We bought a house in Japan for $30,000. We'll have more land than we could afford in the US, and our kids will be more independent.

• Leika and Brandon Hansen bought a vacant home in a small town in Japan for $30,000.
• The Hansens are leaving the Seattle area for more land, safer streets, and public transportation.
• The two are looking forward to a change in pace and a more inviting environment to raise their son.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Leika and Brandon Hansen, two educators living in a suburb of Seattle with their newborn baby who plan to move to Okayama, Japan, in the summer of 2024. The conversation was edited for length and clarity.

Leika: We have stable jobs and we're trying to do our best in the US, but the area that we want to live — in Seattle — we could easily get priced out pretty fast.