Even in Hawaii, it’s not always easy to find the house that one hundred percent meets all your dream criteria. If you’re someone who appreciates that every detail matters, building your dream home on a blank lot might be the perfect place to turn idle dreaming into proactive scheming.
Fortunately, I have two lots available in Kurtistown, HI begging for your forever home.
Lot 1 Huina Rd - $179,000
Lot 3 Huina Rd - $210,000
Both lots sit on over an acre of land and include multiple fruit trees such as avocados, tangerines, and jaboticabas. But that’s not all these lots have to offer. Keep reading to find out why building your dream home on a blank lot might be a good option for you.
Here are a few of the pros and cons of buying land in Hawaii and starting with an empty canvas.
Location, Location, Location
We love the tourists, but sometimes you want to get away from the crowds. Ten miles south of Hilo, Kurtistown is the place to start living like a local.
And don’t worry – it’s a quick 20 minute drive to the beach.
This location will require you to install septic, electric, and water. However, it has been cleared and is ready for future development. (Note: Lot 1 has a 40’ wide easement across the lowest part of the land.)
When buying an empty lot with an eye to build your dream home, it can be harder to calculate and understand the costs involved. But at $3 and $4 per square foot, I can promise you that these properties are a steal.
Investment Opportunity
Either of these Kurtistown would make a great investment property. Land is always a finite resource, and that definitely holds true in Hawaii. This limited supply and growing demand means that undeveloped land can offer you great appreciation value.
Yes, undeveloped land might require a larger down payment. But the payoff is low maintenance costs. Buying undeveloped land frees you from the usual house upkeep – costs that can cumulatively erode 1% - 3% of the home’s purchase price.
The housing market is in a squeeze of high demand and low inventory. Most buyers are looking to buy property with homes they can move into immediately. If you’re in a position to wait a bit, why not avoid competition by purchasing undeveloped land?
Customization
It goes without saying, if you purchase a blank lot, your options are nearly endless. (Plus there’s no homeowners association attached to these lots, meaning you're free to paint your house any color you want.)
Not only does a blank lot mean you would get the final say over every aspect of the house design, it also means that you could use this land for purposes beyond housing.
Kurtistown is somewhat off the beaten path – excellent if you’re looking to avoid the tourists – so this might not be the place to open that specialty cocktail bar you’ve been dreaming up.
But that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t make an excellent location to try your hand at small-scale farming. (And if you can’t be bothered to get your hands dirty yourself, you could always rent it out to full-time farmers.)
Build Your Hawaiian Home From the Ground Up
Whether you’re looking to become a full-time or part-time local, what better way to root yourself in Big Island living than by building your Hawaiian home literally from the ground up?
Schedule an in-person tour of these lots, and I’ll help you start envisioning your future piece of paradise.
Aloha, and welcome to Hawaii.