Foreign buyers eyeing Japan's empty houses seek specialist advice

Tokyo -- Japan's glut of abandoned houses are attracting foreign buyers, creating opportunities for brokers who can help bargain hunters swerve potential pitfalls.

A growing number of specialist real estate agents and consultants are acting for foreign clients wanting assistance in finding, renovating, maintaining and managing once vacant properties, known as akiya. Foreign buyers, whose spending power has been boosted by the weak yen, can buy properties for as little as 1 million yen ($6,673) or even less in some regions.