Housing options in Oahu..
09-23-2016, 06:57 PM
#21
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Originally Posted by tikicarver
As soon as you get a firm class date, start securing a place to live. One thing that no one mentioned that surprised me when I moved there, even if you have money in hand and find an empty apartment, they will not let you move in right away most of the time. many places we looked at that were advertised for rent were being rented by management companies. They treat it like you are buying a house. For example, you see an ad that says Apartment for rent, you call them up and say I would like to look at it. They say, great, we are doing a showing next week on Wed. Even if you say you are ready to put money down and move in immediately, they say no, you have to come to the showing. So you go to the showing, along with 10 other people. It is like an open house for a house for sale. So you say you love it and will give them the down payment right now. Well, no, you have to fill out an application and they will get back to you.
Originally Posted by CaptainDooley
Craigs List is your best bet. Lots of rentals on there.
But I don't think you can secure a place without going there for a few days.
But I don't think you can secure a place without going there for a few days.
09-24-2016, 12:56 AM
#22
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Posts: 81
From the landlord's perspective I can tell you that the reason a lot of times you have to deal with the whole open-house process is simply because there are usually so many people going for a given rental unit that unless we did it that way we could never get off the phone! On the mainland in many areas it seems like there are more properties than qualified rental applicants, making it more of a renter's market. In Hawaii it is very much the opposite. The "house" holds the advantage. My wife and I manage 4 properties, 2 of which are here (both now occupied by excellent long-term tenants), and the last time we had one vacant it was vacant for a grand total of 4 days. We did a single open house date, and had about 50 people show up within 2 hours. The guy who wound up renting basically camped out in front of the door, had already pulled his own credit reports, had copies of employment records, W2s etc. That is what the rental market can sometimes be like out here. We had to do the same thing and get turned down 9 out of 10 places ourselves when we first moved out many moons ago.
Of those people a good 30-ish filled out the application, and of those people about half were actually qualified (we did criminal background, credit, and employment checks on all of the applicants who were serious, at their own expense). This was for one day, and not the most convenient and desirable of the 2 Hawaii properties. The open house means that now we had actually met and had a chance to "feel out" the large group of qualified people, and could take our pick. We have all had nightmare tenants, and would like every possible advantage to find the best possible person to whom to rent our property, with as little down-time as possible. Basically what I'm telling you is that, bluntly, the reason rental property managers are such d!cks in Hawaii is because we can be. Honestly it REALLY sucks to be someone searching for a rental in Hawaii. Been there, done that, feel your pain.
There are some places in Kapolei (Kapolei Lofts is a newer one) and Kalaeloa that have large dedicated rental buildings, which are closer in style to a Mainland apartment building where you walk into the office and rent from the management company but they are more expensive than the normal market price. There are also some cheaper units out there in walk-ups in older sections of downtown like Liliha that aren't bad but prepare for a nightmare trying to find parking, and expect it to be pretty much on the quality of a beat up walk-up anywhere else. Avoid any apartments in Kalihi, Waipahu, or Wahiawa until you get to know the areas very well. Be prepared for some disappointment, and just keep chugging away and it will come together. We have a large homeless problem here, but no homeless pilots. Everything in Hawaii gets done, it just takes time. Finding a place to live is like that. You will find what you need, it will just take more time than you are used to and maybe a little more hassle and a little more networking.
Of those people a good 30-ish filled out the application, and of those people about half were actually qualified (we did criminal background, credit, and employment checks on all of the applicants who were serious, at their own expense). This was for one day, and not the most convenient and desirable of the 2 Hawaii properties. The open house means that now we had actually met and had a chance to "feel out" the large group of qualified people, and could take our pick. We have all had nightmare tenants, and would like every possible advantage to find the best possible person to whom to rent our property, with as little down-time as possible. Basically what I'm telling you is that, bluntly, the reason rental property managers are such d!cks in Hawaii is because we can be. Honestly it REALLY sucks to be someone searching for a rental in Hawaii. Been there, done that, feel your pain.
