the country are better suited for different "kinds" of people; not better or worse just different. As the saying goes, "Good fences make good neighbors".
I'll say it again. Because of all the rich people moving to Hawaii, you are all experiencing turbocharged gentrification. Not only that, you all are on an island. You can't simply move out of the city into a suburb like we can on the mainland. You're being priced out while being somewhat trapped there.
This won't stop unless your government either taxes the pants off mainland transplants or zone more of the island for residential housing.
A functional mass transit system would also help you so don't have to keep building everything downtown.
I don't think it's because super rich people are moving to Hawaii. It's a combination of things, mostly just a lack of building more.
The current model of affordable housing in Hawaii is dependent on perpetually building new stocks of "affordable" homes for people to buy. Realistically, that is not sustainable. There is limited land available to build for an ever growing population. I think your co-worker may have a valid point when he talks about home ownership not being a right but a privilege. And, after all, not everyone wants to be a home owner and some people probably shouldn't be home owners for various reasons. As always, you've touched on a topic that is vital to all of Hawaii's people and impacts their ability to remain in Hawaii. As someone who once worked for a Hawaii legislator, I think your videos should be required viewing for Hawaii legislators, since your videos are so well thought out. They may not always offer ideas of how to fix the problems, but they would certainly provoke the thinking of legislators on how to address the problems facing Hawaii today. Keep up the great job you're doing with this vlog! Your topics are always on target and appreciated. đđ€
Mahalo for the comment. I agree that the dream of homeownership may not be for everyone. It's hard to maintain a home. Roof issues, paint, and yard work. đź
I know of a few states that help homeowners who want to build ADUs. Maybe Hawaii needs to do the same?
Omg there you go âŒïž Perfect đ And tiny homes. They have tiny home parks that are very affordable. It's purpose is for lower income residents âđ€
Just hoping to get the permitting system fixed. Need to streamline that process so they can be built faster.
Hawaii has hundreds of ADU units....except they are mostly undermined. Need to fix that.
@@HelloFromHawaii Sounds good âŒïž You're ahead of the game. Mahalo đ€
Interesting topic. Think of rent control in New York. The government doesn't want to maintain long term liability/financial costs but will property owners be responsible to keep the standards of living in working condition. How many of old-time Chinatown buildings up to current codes? Maintenance and infrastructure are costly ventures. How many old-time condo buildings without sprinkler systems are there in Honolulu or the rest of State? Will we see a Florida Condo collapse? We've already seen the Marco Polo fire. The discussion is important as we left lease-hold properties to force condo conversion in some units but, now we face shortfall? Will it go back to lease-hold as a solution or maybe like the senior home community, where its owned until death, out back to the market? It won't have inheritance to family members, which some will complain about. Much to think about, as to who's paying for upkeeping and keeping property is maintained and functioning.
Mahalo for the comment. I thought that those condos were required to upgrade their sprinkler system, but not sure about the progress on that. Costs are going to be high to retrofit.
They must put something in but what and how hasn't motivated owner associations to immediately to comply. Long time owners bought cheap and watch values increase but then they get old and say fixed income. Newer owners are surprised to be caught with additional cost. If there were affordable owners, those that bought reasonable value might get upset that they feel they are burdened with higher costs but considered property is value per square foot, usually smaller and lesser in number, it wouldn't necessarily be fair for to smaller units to pay for higher costs of space that they don't benefit from in their own unit. In the case of Florida, it wasn't a sprinkler system but repairing foundation which dragged on. Fixing infrastructure of outdated property at current market costs/labor is always high because everything has gone up. I bought my single-family home about 1/3 of the current market price, but if it was destroyed, I would have to pay for about 2 1/2 times what I bought it for, imagine what a townhouse or high-rise costs replacement value would cost the association to replace and are their insurance really covering it or is it only 70%? Something to think about, property or family choices.
A % of the population just have to move to the mainland or inherite a family home!
It's already happening.
It is a challenging issue. If people can not buy and gain appreciation then they are trapped in the unit or basically stuck as renters. Given the prices of kakaako type units ($1M) getting the rent to $1500 would require a 75% contribution from the state. Getting that type of funding is going to be very difficult.
