Hawaii Closing Costs for Buyers: How Much You'll Pay
In Hawaii, the state transfer tax is 0.2% (about $1,547 on a $773,400 home), and an owner's title policy runs about $3,413 plus $250 for the lender's policy. Figures below come from Hawaii statutes, the state's revenue and insurance regulators and filed title rate cards, read on September 11, 2026.
Transfer tax in Hawaii
| Jurisdiction | Rate | |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii (state) | Hawaii's conveyance tax (Haw. | source |
More on Hawaii (state)
Hawaii's conveyance tax (Haw. Rev. Stat. Sec. 247-2) is graduated by price AND depends on whether the PURCHASER qualifies for the county homeowner's exemption on property tax (i.e., will occupy it as a primary residence): for a condo or single-family residence bought by an owner-occupant, the rate at $773,400 (the $600,000-$1,000,000 bracket) is 20 cents per $100 (0.20%); for a purchaser who does NOT qualify for the homeowner's exemption (e.g., an investment or second-home purchase), the same bracket is taxed at 25 cents per $100 (0.25%) instead. Rates rise further at higher price tiers and are highest ($1.00-$1.25 per $100) for transactions of $10,000,000 or more. The minimum tax on any transaction is $1.
Hawaii has no separate county recordation/mortgage tax; the conveyance tax under Chapter 247 is the only ad valorem transfer levy statewide (Hawaii has no county-level real property transfer taxes).
Worked example: On a $773,400 home purchased by an owner-occupant buyer who will claim the county homeowner's exemption, the conveyance tax is about $1,547 (0.20% of $773,400, the owner-occupant rate in the $600,000-$1,000,000 bracket). If the same home is purchased by a buyer who will NOT occupy it as a primary residence (e.g., an investment purchase), the tax rises to about $1,934 (0.25% of $773,400), a real, statute-based difference unique to Hawaii among this batch of states.
How much is title insurance in Hawaii?
On a $773,400 home in Hawaii, an owner's title policy costs about $3,413 and the lender's policy about $250 when both are issued together (the simultaneous-issue discount). The buyer customarily pays for the owner's policy and the lender's policy. Hawaii is a filed-competitive state: each title insurer files its own rates, so premiums differ by company and it pays to get two quotes. Premiums computed from First American Title Fee Calculator (filed rates), Honolulu County, Hawaii, read September 11, 2026.
Who pays the owner's policy: buyer (First American's calculator default allocation for Honolulu County; negotiable by contract) Source
Owner's policy on the full $773,400 price and the lender's policy on an 80% loan ($618,720), quoted together so the simultaneous-issue rate applies; First American filed rates for Honolulu County.
Hawaii-specific buyer costs on a $773,400 home
These are the line items set by Hawaii law or filed rates. Lender fees, appraisal, escrow and prepaid taxes and insurance come on top and depend on your loan.
| Owner's title policy | $3,413 |
|---|---|
| Lender's title policy | $250 |
| State-set items, total | $3,663 |
Other Hawaii specifics
- Hawaii's owner-occupant conveyance-tax differential. Unlike most states' flat-rate transfer taxes, Hawaii's conveyance tax rate itself is materially lower (e.g., 0.20% vs. 0.25% in the $600,000-$1,000,000 bracket, with the gap widening at higher price tiers) for a condo or single-family-residence purchaser who will qualify for the county homeowner's exemption on property tax, i.e., an owner-occupant buyer pays meaningfully less conveyance tax than an investor or second-home buyer on an identical price. Source
- Land Court (Torrens) vs. Regular System property. Many Hawaii properties, especially on Oahu, are registered in the Torrens-based Land Court system rather than the Regular (recording) System; Land Court transactions typically carry different, often higher, Bureau of Conveyances document fees than Regular System recordings, confirm which system a specific property is registered under before quoting a recording fee. Source
How much are closing costs in Hawaii?