There are some places in Kapolei (Kapolei Lofts is a newer one) and Kalaeloa that have large dedicated rental buildings, which are closer in style to a Mainland apartment building where you walk into the office and rent from the management company but they are more expensive than the normal market price. There are also some cheaper units out there in walk-ups in older sections of downtown like Liliha that aren't bad but prepare for a nightmare trying to find parking, and expect it to be pretty much on the quality of a beat up walk-up anywhere else. Avoid any apartments in Kalihi, Waipahu, or Wahiawa until you get to know the areas very well. Be prepared for some disappointment, and just keep chugging away and it will come together. We have a large homeless problem here, but no homeless pilots. Everything in Hawaii gets done, it just takes time. Finding a place to live is like that. You will find what you need, it will just take more time than you are used to and maybe a little more hassle and a little more networking.
Last edited by WindWalker999; 09-24-2016 at 01:12 AM.
09-24-2016, 03:04 PM
#23
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Joined APC: Jun 2015
Posts: 205
Housing options in Oahu..
Read: A lot more hassle and more networking, for twice the rent on the mainland for a place that's 40years old, and half the size of what you're used too.
Have kids to put in school? Have a wife that works? If the answer is yes to either one of those, multiply your issues times 20 now. Finding a place to live will be the easy part.
Yes, full disclosure here I'm one of the people that got hammered from the closure of our only mainland base. I admit I've got a little bit of an attitude.
After jumping in with both feet though after the closure and moving my entire family out here, I can safely say I would not have done that had I known everything that would've gone with it.
Unless you or your spouse are actually from the islands, I would stay put and commute. I will just chalk this up to life's little lessons, and try to pass on what I've discovered. Good luck to you whatever you decide.
Have kids to put in school? Have a wife that works? If the answer is yes to either one of those, multiply your issues times 20 now. Finding a place to live will be the easy part.
Yes, full disclosure here I'm one of the people that got hammered from the closure of our only mainland base. I admit I've got a little bit of an attitude.
After jumping in with both feet though after the closure and moving my entire family out here, I can safely say I would not have done that had I known everything that would've gone with it.
Unless you or your spouse are actually from the islands, I would stay put and commute. I will just chalk this up to life's little lessons, and try to pass on what I've discovered. Good luck to you whatever you decide.
09-24-2016, 11:57 PM
#24
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The take home here should be that Hawaii is a commitment, living here is not for everyone and you need to really know what you are getting in to and not expect things to work the same way they do elsewhere in the USA. No matter how big a town Honolulu is, Oahu is still an island. Supply and demand makes the balance of a lot of things very different than most mainland locations. The culture is very unique, and you will either really love it or really not. That one works both ways, too. Basic common sense respect and humility go a long way here; aggressive "New Yorker" style attitudes do not (not the cool attitudes that real people from New York have, but the stereotypical jerk attitudes that West Coast people THINK people from New York have).
That being said, there are just as many people who have moved their families to Hawaii come hell or high water, fell absolutely in love with it, and swear they will NEVER go back, as there are people who have the experience "Hawaiian 5O" describes. Depends a lot on you and a lot more on your family, like he says. Your mileage may vary.
Also take with a grain of salt the opinions on commuting of someone senior enough to have been here since mainland base displacement; you will most likely be reserve Interisland which, while doable (there are a couple people on the 717 with legendary commutes who do it happily), is very difficult until you have the seniority to block your days together, which you will most definitely not at first.
3 years. That is about how long it takes to really KNOW if you like it in Hawaii or not. That is about the time that people either get "island fever" and bail out, or have totally taken to the lifestyle and decide to never leave.
Again, YMMV.
That being said, there are just as many people who have moved their families to Hawaii come hell or high water, fell absolutely in love with it, and swear they will NEVER go back, as there are people who have the experience "Hawaiian 5O" describes. Depends a lot on you and a lot more on your family, like he says. Your mileage may vary.
