Once named America’s best beach by the Travel Channel, Poipu is a resort area located on the South Shore of Kauai close to Koloa and Kalaheo. With a population of a little over 1,000 people, Poipu is a town that caters to the tourism industry and offers some of the best dining, arts and entertainment on the entire island. There are many luxury resorts and hotels and one main shopping center in Poipu that provide much employment for its residents. The median household income is around $51,000.
With about 300 days of sunshine each year, Poipu’s alluring beaches draw thousands of tourists as well as to bask in the sun. There are several beaches around Poipu that lure locals and visitors for different reasons. For instance, Baby Beach is a great beach for families with young children; Lawai Beach draws a lot of surfers because of the breaks a little ways out in the water; Mahaulepu Beach and Brennecke’s Beach are favorites for locals who just want to swim or sunbathe.
Because tourism is such a strong industry in Poipu, there are many more opportunities to own condos, villas and townhomes as opposed to single family homes. Most neighborhoods in the Poipu area are situated in close proximity to the water or one of the championship golf courses.
The Poipu Kai Resort is a huge resort in Poipu that encompasses several smaller neighborhoods. On the whole, this resort is hugely popular and has many condominium style properties with successful rental histories. Within the resort are communities like Kiahuna, Poipu Sands and Kahala at Poipu Kai that offer studios starting in the mid $100s, one-bedroom units starting in the mid-200s. Two and three-bedroom units start in the low $300s and climb into the mid $400s. There are also several developments that feature very luxurious condominium style homes that start in the climb into the millions. The most affluent neighborhoods are Pane Makai, Whalers Cove at Poipu and Koloa Landing at Poipu Beach.
Neighborhoods of single family homes are scattered through Poipu as well. Although the Poipu Kai Resort has cottages that start under $500K, most homes are priced starting in the low $600s. Bayview at Poipu Kai starts in the mid $600s and climbs to just under $2 million. Lanai Villas, Wainani at Poipu, and Kiahuna Golf Village feature homes at $1 million and up.
Real estate in Poipu has been hurt over the last few years but is poised to make a comeback. With the median sales price of a home in Poipu hovering around $400K, this is an excellent time to invest in property here. Whether it is for a second home or an investment, take the steps to buy in this area. Rental condos have solid histories reflecting the fact that tourists are flocking to the south shores of Kauai so be part of the rebound by owning real estate in Poipu.