Product Description

The Fourth Edition! Updated,and expanded with lots of new info and 2009 Real Estate pricing.

Please note that some of the reviews below are for the first three editions. Since this is dated material, yes, they are ot of date!

You will learn how to find bargain homes, how to save money in your everyday life in Hawaii, where the income opportunities are, what to expect in the schools, and maybe the most important part of all, you'll discover what it means to live aloha!

There's also a whole chapter on just reasons why you might NOT want to move to Hawaii. Just a few of them:

The effects of leaving behind family and friends. What happens when one partner feels the essence of Hawaii and to the other, Hawaii is just another place. Some peopleÂ’s kids simply do not want to be here. What if your kids canÂ’t handle the peer-testing theyÂ’ll be subjected to at school. ItÂ’s different in this multi-cultural climate. What about "That local attitude." Dogs, dogs, everywhere, and nothing can be done about the constant barking. "Things just donÂ’t happen here like they did at home." Working with Government in building or business issues. The so-called lack of available jobs. Rural HawaiiÂ’s "different" driving habits. Having to wait for what you want or need right now.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #139173 in Books
• Published on: 2005-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 264 pages

Review
"I moved here from the mainland, and I can tell you from experience - this book is right on." -- Melissa Weber, andHawaii.com, Hawaii Travel Information, Nov. '01

"I really enjoyed Affordable Paradise. The tone of your writing conveys the deep appreciation you have for Hawaii." -- Pelin Thornhill,Editorial Assistant Lonely Planet Publications

"If others find your enthusiasm as contagious as I did, your’e on your way to a very popular title." -- Pelin Thornhill, Lonely Planet Publications, April, '01

"If you are thinking of moving to Hawaii you must buy this book!" -- Melissa Weber, AndHawaii.com Hawaii Travel Information

Fantastic book and a great help!, April 30, 2009

I just finished reading this book through a second time. My wife and I are in the process of making our move. We purchased the book two years ago and it has been a tremendous help in all phases of contemplation, planning and preparation. The book includes a very helpful section dedicated to acquainting you with island culture and helping you feel whether or not you will fit in and ultimately find what you are looking for. We are grateful to the author for sharing his rich experience and enriching our lives in a very meaningful way. --Traveler (Collegedale, TN)

Great book, be sure to check which edition you're buying though., July 22, 2005

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I wish there were a version of it for every city or area I wanted to move to, Hawaii or not, very informative and entertaining for what it sets out to do. It's not an all-inclusive everything-for-everyone book, it's like having someone show you their life on the big island and having them share everything they like or don't like, more of a "what it's like to really live here" approach that includes the cost of groceries and how people drive. One real view is more valuable to me than some blanket approach even if it's less comprehensive, I can get a tourist map anywhere. Be sure to check which version of the book you're buying if you purchase used, though, the real estate scene has changed a great deal since the first edition and if you don't at least check his website for updates, you'll be sorely disappointed when you check real estate prices. --That One Guy (Santa Fe, NM)

This book was very helpful, August 3, 2007

This book has a lot of practical information and advice for people who think that Island living is as simple as just moving there. The author suggests many ways to make the move easier, cheaper and less stressful. He stresses the importance of assimilating to the island culture, rather than bringing mainland sensibilities with you. The author has a blog which is a great forum to share ideas and ask specific questions. Read this book and learn what it means to "Live Aloha" --S. Hansen "a fan of a book and greater scotch" (Canmore, Alberta Canada)

From the Publisher
The first two editions of this book focused on affordable living in Hawaii. This new expanded Third Edition does it again, with new info on surviving the recent housing price increases. In addition, now revealed is an aspect of living in Hawaii that is so important that it may seriously effect the lives of all who callthe Aloha State their home.

From the Author
“Affordable Paradise” was initially inspired by the many questions my wife and I receive from tourists, our vacation-rental guests, family and friends about “how can you two afford to live in such an expensive place?” Contrary to some popular beliefs (and published statistics), homes are cheaper here than in many places on the mainland, and there is lots of work available. Living affordably here does require some different techniques than on the mainland. Just living in Hawaii requires a different mindset than what we see on much of the mainland. Living in rural Hawaii is much like living in a foreign country. “Affordable Paradise” is my offer of answers to many questions.

