In Japan, condo prices are rising fast—especially in Fukuoka—and more foreign buyers, particularly from China, are investing in these properties.

What's happening:

• A Chinese woman in her 50s bought a Fukuoka condo for about 30 million yen, and now it’s listed for 52.8 million yen.
• Some high-rise units remain empty, used only as investment properties, not homes.
• One condo's price jumped 160 million yen in just one year, going from 490 million to 650 million yen.
• Many mailboxes in new buildings are overflowing with flyers because no one actually lives in the units.

Why the interest?

• Foreigners—mostly from China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong—have been buying condos for the past year or so.
• Many pay in cash, skipping loans or complex paperwork.
• Fukuoka is appealing because:
  • Prices are cheaper than Tokyo
  • It’s one of the few Japanese cities where the population is still growing
  • The weak yen makes it a good deal for overseas investors

The trend:

• About 20% of recent condo buyers in the area are foreign.
• Some major foreign investors (like Korean conglomerates) are shifting their focus from Tokyo to Fukuoka.
• Fukuoka is becoming a hot spot for foreign real estate investment, but this also means that local residents are getting priced out.

In short, Fukuoka’s condo market is booming due to overseas investment—good for sellers, tough for locals.