There are rentals in Kakaako that are fairly affordable. I can think of Keauhou Lane. Not sure how much the rents have gone up since it first was built, though.
@@HelloFromHawaii ok. But you said you wanted the affordable housing not to be old. I am not sure about the age of the one you reference. But I assume if they are affordable by your estimation then you would not have made the video. I will say in all the mainland cities I have lived affordable housing was rental based, not ownership, for all the reasons mentioned.
An attractive alternative rental option would be ideal for potential first time home buyers. If they could find a comfortable place that would allow them to save for their own property while getting the equal or greater value of living in a unit on par with the average starter home I do not think anyone would complain about that
That would be nice. It's hard to save, though, while renting. Rent prices are pretty high, but it's possible to save. Just slow and steady.
you have to pay to live in paradise...
especially on an island with limited land.
I was born in Hawaii and moved away in 1974.
Bro your problem is, you want to live in paradise for cheap. A highly desired location. It's a free market, no one owes anything to anyone. The truth is ugly. đ€·ââïž
San Francisco is the same way, I feel bad for the locals though. But to be fair, SF sucks now and Hawaii is still beautiful. Itâs worth the fight đ SF is not.
Same problem in Florida now. Hawaii is a beautiful place and rich people will force out regular folks. The only solution I can see is affordable rentals owned privately by non profit organizations like a Church. Background checks on folks and income guidelines still done but No government involvement.
I live in Florida, as well. My area was hit hard by Hurricane Ian, so it only made the housing shortage worse. When will city planners learn that if there is no affordable housing, there are no employees to work in stores, restaurants and hotels?
â@@little5bee when there no one working the stores, hotels and restaurants
Interesting idea. Mahalo for sharing.
Would like to see you make a video about what life's like for a haole (that has lived there a long time - Kamaiana) vs. someone that just moved there that looks local and is accepted instantly on perception. It's an interesting duality.
I agree. I experienced that when I was attending the UH and certainly after that time. Definitely no "white privilege" going on in that situation.
that would be a super interesting video
racism in paradise?
@@AGhostInTheMachine Could be, but not necessarily.
Especially on the mainland, people expect "Hawaiians" to look different from mainlanders (more often "white"), which is why many Asians from Hawaii are believed to be ethnic Hawaiians there. Likewise, in Hawaii, there are so many of Asian ancestry and haoles are not a majority, so it is easy to see haoles as outsiders.
Funny anecdote, btw, I worked and am friends with a local-born haole who had served in the Air Force and, therefore, spent time on the mainland. I, on the other hand was born on the mainland and moved to Hawaii to go to UH when I was 18. (I lived in the Islands for about 22 years.) Anyway, he and I worked together, and he tended to behave more like a mainlander, while I tended to behave more local in a lot of respects.
It's just unfortunate that people make snap judgments based on appearance rather than getting to know the person first. As frustrating as that can be, it just is. Even if I don't like it, I just have to "get over it" and keep moving forward. I can't change other people, but I can change the way I respond to it.đ€
â@@AGhostInTheMachine I'll say it. Yes, there are racist people in Hawai'i. No race is excluded. It's sad, but that's the truth.
Itâs a solvable problem. First and foremost is build a rapid transit system that services whole island including interior of Oahu. You have plenty of people live outside of Tokyo and commute there daily. People can definitely do that in Oahu. Once people can traverse the whole island in a painless fashion, then many people may/ will choose to live far away from Honolulu while also get the benefit of âlivingâ in a big city by taking a rapid transit system that may only take 15-20 minutes to get to downtown. This way the whole island becomes âdesirableâ not just areas around Honolulu. Secondly, any affordable unit needs to be âaffordableâ again when it goes back to market and not be sold at market rate. Just think about yourself as an example. If there is another unit in your building for sale thatâs two bedroom and âaffordableâ, you would definitely jump at it (if you still qualify).
Mahalo for the comment. Great suggestions. I think this was why they were trying to make Kapolei the "Second City" where there are lots of jobs and no need to drive into Town for work.
@ Kevin Hsu â We tried that theory in San Francisco, it didnât work. Even traffic stayed the same. No one wants to ride public transit with homeless people accosting and harassing them. The homeless just ended up using it as shelter.
Good idea, but that one isnât it.
