A condo can be better with white, depending on the natural light, and small houses can take to colors well.

If your retirement utterly depends on having adequate cash flow from your properties, any downturns will cripple you.

Just gonna wait it out for natural appreciation, cashflow and tenant-debt buydown.

Speak simply and naturally. 

Id like to make clear that my niche market is heavy on cash flow given how very low the rental inventory is, and appreciation is slow due to the rural nature of the area.

We know that we are taking a smaller risk, which naturally means a higher cost.

If those are the nature of the interactions, I don't think you have an issue.

I'm looking to build a 2500 sq ft two level ecofriendly single-family home which incorporates natural surrounding into the design, I'm trying to figure out what my cost should be for architectural plans: elevation, floor plan, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, etc.  

If your retirement utterly depends on having adequate cash flow from your properties, any downturns will cripple you.

So I basically don't know how to swing a hammer, and I don't think I really have much talent (or natural interest) in learning construction?