Japan

[Craig Osterloh]

I'd like to buy a home in Japan. Rent it for about 15 years and then keep it for personal use. My wife is Japanese. Anyone with any experience in this area?

[Andrew Sheldon]

Originally posted by oscar6263:

I'd like to buy a home in Japan. Rent it for about 15 years and then keep it for personal use. My wife is Japanese. Anyone with any experience in this area?

I suggest buying foreclosed property because it can be anywhere between 10-50% lower than the market price, and 20-80% lower than the replacement value. Why? rural depopulation, fashion tastes of the Japanese, etc.
For instance, we bought a 12yo house 90mins from tokyo for $USD38K. It was a very tidy home, 4km from shopping centre, 5km from train station, overlooking rice paddies, close to tourist area. Like a new home in many respects. Just 120m2 of land, 100m2 house (typical), but it was very quiet village community (subdivision). Rented immediately for $600/mth, ie. 12% nominal yield after painting to remove the smoke staining, and some kitchen repair.