Also take with a grain of salt the opinions on commuting of someone senior enough to have been here since mainland base displacement; you will most likely be reserve Interisland which, while doable (there are a couple people on the 717 with legendary commutes who do it happily), is very difficult until you have the seniority to block your days together, which you will most definitely not at first.
3 years. That is about how long it takes to really KNOW if you like it in Hawaii or not. That is about the time that people either get "island fever" and bail out, or have totally taken to the lifestyle and decide to never leave.
Again, YMMV.
Last edited by WindWalker999; 09-25-2016 at 12:07 AM.
09-25-2016, 09:42 AM
#25
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Joined APC: Jun 2015
Posts: 205
Originally Posted by WindWalker999
The take home here should be that Hawaii is a commitment, living here is not for everyone and you need to really know what you are getting in to and not expect things to work the same way they do elsewhere in the USA. No matter how big a town Honolulu is, Oahu is still an island. Supply and demand makes the balance of a lot of things very different than most mainland locations. The culture is very unique, and you will either really love it or really not. That one works both ways, too. Basic common sense respect and humility go a long way here; aggressive "New Yorker" style attitudes do not (not the cool attitudes that real people from New York have, but the stereotypical jerk attitudes that West Coast people THINK people from New York have).
That being said, there are just as many people who have moved their families to Hawaii come hell or high water, fell absolutely in love with it, and swear they will NEVER go back, as there are people who have the experience "Hawaiian 5O" describes. Depends a lot on you and a lot more on your family, like he says. Your mileage may vary.
Also take with a grain of salt the opinions on commuting of someone senior enough to have been here since mainland base displacement; you will most likely be reserve Interisland which, while doable (there are a couple people on the 717 with legendary commutes who do it happily), is very difficult until you have the seniority to block your days together, which you will most definitely not at first.
3 years. That is about how long it takes to really KNOW if you like it in Hawaii or not. That is about the time that people either get "island fever" and bail out, or have totally taken to the lifestyle and decide to never leave.
Again, YMMV.
That being said, there are just as many people who have moved their families to Hawaii come hell or high water, fell absolutely in love with it, and swear they will NEVER go back, as there are people who have the experience "Hawaiian 5O" describes. Depends a lot on you and a lot more on your family, like he says. Your mileage may vary.
Also take with a grain of salt the opinions on commuting of someone senior enough to have been here since mainland base displacement; you will most likely be reserve Interisland which, while doable (there are a couple people on the 717 with legendary commutes who do it happily), is very difficult until you have the seniority to block your days together, which you will most definitely not at first.
3 years. That is about how long it takes to really KNOW if you like it in Hawaii or not. That is about the time that people either get "island fever" and bail out, or have totally taken to the lifestyle and decide to never leave.
Again, YMMV.
Well said. Agreed 100%. Good advice right there.
09-25-2016, 11:06 AM
#26
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Joined APC: Jun 2012
Position: FTE
Posts: 194
agree the above is good advice to know what you are getting into.
However I think you have not addressed the OP problems.
If he is starting class at HAL and currently lives in Asia, no way he can commute. So forgetting all the things about the lifestyle and schools, etc. His immediate problem is finding a place to live. Even if it just for him the first 2 months while in ground school.
Unlike other majors that give you a hotel room while in ground school, he will be on his own day one.
I understand the post above from the landlord's view of trying to get a good tenant. However, I don't agree that the rental market is that tight. I took a quick look at Craig's List, searched for 2br/1ba, 600ft or greater for $2000 or less/month. It came back with 640 listings.
If you up the price to $2200 it was 1700 listings. So if you are not too picky about location there is a lot to pick from. On the other hand if you must be on the windward side, then there is only a handful.
Advice #1-- don't be picky on location when first moving to HI.
The second question OP had was how much time will it take to get a place. IMHO that is hard to say. With the majority of landlords/management company doing the showing+app+ we get back to you, the first week in HI would be spent just going to showings and filling out apps and hoping one comes through quickly.