Also other countries have a culture that doesnât let homeless do what they want. Unfortunately HI and California donât abide by that rule.
How much are affordable in oahu now ? Here in the main land, real estate prices are fall and crumbling.....bubble popped !I would wait until 2024 ....recession sets, price will be more affordable?
Some of the apartments at HI are at $800 and up.
You work for a full month, 1st week of income is to pay for food. 2nd week is pay for insurance, student loan, utilities. 3rd week of pay is for HOA. 4th week of pay is for your rent. Not to mention cost of bus passes cuz likely canât afford a car.
Yeah, gets kind of expensive.
Home and land ownership is multi generational in Hawaii. That is why there is so few available homes. If private ownership of land and homes was obolished and it is sold all back to the state then perhaps there will be more available homes and the state can set rates to make rentals affordable.
Why does Hawaii only allows those big company build houses. Why canât local choose how there house is going to be by how much they can afford. with restrictions so it can be nice and decent.
Those are for multi-family dwellings. For single family homes, it's different.
Maybe can get micro apartment 12' x 12' for single seniors, retiree couples, single individuals, or couples with one
baby infant to 6 years old.
Remodel renovation out of larger unit to create two units, or even possibly three.
Maybe sine can be even more compact, like 9' x 14'
It must be only 45,000.00
(Ownership).
100.00 a month for community maintenance.
Rents should look like this:
800 = studio.
1000.00 = 1 bedroom.
1100.00 = 2 bedroom.
1200.00 = 3 bedroom.
1300.00 = 4 bedroom.
This is reality, since wages have not kept abreast of costs of living since 1984.
Nice rent prices. That's cheap (affordable). đ
Answer to the question in video title. The Mainland is where it is.
I have a job offer with a great employer in Maui and my wife can get a good job in the medical industry and we probably won't be able to make the move solely due to housing costs.
Even with a combined income of about 230k per year we won't be able to afford living there believe it or not. Housing is the #1 issue. Everything else we could manage.
Hawaii is sadly well on it's way to becoming an island Beverly Hills. It was my dream to just rent a place..but even that is out of the question now. And while many complain about the problem..nobody in Govt is actually doing anything about it where results are seen in significant numbers. Probably because too many affluent people are perfectly fine milking everyone for as much as they can..and too many people are willing to be milked. Architects are very clear that the only solution is to build higher and higher sky scrapers..like they do in Thailand..where you can easily find beach apts for under $500 USD monthly..though it will be smaller in size than standard American apts. But nobody wants all those sky scrapers in paradise..and since there is limited land available..the vicious circle continues. Mahalo for this video.
With the emergency proclamation in Hawaii, maybe something can be done about housing. We'll see what happens.
@@HelloFromHawaii You are the only person on CZcams I have seen who has so concisely and accurately described the problem at hand..with possible solutions. Let's hope those in power are listening to you. Mahalo.
Affordable rentals is definitely the way to go. Affordable units for purchase doesnât make any logical sense once the unit is available for sale on the open resale market
Well demand is the issue. However no one talks about the real issue. Why is Demand on Oahu for affordable housing higher then other islands? If people were moving to Hawaii because they love Hawai'i, If they loved its culture, weather or its people? Would not all the Hawai'ian islands have 900k people on it? I know im repeating myself but maybe the type of development that is happening on Oahu is what is causing the demand from richer outsiders to move to Oahu forcing poorer locals and hawaiians to move.
I think it's a job issue. If more jobs were available on Big Island, I think more people would move there. So much land.
@@HelloFromHawaii I agree chris, however the issue is the lack of affordable housing. Our states choice in development is the issue. If we continue to develop to attract outsiders money and make assimilation easier then we will continue to have a lack of affordable housing. Oahu will continue to see more locals and hawaiians moving off islands to live. They will be pushed out. Really the solution is to look at how life was like when we had affordable housing. What was different? The solution ito any imbalance and social ill is always found in our cultural values and history as a people.
Hawaiâi needs to create coops and HDB (Singapore)
Every Hawaiâian (born in Hawaiâi) who has a job gets a unit at the level at which they earn.
If you earn more, they must move up to a higher price or graduate out. Aka one cannot get in at a low price unit and earn higher and higher income as time goes along.
