2500 Kalakaua Ave #201

Urban Honolulu, HI 96815

$300,000D-

2 bd · 2.0 ba · 1,544 sqft · Built 1962 · Condo · Active · 43 DOM

Cashflow @ list (25.0% down · 7.5%)

• Estimated rent: $4,298/mo
• Mortgage (P&I): −$1,573
• Tax + insurance: −$585
• HOA: −$4,341
• Vac / Maint / Mgmt: −$902
• Net cashflow: $-3,105/mo
• Annual: $-37,256/yr
• Cap rate: -6.13%
• Cash-on-cash: -44.35%
• DSCR: -0.97
• 1% rule: 1.43%
• Cash to close: $84,000

Investor read

• This is a 2-bed/2.0-bath condo listed at $300k.
• At list price, monthly cash flow is $-3k ($-37k/yr) — negative.
• Rent doesn't cover operating costs at any purchase price — skip.
• Meets the 1% rule at list price ($4k rent vs $300k).
• It's been on market 43 days — a 3% lower offer ($291k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• Recommended offer: $291k (3.0% below list) — sets the bar for market timing.
• In year one you build about $10k of equity ($2k loan paydown + $8k appreciation (2.7% local appreciation)).
• Location reads: area grade D — affects rentability + tenant quality, not the cash-flow math above.
• Hawaii Department Of Education (suburban): math 32% / reading 50% proficiency, ranked #1 of 1 in HI (top 100%) — families likely to look elsewhere, expect single-tenant / working-renter base with shorter leases.
• Zoned schools: President Thomas Jefferson Elementary School (math 42% / reading 47%, grade F, #73 of 183 statewide, top 41%, 340 students, 55% FRL); President George Washington Middle School (math 30% / reading 46%, grade F, #17 of 42 statewide, top 39%, 569 students, 61% FRL); Kaimuki High School (math 12% / reading 47%, grade F, #35 of 43 statewide, top 86%, 620 students, 60% FRL) — zoned schools average 59% FRL vs 39% district-wide (20 pts higher); higher-poverty schools than district average — tighter screening recommended.
• Watch-outs: HOA is 101% of rent.
• Market conditions: Rents rising fast (+6.0%/yr); 813 active listings in the ZIP; 40 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; rentals at typical pace (median 22d on market — plan ~3-4 weeks tenant-placement turnaround); solid renter incomes; 1,638 units permitted in Honolulu County in 2024 (793 in 5+ unit buildings).
• Honolulu County population projected at +17% by 2050 — long-run rental-demand tailwind backs the buy-and-hold thesis.
• 9 sale attempts since 29y ago with the ask held roughly flat each time — persistent listings suggest the price (not the market) is what's stuck; bring a comps-based counter.
• Current owner paid $199k; list at $300k implies a 51% gain — meaningful room to come down on a strong offer.
• By year 4, paydown + projected appreciation supports a ~$35k cash-out refi (75% LTV) — recoverable capital for the next deal without selling this one.
• Climate carrying-cost: major flood risk — expect insurance premiums to compound above CPI over the hold.
• Cap rate -6.1% vs local median 1.5% in Urban Honolulu — below-typical yield; the buyer is paying a premium for something (appreciation thesis, condition, location) that the cap rate doesn't capture.

Questions for listing agent

• What do current leases actually rent for vs. the listed asking? Can we see a recent rent roll and the last 12 months of T-12 income?
• It's been on market 43 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 3% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
• Built in 1962 — when were the roof, HVAC, electrical panel, plumbing, and water heater last replaced?
• What does the HOA fee cover, when was the last increase, and are there any pending special assessments or reserve-fund shortfalls?
• Any open or pending special assessments — roof, HVAC, plumbing, elevator, façade? What's the per-unit balance and payoff schedule, and is the seller paying it off at close or rolling it to the buyer?
• Is there a deadline driving the sale (1031 exchange, divorce, estate, relocation)? That informs how much negotiation room exists.
• The area grade is low — what's the realistic commute time and amenity access for the typical tenant pool here? Any planned neighborhood developments (good or bad) we should know about?
• What's the average days-on-market for RENTAL listings here right now (not sales)? A rising rental-DOM trend means longer vacancies and softer asking-rent achievability than the comps imply.