Hawaii Mortgage Lender

Bayview Residential Brokerage is a licensed Hawaii mortgage broker (Hawaii Branch NMLS ID 1394949, company NMLS ID 329189) helping buyers and homeowners across the islands finance the right home at the right terms. Because we are a broker rather than a single bank, we shop dozens of wholesale lenders on your behalf and bring back the most competitive fit, whether you are buying a condo in Honolulu, a family home in Mililani, or a property on Maui or the Big Island.

Hawaii financing has its own quirks, from high-cost loan limits and a large jumbo market to leasehold land and a strong military presence. This page covers the essentials for 2026, and you can follow the links to your island and town for local detail.

The Hawaii housing market in 2026

Hawaii remains one of the highest-priced housing markets in the country, but 2026 has been friendlier to buyers than recent years. Across Oahu and the neighbor islands, homes are taking longer to sell and inventory has built up, which gives buyers more negotiating room. Prices vary widely by island and town, from more attainable areas like Hilo and Waipahu to premium windward and luxury markets like Kailua and East Honolulu.

Because prices and loan limits are high statewide, and because condos and leasehold properties finance differently, matching the loan to the specific property and island is where a broker adds real value.

Loan programs for Hawaii buyers

Conventional loans. The default for buyers with solid credit, with conforming limits up to $1,249,125 statewide and as little as 3% down for qualified first-time buyers.

FHA loans. A lower 3.5% down payment and flexible qualifying, with county limits ranging from $586,500 on the Big Island to $1,299,500 on Maui.

VA loans. Hawaii has one of the largest per-capita military communities in the country, from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and Schofield Barracks to Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay. Eligible veterans and service members can buy with zero down and no monthly mortgage insurance.

Jumbo loans. For higher-priced homes above the conforming limit, common in windward and luxury markets like Kailua and East Honolulu.

Reverse mortgages. For homeowners 62 and older who want to convert equity into cash without a monthly mortgage payment.

Fee simple vs. leasehold in Hawaii

One thing that makes Hawaii different is land ownership. Some homes and many condos are sold leasehold rather than fee simple, meaning you own the building but lease the land underneath for a set term. Leasehold affects financing, resale and long-term cost, and not every lender treats it the same way. We help you identify whether a property is fee simple or leasehold and how it changes the loan before you commit.

Down payment assistance and property taxes

Hawaii buyers can access help through the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC), including its Mortgage Credit Certificate program, which provides a federal tax credit on part of the mortgage interest you pay, along with down payment loan programs run by the counties. On the tax side, there is good news: Hawaii has among the lowest effective property tax rates in the country, which helps offset the state's higher home prices. When we prepare your pre-approval, we include realistic tax and insurance estimates so your monthly number is the real one.

Why work with Bayview in Hawaii

A retail bank can only offer its own products. As a broker, Bayview Residential Brokerage shops dozens of lenders on your behalf and brings back the most competitive fit, which is especially valuable in Hawaii, where jumbo pricing, condo project approval and leasehold guidelines vary widely from lender to lender. You do all your comparison shopping with one company, and you keep the same advisor from your first question through closing day. We are licensed across Hawaii, California, Arizona, Oregon and Washington.

Hawaii mortgage FAQs

What are the 2026 conforming loan limits in Hawaii?

Every Hawaii county is high-cost, so all islands share the 2026 conforming limit of $1,249,125 for a single-family home. Loans above that are jumbo loans.

Is Bayview licensed to lend in Hawaii?

Yes. Bayview Residential is a licensed Hawaii mortgage broker (Hawaii Branch NMLS ID 1394949, company NMLS ID 329189) serving buyers statewide.

What is fee simple versus leasehold?

Fee simple means you own the land; leasehold means you lease it for a term while owning the building. It affects financing and long-term cost, and we explain it before you commit.

Are property taxes high in Hawaii?

No. Hawaii has among the lowest effective property tax rates in the country, which helps offset higher home prices.

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