Have a graduation or stair step up the units
Basically very few policy or politician is serving the people at the bottom 20%
Mahalo for sharing. I know the Singapore model has been proposed in Hawaii.
Back i n the day when I remembered a downpayment is 40% which makes it hard to get a home and today 3%, this gives opportunity for anyone to buy a home and flipping it, airbnb expanding etc.
Whoa. That's a big down payment. My parents were telling me of 12% interest rates.
Ironic to see some of those expensive condos in the background. When I was in the market for one about 6 years ago I knew the names and layouts of most of them. Affordable condos canât have many amenities because the elevator and common area maintenance alone makes for easily $700 maintenance fees. The down payment is the largest barrier for most folks.
Yeah, it's the down payment. The State used to have down payment assistance and other loan assistance, but not sure if that's still continued.
Every generation says the same thing, I think. When I was young, I couldn't afford to move out, but after I got a good job, I rented. I, "I", got better and got a promotion, and then I owned a mortgage. I finally owned a house.
It's not a gift, or a right, or a privilege. You actually need to earn for it. We see it. Butt, grass or cash, no one rides for free. You can't expect to leave mommy's house and walk into a condo. I wonder if some expectations need to be set.
$1500 for a single bedroom near the city center of iconic Hawaii would be a unicorn. Live in Aiea. Save some $$, get that better job and then look.
The problem is worldwide. Rampant inflation is good for land owners. But bad for home builders. Cost to build is too expensive. Keeping property empty is a great inflation hedge investment. Middle class is eradicated as a result đą
Just think how much u can live like a king on the mainland and just go back every 6 months to vist family. You will own your own home, have money to invest in your retirement but still keep up with family. I did it and retired at 52. I love Hawaii but its not worth living there
I was just thinking that. What if family members went in together on a home, put it in an LLC and take turns living there? Meanwhile they have homes and apartments on the mainland.
Yeah, it's tempting. Buy a nice big home on the mainland and just come back to visit. But it just won't be the same because of lack of access to family.
While I'm support of the free market, it makes more sense for the 1,500,000,000 acres of unused land in the USA, not Hawaii. The constant buying of scarcely real-estate in Hawaii by outside investors is not ethical. Residential/Non-Commercial real estate should have a stipulation that the home must be used as a primary residence for X amount of years (or entirely). This would strengthen local economies as well as provide trajectory in the right direction when it comes to locals being priced out of their own island.
Housing is a huge issue and it's a problem rampant throughout all 50 states. Government has to step in otherwise homelessness with only increase. There's many ways to go about it, but it's unclear which method will work in Hawaii.
All the states have this issue? Even in the Midwest?
@Hello From Hawaii I've seen a handful of documentaries about states like Arizona and Colorado I think having their own housing crises.
Fun fact. This âaffordable housesâ are not affordable but is âreserved housingâ. Basically the developers reserves the sell from the cheaper units which are the ones in lower floors and with not views to Hawaii residents. Most of this units donât have a lanai or can open the windows, this is to cut cost, and most of the time are way smaller than the market price ones and will be given one parking stall only or none. Also some of this buildings donât allow the residents from who buy affordable to use the installation like pools or gym, and the latest one, Kuilei, with two towers, the short tower facing the cemetery will go for affordable prices and the nice tall building with Diamond Head view will go for market price buyers.
That's an interesting project. Lots of units.
The problem here is NO cheap land! Can't build anything if can't break even .If you are a businessman and a builder, you're not going to lose money on every job.
I wonder what the percentage is for out of state buyers? or investors... The state needs to address this I feel as this is the root cause of this challenge we have in Hawaii. What drives the prices up? Hawaii has too many out of state investors that don't even live in the units. If this would be addressed some how it could bring the prices down. Make it a stipulation / requirement that all units need to have someone actually living in the unit and not just a vacation / investment property. We don't need to be like New York or other huge destinations. You fix one another challenge will arise. We don't want housing prices to come back down to the 350K - 500K range for a home? We should but those investors will now be making a lot of noise. Just like the residents of Hawaii should be heard but there is only silence.
Good question. I've been meaning to make a video about out of state buyers. The figures are misleading, IMO. But I'll get to that in the video.
