On 15 Apr 2005 09:22:21 -0700, "John W." <worthj1970@yahoo.com> wrote:

>Ken Yasumoto-Nicolson wrote:
>>
>> Given the current rates, there should really be no reason not to, and
>> even if they don't live there, I'm sure they could rent it at a
>decent
>> price.
>>
>I suggested this, but that got a nice 'no way'. 

Actually, building a new home then renting it for a few years before
moving in yourself would be a bit off for me too!

>I guess it's the same
>reason a lot of Japanese don't really want to buy used homes if they
>can help it; a lot of my friends cringe when I say there are some great
>deals on large, old houses in Japan.

But aren't they mostly falling down though? I wouldn't buy the average
town house used (probably not even new, as they all look so cheap!)
for the worry about ongoing maintenance. A country farmhouse-type
traditional home with lots of wood would be nice if insulated
properly, but I'm not really a DIYer. In fact, I remember seeing on
telly last year a totally rebuilt (I think they kept the wooden shell
only) large old farmhouse with outbuilding featuring open hearth and
rotenburo; IIRC over 200 sq metres on 777 tsubos of land including
your own private bamboo-covered hill, under 10 minutes drive from the
motorway between Kobe and Himeji, selling for under 2,500 man yen.

>John W.

Ken