How to Make a No-Sew Fleece Blanket (3 Easy Ways)
Three ways to tie a no-sew fleece blanket, plus exactly how much fleece to buy for five sizes, from a lovey to a twin.
The Fees Nobody Mentions When You Buy an Akiya in Japan
On a ¥1,000,000 akiya, the fees can run to 54% of the purchase price. Here is every cost nobody mentions, what it runs, and when it lands on your doormat.
How to Build a DIY Halloween Graveyard Fence from PVC Pipe
Build a DIY Halloween graveyard fence from PVC pipe and 1×2 boards. Six 8 foot panels, exact picket heights and spacing, and a zero waste cut plan.
Can Foreigners Buy Property in Japan? (Yes, and No, It Does Not Get You a Visa)
Yes, foreigners can buy property in Japan with no restrictions at all. Owning it, though, gives you zero right to live there. Here is what is actually true.
22 Questions to Ask a Realtor Before You List Your House
The 22 questions my realtor brother asked 15 agents before we sold our house, grouped by pricing, track record, marketing, and the contract.
What to Fix Before Selling a House: My Realtor’s 7 Rules
My realtor walked our house before we listed and gave us seven things to fix. The full list, what he told me not to touch, and the order to do it in.
Are Akiya Really Free? What a ¥0 House in Japan Actually Costs You
Yes, ¥0 houses in Japan are real. No, they are not free. Here is what a free akiya actually costs once you add gift tax, fixed fees, clearing out the last owner’s belongings, and untangling the title.
What to Take Out of Your House Before Listing It
We took ten things out of our Florida house before it went on the market, including the tool room I built myself. Here is the whole list, what we left alone, and how long to give yourself.
What an Akiya Renovation Actually Costs (2026 Ranges, Not Guesses)
An akiya renovation runs about ¥2,000,000 to ¥40,000,000 in 2026. Here is why that range is so wide, what each line item really costs, and how to figure out which end you are on before you make an offer.
Top 9 Moving Tips I Learned Packing Up a Whole House
Nine moving tips from someone who just packed up a whole house: the keep, sell, donate, trash method, the 20/20 rule, and why we rented a storage unit.