Kazuhiro Maruko
Principal Broker/Designated REALTOR® · RB-23150
English · Japanese
Rent vs buy
The funnel that's willing to say “not yet.”
Two tools most real-estate sites won't give you: math that can conclude renting wins, and a trip plan for testing an island before you buy into it. Then — only when you ask — an intro to someone local who works the same way.
Buying pencils out
Owning breaks even around year 10.
If you'll realistically stay 10 years, buying builds more wealth than renting at these numbers — after selling costs, taxes, insurance, upkeep, and what your down payment could have earned elsewhere.
| Year | Net cost of owning | Net cost of renting | Owning is… |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $96,713 | $30,300 | $66,413 behind |
| 2 | $129,246 | $61,580 | $67,666 behind |
| 3 | $160,544 | $93,869 | $66,675 behind |
| 4 | $190,550 | $127,200 | $63,350 behind |
| 5 | $219,203 | $161,606 | $57,597 behind |
| 6 | $246,439 | $197,119 | $49,320 behind |
| 7 | $272,189 | $233,774 | $38,415 behind |
| 8 | $296,384 | $271,607 | $24,777 behind |
| 9 | $318,947 | $310,653 | $8,293 behind |
| 10 | $339,799 | $350,951 | $11,152 ahead |
Assumes 3% home appreciation, 3.5% rent growth, 4.5% return on the invested down payment, 7% selling costs. Net of equity you could walk away with.
Scouting trip planner
Rehearse a Tuesday, not a vacation.
Nearly everyone who regrets a Hawaiʻi move skipped this step. Pick your candidate islands and trip length; get an itinerary built around commutes, groceries, and rain — the things that decide whether you stay.
Islands you're considering
The goal of a scouting trip is to rehearse a Tuesday, not a vacation. Fly midweek, rent local, and skip anything you'd put on a honeymoon itinerary.
Oʻahu
~10 days- —Drive the H-1 at 7:30am from wherever you'd actually live
- —Price a week of groceries at Foodland or Times, not Whole Foods
- —Spend an evening in Kakaʻako and a Sunday in Kailua — different lives
- —Tour two open houses in your real budget, not your dream one
On every island
- —Rent a regular house or condo, never a resort
- —Cook, do laundry, get a haircut — run errands, not excursions
- —Visit the same grocery store twice
- —Sit in on one open house just to hear how agents here work
When you're ready
Meet the Open Door buyer side.
Live Hawaiian is operated by Open Door. Your request goes to Kazuhiro Maruko or Andy Wang — verified Hawaiʻi real estate professionals, not a lead list.
Buyer-side consultation · Open Door
Buyer-side advice, with roles made clear.
Live Hawaiian is operated by Open Door. Choose Kazuhiro or Andy, or let the first available advisor respond. Sending a request does not create an agency relationship.
Andy Wang
REALTOR® Salesperson · RS-88562