Home financing in Maui County.
County-by-county financing guides. No paperwork. No social. No ID.
7 institutions are headquartered inside the Maui County line, Kahului included, and 4 more keep a branch here. Below, we say which is which.
Not this lane? Business FinancingPersonal Financing
The doors in Maui County.
The CDFIs, credit unions, and microlenders that actually say yes — county by county, in two languages. We are not a lender. Nobody paid to be listed. And where a county has no good doors, we say so.
- 11
- DOORS HERE
- 7
- BASED HERE
- 4
- HI COUNTIES WITH DOORS
- Lane
- Home Financing
- People
- 165Kresidents of Maui County
- Covers
- Kahului
- Elsewhere in HI
- Honolulu County →26 doors — the biggest list of any other county in Hawaii
- State
- Hawaii →4 of 5 counties hold a door in this lane
Certified by the U.S. Treasury to lend where a bank will not. Nonprofit, patient, and used to a file that is not clean.
Molokai Community Credit UnionOwned by their members, not by shareholders. They look at your whole story rather than a score, and that is the difference when a bank says no.
Aloha Pacific Credit Union · Hawaii State Credit Union- Kahului Credit UnionMinority depositoryPersonal · Home
- Maui Credit UnionMinority depositoryPersonal · Home
- Maui Teachers Credit UnionMinority depositoryPersonal · Home · Business capital
- Molokai Community Credit UnionCDFI-certifiedMinority depositoryPersonal · Home
- Valley Isle Community Credit UnionMinority depositoryPersonal · Home · Business capital
- IN THIS LIST
1 of the 11 doors inside the county line are CDFI-certified.
The U.S. Treasury certifies them to lend to the people banks pass over. It is a loan, not a favour.
- Wailuku Credit UnionMinority depositoryPersonal · Home
- Lanai Credit UnionMinority depositoryPersonal
Based elsewhere, with a member-facing office inside the Maui County line. You can walk in.
- Aloha Pacific Credit UnionMinority depositoryPersonal · Home · Business capital
- Hawaii State Credit UnionMinority depositoryPersonal · Home · Business capital
- Hawaiian Financial Credit UnionMinority depositoryPersonal · Home · Business capital
- Hawaiiusa Credit UnionMinority depositoryPersonal · Home · Business capital
- Mission Asset FundAccepts ITIN
Zero-interest lending circles and credit building. SSN or ITIN accepted. Works through nonprofit partners across the country.
Personal - Accion Opportunity FundAccepts ITIN
Nonprofit small-business lender. Accepts ITIN in place of SSN. Serves most states, in English and Spanish.
Business capital - Grameen AmericaAccepts ITIN
Microloans for women entrepreneurs. Requires photo ID and proof of address — no SSN requirement. Branches in major metro areas.
Business capital
How to read this list.
We do not ask for your name, your email, or your number. Nothing on this page changes based on who you are.
A door is headquartered here when its head office sits inside the county line. The rest are based elsewhere and keep a branch you can walk into. We list both, and we label which is which.
Every institution on this page comes from public federal data — the CDFI Fund certified list (Aug 2026), NCUA credit union data (Mar 2026), and the SBA microloan intermediary list (Sep 2026) — plus a short national tier we verified by hand. We refresh each list as its agency publishes. No listing is paid.
Buying a home in Maui County is one of the biggest financial decisions you will ever make, and the local market has its own rules, programs, and costs that differ from the mainland. This guide walks you through what home financing looks like here — who qualifies, what documents you need, which local lenders and nonprofits can help, and what traps to avoid. Whether you are a first-time buyer, a solo contractor, or someone without a Social Security number, there are real pathways available to you in Maui County.
What Is Home Financing?
Home financing means borrowing money to purchase a home and repaying it over time, usually 15 to 30 years, with interest. The loan is secured by the home itself — meaning if you stop making payments, the lender can take the property. The most common types of home loans in Maui County are:
- 01**Conventional loans**
Offered by private banks and credit unions, typically requiring a credit score of 620 or higher and a down payment of 3–20%.
- 02**FHA loans**
Backed by the federal government, allowing down payments as low as 3.5% and credit scores starting around 580. They are popular with first-time buyers.
- 03**VA loans**
For eligible veterans and active military, often with no down payment required.
- 04**USDA loans**
For rural areas; parts of Maui County's more remote regions may qualify.
- 05**Portfolio loans**
Loans that local banks and credit unions keep on their own books, which means they can be more flexible about income documentation. These are especially important in Hawaii, where many workers have non-traditional income.