For a buyer, closing costs usually run 2% to 5% of the purchase price. On Hawaii's median-priced home (about $773,400), that is roughly $15,468 to $38,670, and it is separate from your down payment. The exact figure depends on your lender, your loan, and local taxes.
What closing costs include
Closing costs are a bundle of one-time fees due at settlement: lender or origination fees, an appraisal, title insurance, escrow and settlement fees, recording fees and any Hawaii transfer tax, plus prepaid property taxes and homeowners insurance.
Why Hawaii closing costs vary
The single biggest reason closing costs differ from state to state is transfer taxes, which states and sometimes counties and cities charge on the sale. Title insurance customs and whether an attorney is required at settlement also matter.
How a rebate offsets Hawaii closing costs
Buyer commission rebates are legal in Hawaii. Because a rebate can be paid as a credit at closing, it can erase a meaningful share of these costs. On a $773,400 home, a 2% rebate is about $15,468, often enough to cover much of the closing bill.
Frequently asked questions
How much is title insurance in Hawaii?
About $3,413 for an owner's policy on a $773,400 home, plus about $250 for the lender's policy when both are issued together. Rates vary by insurer, so get two quotes.
Who pays closing costs in Hawaii?
The buyer customarily pays for the owner's policy and the lender's policy, plus lender fees, appraisal and prepaid taxes and insurance. Sellers often cover part of the buyer's costs through a negotiated concession.
How much is the transfer tax in Hawaii?
Hawaii's conveyance tax (Haw. Rev. Stat. Sec. 247-2) is graduated by price AND depends on whether the PURCHASER qualifies for the county homeowner's exemption on property tax (i.e., will occupy it as a primary residence): for a condo or single-family residence bought by an owner-occupant, the rate at $773,400 (the $600,000-$1,000,000 bracket) is 20 cents per $100 (0.20%); for a purchaser who does NOT qualify for the homeowner's exemption (e.g., an investment or second-home purchase), the same bracket is taxed at 25 cents per $100 (0.25%) instead. Rates rise further at higher price tiers and are highest ($1.00-$1.25 per $100) for transactions of $10,000,000 or more. The minimum tax on any transaction is $1.. On a $773,400 home that is about $1,547, customarily paid by the seller.
How much are closing costs in Hawaii?
Buyer closing costs in Hawaii typically run 2% to 5% of the purchase price. On Hawaii's median-priced home (about $773,400) that is roughly $15,468 to $38,670, on top of your down payment.
What do closing costs include in Hawaii?
Lender or origination fees, an appraisal, title insurance, escrow and settlement fees, recording fees and any Hawaii transfer tax, plus prepaid property taxes and homeowners insurance.
Can a buyer rebate offset closing costs in Hawaii?
Often yes. In Hawaii, buyer commission rebates are legal, and a rebate can be applied as a credit toward your closing costs at the settlement table.
Sources
- Hawaii transfer tax statute
- First American Title Fee Calculator (filed rates), Honolulu County, Hawaii, read September 11, 2026
- Hawaii Bureau of Conveyances (Dept. of Accounting and General Services) -- Hawaii has NO county recorders; all real property documents statewide, including for Honolulu/Oahu (Hawaii's most populous county), are recorded through this single state-level office (either the Regular System or the Land Court/Torrens system) recording fees
- Haw. Rev. Stat. Sec. 247-1, Imposition of conveyance tax
- Haw. Rev. Stat. Sec. 247-3, Conveyance tax exemptions
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: buyer closing costs are typically 2% to 5% of the purchase price
Hawaii figures last verified against official sources on September 11, 2026.
Hawaii title insurance at every purchase price, with a calculator →
Hawaii transfer tax at every purchase price, who pays and local surcharges →
Read the full buyer closing-costs guide →
Figures are typical 2026 ranges and vary by lender, loan, and location. This is general information, not financial advice; confirm your numbers with your lender and closing agent.
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