Why  well Dad is Japanese was a Billionaire got hammered int the Japanese melt down of mid 90s' and instructed the family and family trust that if you pay cash U can't lose your properties.. so thats what they have done all these years.. and you really can't argue with that if you have the cash and don't care about leverage.. thats the long term safe play.  

That's what happened. ya I hear ya with certain parts of the US>. but look how the Japanese handled the tsunami  pictures of all those folks politely standing in line for their water.. but no question in gun happy America and in the inner cities were they shoot each other like crazy right now with out any disasters I can for sure see it..

Grub/refreshments?

Keep in mind everything in this list needs to be refreshed periodically.

Going are the awnings, japanese blinds and front stone finish ( replaced by a,more modern stone).

It has time and again, and once we get through this current buyers market, the sellers market will return in the future creating more appreciation.No one has ever said that you can not put food on the table with appreciation.To refresh your memory lapse, you did!

It would be fantastic to have an article to go back to time and time again to refresh my memory on how to prep and paint paneling or what to do with sealing in wall paper or stains or smoke or what have you.

"How to post a picture" link:http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/25/topics/45114-how-to-post-a-picture-It's a refresher for some of you ....

I know Japanese cars like Honda, Toyota last a very very long time but the vehicle rots from rust before the mechanicals die. 

when things were slow in the Bay area from 92 to about 98  we were killing it in the timber bizzin Oregon.. then the Japanese economy tanked and Timber was not ever as profitable as those days.. but I cant look back can only look forward..