Shibuya City Office redevelopment confirmed
On September 10, an official decision was made to redevelop the Shibuya City Office and adjoining Shibuya Public Hall (C.C. Lemon Hall). The two buildings were completed in 1964, with the hall hosting the weight-lifting events at the 1964 Summer Olympics.
Demolition of the City Office will begin in 2015 and the new building should be completed by 2018. The building will be similar in scale to the existing ones. Part of the 12,500 sqm block will be converted to leasehold and may become the site of a future residential building.Read more
Skyz Tower & Garden over half sold
Although completion is not expected until August 2014, 630 of the 1,110 apartments in Skyz Tower & Garden in Toyosu have already sold.Read more
The Parkhouse Harumi Towers sees a surge in interest following Olympics announcement
The sales office at The Parkhouse Harumi Towers was abuzz with activity on Sunday after it was announced that Tokyo was chosen to host the 2020 Summer Olympics. The twin high-rise condominiums are located on the same island in Tokyo Bay that will be the site of the Athletes Village.
On a normal weekend, the sales office receives around 30 visitors, and make 4 or 5 sales. On Sunday, however, as many as 60 people visited the showroom and 10 purchase agreements were signed.Read more
All 1497 apartments now sold out in Proud Funabashi
All 1,497 apartments in Nomura's 'Proud Funabashi' development in Chiba have sold out. Nomura received a total of 2,919 purchase applications, and over 24,000 people visited their sales showroom since its opening in June 2012.Read more
4-point checklist when buying an older apartment
If you are thinking of buying an older, secondhand apartment in Japan, these are some of the important factors that you need to consider:
[1] What are the building's common areas like?
When inspecting an apartment, it is important that you thoroughly check the building's common areas including the entrance, bicycle and car parking, hallways, garbage disposal room and rooftop (if possible). If a building is well managed and maintained, it will be evident in the common areas. If, however, it is unclean or looking run down, it could be a sign that the building is not being property cared for. Read more