By Dan Polimino
Of course you do! I was meeting with a client at a local eatery and he said to me, “It’s always been my dream to have a place in Hawai`i right on the ocean.” And why not? I mean, it’s one of the reasons why you would move to Hawai`i or own a second home here. You are here to enjoy all the ocean activities and everything that’s terrific about Hawai`i. However, when it comes to owning property on the ocean, you definitely need to know what you are getting into. So here is my not-so-comprehensive list of warnings about what you’re potentially buying into if you want a place on the ocean.
- The first thing you need to consider is the salt air. It’s highly corrosive. So, I want you to go into a purchase with the understanding and planning for replacing your appliances about every 3 to 5 years. It’s nice to have beautiful stainless-steel appliances, but they will rust and wear out, and you will need to replace them every 3 to 5 years.
- Electronics. It should go without saying, but they are highly susceptible to salt air. Things like giant screen TVs, computer equipment, and anything electronic will also fall into the category of needing to be replaced every 3 to 5 years.
- HVAC is a big deal here in Hawai`i. Because your home is located along the water, it’s also in one of the hottest areas on the island. You will need air conditioning, and the salt air will kill the condensing units outside. So go into it with the thought that whatever you think is the average lifespan of that condensing unit, cut it in half or by ¾. If that condensing unit has an average 10-year lifespan, it’s going to last four or five years in Hawai`i before it rusts out and needs to be replaced. Also, air conditioning is grossly expensive in Hawai`i. A typical central air conditioning system for a two-bedroom condo could easily cost $13-$15,000 in Hawai`i. In the continental U.S., that same system will cost you $6,000.
- Mold and mildew are common in Hawai’i, but will require more attention in properties on the ocean. We live in a subtropical climate, so mold and mildew are something everybody deals with in Hawai`i. The problem is exacerbated when the property is on the ocean. Typically, what you’ll see is black mold or mildew on the surfaces of furniture, counters, fixtures, on your drywall, or your ceilings. This requires constant cleaning, disinfecting, and maintenance.
- “My property feels wet or moist” is something I hear frequently from people who have properties on the ocean, particularly during the winter, when we have high surf. I can think of several condo complexes that get ocean spray from big waves in the winter. And yes, this ocean spray will find its way into your property, which means your property could feel wet and moist. Not much you can do about this except to keep the windows and doors closed and only run the air conditioning. But how much fun is that? Didn’t you buy a place on the ocean so you could keep the windows and doors open to feel the ocean breeze?
- “My property got hit by a wave.” Yes, this is a real thing. There are oceanfront complexes along Ali`i Drive where the waves get so large they hit the building. So, flooding could happen, and you need to make sure you have very good insurance (this will cost more). Does it happen all the time…no, but it’s happened more than once in the last six years.
- The exterior of your building will take a beating. The salt air, the waves and the extreme heat will take a real toll on your building or your single-family home. If you’re in a condo complex, this will result in constant maintenance and higher HOA fees. If you’re in a single-family home, this will just require constant maintenance, which will translate to more money out of pocket for you each year.
I hope I haven’t rained on your parade and quenched your hopes of purchasing a property on the ocean in Hawai`i. People do it all the time, and there are tons of homes and condos that not only survive but do well on the oceanfront. The important point to pull out of this article is to know what you’re getting into and the enormous additional expense it will create. If you’re OK with doing the work and paying the money, then you should have a good experience. But as they say here in Hawai`i, “that’s the cost of paradise.”
If we can help you find that dream property here on the Big Island of Hawai`i we would love to be at your service. Contact me on my cell phone 808-987-3306 or dan@thehawaiiteam.com. I look forward to hearing from you. Aloha. Dan
