Residential yields and vacancy rates in Minato-ku - August 2013

According to real estate listing site Homes, the average yield on an apartment in Minato-ku in August 2013 was 5.7%, down 0.3 points from last month. The average yield across Tokyo was 8.1%, up 0.1 points from July.

The vacancy rate was 9.9% in Minato-ku and 11.0% across Tokyo. Read more

by Zoe Ward

Mizuho and Sumitomo Mitsui to lower interest rates

Mizuho Bank and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank are lowering their prime lending rates on home loans this month.

Mizuho is reducing the interest rate on their variable and fixed-type mortgages by 0.1%, while Sumitomo Mitsui will be reducing their variable rate from 0.775% to 0.725%. This will be the first time since November 2010 that Sumitomo Mitsui has reduced their variable rate.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Karuizawa population reaches record high

The population in Karuizawa has exceeded 20,000 residents for the first time since it received a town status in 1923.

From the 1980s to 1990s, the town's population hovered at around 15,000 residents, but began to grow again after the opening of the Nagano Shinkansen station shortened the trip to Tokyo to about 70 minutes. The town is estimating that the local population will reach 21,000 by 2022. The population in 1923 was 5,012 residents.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Tokyo apartment price-to-book ratios in 2013

Tokyo Kantei has released their 2013 report on the price-to-book ratios for apartments in greater Tokyo. The data is arranged by train station.

Apartments around Omotesando Station saw the best gain in re-sale value with a PBR of 1.41. Other high-ranking areas include Shinagawa (1.31), Tamachi (1.26), Shirokane Takanawa (1.23) and Toranomon (1.20) stations.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Mitsubishi's latest offering set to be Japan's most expensive apartments

Mitsubishi Jisho Residence announced that they will begin sales of apartments in The Parkhouse Grand Chidorigafuchi in early September.

With an average price of 2.4 million Yen/sqm, apartments in The Parkhouse will be the most expensive apartments to be released for sale across Japan since 2008. According to Mitusbishi Jisho's president, the pricing reflects the premium location of the building and was decided prior to the recent spate of good news about Tokyo's property market.

Read more

by Zoe Ward

Tokyo apartment market enters bullish territory

In the first half of 2013, Tokyo's apartment market (including new and old apartments) transitioned to a bullish market.

According to Nomura Real Estate Urban Net's residential land and second-hand apartment price movement survey, prices were up in most areas in greater Tokyo in the second quarter of 2013.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Grosvenor to sell luxury apartments in The Westminster Roppongi (aka Roppongi Arents)

International property development group, Grosvenor, will be selling off individual apartments in a luxury residential building adjoining the Roppongi Hills complex.

The Westminster Roppongi (previously named Roppongi Arents) is a 14-storey apartment building that was completed in 2003 - the same time as Roppongi Hills. Apartments range in size from 88.45 to 288.77 sqm (951 ~ 3107 sqft) and have previously been rented for between 470,000 ~ 2,200,000 Yen per month.Read more

by Zoe Ward