Surf to Live, Live to Surf

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Every surfer worth his weight in wax has dreamed about owning property in Hawaii.  Whether it's a vacation home for surfing excursions or a full-time residence to leave the mainland behind, surfers far and wide come to Hawaii for the incredible waves and Aloha spirit.  Your problems, anxieties, and worries disappear the second you paddle out (unless you're surfing the 10 ft.+ bombs at Pipeline). 

Passion for the sport connects people of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds to the same shores because once they are in the water, everybody is equal and the waves are all that matters.  Visiting once every few years is nice, every year is better, but what if you could come and go as you please?  What if that surf shack that you visualize in your dreams is within your grasp?  

Where Surfing and Real Estate Collide

Locations knows surfing and Hawaii real estate better than any other company in the world.  Locations agent Moses Paskowitz and his family have been surfing the waves of Oahu for generations.  Since 1939, his family has represented everything pure about the sport and the culture that surrounds it.  Famously featured in the documentary "Surfwise", Moses' surfing roots run deep as does his knowledge and experience in the Oahu real estate market. 

Sean Yano is a Locations Agent and former pro surfer who's competed at the highest levels of the sport.  He previously described his experience spending winters with the world's top surfers on the famous North Shore, which is a great read if you have the time.  A proven expert in both surfing and real estate on Oahu, he has years of experience helping locals and out of state homebuyers find their ideal surf pads.

Surfing and Investing 

You may be hesitant because a vacation home is a risky and expensive investment, and while you love to surf, owning property in the best place for it seems out of the realm of possibility.   

How do you pay for the fees and maintenance while you're working on the mainland?  Properties near the best surf spots on Oahu are easy to keep full during the year with fellow surfers and vacationing tourists.  This can provide a substantial supplement to your expenses and you can also hire a property management company to take care of all the details you don't have time to manage.  

More importantly, the home or condo you buy is a chance to invest in one of the hottest real estate markets in the United States.  Real estate has increased on the island an average of 6.3% since 1979, and is in the midst of another rapid growth period. Look at median prices in the past 30 years:  

Oahu's housing shortage and increasing demand continue to push prices upward.  You've most likely flirted with the idea of investing in real estate, but it's hard to find an area and home you have complete confidence in.  Oahu presents an opportunity to merge your passion and financial goals into a win-win situation.  This applies to everybody, not just wealthy investors.  Surfers at all income levels have options next to the best surf spots that will fit their needs.   

Defining the Ideal Surf Pad

The criteria we used chose for defining a "surf pad" was simple. The property must be 20 minutes or less (even in traffic) from one of the three most iconic surf spots on Oahu. The three areas were chosen with the assistance of Moses Paskowitz, who details each below.  

Once we had our range, we put together a complete list of properties currently available. We immediately noticed that there are more homes available for surfers (right now) than we had predicted, and that average prices were much lower than we had expected.  

Pipeline (North Shore) 

Pipeline is famous for being the "holy grail" of surfing. A place where the world's greatest surfers come to prove themselves.  "Pipe is, and always has been the Mecca of surfing" says Moses, "The World Surf League (WSL) ends its season here which is a massive event, and it's by far the heaviest spot on the island.  When it's on, there can be up to 500 surfers in the water from all over the world.  The waves are worth it, but imagine trying to catch one with that many people in the water."  The best of the best concur that if you're serious about surfing, Pipeline is the only place to be.

Makaha (West Side)

Makaha is located on the west side of Oahu and has a very different vibe than the south and north shores.  "Makaha embodies the original ideals of Hawaiian Aloha and surfing.  The vibe is very old school, early Hawaii.  It's a place where you are welcome but must always be respectful to the locals."  It's also an area ripe with surfing history, as Moses explains, "The area was a destination for the early pioneers of the sport would enjoy giant surf.  It's still a prime big wave spot today."  As far as living in the area, it's a family oriented, peaceful area. "The place feels very remote, almost like a deserted island at times.  You'll see families spending the entire weekend surfing, swimming, canoeing, and having a great time playing in the water"  

Ala Moana (South Shore)

More open to outsiders and much more frequented, this area is a "Proving ground" says Paskowitz, "Starting with Kaiser to Bowls, Big Rights, Concession's, and ending in Kewalos these are the proving grounds that lead to the North Shore."  What about the waves? "You will not find any other spot on the South Shore that compares to Bowls at Ala Moana. The ferocity in the water makes it the most localized, popular spot on the South Shore." This area is also much more friendly to newcomers. "There are 20 Surf Spots scattered across these couple of miles, and your skill level are not an issue unlike Pipeline and Makaha where big waves can be deadly."  

Surfing Through the Market 

Which Area is Right for You?

When it comes to vacation or investment properties, condos are more popular due to the lower maintenance, proximity to the beach, ease of renting, and convenience when visiting.  

As with most markets, the closer you are to the beach the more you will pay.  One interesting outlier is Makaha, which has units available that vary in price and occupy the same distance to the water.  The west side of the island is less expensive on average, less crowded, and also very remote.  You'll have plenty of peace and quiet but may have some difficulty finding renters.  

Waikiki, Daimond Head, Ala Moana, and Kakaako are all within a few blocks to the water but not in the same way Makaha and North Shore are.  The wide range of apartments are usually smaller than what you'll find in Makaha and North Shore, and the quality of the buildings and individual apartments varies.  You'll find everything from million dollar penthouses to 300 sq. ft. studios, sometimes on the same street.  The area surrounding Ala Moana bowls is the most popular for tourists (Waikiki especially) making it much easier to rent out if necessary.   

Properties with the easiest access to the famous north shore are the priciest.  If you will settle for nothing but the best, it's going to cost you.  Locals have prevented the construction of large condos or neighborhoods in the area, making the available homes even more highly sought after and in short supply than the rest of Oahu.  Before you start getting depressed because your heart was set on pipeline, there are plenty of options still available in North Shore 20 minutes down the road in Haleiwa or Wailua.

Want to browse the properties we used in our map?  We thought you might.  Here is the Google Maps version to play around with.  All of these properties can be found on our website by MLS number or address as well.  

Get Started Now, Have More time to Surf 

Echoing the sentiments of our articles in the previous 2 months, interest rates are definitely going up as are Hawaii real estate prices.  Use this as a blueprint, a jumping off point that will help you form an actionable plan to nurture your passion and invest in your future.  Contact Moses Paskowitz or Sean Yano for more information and unrivaled insight into surfing and real estate on Oahu.