Not having them can create issues when selling later.Over-improving for the Neighborhood – Be mindful of your area’s home values so you don’t invest more than you can recoup.Ignoring Structural & Mechanical Issues – While cosmetic updates are fun, addressing foundation, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems first will save headaches down the road.For the best return on investment, focus on:Kitchen & Bathrooms – These are the biggest value-adds for a home.

Getting an LLC in place from the start can provide peace of mind and give you a chance to familiarize yourself with the process before expanding your portfolio.

And your net worth will thank you.If you still want to go ahead, you'd be better off buying a house than an apartment because, while the value of the building itself will go to 0, you'll still have the value of the land, bearing in mind that the land might actually lose value too given the depopulation and the yen depreciation.Sorry if I'm pooping a party but make sure you understand what you're getting into (which you're already doing by asking the forum) and then make the decision that's right for you according to your objectives.

I was looking for more of a meetup type situation with some like minded people, freely sharing information.

Multi family properties on the other hand tend to be more lucrative with numbers, especially if you are open minded to different strategies.   

Thanks for easing my mind on this and sharing your take.  

IF it is a real problem, then yes, fix it.I would build a fir-in wall out of 2x2s and insulate it heavily (Rockwool comes to mind https://www.rockwool.com/north-america/) There is also drywall that is made for this.

I certainly don't want to get into the business of being a "bottom feeder" that takes advantage of people, but if there is space in the industry for someone to help people in your situation while making a fair profit, I wouldn't mind learning more and getting involved.If interested, message me.

Do you mind if I ask how much you have invested with them? 

Absent them, risk is controllable over time.I self manage a SFH in the Bay Area in a very pro-tenant city (some cities are a little less pro-tenant than others).