- MISSING ONE?Ask Iris which one you're missing.ASK A QUESTION ↓
Forget what the banks say.
Maui's economy runs on hospitality, construction, agriculture, and small business. Many residents work in jobs with tips, seasonal hours, or self-employment income — all of which affect how lenders evaluate your application. Here is what matters most:
Credit score: Most conventional lenders want 620 or above. FHA accepts scores down to 580 (with 3.5% down) or even 500 (with 10% down). Some local credit unions and CDFIs have more flexibility, especially if you have a strong savings history.
Income: Lenders typically want to see two years of consistent income. If you work in tourism, construction, or as a solo contractor, bring both years of tax returns. Tip income counts if it is reported on your taxes. Self-employed borrowers should expect to show two years of Schedule C or business returns.
Debt-to-income (DTI) ratio: Most lenders want your total monthly debts (including the new mortgage) to be no more than 43–50% of your gross monthly income. Given Maui's high home prices, this is a real challenge — local nonprofits and housing counselors can help you plan before you apply.
ITIN borrowers: If you do not have a Social Security number but have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), you can still qualify for a home loan.
Several local lenders and credit unions in Hawaii offer ITIN mortgage programs.
You will generally need 2 years of ITIN tax returns, a larger down payment (often 10–20%), and a strong history of on-time rent or bill payments.
Down payment: Hawaii's high prices make saving for a down payment difficult. The state of Hawaii and Maui County have assistance programs specifically for this. See Section 4 for local resources.
Get your papers in order.
Gathering your paperwork before you apply saves time and reduces stress. Every lender is different, but most will ask for:
Identity and residency:
- Government-issued photo ID (passport, driver's license, or state ID)
- Social Security number OR ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number)
- For non-citizens: visa, green card, or work authorization documents
Income verification:
- Last two years of federal tax returns (all pages, all schedules)
- W-2s or 1099s for the last two years
- Recent pay stubs (last 30 days) if you are a W-2 employee
- Profit and loss statement if self-employed (your accountant or tax preparer can prepare this)
- If you receive tips: IRS Form 4137 or employer tip statements
Assets:
- Last two to three months of bank statements (all pages, including zeros)
- Statements for retirement accounts, stocks, or other assets
- If your down payment is a gift from family: a signed gift letter and proof of transfer
Property:
- Purchase agreement (once you have an accepted offer)
- Homeowner's association (HOA) documents if the property is in an HOA — very common in Maui
Other:
- Rental history (12–24 months of canceled checks or landlord contact info)
- Explanation letters for any late payments, large deposits, or gaps in employment
Note for Maui specifically: Flood zone designation matters here. Ask your lender and insurance agent early whether the property requires flood insurance, which adds to your monthly costs.
The doors worth knowing.
This is the most important section.
ALL 11 DOORS, BY NAME AND BY TOWN- 11
- DOORS HERE
- 38
- ACROSS HI
Based in Kaunakakai, Hawaii. A credit union — owned by its members rather than by shareholders, which is exactly what changes the conversation after a bank has said no. It is CDFI-certified, and it is a minority depository.
BEST FORA personal loan, or building a credit file from nothing, and buying, repairing or refinancing a home.Based in Honolulu, Hawaii. A member-owned credit union, which means the people deciding on your file answer to depositors in the same towns you work in. It is a minority depository.
BEST FORBuying, repairing or refinancing a home, and working capital, equipment and payroll for a small business.Based in Honolulu, Hawaii. A credit union: no shareholders to satisfy, and a habit of reading a whole story rather than a single score. It is a minority depository.
BEST FORWorking capital, equipment and payroll for a small business, and a personal loan, or building a credit file from nothing.Based in Honolulu, Hawaii. A credit union — owned by its members rather than by shareholders, which is exactly what changes the conversation after a bank has said no. It is a minority depository.
BEST FORA personal loan, or building a credit file from nothing, and buying, repairing or refinancing a home.
Don't fall into these traps.
Maui's real estate market is expensive and competitive, which creates conditions that bad actors exploit. Here is what to watch out for:
Any lender or broker who tells you to sign documents immediately, skip reading the fine print, or warns you that rates are about to spike if you don't lock today is using a pressure tactic. Real lenders give you time to review.
Legitimate origination fees are typically 0.5–1% of the loan amount. If someone is charging 3–5% upfront, ask for a detailed written breakdown and compare it with another lender.