I canât even afford rent. I live in a multigenerational home and just help out with the bills and large repair expenses when they arise.
I want my local government in Toronto to start having these discussions too. I really want to own a home but at 30 it continues to feel impossible. It's crushing and depressing. My heart hurts for those who earn even less income and have no choice but to live in shitty single bedrooms. Let's have the political will to increase the lowest standard of living because this ain't it. I pray for everyone who is struggling.
I heard it's expensive in Toronto. Was it always like that? Or something just recently?
Without even watching, Chris I can tell you where it went. It went into the pockets of state and county employees (See Hawaiâi Countyâs Housing program West Hawaiâi Today).
The whole process to make applications for affordable housing on existing properties is a joke. I know that this statement will agitate the majority: If Hawaiâi would come into the 21st century, like the mainland, the issues could be resolved fairly quickly. Thereâs no need to reinvent the wheel here, just learn by examples!
corruption in paradise?
Mahalo for the comment. What would you suggestion Hawaii do to solve the issue quickly?
It became short term rentals
You know Chris, life is expensive everywhere you go, there's crime everywhere you go , you have to be like the fish, adjust and improvise to whatever environment your in. Everything in this world changes, that's a fact of life besides that we are going to die. You know the 2private islands, Nihau and lanai, sooner or later, they will open up, and what that happens, it will be like the gold rush in the mainland, I intent to be ready when this happens.
In Singapore, to get rid of homeless people in the olden days, everybody needs to have a home. And the government provides affordable rental housing for those who struggle, and have low income. Once they earn enough, they can rent from the main market or even buy their own home which people do manage to after many years of saving money.
I've seen the Singapore model. While great, not sure how practical it would be given that the funding would be challenging. Not sure Hawaii could pull that off.
@HelloFromHawaii I think i read from the HPHA has some plans rolling them out in the next decade. đ
Not enough inventory, too much demand.
Affordable housing wonât be in the middle of the city.
Government need to buy up land at the end of mass transit line.
It would not be a high rise either due to maintenance cost .
High density housing with surrounding park and amnesties .
Or Singapore style HDB .
Biggest Hawaii problem however is lack of land to develop
Good luck đȘ
Sounds like Hawaii game plane streghtgy all alone with supply and demand on housing to keep the outsiders out but instead, it is affectied the native as well
The main reason to buy as opposed rent is the purchase sets the price at one amount. The rent goes up and up đ€. So, the same applies, before long you canât afford to buy or rent and have to leave the
islands. We see that to often. đ€. We can make to much and not enough all at the same time. đŽđŽAloha
đ€
Renting is always worse as itâll go up no matter what. Buying property will be paid off once the mortgage has been paid in complete.
The problems you explain in each and every one of your videos are the same issues on the mainland.
Maybe, but to the same degree?
Rentals here are forcing locals out, to the mainland or to the streets. No rent caps allow landlords to increase rent at exorbitant amounts, but large, mainland owned properties know that they'll always have military renters to fill units. I see local families having to move out after only a year of renting because they can't afford the increase. It's what our kids will be left with or have no choice but to relocate.
Mahalo for sharing. Are you suggesting rent control?
@ Ali C Iâd say the only real solution is to ban owners from using their properties as rentals. Hotels only period. Thatâll have to use the hotel industry lobbyists VS private landlords and Air B&B.
Affordable housing and Oahu donât go into the same sentence.
đ
Its never going to get better in Hawaii
I hope it will if we can build along rail.
@@HelloFromHawaii We tried that theory in San Francisco, it didnât work. Even traffic stayed the same. No one wants to ride public transit with homeless people accosting and harassing them. The homeless just ended up using it as shelter.
I don't think it is right to make affordable housing into market priced after a few years. The intend should be helping people to get an affordable starter home. It is not for people to move up.
Agree, but it's also hard to balance people's changing needs. It's just the way it is.
âWhere Did Hawaiiâs Affordable Housing Go?â It left around 1996.
Do the math....HOA fees 500 -600 (cheap) property taxes 400 -500 a month. (No discounts for landlords) add insurance of 75 to 150. And your not even considering repaying the lanlord for the original money they invested and if they have a mortgage. Forget about a 1500 rent. Not possible.
