Be sure to check out the blogs and podcasts as well as the forums.

However utilitarian the spaces, it is rare for buildings to be renovated and retrofitted in Japan, or so I read in an article in the blog i linked above.

Make sure to check out the Bigger Pockets Blog: https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/

Do you know any New Zealand related blogs/articles that would be useful for a beginner like myself?

http://www.dce.harvard.edu/professional/blog/how-u...

Currently reading one of the books and reading articles on the blog as well.I'm sure you will reach your goals.

This sounds like a great opportunity for you to start a blog!

And if you know your area you can focus on certain neighborhoods, which is something you can't as easily do if you buy, for example, an absentee list.There are tons of other ways to get leads though, it's just up to you whether you want to put in the time, do the work, pay the money...Type "finding leads" into the search bar here on BP and find literally thousands of posts and blogs on the topic.

I've read some blogs similar to this subject but not quite the answers I am looking for.

Some great data sources I used were redfin's data center blog, google's public population estimates for cities, and talking with other investors.