Over the last 4 years I have prepared 4 editions of the Japan Foreclosed Property report; as well as preparing and updating similar reports for the Philippines and New Zealand. It is not my intention to continue this series of reports. Over that period I guess I have invested about 5 months of research into making the Japan editions for sales of around 300. That's $US6000. This is a stunning result for a first book, and it was not even my intent to actually write about property. Its just that I was in Japan for 3 months when I was considering writing an eBook, and of course recognising an opportunity for a very practical book. My ultimate intent was to write applied philosophy; which is the task I am embarking upon now. In the next few weeks I will launch a new website promoting these services.
As far as Japanese, NZ and Philippines property market is concerned, I will continue to support this site with feedback from readers (i.e. tagged 'Case Studies') prepared to offer such support. I will offer as much disclosure as you contributors want; and will ask you if you are happy with the content as posted for privacy and strategic reasons.
I will also post any topical stories I find. The feedback on these ebooks has been fantastic. Some people have rightly been critical of my spelling and grammatical errors; much better now after 4 editions. But aside from that, its almost been a zero complaints publication. So we are pleased with that. We have had heard some wonderful success stories with Japanese foreclosed property. We had a glowing appreciation from the Japanese Institute of Economics for our Philippines report. I did a lot of research for this 2-set book. The Philippines is a very hot market gives the disparity in West-East wages for the next 20 years; plus the 2% population growth and rapid urbanisation. Watch as new cities are built around Manila and regional airports are opened up to foreign (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) tourists. The Philippines already has among the most liberal immigration requirements in the world - you can stay there 18months before requiring to leave. More importantly, the Philippines government is starting to adopt some semblance of zoning as we see greater compliance with the law. So expect this to add to property prices; as well as result in more attractive development.
My biggest surprise with these books is probably the lack of interest of English teachers in buying Japanese foreclosed property. This is probably because most of them are 'lifestyle junkies' with no intent to stay in Japan, or maybe it speaks to their 'liberal' not-so-aspirational goals, or lack of savings. In any respect, I envisaged more of them buying foreclosed properties and turning their homes or offices into teaching schools. Most buyers have been expatriates in Asia or Japan; even fund managers and investment consultant-types.
Anyway, the opportunities in these countries are not over. I will continue to provide limited support for this and related blogs, however the property publishing is probably over unless I can farm the activity out to someone else. I know people who have become multi-millionaires buying foreclosed property, to the stage of buying entire residential apartment blocks and renting them off or selling them to students. I think I have listed such opportunities in this blog, i.e. A love hotel in Hokkaido comes to mind, decked out in 1970s decor. Very tacky! The Japanese student would probably love it.
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