Mahalo for the comment. I guess the next question is how do we make it possible.
Great question. Short of government paying through tax credits or financial aid I would say it's not going to change. Neither one of those is free as government is using the people's money. This is a problem everywhere not just Hawaii. Yes economical situation is different but if you look at affordability and not absolute price it is fairly common.
If a unit is sold/rented as affordable housing it should stay that way. It should not be only for the person who lucked into it and now they reap the benefits of being able to go to market rate. If they got the benefit of subsidized housing it should stay that way and have to passed on to someone who also qualifies for the subsidized housing. It's hard enough to build subsidized housing let alone letting current stock go poof once it's resold.
Yeah, that would be a nice system, but unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. Not sure how to change it.
@@HelloFromHawaii The law needs to be changed in the State Legislature. I know -- easier said than done. It's a good goal though.
Also affordable housing in Hawaii in it's entirety is satirical at best. What do you expect with affordable housing? Petty theft is rampant even in the richest areas. in "affordable" or lower income housing there's daily break-ins in broad daylight, theft, violence. Most cant even leave a pair of slippers on their porch in their gated home in portlock without some chronic jumping the fence and stealing it. Do you think a place with $1,000/month rent would be able to provide adequate security measures to combat the already rampant crime?
It's the idea of "making the big money" off of real estate like what they've seen. If people buy at an affordable rate they need to live in it for at least 5 years or more. No flipping! Then if selling the once affordable should be either market/affordable at that time nothing higher.
I'm not sure why the rules don't already call for this. But like I said, are these affordable units meant to be affordable forever?
They should stay affordable but with say a 1% increase appreciation.
@@wesleychun3058 Flippers and landlords destroy markets.
The problem stems from the endless increases in the "market". That's unsustainable. Income have not kept up with the costs of living, which is a very unsustainable. Why should people rent forever. Makes zero sense.
Capitalism, cost of living, property flipping for profit, foreign investors, living wage, etc . . . the escalation is only going to get more difficult for people to sustain a mortgage and a semblance of a family lifestyle.
One of the hundreds of solutions to address these issues are to educate high school students on finances and its real world applications. This would further prepare people to the harsh realities and what is needed to navigate them; locally and abroad.
I normally have something to say about your topics but I have nothing to say about housing since I live in Silicon Valley. đ
đ
Where did it go? Did it ever exist?
Affordable housing appears in small pockets, such as the upcoming project in Town.
@@HelloFromHawaii Kakaako? What else is being built? I think
Town is gonna sink into the ocean soon under the concrete. I left Oahu after 20 years, it wasnât affordable. Housing on Big Island was half price.
You should run for office and help Hawaii.
I suggested the same thing, lol.
Mahalo đ
To the big island off the grid.
The last affordable units they approved here on Kauai cost $640k a piece. đđđđđ
"Affordable" means afforded by those with money long enough to buy what they want.
US Occupation of the Kingdom of Hawai'i
This is the reason why I am planning to escape a 2nd time.
That would be your own tent, get something you can afford.
15.00 per hour x 8 hrs a day =
120.00 day x 5 days week =
600.00 a week x 4 weeks = 2,400 month x 12 months =
28,800 Year.
This is GROSS, *not* Net income (!).
TWICE this hourly wage (30.00 per hour!!) is *not* *even* 60,000 a year (đł!).
This is 15.00 per hour.
15.00 per hour is not even 30,000 annual income.
This is reality for many, many, many.
TWO of these incomes COMBINED is not even 60,000 a year (GROSS, not Net!).
Hawaii was never affordable as far as I can remember.
Too cheap and you attract cheap people right? Your rentals turn into slum cities or ghettos. Then the cheap folks skip on rent that turns to months and then you have to legally evict them. So much headaches as landlords to deal with.
I'd think that because it's so cheap, people would want to be good tenants because the alternative is expensive rent.
@@HelloFromHawaii BK Productions is actually accurate in his post. Many studies show this. Low income areas do become ghettos.
"Affordable housing" has to be paid by someone, so are you willing to pay for someone else to get a better deal buying a house? Hawaii is run by the left, and the big money donors and unions run the show and do their bidding. Restrictions on building and permitting take for ever and make building new homes very expensive and builders are not in the business of building for a no return on their investment and if the state helps them out with state money then taxpayers are footing the bill for someone else getting a lower mortgage payment.
