Buying Real Estate

Invest in Japan’s Cultural Heritage: How Foreign Buyers Can Transform Abandoned Akiya Homes into Profitable Ventures

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Invest in Japan’s Cultural Heritage:

 

How Foreign Buyers Can Transform

 

Abandoned Akiya Homes

 

into Profitable Ventures

 

 

As Japan’s population declines and properties go unclaimed, an emerging segment of buyers is seeking out

 

rural architecture in need of renovation.

 

There are about 8.5 million abandoned houses, or akiya, across Japan,

 

accounting for roughly 14% of the country’s housing stock.

 

This number is expected to rise as the population continues to shrink.

 

According to an article in NYT, Australian software developer Jaya Thursfield and his Japanese-born wife,

 

Chihiro, purchased an akiya for 3 million yen (about $23,000) after relocating from London to Japan.

 

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Navigating Withholding Obligations for Foreign Investors: A Comprehensive Guide for Buyers and Landlords

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Tax implications: When a non-resident sells

or rents out real estate in Japan

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

 

(Case study)

 

In Japan, taxes are levied on residents (referred to as “residents”) regardless of nationality.

 

In this case, the income subject to taxation includes not only income generated within Japan

 

but also income from around the world.

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Understanding Japan’s Real Estate Landscape: Population Dynamics, Vacant Homes, and Global Competitiveness

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Will Real Estate Prices Really Decline Long-term in Japan?

 

Based on the following four points, we will explore this issue.

 

In conclusion, while it is unclear what the long-term trend of real estate prices in Japan

 

as a whole will be, we can conclude that real estate prices in rural areas are likely to decline.

 

The relationship between population decline

 

and real estate prices In Japan

 

The population is declining, which is a contributing factor to falling real estate prices.

 

In particular, the decrease in population in rural areas is significant,

 

and it is expected that real estate prices will decline as demand decreases.

 

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Unlocking Wealth in Japan’s Property Market: An Investment Roadmap for Affluent Individuals

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Discovering Lucrative Opportunities in Japanese Real Estate

 

for High-Net-Worth Investors

 

Introduction:

 

Japan has long been an attractive destination for high-net-worth individuals

 

who appreciate its rich culture, modern cities, and stunning landscapes.

 

As the yen continues to depreciate and real estate prices remain relatively low compared to other global cities,

 

now is the perfect time for investors with a net worth of 1-2 million

 

US dollars to explore opportunities in the Japanese property market.

 

Prime Locations:

 

While Tokyo is the most popular choice for foreign investors,

other metropolitan areas such as Osaka and Nagoya also offer attractive investment prospects.

For those interested in resort properties, Hokkaido and Okinawa are becoming increasingly popular choices.

 

Example Properties in Tokyo:

 

Minato-ku, Tokyo: A luxurious 2-bedroom apartment in the upscale Minato-ku district offers

 

investors a taste of cosmopolitan living. With a price tag of around $1 million,

 

the apartment offers a potential rental yield of 4-5%.

 

Shibuya-ku, Tokyo: A modern one-bedroom apartment in the vibrant Shibuya-ku area offers

 

a more affordable investment option at around $500,000.

 

The potential rental yield for this property is approximately 3-4%.

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“Japan’s Hotel Industry: A Magnet for Global Investments”

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Record Foreign Investments

Boost Japan’s Hotel Sector

 

Foreign investors are increasingly acquiring Japanese hotels

 

due to the nation’s recovering tourism industry, weak currency,

 

and low interest rates. In the past 12 months, overseas buyers accounted

 

for 47% of the ¥494.3 billion ($3.7 billion) invested in hotel deals,

 

the highest proportion since 2014. Factors such as low rates, the weak yen,

 

and market stability have made Japanese real estate attractive

 

to global investors amid economic uncertainty.

 

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“Revitalizing Shinjuku: The Spectacular Launch of Tokyu Kabukicho Tower’s Entertainment Wonderland”

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“Revitalizing Shinjuku:

The Spectacular Launch of

Tokyu Kabukicho Tower’s

Entertainment Wonderland”

 

Tokyu Kabukicho Tower, the latest colossal entertainment complex

 

located in the heart of Tokyo’s bustling Shinjuku district,

 

celebrated its grand opening on April 14th with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

 

 

The state-of-the-art complex boasts a total of 48 above-ground and five underground floors,

 

reaching a staggering height of approximately 225 meters.

