Comfortable Life, Nice Price On The Ewa Plain

Homebuyer needs have changed since the spring of 2020. Prior to the pandemic, commute times topped homebuyers’ list of concerns, and many were willing to trade less time in the car for an older, smaller home closer to the urban core. However, as the ability to work remotely has increased, some buyers are opting to head West, where there are many options.

NEWER AND MORE AFFORDABLE

Homes on the Ewa Plain, which includes the communities of Ewa and Kapolei, tend to be newer and more affordable compared to other parts of Oahu. With its diverse housing inventory of townhomes, single-family homes and even beachfront estates, Ewa appeals to a variety of homebuyers.

“Ewa is booming,” says Locations Realtor® and Partner Bryan Balisacan, who has helped clients to buy and sell homes in Ewa for 17 years. “Buyers are looking for newer homes with newer schools and newer infrastructure, and the Ewa area has the most new single-family home developments on the island.”

Many buyers, particularly those from the mainland, Balisacan notes, prefer newer homes. Hoopili — a D.R. Horton planned community that is delivering almost 12,000 single-family homes and townhomes between West Loch and Kapolei — has been especially popular, he adds.

Affordability is important, too.

“Some buyers don’t have any choice but to look in the Ewa area because it’s where they can find the type of home they’re looking for and stay within their budget,” Balisacan says.

Single-family homes and condos/townhouses on the Ewa Plain have seen steadily rising values in the past decade, yet the median home price — $775,000 in the 12 months to June 2021 — is still well below the islandwide median of $900,000. At $560,000, the median condo price in the Ewa region is higher than Oahu’s overall median, however, condos and townhouses in Ewa are often larger compared to other parts of the island.

ADVICE FOR EWA BUYERS

Balisacan recommends buyers act as soon as they are able. “Get into anything you can afford, whether it’s a single-family home or a townhome, and ride the equity train for two to three years. You can then upgrade from there,” he advises.

Homebuyers should partner with an experienced Realtor ® and be ready to act quickly when a home that checks all their boxes becomes available. Single-family homes in Ewa sold in a median of just eight days in June — the fastest on Oahu, while condos sold in a median of nine days — a tie for the second-fastest market.

ADVICE FOR EWA SELLERS

“For sellers, it’s a great time to get the most money out of your property and possibly upgrade, however, you’ll need to plan intelligently and team up with a Realtor® who can give you sound advice and minimize stress,” Balisacan says.

To get alerts when a new single-family home or condo hits the market in Ewa — or anywhere on the island — download the free Locations app.

LOCATIONS
ADDRESS 614 Kapahulu Ave., Honolulu
CONTACT 808-377-4642
WEBSITE locationshawaii.com

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