Impressive sales at the recently released Moiwa Resort Towers is another sign buyers are increasingly confident investing outside Hirafu.
NRE agent Keith Rodgers said close to 30 of 109 apartments under refurbishment in the twin towers had already been sold.
“They’re going at a rate of one or more a day which is pretty interesting given it’s still early season,” he said.
“It’s indicative of a larger trend – people are definitely expanding their horizons and looking outside the village.”
“Niseko is now regional, it’s not just Hirafu.
“Izumikyo 2 used to be outside the village, now it’s definitely inside the village.”
Mt Moiwa is about 15 minutes drive from Hirafu and, despite standing right beside Mt Annupuri, the resort’s lifts are independent of Niseko United – another reason it’s interesting there’s such strong interest.
Although there don’t appear to be any firm plans to run a lift up to Annupuri at this stage, perhaps investors think it’s a given.
Rodgers said there was obviously strong interest from Australia, but a majority was actually from Hong Kong, where buyers tended to buy with capital growth in mind.
“There’s not fewer Aussies buying, but Hong Kong buyers have gone from around 20 percent to about 50 or 60,” he said.
“Australian buyers tend to buy for rental return whereas Hong Kong buyers go for capital growth.”
The development is the first stage of an exclusive master planned resort and is set to open mid January.