 

The tower is a symbol of modern luxury, offering guests an array of exceptional facilities,

 

including the lavish BELLUSTAR TOKYO Hotel, the contemporary HOTEL GROOVE SHINJUKU,

 

the captivating THEATER MILANO-Za, the premium 109 Cinemas Shinjuku,

 

and the vibrant live hall, Zepp Shinjuku (TOKYO). In addition to these core offerings,

 

the complex provides an extensive selection of dining options,

 

amusement experiences, and thrilling attractions.

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“Revolutionizing Urban Living: SETAGAYA Qs-GARDEN Unveils a Multigenerational Community for Enhanced Well-Being”

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Revolutionizing Urban Living:

SETAGAYA Qs-GARDEN Unveils

a Multigenerational Community

for Enhanced Well-Being

 

On March  27th, 2023, five large companies, including Dai-ichi Life Insurance,

 

Marubeni Urban Development, Aioi Nissay Housing, NTT Urban Development,

 

and Nomura Real Estate announced the opening of “SETAGAYA Qs-GARDEN”

 

in Setagaya, Tokyo.

 

The project aims to create a community that promotes the well-being of its residents

 

by constructing multi-generational housing,

 

sports facilities, and community centres on a 9-hectare site owned

 

by Dai-ichi Life Insurance.

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“au Jibun Bank and SBI Sumishin Net Bank Shake Up the Japanese Home Loan Market: A Borrower’s Guide”

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Competitive Landscape in Japan’s

Home Loan Industry

: Unraveling the Impact of

Internet-Only Banks

 

The Japanese home loan market is witnessing fierce competition, with internet-only banks

 

such as au Jibun Bank and SBI Sumishin Net Bank leading the charge.

 

 

These banks leverage their lower operating costs to offer attractive interest rates

 

on variable-rate home loans.

 

Recently, au Jibun Bank expanded its preferential rates, reaching as low as 0.196%

 

for some customers. Meanwhile, SBI Sumishin Net Bank,

 

which has a market share of around 5%, reduced its refinancing rate to 0.299%.

 

 

Traditional banks are also competing by lowering their expenses through digitization

 

and offering competitive interest rates.

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Charming resort mansions in Yuzawa area, Niigata?: Think twice

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(Naeba ski resort in Niigata)

Sparkling ?

There are many resort condos in Yuzawa in Niigata for sale at a very reasonable price.

I found an interesting article about resort condos and would like to share the summary with you today.

 

After the burst of the bubble, the residents of the condominiums became elderly. 

Yuzawa Town, Niigata Prefecture, the Joetsu Shinkansen entered Ueno in 1985, and the entire Kanetsu Expressway was opened, becoming a tourist destination that attracts 10 million people annually. 

You can enjoy skiing and hot springs effortlessly from the Tokyo metropolitan area. 

In the bubble economy, 58 resort condominiums were built by 1993 with a total of approximately 15,000 units. 

According to real estate information company Tokyo Kantei, there are about 80,000 resort condominiums nationwide.

Yuzawa accounts for close to 20%.

 

However, the ski boom has gone, and prices have fallen due to oversupply.

About 30 years since the bubble, condominium users have also changed significantly.

According to the town, out of over 8000 townspeople as of April 2016, more than 1000 people registered the current address in apartments.

It accounts for 12% of the townspeople.

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Real estate investment in Japan : Beautiful Stories, Hard Realities

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Beautiful Stories, Hard Realities

Real estate agents/realtors are always holding seminars in Tokyo, Osaka and elsewhere, luring in amateur investors (for Japanese investors so far)

and telling them beautiful stories of how this person or that person got rich in the property market.

I never exaggerate such successes in my seminars, although of course they do exist.

Instead, I always tell the audience true stories from my experience and those of other clients and inexperienced investors, and in particular about the mistakes made.

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