Oahu’s housing market showed a clear divergence in May 2026, with single-family home sales surging while condo volumes dipped. According to the Honolulu Board of REALTORS®, single-family home sales rose 8.5% year-over-year to 255 transactions, with the median price holding steady at $1,166,000 (a minor 0.8% dip). Conversely, condo sales fell 9.4% to 339 closings, though the condo median price climbed 4.0% to $520,000. Affordable options remained a major driver, with properties priced at $500,000 or less accounting for 157 sales in May and 823 year-to-date.

Single-Family Home Resales

Condominium Resales

Source: HiCentral

Competition for detached homes intensified as median days on market plummeted to just 13 days—down from 21 a year ago—with 35% of sales closing above the original asking price. This rapid pace was fueled by low inventory, with active single-family listings down 10.8% despite a 3.3% rise in new listings (405). Meanwhile, the condo market eased slightly, with median days on market rising to 43 days and only 9% of sales closing over asking. Looking ahead, summer demand appears steady as pending sales grew by 8.8% for single-family homes and 7.0% for condos.

“Oahu’s single-family market is moving with incredible velocity, driven by motivated buyers acting quickly on limited inventory,” said Sachi Braden, founder of Sachi Hawaii. “While condo sales volume has cooled slightly, rising median prices and strong pending sales show that baseline demand remains robust. This summer market favors strategic readiness—buyers who prepare their financing and work with sharp professional representation are finding success despite tight active inventory.”

Local buyers are successfully navigating these competitive conditions through initiatives like the state’s new Hale Kamaʻāina Mortgage Program. Administered by the HHFDC, the program celebrated its first three closings in May, offering below-market interest rates and down payment assistance. Notable success stories include Ashley Maeshiro, a public school teacher who purchased a Makiki condo with a $223,000 mortgage, and the Nacapuy family, who transitioned from renting to a three-bedroom Mililani Mauka townhome via a $581,000 mortgage. These milestones highlight how targeted financing is expanding homeownership access for Hawaii residents.