Do you know ‘Otori-bukken’ ?
Truth be told,
We have to admit there are a number of
shady and dishonest real estate agents in Japan.
As a foreign investor considering investment opportunities
in the Japanese real estate market,
it’s crucial to be aware of the tactics some unscrupulous agents
employ to lure potential clients.
Investing in Japan’s Ageing Condominiums:
Opportunities and Insights for
Foreign Investors Amid Legal Changes
Are you a foreign investor interested
in Japan’s real estate market?
As a leading real estate agent for foreign investors, we’re here to provide you with the latest updates
and insights into the industry.
Today, we’re discussing the Japanese government’s proposed amendments
to the Condominium Ownership Act and what it could mean for you as a potential investor.
The Japanese government is considering amending the Condominium Ownership Act by the fiscal year 2024,
Are you an investor exploring alternative
real estate investment opportunities in Asia?
The recent changes in Singapore’s property tax regulations may prompt you to look elsewhere
for promising investments.
As a Japanese real estate agent specializing in assisting foreign investors,
I’m here to help you navigate this changing landscape and
discover the potential of Japan’s real estate market.
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.
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.
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%.
Rising Used Condominium Prices in Tokyo and Major Japanese Metropolitan Areas
Tokyo Kantei Press Released on March 23, 2023
Major Cities in the Three Major Metropolitan Areas: Monthly Trends in Used Condominium Prices (70 sqm)
In February, used condominium prices in the Tokyo metropolitan area increased
by 0.4% compared to the previous month, reaching 48.66 million yen,
marking the third consecutive month of increase.
In central Tokyo, prices once again surpassed the 100 million yen mark.
The average prices in the Kinki and Chubu regions also continued to rise modestly,
with no significant downward movement seen in the market.
In February 2023, used condominium prices in the Tokyo metropolitan area
rose for the third consecutive month, with a slight increase of 0.4% compared to the previous month,
reaching 48.66 million yen.
When looking at the data by prefecture, Tokyo saw an increase of 0.7% to 64.41 million yen,
surpassing the record high set in December of the previous year.
In Kanagawa Prefecture (+0.4%, 36.68 million yen), prices continued to rise compared
to the previous month, while in Chiba Prefecture (+1.7%, 28.29 million yen),
prices have been on an upward trend since April of the previous year.
On the other hand, prices in Saitama Prefecture decreased slightly by 0.4% to 30.49 million yen,
marking the first decline in six months.
The average price in the Kinki region increased for the first time in two months,
with a slight increase of 0.2% to 29.14 million yen, due to the strength of the Osaka area.
In Osaka Prefecture, the price showed a similar movement with a 0.2% increase to 31.28 million yen,
but it did not surpass the level reached in December of the previous year.
Rakumachi, a real estate website in Japan, conducted market research for the first quarter of 2023
and found that the prices of all types of investment properties in Japan have increased.
(Not property for living)
The average price of one-room apartments increased to 74.95 million yen,
the average price of one-building apartments rose to 277.9 million yen,
and the average price of condominiums rose to 18.81 million yen.
One-room apartments had a yield of 8.98%（gross yield), while one-building apartments had a yield of 7.52%(gross yield),
and condominiums had a yield of 6.87% (gross yield).
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.
The city planning law, which was created by the ministry of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism, exist to regulate urban development.
The law divides all Japan into mainly two parts; city planning area which is regulated by the city planning law and the non-city planning area which is not regulated by this law.
The law defines 12 zoning districts within urbanization promotion areas.
Of these zoning districts, three have a primary effect on real estate projects residential district, commercial districts and industrial district.
Specific regulations for each district such as allowable use, building coverage ratio and floor area ratio are defined by the building standards law.
When you buy a property in Japan, it is very important to know which district your property exists.
Because each district is highly regulated by the specifics of city planning law(and building standards law)
and such regulations always affect the neighbourhood.
The law regulates the hight, allowable use, building coverage ratio, floor area ratio, type of the business and the size of the business and so on.
For example, you can not open a restaurant in category 1 low-rise exclusive residential districts.