Well you know hope is not a plan.
If OP has a week to spend in HI before ground school starts I would certainly try that, but I would also set up plan-B. Plan-B would be to find a space in a crashpad and leave family in place until you secure a long term pad.
Then there is the elephant in the room.
First year pay is $2700/month. 9 out 10 places you want to rent are going to ask how much you make per month. How many do you think are going to approve you on a $1800/month apartment?
That is why I say your best bet to find a place is find one where you are dealing with the owner directly. Management companies are going to just dismiss your app and say you don't qualify.
I wonder if Windwalker would comment. If one of the apps you got was from the guy above and your place was $1800/month, would you rent to him?
Not trying to be negative, but I know exactly the OPs problem. When I first came to HI I didn't know anyone and only had been there 2 days when I interviewed at WP. I came out with a hotel reservation for 2 weeks, figured that would be plenty of time to find a place since it was only me and my wife and we only needed a small 1br place.
I quickly found out it was not going to be easy or quick. I found some places that would have been fine, they were already empty and I had the cash. I told them I liked it and would give them the deposit right now. No luck, fill out the app and wait. I ended up getting very lucky, I found a place and was getting the usual response when I said we would take it. But when I mentioned I would be working at WP, all of a sudden a different response. "Oh, my cousin works at WP, let me talk with the owner of the apartment". I got a call back an 1 hr later, place is yours. My first lesson of how things work in HI. lol.
One other problem in HI housing. even if you have lots of cash in the bank. There are no Extended Stay type hotels or Motel-6 that you can stay in for awhile while looking.
Good luck finding a place, hope it doesn't take you too long.
However I think you have not addressed the OP problems.
If he is starting class at HAL and currently lives in Asia, no way he can commute. So forgetting all the things about the lifestyle and schools, etc. His immediate problem is finding a place to live. Even if it just for him the first 2 months while in ground school.
Unlike other majors that give you a hotel room while in ground school, he will be on his own day one.
I understand the post above from the landlord's view of trying to get a good tenant. However, I don't agree that the rental market is that tight. I took a quick look at Craig's List, searched for 2br/1ba, 600ft or greater for $2000 or less/month. It came back with 640 listings.
If you up the price to $2200 it was 1700 listings. So if you are not too picky about location there is a lot to pick from. On the other hand if you must be on the windward side, then there is only a handful.
Advice #1-- don't be picky on location when first moving to HI.
The second question OP had was how much time will it take to get a place. IMHO that is hard to say. With the majority of landlords/management company doing the showing+app+ we get back to you, the first week in HI would be spent just going to showings and filling out apps and hoping one comes through quickly.
Well you know hope is not a plan.
If OP has a week to spend in HI before ground school starts I would certainly try that, but I would also set up plan-B. Plan-B would be to find a space in a crashpad and leave family in place until you secure a long term pad.
Then there is the elephant in the room.
First year pay is $2700/month. 9 out 10 places you want to rent are going to ask how much you make per month. How many do you think are going to approve you on a $1800/month apartment?
That is why I say your best bet to find a place is find one where you are dealing with the owner directly. Management companies are going to just dismiss your app and say you don't qualify.
I wonder if Windwalker would comment. If one of the apps you got was from the guy above and your place was $1800/month, would you rent to him?
Not trying to be negative, but I know exactly the OPs problem. When I first came to HI I didn't know anyone and only had been there 2 days when I interviewed at WP. I came out with a hotel reservation for 2 weeks, figured that would be plenty of time to find a place since it was only me and my wife and we only needed a small 1br place.
I quickly found out it was not going to be easy or quick. I found some places that would have been fine, they were already empty and I had the cash. I told them I liked it and would give them the deposit right now. No luck, fill out the app and wait. I ended up getting very lucky, I found a place and was getting the usual response when I said we would take it. But when I mentioned I would be working at WP, all of a sudden a different response. "Oh, my cousin works at WP, let me talk with the owner of the apartment". I got a call back an 1 hr later, place is yours. My first lesson of how things work in HI. lol.