The other side of the story: Although Hawaii is truly Paradise for many, it is clearly not Paradise for all. Along with the offering the secrets of an affordable life in Hawaii, I felt it was my responsibility to bring the reader up to speed on the realties of Island living, as well. I felt I could save some folks a lot of time, expense and heart-ache by letting them “feel” through my words some of the elements here that seem to drive people back to the mainland--back to their comfort zones.

Whether or not you ultimately decide to make Hawaii your own Paradise, it is this writer’s sincere hope that “Affordable Paradise” will be instrumental in your decision and of help in your adventure wherever life leads you!

Aloha Nui Loa!

Skip Thomsen

Customer Reviews

Fairly informative, but very specialized
I was attracted to this book partly because the authors focus on the same idea I had reached on my own--That the Big Island, especially the Eastern side, is one of the most affordable places to live for those settling in Hawaii.
The book does deliver reasonably good information on that subject, but is of very limited use if you are intent on settling elsewhere in the Islands. It does have two chapters I thought were very worthwhile in a more general sense--One on the reasons NOT to move to Hawaii, including some insights on how to predict if you might be unhappy there, and a chapter on the detailed process of packing, moving, and shipping your possessions.
Overall, a rather limited book. On the other hand, if you are actually considering making the huge leap of moving to Hawaii, the limited cost and short time it takes to read this book may be very good investments, even if you don't fit the model of a settler on the Big Island. I should give fair warning, I have NOT (yet) moved to Hawaii, so my evaluation of the book is based on logic and instinct rather than personal experience with making the big move!

Multiply by 2
Just back from a 16 day adventure around the big isle (April '04) and I can easily say that this '01 edition is already way out of date. In most cases you can multiply by 2 on the prices given, so be prepared. Realize that in the last year alone the prices for Hawaii real estate have gone bananas. For example in an article that recently appeared on the Honolulu Advertiser's front page entitled, "Kaua'i housing prices 'insane'" it was shown that the median price for a Kaua'i condo had gone from $227K to $420K in one year! On the big isle, which is the focus of this book, condo prices only went up 38%. Residential property went up 19% As a real estate agent here in Sedona who has already made contacts to be licensed in Hawaii, I was amazed. Using this book and the best guide book of the island, Hawaii, The Big Island Revealed by Doughty and Friedman, we put over 1300 miles on the rental car touring the island. After a week in the the beauty and traffic of Kona (high land prices!), we visited Hawi, Waimea (where I used to live in the 70's), and the Hamakua coast before settling into the constant rain of Hilo. We had 10 inches one day and after 4 straight days of being house-bound we visited Paradise Park and then headed back to south Kona through Volcano for at least the chance of Sunshine.
Affordable Paradise was useful to a point and the author's obvious slant is towards the cheaper housing alternatives found principally in Puna. Even those prices are no longer relevant again by a factor of 2 times for the most part. Just don't get this book and expect to find a paradise home for under $100K that is the value and beauty you may be looking for. That said, we are in escrow now for what we think is a marvelous area - an area this book hardly touches on. The 1/3 acre lots are going for $40-85K and have lots of advantages - 800' elevation, 20-30 inches of rain/year, slower pace. So you can find something and this book will help propel you forward. Also the moving-portion may prove valuable as we are now preparing to relocate. Perhaps the fact that on the next to last day we swam with a dozen delightful dolphins at Hoo'kena Beach makes it easy to see why Hawaii has us ready to return.
Good luck and Aloha!

An update from the author!
After reading some of the reviews here, I feel the need to say this: Please make sure you get the Thrid Edition! Yes, the way Hawaii's real estate prices have been escalating, the First and Second Editons are way behind. The Third Edition was on the shelf early this year and is still OK on prices. We buy, remodel and resell houses and are very much in tune with the prices here on the Big Island. To be safe, you could add 10% to the values in the book. Regarding auto prices, as the book recommends, if you stay away from dealers, prices are about the same as Mainland in spite of one reviewer's claims to the contrary. My car-nut son, in San Francisco, is generally surprised at the relatively low prices we pay for our vehicles. One more thing, I stand by what I said about the "lava zones" on the Big Island. The Puna District is the fastest growing area of the State. There are homes, from humble to exotic, going up in record numbers. Evidently lot of people have done their homework and are comfortable building and living in this area. Many folks feel that it is good to do some LOCAL research before making important decisions here.

The Third Edition is in the stores everywhere and that's what Amazon is shipping, as well. Also, please visit the AffordableHawaiiLiving Web site for regular updates on prices and other developments!

Aloha!

Skip Thomsen