Aussie thinking about buying real estate in USA

I'm from Canada, living in Idaho. Moved to escape socialism. I feel very comfortable in Idaho. It's conservative political climate suits me...
Unless you have leftist leanings, avoid California.
Orange County, CA is still fairly conservative. If the state was to split to 5 different states (it almost passed by the will of the people but the state stepped in and stopped it, I guess we the people are 'too stoopid' to know the ramifications of a state split. OC down to San Diego was going to be its own Red state.