One other problem in HI housing. even if you have lots of cash in the bank. There are no Extended Stay type hotels or Motel-6 that you can stay in for awhile while looking.
Good luck finding a place, hope it doesn't take you too long.
09-25-2016, 12:03 PM
#27
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Joined APC: Aug 2015
Posts: 81
Originally Posted by tikicarver
agree the above is good advice to know what you are getting into.
However I think you have not addressed the OP problems.
If he is starting class at HAL and currently lives in Asia, no way he can commute. So forgetting all the things about the lifestyle and schools, etc. His immediate problem is finding a place to live. Even if it just for him the first 2 months while in ground school.
Unlike other majors that give you a hotel room while in ground school, he will be on his own day one.
I understand the post above from the landlord's view of trying to get a good tenant. However, I don't agree that the rental market is that tight. I took a quick look at Craig's List, searched for 2br/1ba, 600ft or greater for $2000 or less/month. It came back with 640 listings.
If you up the price to $2200 it was 1700 listings. So if you are not too picky about location there is a lot to pick from. On the other hand if you must be on the windward side, then there is only a handful.
Advice #1-- don't be picky on location when first moving to HI.
The second question OP had was how much time will it take to get a place. IMHO that is hard to say. With the majority of landlords/management company doing the showing+app+ we get back to you, the first week in HI would be spent just going to showings and filling out apps and hoping one comes through quickly.
Well you know hope is not a plan.
If OP has a week to spend in HI before ground school starts I would certainly try that, but I would also set up plan-B. Plan-B would be to find a space in a crashpad and leave family in place until you secure a long term pad.
Then there is the elephant in the room.
First year pay is $2700/month. 9 out 10 places you want to rent are going to ask how much you make per month. How many do you think are going to approve you on a $1800/month apartment?
That is why I say your best bet to find a place is find one where you are dealing with the owner directly. Management companies are going to just dismiss your app and say you don't qualify.
I wonder if Windwalker would comment. If one of the apps you got was from the guy above and your place was $1800/month, would you rent to him?
Not trying to be negative, but I know exactly the OPs problem. When I first came to HI I didn't know anyone and only had been there 2 days when I interviewed at WP. I came out with a hotel reservation for 2 weeks, figured that would be plenty of time to find a place since it was only me and my wife and we only needed a small 1br place.
I quickly found out it was not going to be easy or quick. I found some places that would have been fine, they were already empty and I had the cash. I told them I liked it and would give them the deposit right now. No luck, fill out the app and wait. I ended up getting very lucky, I found a place and was getting the usual response when I said we would take it. But when I mentioned I would be working at WP, all of a sudden a different response. "Oh, my cousin works at WP, let me talk with the owner of the apartment". I got a call back an 1 hr later, place is yours. My first lesson of how things work in HI. lol.
One other problem in HI housing. even if you have lots of cash in the bank. There are no Extended Stay type hotels or Motel-6 that you can stay in for awhile while looking.
Good luck finding a place, hope it doesn't take you too long.
However I think you have not addressed the OP problems.
If he is starting class at HAL and currently lives in Asia, no way he can commute. So forgetting all the things about the lifestyle and schools, etc. His immediate problem is finding a place to live. Even if it just for him the first 2 months while in ground school.
Unlike other majors that give you a hotel room while in ground school, he will be on his own day one.
I understand the post above from the landlord's view of trying to get a good tenant. However, I don't agree that the rental market is that tight. I took a quick look at Craig's List, searched for 2br/1ba, 600ft or greater for $2000 or less/month. It came back with 640 listings.
If you up the price to $2200 it was 1700 listings. So if you are not too picky about location there is a lot to pick from. On the other hand if you must be on the windward side, then there is only a handful.
