Maui Now stock image. File.
According to a study conducted by SmartAsset, a web-based financial technology company, Maui lists among the top counties in the state for mortgage approval.
The study ranked counties nationwide based upon the ratio of mortgage applications to mortgages approved. In the State of Hawaiʻi, Maui county ranks second, behind O’ahu and just ahead of Big Island. Kauaʻi County ranks fourth and Kalawao County, a small section on the northern coast of Molokaʻi encompassing Kaulaupapa, comes in last.
Listed below are the top counties in Hawaiʻi for mortgage approval:
| Rank | County | Loan Funding Rate | 5 Year Borrowing Costs | Property Tax | Annual Mortgage Payment | Loan Funding Rate Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Honolulu, HI | 64.12% | $76,291 | $3,691 | $14,489 | 64.12 |
| 2 | Maui, HI | 59.81% | $76,291 | $2,358 | $14,489 | 59.81 |
| 3 | Hawaiʻi, HI | 55.97% | $76,291 | $3,686 | $14,489 | 55.97 |
| 4 | Kauaʻi, HI | 55.41% | $76,291 | $3,330 | $14,489 | 55.41 |
| 5 | Kalawao, HI | 0.00% | $76,291 | $2,254 | $14,489 | 0.00 |
The rankings were a factor in SmartAsset’s study on the best places to get a mortgage, which considered loan funding rate as well as borrowing costs, property taxes, and mortgage payments.
The top 10 counties nationwide for mortgage approval are all in the State of Colorado.
You can find the study results and methodology, as well as their interactive map here: https://smartasset.com/mortgag
