Luke - after a year of searching I found a property that i'm under contract on and feel pretty good about. 

I've owned and continue to own both, and there is no way someone can tell me with a straight face they spend less time getting a lender, giving them 80 documents, clarifying documents, talking to a seller, signing contracts, hiring a property manager (or managing yourself), bookkeeping, managing repairs, insurance and hoa setup, sending the lender more documents vs. vetting a sponsor and wiring money.I'm have very good luck with my rentals and I spend very little of my life on them, but that very little is STILL 5-10X what I spend on passive investments.One missed payment or eviction is added stress; you don't even hear about this as a passive investor.

I have my second flip under contract and I decided to give Capital 360 a chance to finance this one. 

This helped ease any uncertainty I had, and then we just both kept our word and honored the contract.

Sharing proceeds can be documented through a contract or settlement agreement without title changes.

So shift your expectations to most of the cash out and you'll be good and you'll actually start buying deals, versus people who wait for the perfect deal, spin their wheels for 6 months terminating contracts/analyzing hundreds of places, and then eventually burn out and give up. 

Open ended contracts, particularly verbal ones, usually end badly.

-Interest Rate: I think they have dropped a bit in the 4.5 - 6.5% but as a foreigner buyer I wouldn't be surprised if a 1 - 1.5% is added to that number on your contract.- Which bank to go to? 

If you love it and are good don't let up on the gas.

(Creating a contract to protect the both of us if things go south) Nippon Real Estate does a lot of podcasts and provides value for foreigners wanting to invest in Japan.Properties newer than 2000 are structurally sound to last a level 6 earthquake.