Why Association Dues Matter When Getting Prequalified on Kauai

Thinking about getting a loan to buy property on Kauai?

One thing buyers often don’t factor in soon enough: association dues.

And if you’re eyeing a condo that allows vacation rentals, those dues are going to be higher — because you’re not just buying square footage, you’re also covering the amenities vacationers expect: pools, spas, tennis courts, landscaping, and everything else that makes it feel like a resort.

Even buyers who’ve prequalified themselves sometimes get thrown off when they realize how much these dues impact their loan approval. It can be the difference between thinking you’re shopping in one price range and finding out your actual range is a bit lower.

Let’s take a look at a few examples of 2-bedroom condos in Poipu Beach:

• Makanui at Poipu Kai (Garden View): $2,237.23/month

• Nihi Kai (Horizon Ocean View): $2,114.13/month

• Poipu Kapili (Oceanfront with full ocean views): $3,388.25/month

• Pili Mai (Only one with a garage): $1,384.75/month

Now compare that to a 2-bedroom residential condo at Halelani in Lihue — $744.87/month.

That’s a big difference.

But Halelani doesn’t offer any amenities and it’s a much higher-density property. So, the lower dues come with trade-offs.

This is exactly why, when I’m working with a buyer using financing, I make sure they’ve prequalified with a Hawaii-based lender from the start.

It removes the surprise factor and helps keep expectations in check from day one.

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Aloha! 

Lynda Gill RS Lic. #63088
Hawai’i Life Real Estate Brokers 808.346.0056
LyndaGill@HawaiiLife.com