Advice #1-- don't be picky on location when first moving to HI.
The second question OP had was how much time will it take to get a place. IMHO that is hard to say. With the majority of landlords/management company doing the showing+app+ we get back to you, the first week in HI would be spent just going to showings and filling out apps and hoping one comes through quickly.
Well you know hope is not a plan.
If OP has a week to spend in HI before ground school starts I would certainly try that, but I would also set up plan-B. Plan-B would be to find a space in a crashpad and leave family in place until you secure a long term pad.
Then there is the elephant in the room.
First year pay is $2700/month. 9 out 10 places you want to rent are going to ask how much you make per month. How many do you think are going to approve you on a $1800/month apartment?
That is why I say your best bet to find a place is find one where you are dealing with the owner directly. Management companies are going to just dismiss your app and say you don't qualify.
I wonder if Windwalker would comment. If one of the apps you got was from the guy above and your place was $1800/month, would you rent to him?
Not trying to be negative, but I know exactly the OPs problem. When I first came to HI I didn't know anyone and only had been there 2 days when I interviewed at WP. I came out with a hotel reservation for 2 weeks, figured that would be plenty of time to find a place since it was only me and my wife and we only needed a small 1br place.
I quickly found out it was not going to be easy or quick. I found some places that would have been fine, they were already empty and I had the cash. I told them I liked it and would give them the deposit right now. No luck, fill out the app and wait. I ended up getting very lucky, I found a place and was getting the usual response when I said we would take it. But when I mentioned I would be working at WP, all of a sudden a different response. "Oh, my cousin works at WP, let me talk with the owner of the apartment". I got a call back an 1 hr later, place is yours. My first lesson of how things work in HI. lol.
One other problem in HI housing. even if you have lots of cash in the bank. There are no Extended Stay type hotels or Motel-6 that you can stay in for awhile while looking.
Good luck finding a place, hope it doesn't take you too long.
09-27-2016, 10:15 PM
#28
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Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jun 2010
Posts: 59
Originally Posted by tikicarver
Not trying to be negative, but I know exactly the OPs problem. When I first came to HI I didn't know anyone and only had been there 2 days when I interviewed at WP. I came out with a hotel reservation for 2 weeks, figured that would be plenty of time to find a place since it was only me and my wife and we only needed a small 1br place.
I quickly found out it was not going to be easy or quick. I found some places that would have been fine, they were already empty and I had the cash. I told them I liked it and would give them the deposit right now. No luck, fill out the app and wait. I ended up getting very lucky, I found a place and was getting the usual response when I said we would take it. But when I mentioned I would be working at WP, all of a sudden a different response. "Oh, my cousin works at WP, let me talk with the owner of the apartment". I got a call back an 1 hr later, place is yours. My first lesson of how things work in HI. lol.
Can I also expect the training to last about 2-3 months?
09-29-2016, 02:33 AM
#29
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Joined APC: Sep 2016
Posts: 28
Lots of good advice and recommendations. I didn't see these links posted on here. Perhaps they may be worth checking out.
AHRN.com | Connecting the military community with housing
http://www.hicentral.com/
Good luck with your housing search and congrats.
SP
AHRN.com | Connecting the military community with housing
http://www.hicentral.com/
Good luck with your housing search and congrats.
SP
10-17-2016, 03:07 PM
#30
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Joined APC: Oct 2016
Posts: 95
I own a home on the Kaneohe/Kailua neighborhood. It sits empty 25+ days per month and I have had a succession of short term renters in there. I am considering throwing together a crash pad for HA commuters/trainees. The place is a 4 BR /2 BA home in a safe nice neighborhood 25 minutes to HAL parking. It has 5 beds and 4 futons for overflow. The one caveat I have is that I like to have the place to myself for extended periods over summer and holidays so my kids can visit. I am open to suggestions on arrangements that can be made. The following video is a bit dated but gives an idea of the layout. Please email me or message me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sELmbYIGQs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sELmbYIGQs
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