Will 2014 be a seller's market for Tokyo real estate?

The Tokyo apartment market is showing all the signs of shifting towards a seller’s market in 2014.

What defines a seller’s market will vary depending on who you talk to, but many suggest it is when there is 3 ~ 9 months of inventory remaining on the market. Other conditions include:

  • More buyers than properties for sale? Yes
  • Prices are rising? Yes
  • Inventory is falling? Yes
  • Discounts are shrinking? YesRead more

by Zoe Ward

New apartment prices in Sapporo at record high

Sapporo Apartment Prices

The average price of a brand new apartment in Sapporo, Hokkaido, reached 32,082,000 Yen in 2013 - a level not seen since Japan’s bubble economy in the late 1980s. The rising prices have been brought on by the increasing cost of construction, an increase in the consumption tax rate which caused some last minute buying and an expansion in the tax reductions on home loans.

Industry insiders are expecting prices to continue to grow, but some are worried that the market could cool down if prices become unaffordable. Read more

by Zoe Ward

March rental data - Tokyo Kantei

According to Tokyo Kantei, the average monthly rent of a condominium apartment in greater Tokyo was 2,601 Yen/sqm in March, up 1.5% from the previous month and up 2.4% from March 2013. The average apartment size was 59.50 sqm and the average building age was 18.5 years.

The average rent in Tokyo’s 23-ku was 3,191 Yen/sqm, up 1.3% from the previous month and up 3.6% from last year. This is the fifth month in a row where the average rent has increased from the previous month. The average apartment size was 56.40 sqm and the average building age was 16.7 years.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Supply of new apartments in Tokyo shrinking

According to the Real Estate Economic Institute, 4,641 new apartments were released for sale across greater Tokyo in March, up 75.1% from February but down 9.7% from March 2013. This is the second month in a row where the apartment supply has fallen below the level from last year.

Since Spring in 2013, demand for new apartments has exceeded developer expectations and supply is starting to run short. The current stock of 3,828 apartments at the end of March is about half of the normal level for greater Tokyo.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Secondhand apartment sales in March - REINS

According to REINS, 3,994 secondhand apartments were sold across greater Tokyo in March, up 20.6% from the previous month and up 4.3% from March 2013. The average sale price was 26,650,000 Yen, down 1.0% from February but up 2.7% from last year.

The average price per square meter was 416,600 Yen, down 200 Yen from February but up 4.9% from last year. The average apartment age was 19.40 years and the average apartment size was 63.96 sqm (688 sqft).

The Tokyo Metropolitan area saw 1,983 apartments sold, up 20.9% from February and up 6.1% from last year. Read more

by Zoe Ward

Residential yields and vacancy rates in Minato-ku - April 2014

According to real estate listing site Homes, the average gross yield on an apartment in Minato-ku in April was 5.4%, down 0.1 points from March. The average gross yield across Tokyo was 7.2%, down 0.1 points.

The vacancy rate remains unchanged at 9.9% across Minato-ku and 11.0% across Tokyo.

The average asking price of a secondhand apartment in Minato-ku was 781,143 Yen/sqm as of April 1, up 0.1% from the previous month. The average asking price for land was 1,113,333 Yen/sqm, up 4.6%.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Secondhand apartment prices in February - Tokyo Kantei

According to Tokyo Kantei, the average asking price of a 70 sqm (753 sqft) second-hand apartment in Tokyo's 23 wards was 41,420,000 Yen in February, up 0.8% from the previous month and up 4.8% from last year. The average apartment age was 20.5 years.

In central Tokyo's six wards (Chiyoda, Chuo, Minato, Shinjuku, Bunkyo and Shibuya), the average apartment price was 56,830,000 Yen, up 2.1% from the previous month and up 10.4% from last year. The average apartment age was 20.6 years.Read more

by Zoe Ward