Why a newer apartment may cost up to 4x the price of an older one
In Tokyo’s 23 wards, an apartment less than 5 years old sold for 49% more per square meter than one over 30 years old. In other words, an old apartment is about half the price of a new one on a price-per-square-meter basis. The difference was highest in Saitama Prefecture where an apartment under 5 years old sold for 3.7 times that of one over 30 years old.
The problem with trying to buy an abandoned ‘akiya’
The Japanese countryside is dotted with old, rambling shacks and farmhouses that look empty and abandoned. They can even be found in urban settings. You may think it’s a simple process of just pulling the title with the owner’s name on it, giving them a call and offering a few Yen to take the old home off their hands. And voila, you now have a charming fixer-upper of your own?
What has changed in the real estate industry since Covid-19?
Now that we are many months into the pandemic, has anything changed about the way the real estate agencies are operating? For the most part, business has returned to usual, with some adjustments.
How to follow Japan's real estate market in a rapidly changing environment
Real estate price indexes tend to be published 3 months after the fact, so anyone looking for up-to-the-minute details on the impact that the coronavirus is having on Japan’s real estate market needs to consider other sources of information.
What does a concierge do?
A concierge is considered a value-add to a residential building and something developers will provide in higher-end properties in Japan. It is important to understand that concierges in Japan may not offer the same type of services that may be standard in other countries.
Home buying in Japan: Why that second bathroom may cost you
One of the most requested things we receive from buyers looking for two or three bedroom apartments or homes is for two full bathrooms. While this might be standard in many overseas markets, in Japan it is incredibly rare to find such a property. There are at most 2 or 3 condo-type buildings in Tokyo where 2 bathrooms are standard in all apartments, and these apartments are priced at the higher end of the market. In fact, 99.9% of current apartment listings in Tokyo's 23 wards have just one bathroom.Read more