This couple was priced out of the Seattle housing market, so they bought a farmhouse in Japan for $30K — here are their 2 big reasons for moving abroad

Serah Louis
This couple was priced out of the Seattle housing market, so they bought a farmhouse in Japan for $30K — here are their 2 big reasons for moving abroad
This couple was priced out of the Seattle housing market, so they bought a farmhouse in Japan for $30K — here are their 2 big reasons for moving abroad

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Leika and Brandon Hansen purchased a 100-year-old Kominka-style farmhouse with swathes of rice fields in Japan’s countryside last year.

“We have stable jobs and we're trying to do our best in the U.S., but the area that we want to live — in Seattle — we could easily get priced out pretty fast,” said Leika.

The couple’s new home in Okayama cost them just $30,000, compared to expensive Seattle, where the typical home is valued at around $847,000, according to Zillow.

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Leika — whose mother grew up in Japan — never would have imagined moving there permanently until Brandon shared his own experience in the quiet towns around the Okayama and Osaka area.

“Japan seemed like a slower pace of life,” said Brandon in the couple's interview with Business Insider. “It's easy to live here.”

So, in the summer of 2023, the Hansens made the decision to permanently move to Japan and there are two big reasons why. And if you feel priced out of the U.S. housing market but still want to add real estate to your portfolio, here are a couple options to consider.

1. Cheaper real estate

On the couple’s YouTube channel, Leika explains how they wanted to search for alternatives outside of the U.S. and they discovered “akiyas” — vacant or abandoned homes in Japan that were also incredibly cheap. The duo started browsing properties in January of 2023 before closing on their new home in June of that year and even posting a house tour on their YouTube channel in December.

In January 2023 when Leika and Brandon were first looking for a home, the median sale price in the U.S was $383,249. Fast forward to this year and prices are even higher, hitting $411,887 in February.

So if you, like the Hansens, are feeling priced out of the American dream but you don’t want to uproot your life and move abroad then consider investing in U.S real estate in other ways - without the burden of taking on an expensive mortgage or the perils of property management.

With Arrived, a platform backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, you can invest in shares of vacation and rental homes here in the U.S. without the burdens of buying and managing properties. You can start by browsing through their curation selection of homes, vetted for their income earning and appreciation potential.

Once you’ve found a property that best fits your needs, you can choose how many shares you’d like to purchase, and start investing with as little as $100.

If you’re feeling priced out of the market, like the Hansens, there are still ways you can add real estate to your portfolio without having to worry about high prices and mortgage rates — and you aren’t limited to residential real estate either.

With First National Realty Partners, accredited investors can invest in institutional-quality, grocery anchored commercial real estate properties leased by national brands like Walmart and Whole Foods.

All you have to do to get started is fill in some information about yourself, your income and investment goals. Then FNRP’s team of experts manages every aspect of the investment process, so you could sit back and enjoy your quarterly distributions.

Read more: 'Baby boomers bust': Robert Kiyosaki warns that older Americans will get crushed in the 'biggest bubble in history' — 3 shockproof assets for instant insurance now

2. Retirement dreams

The YouTube couple also decided it was important for them to pursue their hobbies and interests — and get a jumpstart on their retirement goals, like buying farmland.

“I really want honeybees. I'm super passionate about pizza and having an outdoor pizza oven,” said Brandon. “These are things that we think of as retirement dreams.”

One way you can secure your retirement so you can live out your own dream retirement life wherever you want is by investing in assets that help to secure your nest egg.

Gold is a popular hedge against inflation for a straightforward reason: It can’t be printed out of thin air like fiat money. Amid persitent inflation, gold prices have reached new heights, now standing at around $2,338 per ounce.

Goldco can help you set up a gold IRA, allowing you to invest in physical gold and other precious metals within a tax advantaged retirement account. This strategy combines the tax benefits of an IRA with the inflation-hedging benefits of gold, offering a way to diversify your portfolio.

Not sure what your retirement goals are or how to reach them? To help you map out your golden years, it might be a good idea to discuss your options with a professional.

With an easy-to-use platform like WiserAdvisor, you can find and compare vetted, registered financial advisors with just a few clicks.

To get started, just answer a few questions about your finances and goals and WiserAdvisor will match you with 2-3 financial advisers. You can view their profiles, read up on their credentials, and book a free consultation with no obligation to hire, to see if they’re the right match.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

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