Free articles to help you understand your situation clearly — before making any decisions. Knowledge is your best protection.
A tax on vacant Oʻahu homes has been proposed and killed multiple times since 2020, most recently blocked from the November 2026 ballot. Here's what it is and what it would mean if it ever passes.
Read the full article →An old second mortgage you thought was long gone can suddenly resurface years later and threaten foreclosure. Here's why "zombie" second mortgages happen and what to do if one finds you.
Read the full article →Own a leasehold home? Falling behind on ground lease rent is a separate risk from your mortgage — one many owners don't realize until it's a problem. Here's what leasehold ownership actually means.
Read the full article →It's one of the most confused terms in Hawaiʻi homeownership — easily mixed up with the property tax exemption. Here's what the homestead exemption actually protects, and what it doesn't.
Read the full article →A rental property behind on its mortgage is a different problem than your primary home — fewer official relief options, and a tenant caught in the middle. Here's what Oʻahu landlords need to know.
Read the full article →They both change your mortgage terms, but they work completely differently — and one of them usually isn't available once you're already behind. Here's how to tell them apart.
Read the full article →A forged deed can move your home out of your name without you ever finding out until it's too late. Here's how it happens, who's most at risk, and what actually protects you.
Read the full article →You and your siblings inherited a home together, and now you don't agree on what to do with it. Here's how co-ownership disputes and partition actions actually work in Hawaiʻi.
Read the full article →Your first mortgage is current, but you're behind on a second mortgage or HELOC. Here's what that lien holder can actually do — and why "it's just the second loan" is riskier than it sounds.
Read the full article →A divorce decree can say who keeps the house — it doesn't automatically change who the lender can still come after. Here's the gap that catches people off guard, and how to actually close it.
Read the full article →Cash offers on your Oʻahu home can be legitimate — or a lowball pressure tactic. Here's how to tell the difference before you sign anything.
Read the full article →A foreclosure affects your credit, but not forever and not the same for everyone. Here's what actually happens to your score, and why the seven-year number is more forgiving than it sounds.
Read the full article →PCS orders came through and you're not sure what happens to your Oʻahu mortgage. Here's what the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act actually protects — and what it doesn't.
Read the full article →More Oʻahu homeowners are getting non-renewal notices from their insurance company. Here's how a coverage gap can quietly turn into a mortgage problem — and what to do first.
Read the full article →When a parent with a reverse mortgage passes away, heirs face a real deadline. Here's what most families don't know before the servicer's clock starts running.
Read the full article →The Home Exemption and Kupuna Exemption can significantly lower your Honolulu property tax bill — but you have to apply. Here's who qualifies and how.
Read the full article →Filing Chapter 13 bankruptcy can pause a foreclosure through the automatic stay — but it's not a permanent fix. Here's how it actually works, and who it tends to make sense for.
Read the full article →Rising insurance costs are triggering large special assessments at condos and HOAs across Oʻahu. Here's why it's happening, and what options exist if you can't afford the increase.
Read the full article →Insurance gaps, squatters, mold, and unpaid loans — a vacant home in Hawaiʻi can go from an asset to a serious problem faster than most homeowners expect. Here's what you need to know before leaving a property empty.
Read the full article →If a short sale isn't realistic and foreclosure feels inevitable, there's a third option many Oʻahu homeowners never hear about — handing the deed back to the lender directly. Here's how it works, and who it actually fits.
Read the full article →Facing foreclosure on Oʻahu? Learn the warning signs of foreclosure rescue scams — from upfront fee schemes to deed transfer traps — before you sign anything.
Read the full article →Forbearance lets you pause or reduce your mortgage payments temporarily — without immediately triggering foreclosure. But it's not forgiveness, and what happens when it ends matters just as much as the pause itself.
Read the full article →When a family member passes away owning a home on Oʻahu, one of the first questions is: do we need probate? Here's what it is, when it's required in Hawaiʻi, and when you might be able to skip it entirely.
Read the full article →Your lender may offer both — but they solve very different problems. A loan modification permanently changes your loan terms. A repayment plan temporarily helps you catch up on missed payments. Here's how to know which one fits your situation.
Read the full article →July 4th is a celebration of freedom — and the most powerful freedom a homeowner can have is knowing their options before fear makes the decision for them. A personal note from Gift for this Independence Day.
Read the full article →If you've missed a payment — or can see that the next one isn't going to happen — you almost certainly have more time and more options than you think. Here's what Oʻahu homeowners need to know before the fear takes over.
Read the full article →If you inherited a home or had a title transferred after a death or divorce, you may be a successor in interest — and federal law gives you real, protected rights with the mortgage servicer. Most families don't know this. Here's what it means and how it could open the door to a loan modification.
Read the full article →Restaurants, retailers, and small businesses across Oʻahu are closing their doors as Hawaiʻi edges toward a recession. When jobs disappear, mortgage payments become harder to keep up with — and that ripple effect reaches homeowners faster than most people expect. Here's what you should know if the economic pressure is hitting close to home.
Read the full article →Losing a family member is hard enough. Then comes the mail — notices, mortgage statements, tax bills — and a house that now belongs to you or your ʻohana, but no one is quite sure how or what to do next. Here's what probate means, what your options are, and the decisions you'll eventually need to make.
Read the full article →Your homeowners association can foreclose on your home even if your mortgage payments are completely current. All it takes is unpaid HOA dues — and the process can move faster than a traditional mortgage foreclosure. Here's what you need to know.
Read the full article →Most homeowners think a short sale and foreclosure mean the same thing — or that one automatically leads to the other. They don't. Understanding the difference could change what options are still available to you.
Read the full article →From a first missed payment to an actual sale, foreclosure in Hawaiʻi typically takes six months to over two years. What you do with that time — and when you reach out — makes all the difference.
Read the full article →If you're behind on your mortgage, a loan modification could permanently change your monthly payment to something manageable — without starting over with a new loan. Here's what it means and how to start the conversation with your lender.
Read the full article →A tax lien on your Oʻahu home doesn't mean you'll immediately lose it — but ignoring it can make your options disappear fast. Here's what liens mean, why they happen, and what you can actually do about them.
Read the full article →Hawaiʻi allows two foreclosure types and the difference determines how much time you have. Most homeowners don't find out which process applies to them until it's almost too late to act.
Read the full article →A foreclosure notice doesn't mean it's too late — it means the clock has started. Here's how to understand what you received, what your timeline looks like, and what options are still on the table.
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