Imagine the joys of an apartment, chalet, house that provides a channel of income whenever you are not staying in it or land that appreciates at a rate that will give you financial freedom upon resale. This kind of place would be beautiful to visit in winter and summer, comfortable and easy to live in, ready for you whenever you want because it would be yours. The perfect getaway for anyone and whenever you want and you can reap the rewards of the continual growth in this property market just like the 100′s of investors that have made massive profits from their investments.

You should be asking yourself, “where is this paradise and how can I be a part of it?”

The place is Niseko, Japan and you can be a part of it!

A little about Niseko

“Niseko is Asia’s booming 4 season resort” Situated in Hokkaido on Japan’s most northerly islands, Niseko was once a “locals-only” snow town, but is now being heralded as one of Asia’s foremost resort locations and of the world’s finest ski destinations.

Famous for its breathtaking nature and world class powder snow, over the past 5 years, Niseko has experienced massive growth. Figures speak for themselves, with annual international tourist numbers increasing 14 fold since 2002 (Kutchan Tourism Board).

Niseko’s fame stemmed from its endless showers of feather-like powder snow, however in recent years, the charm of its spring, summer and autumns have been slowly discovered, as it evolves into one of Asia’s premier all year round resorts. Niseko is now host to summer events such as Niseko Cycle Week, Niseko Golf Week and the NAC Adventure Races Series.

A little about the Niseko and Japan real estate market

“Japan, one of the world’s most promising investment destinations” Japan, has the world’s second largest economy, is also one of the world’s most promising investment destinations. After its fall in the 90′s, Japan’s economy has been on the consistent incline and is now making what is reportedly the longest and steadies economical comeback in its post-was history.

With the value of the yen and interest rates still sitting at an all-time low, this translates to increased purchasing power per dollar, presenting foreign buyers with an extremely attractive platform for inbound investment.

Investors have been reaping the rewards from Japan real estate and the Niseko market; it is not uncommon of investors selling property 12 months after purchasing and doubling their purchase price.

Advantages of buying real estate in Japan:

* Low purchase price compared to similar markets in the western world
* Weak Japanese yen versus international currencies, giving you more purchase power for your dollar
* Strong rental returns in tourism destinations like Niseko
* Selected real estate agencies in Japan are set up to help foreigners invest in Japan
* Strong capital gains on resale
* Continually increasing into a world renowned tourism destination
* Low yen interest rates available
* Real estate in Japan that you own can be used as a holiday destination for you and your family
* Large international corporations are continually recognizing Japan as an investment and tourism destination and establishing themselves in Japan as quickly as possible.
* A lifestyle investment that is affordable, profitable and a secure investment in your financial future.

Due to the current economic turmoil being experienced in the United States, there are many homeowners who now find themselves in the position of being behind on their mortgage payments. It goes without saying that this is an extremely stressful, and often scary scenario to find oneself in. Having an understanding of foreclosure laws can go a long way in helping to alleviate this stress, and empower oneself to take the appropriate actions to work with the bank and get things back on track.

Unfortunately, gaining such an understanding can be difficult, given that foreclosure laws vary from state to state. The process can be quite different from one state to another, and these differences will largely determine the proper course of action for a homeowner.

Foreclosure Laws in California

However, as an example, let’s examine the foreclosure laws in the state of California and how they impact the potential time line for foreclosure by the bank, and the eviction process if things progress to that level. Keep in mind that the timeframes stated here are merely what is possible. Your particular lender may not operate completely according to this schedule.

1. In California, after 90 days of non-payment on your mortgage, California foreclosure law allows the bank to record a Notice of Default.
2. After an additional 90 days, the bank is allowed to record a Notice of Trustee’s Sale.
3. 21 days later, it is possible for the bank to sell your home at a foreclosure auction. This could result either in the bank finding a buyer for the home, or if the home does not sell at auction the bank could take the property back as an “REO”, or real estate-owned property. If your home sells at auction, at that point it could be nearly impossible to retain your home.
4. If the bank does take the property back as an REO, the bank’s asset manager may offer what is known as a “cash for keys” deal. Basically, the bank offers from $3,000 to $5,000 for you to voluntarily move out of the home within 3-4 weeks. After you have vacated the property, the agent for the bank can list the property on MLS for sale to the general public.

Once the process of selling your home is initiated by the bank, there are various methods available at your disposal to stop it, assuming that you are looking to buy enough time to work out a resumption of payments with the bank.

Bankruptcy

One option to stop the sale is filing bankruptcy. This creates an automatic stay on the foreclosure process. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always work as a long-term solution because a bankruptcy designed to allow you to keep your home often will require you to resume payments at the same amount you were at before going into default, plus more in order to pay off your arrears over three to five years. Obviously, unless your income has been restored to prior levels, this often is not a workable scenario.

Litigation

The only other way to force the bank to stop foreclosure is to sue the bank and get an injunction to halt the process. There are only a few possible grounds on which you can file such a suit, including statutory violations or mistakes during the foreclosure proceedings, and common law violations such as violation of the HAMP program, fraud, or breach of contract.

For any of these options, it is imperative that you seek advice from a qualified expert in the foreclosure laws of your particular state.