I would be so grateful to connect with others who have experience with the rental landscape in Japan (whether Kanto, Kansai, Fukuoka, Sapporo, or elsewhere!). 

However, I'm just starting out and looking for some guidance on where to begin my journey.I've done some research online, but I'd love to hear from those with experience in this field.

It just doesn't seem make sense to collect rents on free and clear properties. 

Check out FilePlace, where user-created forms are available for free.

If you can get a good deal in Fondren and Bellhaven, go for it, but in my experience real estate there is overpriced.  

We ended up going the HELOC route on that property for a few reasons. 1) the interest at the time was only 5%, which although seemed high, didn't matter too much with our potential property showing a 18% ROI 2) we leveraged a second home loan with 10% down for that new property, so our HELOC withdrawal was relatively small compared to what would be needed for a traditional loan on a rental. 3) I dont think I will see the rates in the 2% again in my lifetime, so figured I should hold on to that "free money" instead of selling it. 

Account Closed I would say to just speak with a lender that has experience with this type of a transaction. 

Anyone here have any experience or background in fitness center design?

Connecting with other investors is a great way to share experiences, gain insights, and find opportunities.Good luck!

Can you provide any insights or experiences related to this?