Most conventional and FHA loans do not have prepayment penalties. If a loan has a heavy penalty for paying it off early, read the reason carefully before agreeing.
In high-value markets like Maui, there are scams where someone offers to take your property deed in exchange for loan relief or equity access. Never transfer your deed to anyone you have not vetted through a licensed Hawaii real estate attorney.
With home values so high on Maui, some predatory lenders offer large cash-out refinances or home equity loans that leave you with very little equity and very high payments. Be cautious about any refinance that doesn't clearly improve your financial position.
Always verify that any lender or loan officer is licensed in Hawaii at nmlsconsumeraccess.org. ITIN borrowers are sometimes targeted by unlicensed operators who promise easy approvals — stick to CDFIs, credit unions, and lenders you can verify.
The Lahaina fire recovery period has created unusual pricing pressure in some areas. If an appraisal seems far above comparable sales, ask your lender or a housing counselor to explain how it was calculated.
Get everything in writing. Verbal promises about rates, fees, or loan terms are not enforceable. A Loan Estimate (required by federal law within 3 business days of your application) is your official document for comparison.
Everything below is set by Hawaii, and it reads the same in every county in it. The 11 marks above are this county's own doors — who opens one is decided by them, not by the state.
The rules where you are.
Hawaii has several rules and characteristics that directly affect home financing. Understanding these before you apply will save you surprises.
This is critical in Hawaii and almost does not exist on the mainland. When you buy a home in Hawaii, you may be purchasing:
— You own the land and the building. This is standard and what most buyers prefer.
— You own the building but lease the land from a landowner (often a large estate or trust). Leasehold properties are harder to finance, often require higher down payments, and can have escalating lease rents. Many lenders will not finance leasehold properties at all. Always confirm whether a property is fee simple or leasehold before making an offer.
Hawaii's high-cost status means that conforming and FHA loan limits are significantly higher than the national baseline, as noted in Section 1. This is a real benefit for buyers.
Many Maui properties are in condo complexes that allow short-term rentals. These are treated as investment properties or non-warrantable condos by lenders, which means higher down payments, higher interest rates, and limited loan options. If you are considering a condo in a resort area, ask the listing agent and your lender early whether the building is warrantable.
Hawaii has non-judicial foreclosure for most mortgages, meaning a lender can foreclose without a court order, but the state also has a mandatory mediation program for owner-occupants. If you ever face hardship, contact a HUD-approved housing counselor (like Hawaiian Community Assets) immediately — do not wait.
All mortgage loan originators in Hawaii must be licensed through the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS). You can verify any lender or loan officer at nmlsconsumeraccess.org. Always do this check before sharing financial documents with anyone.
Maui County has been tightening rules around short-term rentals (STRs). If you are buying a property with the intent to rent it out on Airbnb or VRBO, consult a local attorney before purchasing — zoning restrictions and permit requirements have changed significantly, especially after the 2023 Lahaina fires prompted new community and government scrutiny of housing availability.
The short version.
- 01
Buying a home in Maui County is challenging because prices are high, the market is unique, and the rules around leasehold properties, condo-tels, and short-term rentals are different from anywhere on the mainland. But there are real programs and real local organizations that exist specifically to help Maui residents — including first-time buyers, solo contractors, seasonal workers, and ITIN borrowers.
- 02
Your best first step is free: Contact Hawaiian Community Assets (HCA) or the Hawaii HomeOwnership Center (HHOC) for a free housing counseling session. They will help you understand your credit, your budget, and your realistic options before you apply anywhere.
- 03
Know your local resources: Hawaii Community Lending, Hawaii State Federal Credit Union, Maui County Federal Credit Union, and the HHFDC's state programs are your local layer of support. These institutions know the Maui market and are more likely to find solutions for non-standard situations than a national bank call center.
- 04
Protect yourself: Verify every lender on nmlsconsumeraccess.org, get everything in writing, and never sign documents under pressure.
Same county, another question.
Business FinancingLoans, lines of credit, and capital for small businesses and contractorsSEE IT IN MAUI COUNTY →
Personal FinancingPersonal loans, credit building, and ITIN-friendly financing optionsSEE IT IN MAUI COUNTY →4HI COUNTIES WITH DOORSThe whole stateEvery county in Hawaii, in this same lane.38 institutions fund homes and repairs inside Hawaii county lines.OPEN THE STATE →Still don't see your situation?
Ask Iris. She'll explain it the way it should have been explained the first time.