Moving to Hawaii in July (Hilo, Waimea: rentals, broker, buy)

[confusedmainlander]

So I am moving to hawaii July 2019. Now I am looking for affordable housing... Rent to own? Just rent? Where should I go? Looking for something a little under a thousand. I have a service dog... best area for dogs? I want all of the scoop! Will be going to school eventually after becoming a resident. It will be me, my boyfriend and my dog. Minimal is okay.

[Grassyknoll]

A little under a thousand either puts you in a pretty rough rental or in an outlying area such as Oceanview or Puna. Until you provide more specifics regarding where you do or don't want to live, it's hard to give any meaningful input.

What school? UH Hilo? An extension? HELCO Lineman? Culinary Cannibal Institute?
Are you attending physical classes where a long commute would be an issue?
This is the type of info folks will need to start chiming in.

[confusedmainlander]

I have no preference and don’t mind seclusion or a rough rental as long as it’s livable. Looking close to colleges or within 45 minutes of one

[Grassyknoll]

Originally Posted by confusedmainlander

I have no preference and don’t mind seclusion or a rough rental as long as it’s livable. Looking close to colleges or within 45 minutes of one

I dare say that the island may very well challenge your interpretation of "liveable".

I have seen single room, open-air coffee shacks rented out for nearly a grand (envision a dilapidated storage shed with 4 screened walls and maybe some plumbing).
Then again, in some of the more remote areas (1-1.5 hours drive to Kailu or Hilo) you might find a decent little 3/2 for that amount.
See if you can join some of the local Facebook pages, a lot of rentals get listed on them and you can can start getting an idea of what'she available.

[Grassyknoll]

If you look into FB pages, search Buy Sell Trade pages formulates like Kona, Hilo, Waimea, Puna & Oceanview.

[WaikikiBoy]

Originally Posted by Grassyknoll

I dare say that the island may very well challenge your interpretation of "liveable".

Hahaha ... this is an understated truth that has to be seen to believed.

[Arktikos]

Originally Posted by confusedmainlander

I have no preference and don’t mind seclusion or a rough rental as long as it’s livable. Looking close to colleges or within 45 minutes of one

The colleges are in Hilo, and you won't find any conventional rental in that general vicinity for the figure given. Probably won't find an unconventional one either.

Your budget will get you a crude shack in Puna, which would be on the outer limits of that distance.

[Molokai100]

I'll add almost no one rents to people with pets. If there are 30 available units you would be incredibly lucky to find one who will rent to you. If they do they will charge extra rent and deposit or it will be that shack in the jungle will centipedes and cockroaches so big you will end up naming them like they were roommates.

[Amadrid]

Originally Posted by Molokai100

I'll add almost no one rents to people with pets. If there are 30 available units you would be incredibly lucky to find one who will rent to you. If they do they will charge extra rent and deposit or it will be that shack in the jungle will centipedes and cockroaches so big you will end up naming them like they were roommates.

The OP Did say they had a service animal. If that’s the case and it’s not just an ESA, they should be able to find something to rent because under the Federal housing law, a service animal is not considered a pet. The landlord cannot charge additional rent, security deposit, etc. for a service animal. However that does not apply to a homeowner that is renting their own house. However if the homeowner uses a broker to handle the rental they must comply with federal housing laws.

[hotzcatz]

As far as the dog, well, the law says that landlords can't discriminate against - add in the whole list of things here - but when it comes down to it, they can choose someone else and not have to say why they didn't pick you.

Start the process now to get the permit to bring the dog over. That can take months for the paperwork to get processed. Here's the web page with details on that: Animal Industry Division | Guide & Service Dogs Entering Hawaii They mention on the webpage what is considered to be a service dog and what isn't for the purposes of importing them under the 'service dog' rules. Otherwise, they will be under the general quarantine rules which are a bit stricter, I think.

Since you'll be going to school after you become a resident and it takes a year to become a resident, doesn't it? So for your first year's rental, you can be off in the boonies somewhere with less expensive rents. You may be able to find somewhere in your price range if it isn't required to be near a university. Once you're here, then you'll be able to look around and find a better place when you start school.

Do you know which school you're planning to attend? Check for rentals as close to there if you know so you'll be able to start making friends that you'll be able to keep once you start school. If you land in Kona and then go to school later in Hilo, you won't see your new friends very often anymore since it's too far to drive very often just for a visit.