Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Are they the lemmings]

Hi all. Could I ask your opinions on something? It's not really related to Korea, but I'd just like to see what people think.

The missus and I may have to move house soon for family (hers) reasons. We own our current apartment, which is in one of the few areas of Japan that is enjoying a resurgence in real estate prices, but moving closer to the in-laws would mean relocating to an area where real estate prices are stagnant at best and still falling at worst. It is not near any of the major cities, and city conveniences are very rare. On the other hand, in those less-profitable areas we are likely to have better access to lifestyle-related things we enjoy, such as a house rather than an apartment, perhaps with a garden, certainly with proper parking space and, because it is a coastal region (another plus), maybe even a view of the sea if we are lucky. But the thing is, if we have to move, we have to move.

I'm mindful, of course, of things like providing for retirement and topping up our income with dividends that assets like homes sometimes provide. We have some other investments; they are still nascent and therefore very modest, but we'll work on them.

The way I see it, there are two options:
(1) Buy what we can afford, knowing that we will likely make a capital loss on it if we sell, but also enjoying proximity to the in-laws, the beach, etc.
(2) Hold out for a place that will make us a profit if we sell, but which will likely be further away from the in-law and further inland.

So, my question is this: do you think we should live in an area with a greater enjoyment factor and lose money on it, or do you think we should aim for a capital gain further away from the positive lifestyle factors?

Opinions appreciated.