Following the passage of Bill 9, which ended a zoning exemption allowing apartment-zoned units to operate as short-term rentals, West Maui condo prices are seeing repeated reductions. A housing advocate argues that affordability concerns about converting STRs to housing may shift as prices fall and fire settlement funds reach Lahaina families.
- Bill 9 closed a long-standing zoning loophole that permitted thousands of apartment-zoned units to operate as short-term vacation rentals.
- Maui County is now weighing new hotel zoning designations and determining which properties may retain short-term rental use going forward.
- West Maui condo listing prices are declining repeatedly, with cuts ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 per unit in recent months.
- High AOAO maintenance fees — some approaching $2,000/month — are cited as a key factor in affordability calculations that could change if buildings transition away from visitor-accommodation standards.
- Lahaina fire survivors are expected to soon receive settlement funds, potentially adding a new pool of local home buyers to the West Maui market.
Source: Maui News
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