Unfortunately people want cheap housing on an Island with very little land that can be developed, and supply will keep going down as the population grows and economics will drive the cost up as supply gets less and demand goes up. About the only way you can drive down the costs is by developing high rise crummy buildings with cheap condos that rich people do not want to live in and build them all over the city. The big problem also in this state is the state will tax the life out of everything the developer and the condo do so it will be almost impossible to keep costs down.
It will never change unless the politics of the state change, until then just keep voting for the same and wish for a change and nothing will change.
Mahalo for the comment. Lots to think about. đ€
So whos gonna own these places? If your answer is the government, then wouldnât that mean higher taxes that will hurt more avg and low income ppl? And if your answer to that is tax the high income ppl harder, 1) itâs likely that still wonât be enough to cover avg ppl to pay only $1200 for one bedrooms, and 2) high income tax payers will leave Hawaii, and the govt wonât be able to afford the costs of maintaining good quality affordable housing that you speak of. And to your point about making ppl want rentals rather than owning, the truth is changing pplâs attitudes like that is much easier said than done. If ppl see other homeowners have the values of their homes sky rocket, than theyre gonna want to own their own houses too even if that means they have to strap up and save for a dacade or so. I mean, ask yourself what would you do? You said you yourself left for the mainland for education and work, and the reason you came back was bc of your family. The reality is young Hawaiian locals are probably facing the same reality, and rather than paying for cheaper rentals, I think more young Hawaiians would rather go get their degrees and make good money and investments in the mainland, and then aim for coming back to Hawaii when theyâve made enough money to buy a home in Hawaii and live with peace of mind. So you can quickly see how if it was that easy, places like SF and NYC wouldve solved this long time ago.
Itâs a complicated issue. But, essentially, affordable housing in Hawaii is a joke. It seems as though units sold through affordable housing should ALWAYS have to be resold through the same process. They should be âaffordable housing â in perpetuity. Likewise more affordable rentals should available. I agree that home ownership is not essential or a ârightâ. Iâm in my 60s and have never owned a home. Call me a socialist, but I donât think the open free market should control all real estate price. Eventually all local born people who havenât become fairly wealthy will HAVE to leave Hawaii to survive economically. I donât want that to happen, but itâs already happening,
There is no affordable housing for the middle class in Oahu.
It's there, but not much.
Mississippi has the lowest homeless rate,, trailers.
Greed of homeowners landlords
GREED MO MONEY MO MONEY MO MONEY
Jesus is God & He loves you
Jesus will soon be seen by all men, women, and children in the clouds. Jesus is returning now! Believe and be saved.
Exodus 3:14 (God speaking)
And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
John 8:58 (Jesus speaking)
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
John 10:30 (Jesus speaking)
I and my Father are one.
Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, *The everlasting Father,* The Prince of Peace.
Matthew 1:23
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, *God with us.*
John 1:1 & 14
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
14 And the Word was made flesh (Lord Jesus), and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 8:24 (Jesus speaking)
I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
John 14:9 (Jesus speaking)
Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?
Hebrews 1:1-3, & 8 (God calls His Son "O God" because Jesus IS God in the flesh)
1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
1 John 5:7
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
Titus 2:13
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Revelation 1:7
Behold, he cometh with clouds; *and every eye shall see him,* and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
Isaiah 44:6 (God speaking)
Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
Revelation 1:8 (Jesus speaking)
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, *the Almighty.*
Revelation 22:13 (Jesus speaking)
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
---
There Are None Righteous / How To Be Saved
Romans 3:10 & 23
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Luke 5:31-32 (Jesus speaking)
31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.
32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
1 Peter 3:18 (The word âquickenâ means âto make aliveâ)
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
Romans 10:9
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Acts 4:12
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Repent of your sins or suffer the consequences. Lord Jesus died in our places personally to take the death punishment that sin deserves and then resurrected by the power of God. Believe this and sincerely repent of your sins each time you sin and you will have eternal life and nothing to fear. Fail to repent and you will end up in the Lake of Fire.
No one is forcing anyone to live in Hawaii.