Louise Bremner wrote:
> Mr. Smith <spamtrap@mrsmith.com> wrote:
>
> > "Ryan Ginstrom" <ryan@ginstrom.com> wrote in message
> > news:cs50m6$u6s$1@nnrp.gol.com...
> > > One form of investment she thinks is worth it is land, and
despite the
> > > crash
> > > in land values in the 90s, enough fellow Japanese seem to share
her
> > > opinion
> > > that she is probably right.
> > >
> >
> > You mean undeveloped land? I never understood the appeal, it is
simple
> > speculation with little or no other return than basic appreciation
or lack
> > of appreciation in its value. And there is little that you can
control or
> > influence to change its value. Developing land is a full-time job,
so
> > usually not an option for a part-time investor. How about
investment in
> > small apartment houses, renting to residential or commercial
tenants? This
> > is more fun, esp. if you are good at fixing things,  and can
produce a
> > good return even if the underlying value of the land and property
do not
> > increase (and you still get some investment in land, although it
will be
> > smaller).
>
> That might be the appeal of undeveloped land--you just sit back and
let
> it appreciate (touch wood). As you said, developing it is a full-time
> job, but even investing in rental property can take up time and
money.
>
I'm wondering if there'll ever be a point where Japanese in general get
tired of living in the crowded central cities and want to migrate to
the countryside where the cost of housing is so cheap. I know some
places (Gunma?) have played with the concept of enticing Tokyo-ites to
live in rural areas; one gave preferential mortgage rates, another I
heard of would cover the cost of riding the Shinkansen into Tokyo. For
years I've said the only way I'd work in Tokyo is if I could find me a
decent home an hour or so away by shinkansen; of course, these days
even that seems hard to do.

John W.