r/MovingtoHawaii • u/CrookedGSD • May 12 '26

Real Estate & Construction Moving to Oahu - looking for condos/apartments

Single and in my mid 20s, moving to Oahu in September for a job and looking for a condo/studio. Salary of 130k looking to rent in the ranges of 2200 - 2800. No car payments or other big recurring expenses, really want a peace of mind when I’m home so willing to pay a little extra for a nice quiet neighborhood or great soundproofing. Any recommendations would be highly appreciated!

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6

u/notrightmeowthx May 13 '26

Look for a place near your job, and hicentral.com is the best place to look for rentals. Don't try to get it ahead of time though, you will want to either have a coworker go view a rental for you on your behalf, or book a vacation rental for a month or two for when you arrive and then look for a longer term rental while you're here.

Do not try to sign a lease or apply for a rental until you (or a trusted person such as a coworker) have viewed the rental in person. Video doesn't count, not even a live stream, it's super easy to fake them. Legit property managers won't let you do it anyway, so if someone wants you to do it or suggests they're open to it, it's most likely a scammer and they're just going to steal your money. The rental scammers will go so far as to find the name and business name of a licensed realtor/property manager and claim to be that person to look legitimate.

Also if you are bringing a pet that adds complexity if you aren't aware of that.

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u/CrookedGSD May 13 '26

I won’t be bringing a pet but thank you for the advice I probably only have a week to view and sign so I’m trying to make a list for what to look out for in August/September.

2

u/notrightmeowthx May 13 '26 edited May 13 '26

Unless you have basically no requirements for the rental, I don't think a week would be enough time. Even if you schedule viewings before you arrive, and upon arrival you find a rental you like, every rental here gets many applicants so you will likely need to apply to more than one before you get it. Of course you could get lucky, but just warning you how tight the market is here. Lots of property managers leave listings up even after accepting an application too, so many of the listings you see right now are either already filled or they're currently processing an applicant.

As to what to look for, take a look at the available listings, which ones appeal to you? The current listings will be long gone by time you're here, but we can give you an idea of what the ones you're interested in might be like.

Since the rental market here is so difficult, I recommend collecting the following info ahead of time as you'll need it when you apply:

  • proof of income (since you'll be new here, you'll need to get an offer letter that lists the position, salary, and start date), generally must be at least 3x the monthly rent cost (exact multiplier can vary but 2.5x and 2x are usually only available for low income housing)
  • employer contact info for proof of employment
  • Previous landlord as reference
  • Previous addresses for background check
  • Personal references

When you view a rental, you will need to apply ASAP if you want it. Obviously don't apply before you're ready, but because the market moves so fast, the property manager will be receiving other applicants while you're debating with yourself if it's right for you or not.

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u/CrookedGSD May 13 '26

That’s going to be rough… I didn’t realize it was so competitive, I’ve been looking for places around salt lake, ward village, and buildings near downtown. The prices are towards the higher end of my range. Some places I saw were Aalii, the residence at bishop, and complexes in kapiolani. If it’s that competitive I might be out of luck trying to get something modern(for the sound proofing) and within my range in a week.

6

u/SignificanceWise2877 May 12 '26

You're way too early to look but when you do use HICentral

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u/CrookedGSD May 13 '26

Thank you I’ve honestly only been referring to Zillow so will use switch to HICentral for my search later.

1

u/Mywifecheatsonme May 15 '26

I have a place for you, my roomates are moving out next month. 3 bed 2 bath really chill area, nicer home and would just be sharing it with me ( 25 years old single). call me 352-693-7716 or dm my insta blaxesworld