My family and I got here about three years ago (moved closer to family), and I have since worked with many couples who have found their way here for either a primary or investment property.SLO is a great place to buy because prices (comparatively) are lower, quality of life is much higher- and yes as someone else noted- slower, but there is high demand for LTR, MTR, and STR year round because of the weather, colleges, three hospitals, and tourism. 

I have a 4th person who did a great job at inbound and outbound sales calling that we couldn't keep on the payroll once we switched to texting (it's not that she couldn't handle texting but we just needed fewer people once we switched to texting.) 

First would be to not follow the crowd on choosing a market - do your own research and find a secondary (less expensive) market that has a big tourism draw. 

In the Smoky Mountains we are heavily dependent on tourism, and yet only some local banks will lend on these construction projects. 

Markets like Orlando and Daytona have tourism which demands a lot of blue collar housing as well as colleges which demand a lot of student housing.

@Jason CoteBesides for the resorts, Oahu is not a great place for tourism in general.

Have you considered the tourism in your island and the short-term rental investment?

In many cases I think the financial upside with STRs can justify increased tenant-screening costs, and potentially even some revenue-sharing mechanisms with neighbors.In some areas, the government collects a tourism tax from guests, mitigating strain on local resources.

One of the top tourism economies.

Anything to drive tourism?