Buyers whose purchasing power comes from equity: a company-organized tender offer or secondary sale, an IPO and the lock-up expiration that follows it, an acquisition, or vesting restricted stock units. It applies whether you are buying a primary home, a second home, or a place to spend part of the year.
Usually later than the headline. A tender offer pays out on its settlement date. After an IPO, insiders are commonly restricted from selling for a lock-up period, often around 180 days. RSUs become yours as they vest, and the shares withheld or sold for taxes reduce what you net. The date that matters for a real estate purchase is when cleared funds can sit in your account, not the date of the announcement.
Buyers in this position often benefit from talking with a Hawaiʻi-aware CPA before the money lands. The order of sales, the tax year, your state of residence when the income is earned, and estimated tax payments can all change the number you actually have to work with.
Not tax advice. Marco In Kona does not provide tax, legal, lending, or investment advice. Review this with your own CPA, attorney, or advisor before acting.
Many Buyers at this level pay cash, and cash offers can close quickly and compete well. Some keep their equity invested and borrow instead, through a jumbo mortgage, a portfolio loan, or a securities-based line of credit. Lenders treat RSUs and concentrated stock differently, and some discount volatile shares heavily when underwriting. That is a conversation for your lender and wealth advisor. Marco can connect you with lenders familiar with Hawaiʻi luxury properties. Read more on cash Buyers and rates on the Big Island.
Not lending or investment advice. Marco In Kona does not provide tax, legal, lending, or investment advice. Review this with your own CPA, attorney, or advisor before acting.
In practice, Hawaiʻi transactions close in U.S. dollars through escrow. A few mainland properties have been marketed as accepting private company stock, and other brokers have raised title, tax, and valuation concerns about those offers. The straightforward path is to sell shares or borrow against them first, so your offer is backed by verified funds. Ask your attorney and CPA before structuring anything unusual.
National real estate reporting on newly liquid tech Buyers describes the same priorities Marco sees in Kona:
One example: Angel’s Retreat in Holualoa has owned solar with Tesla battery backup, underground utilities, a gated entry, and a dedicated office.
| Area | What it offers | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Kohala Coast resorts (Hualālai, Kūkiʻo, Kohanaiki, Mauna Lani, Mauna Kea) | Gated, staffed, turnkey communities with golf, clubs, and beach access; many close to KOA | Buyers who want services handled and little to manage |
| Kailua-Kona and Keauhou oceanfront | Oceanfront homes near town, restaurants, and the airport | Buyers who want the ocean at the door and town nearby |
| Holualoa and upcountry Kona | Acreage, cooler temperatures, orchards, coffee land, and elevation privacy | Buyers who want land, gardens, and seclusion |
| Hōkūliʻa and South Kona | Large gated lots along the coast south of Kailua-Kona | Buyers who want space and a quieter setting |
Explore Big Island communities or browse current properties.
A cash purchase can close quickly when title is clean, the Seller is ready, and your due diligence is organized. Inspections, a survey, and a review of permits, zoning, and condominium or HOA documents still take time. Plan for a Hawaiʻi real estate attorney to review the contract and ownership structure. Some of the best properties trade quietly before reaching the open market; Marco's network on the island is one way Buyers hear about them.
No one can promise that, and Marco does not forecast prices. Buy a home because it fits how you want to live and your advisors agree it fits your finances. Marco's job is to show you what is really happening in the market, using Hawaii Information Service data, and to negotiate well.
On Hawaiʻi Island, tech and equity-funded Buyers most often look at the Kohala Coast resort communities (Hualālai, Kūkiʻo, Kohanaiki, Mauna Lani, Mauna Kea), oceanfront homes in Kailua-Kona and Keauhou, and private upcountry estates in Holualoa. These areas combine privacy, move-in-ready homes, and nonstop flights from Kona International Airport to the West Coast.
Yes. Once shares are sold and funds have settled, the money can be used like any other cash. Many Buyers talk with a CPA before or as the sale happens, because timing, state residency, and estimated taxes affect how much is available. Marco is a real estate broker, not a tax advisor.
Hawaiʻi purchases close in U.S. dollars through escrow. Offers of private stock as payment raise title, tax, and valuation questions. The usual approach is to sell shares or borrow against them first, then make an offer backed by verified funds. Ask your attorney and CPA.
Buyers commonly take title through a trust or LLC, and Hawaiʻi allows it. The right structure depends on your estate planning, taxes, financing, and privacy goals, so it should be set up with a Hawaiʻi attorney. See Marco In Kona's guide to title structure for an overview.
A well-prepared cash purchase can close quickly once a property is under contract, but inspections, survey, title, permits, and HOA document review still take time. Having proof of funds, an attorney, and a clear list of priorities ready before you tour shortens the process.
Last reviewed October 15, 2026 by Marco A. Silva, Coldwell Banker Island Properties (RB-20599). Information is believed reliable but not guaranteed, and laws, tax rates, and flight schedules change. This page is general information, not tax, legal, lending, or investment advice.
Hawaiʻi Island Buyer Guides