No disclosure requirements for natural deaths, MLIT
On October 8, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT) announced the new guidelines for disclosing stigmatized properties to future tenants and buyers. Up until this point, there have been no clear rules on when or what to disclose to a potential occupant, leaving it up to the real estate brokers to follow their own practices. This has been a frequent cause of trouble and confusion.
Before buying land: take note of this notice
Ever noticed a sign like this placed on a vacant block of land? It's there for a reason, and something a buyer would want to be extremely aware of.
13-year home loan tax deduction deadline is November 30
With the deadline to apply for the 13-year home loan income tax deduction coming this November, should buyers rush in to purchase or wait to see if it is extended? This scheme allows homebuyers to deduct a percentage of their home loan balance from their income taxes each year for 10 ~ 13 years (the 3-year extension is the one with the looming deadline).
Looking for land? You might need to knock down a house first
If you are looking for land to build a house or other building on in Japan, particularly in a city, you may find lots are small in size while supply is limited. Of Japan’s total land size of 37,800,000 hectares, 66% is forest and 12% is farmland. Land for building purposes comprises 1,960,000 hectares or just 5% of the total - and that includes land that is already built on. The remainder is roads, rivers and waterways, and fields.
In an urban location, most of the land is already occupied, so domestic buyers will also consider lots with existing buildings that they can demolish. This is unavoidable in an area with a short supply of listings. If you limit yourself only to vacant lots, you may find very few options.
Looking to buy a large apartment in Tokyo? This is why you might be having difficulty
Houses and apartments in Japan are typically on the small side. The standard size of a three-bedroom apartment might be around 70 sqm, and a two-bedroom apartment in the 50 ~ 60 sqm range. Detached homes might be under 100 sqm, spread over three floors and including the car park. There are larger homes and apartments to be found, but buyers need to be aware that the availability of these larger properties is very limited.
Online sale transactions approved from April
The real estate transaction process in Japan is about to join the 21st century as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) has approved the use of teleconferencing to complete a key part of the process from April.
Home buyers: How to write an offer
After you have done the legwork and research, inspected, and obtained the general details of the place you want to purchase, it’s time to submit a written offer to the seller. This indicates that you intend to purchase the property under the conditions you have outlined.