Its a bureaucratic safety net that will give a newbie a really good blue print on dealing with contractors, making a rehab plan, and keeping contractors to a schedule/budget/milestone list.   

However, if you go out a bit to the Puna area of the Big Island you can get a great home for about $300k in Pahoa, Volcano (the city, not the actual Volcano), or Kurtistown.The ocean in Hawaii is wonderful, but you won’t be in it as much as you think.People ask us if we surf everyday.

The blue collar workers need to live somewhere.  

There are several developments with million dollar homes with ocean views. 

Add all that together with my 401k and my other investments I think we should do alright for a Blue Collar worker from western Wisconsin.Questions, comments, or concerns? 

@Will Gaston I recommend Andrews with Blue Sky Tree Care.  

Yes America, liberal America hates small business and is out to crush and stomp it out in the dark blue state of Cali.Come to Virginia y'all, you can evict in 30 days flat, some counties you can time it just right and be in court before the end of the current month.

Hawaii with a solid 84 highs and 72 lows all year round, with warm mists of rain, ocean breezes, never below 60 or above 90 :) Ahh..

I guess these would be your "blue chip" tenants!

You might also be able to find something in Blue Bell.Set your priorities about your budget and lifestyle, find a realtor (or two, maybe one in the city and one in the burbs), and start spending time in your target neighborhoods to really get a feel if that's a place you want to live.