Developer gives up on redevelopment plans near Sendai Station
September 10, 2015Sendai CityOffice/Retail News & Information,Real Estate News,All
Tokyu Land have abandoned redevelopment plans for the West Exit of Sendai Station due to low profitability forecasts. The land was acquired during the market peak in 2006~2007.
Tokyu sold their 80% share of the land under the Sakurano Department Store to a fund in December 2014. At the end of August 2015, they sold 1,095 sqm of land, which included the land under the Sendai Toyo Building and the site of the former Asahiya Building, to a separate fund for an undisclosed price. Earlier this year Tokyu had considered redeveloping the smaller site, but made a final decision to sell.Read more
Former art museum to be donated to Akita City
September 9, 2015Real Estate News,All
On September 3, the Akita Prefectural Governor announced plans to donate the former Akita Prefectural Art Museum to Akita City.
Due to the building's age and deterioration, the prefecture originally planned to demolish the 49-year old building. Akita City, however, have plans to repair and use the building. The estimated cost to repair and retrofit the building had earlier been estimated at over 1.1 billion Yen (9.2 million USD), while demolition would cost just 160 million Yen (1.3 million USD).Read more
Possible reporting requirements to curb derelict buildings
September 8, 2015Real Estate News,All,Tokyo
To help prevent a rise in dilapidated and poorly maintained apartment buildings, The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is considering introducing regulations that would require owners' associations to report on building maintenance.
Older condominiums can easily fall into disrepair when the owners are not actively managing or maintaining the buildings. Maintenance can be especially challenging when the majority of owners are elderly and on fixed incomes, as it can be difficult to obtain approval for costly repairs.Read more
Residential yields in Minato-ku - September 2015
September 7, 2015Rental yield in TokyoReal Estate News,Rental Market,Market Information,All,Tokyo
According to real estate listing site Homes, the average gross yield on an apartment in Minato-ku in September was 4.6%, down 0.1 points from the previous month and down 1 point from last year. The average gross yield across Tokyo was 6.5%, showing no change from the previous month and down 0.5 points from last year.
The average asking price of a second-hand apartment in Minato-ku was 874,485 Yen/sqm as of September 1, 2015, up 0.6% from the previous month and up 8.7% from last year. The average asking price for land was 1,236,969 Yen/sqm, up 0.2% from the previous month but down 3.3% from last year.Read more
Akashi’s tallest and most expensive condominium tower to go on sale this month
September 4, 2015Hyogo Prefecture,Akashi CityNew Construction,Real Estate News,All
Akashi City’s tallest and most expensive condominium is going on sale later this month and is already drawing a lot of interest from potential buyers. Three of the apartments will be priced over 100 million Yen and the most expensive apartment will be a 110 sqm (1,184 sq ft) 4-Bedroom unit priced at 130.9 million Yen (1.09 million USD). It is unusual to see apartments priced over 100 million Yen in the suburban areas of Kansai, and this is the first time that Akashi City has seen apartments priced at this level.
Proud Tower Akashi will be a 34-storey condominium located just a 2 minute walk from Akashi Station and 350 meters from the Akashi Castle park. The 199 apartments range in size from 54 ~ 110 sqm (581 ~ 1,184 sq ft) and are priced from 22.5 ~ 130.9 million Yen.Read more
Banks to reduce interest rates in September
Five of Japan’s mega-banks will reduce interest rates on home loans this month due to increased competition and a relatively low long-term government bond yield.
The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (MUFJ) and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) will reduce their prime rate for a 10-year fixed-rate mortgage by 0.1 points to 1.20%. Mizuho Bank will reduce their 10-year fixed-rate by 0.05 points to 1.20%.Read more
Tokyo apartment sales in August 2015
September 2, 2015Real Estate News,Market Information,All,Tokyo
The following is a selection of apartments that were sold in central Tokyo during the month of August 2015:Read more