Second bank under suspicion of providing dodgy loans
On December 25 the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper reported that related parties allege that Seibu Shinkin Bank may have overvalued investment properties and over-lent to borrowers as a result.
New tax revision to allow 2% of building purchase price to be deducted
The government has decided to extend the home loan tax deduction program for new home buyers to allow a three-year period whereby a home owner could deduct up to 2% of the building portion of their purchase price from their income tax. This is an effort to help support the housing market this year when the consumption tax rate is scheduled to increase to 10% from October 2019.
ORIX trialing 45-year loans on investment properties
ORIX Bank began trialing 45-year loans on investment properties in May 2018, making it the longest property loan on offer in the industry, exceeding the typical maximum term of 35 years.
What happens to your home loan if your house is destroyed in a natural disaster?
Generally speaking, if your house is destroyed in a disaster you are still on the hook to make your monthly mortgage repayments. However, this year many of Japan’s major banks have started to offer their new borrowers with some respite from their loan payments in the event of a disaster such as an earthquake, typhoon or flooding.
6 ~ 24 months delayed or exempted loan repayments
Home loan rates to rise this month
Japan’s four leading mega-banks will be increasing their advertised interest rates on home loans this month. When the Bank of Japan introduced minus interest rates in February 2016, retail banks began to gradually reduce their long-term fixed interest rates on home loans. However, recent shifts in monetary easing policy may see home loan interest rates shift to an upwards trend.Read more
Banks to reduce home loan rates in September
Four of Japan’s major banks announced that they will be reducing interest rates on new home loans this month.
The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ will reduce the prime rate on their 10-year fixed-rate home loan by 0.05 points to 0.75%. Mitsui Sumitomo Banking Corporation, Mizuho Bank and Resona Bank will also reduce the rates on their 10-year fixed-rate loans by 0.05 points. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank will leave their rates at their current level of 0.70%.Read more
Mizuho to offer home loans for same-sex couples
Mizuho Bank is now the first bank in Japan to offer home loans for same-sex couples. Up until now, home buyers would have had to obtain a loan under a single borrower’s name where the loan amount was limited by the single borrower’s income.
The home loan product is currently only available to residents in Shibuya Ward who have obtained a same-sex partnership certificate from the Shibuya local government office. The bank is considering expanding the loan to other districts as they begin to recognize LGBT partnerships.
Setagaya ward in Tokyo and Sapporo in Hokkaido also recognize same-sex partnerships. There were 18 certificates issued to couples in Shibuya ward as at March 2017, and 50 issued in Setagaya ward.
Sources:
Jiji Press, July 6, 2017.
Mizuho Bank News Release, July 6, 2017.