Looking back at the new apartment market in Tokyo in 2013

According to the Real Estate Economic Institute's report on the new apartment market in greater Tokyo, a total of 56,476 apartments were released for sale over the year, up 23.8% from 2012. This is the first time in six years that this number has exceeded 50,000.  The previous high was in 2000 with 95,635 apartments released for sale.

In Tokyo's 23-ku, 28,338 new apartments were released for sale, up 46.1% from the previous year. Read more

by Zoe Ward

Secondhand apartment prices in December (and 2013 average) - Tokyo Kantei

According to Tokyo Kantei, the average asking price of a 70 sqm (753 sqft) second-hand apartment in greater Tokyo in 2013 was 27,910,000 Yen, down 2.5% from the previous year. The average apartment age was 20.2 years. For the month of December, the average price was 28,310,000 Yen, up 0.3% from the previous month and up 0.4% from December 2012.

The average price in Tokyo's 23 wards in 2013 was 39,950,000 Yen, up 0.5% from 2012. The average building age was 20.5 years. For the month of December, the average asking price was 40,660,000 Yen, up 0.1% from the previous month and 2.3% higher than December 2012.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Second-hand apartment sales in December - REINS

According to REINS, 2,900 second-hand apartments were sold across greater Tokyo in December 2013, up 22.7% from the previous year, but down 7.1% from the previous month. The average sale price was 25,600,000 Yen, up 2.5% from the previous year but down 3.7% from November. The average price per square meter was 404,800 Yen, up 5.6% from last year but down 1.8% from November.

There were also more sales at the top end of the market. In the 4th quarter of 2013, 60 apartments over 100 million Yen were sold in the Tokyo metropolitan area, comprising 1.4% of the total. This is an increase of 131% from the same quarter in 2012. 141 apartments sold for between 70 ~ 100 million Yen, up 56.7% from 2012.

The average price of a second-hand apartment sold in central Tokyo's 3 wards (Chiyoda, Chuo and Minato) in December was 44,600,000 Yen, up 3.1% from last year but down 12.3% from the previous month. It is worth noting that the average size of an apartment sold in December was 9% smaller than the previous month.Read more

by Zoe Ward

December rental data - Tokyo Kantei

According to Tokyo Kantei, the average rent of a condominium apartment in greater Tokyo was 2,536 Yen/sqm in 2013. This is the first time in 4 years that the average annual rent has seen an increase.

In 2012, the average rent in Tokyo's 23-ku was getting close to falling below 3,000 Yen/sqm, but by 2013 it began to climb upwards again. Rents in surrounding cities have remained relatively stable over the past few years. Osaka and Kobe City have seen an increase in new apartments hitting the market in 2012~2013, which has pulled up the average rent.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Tokyo office market in 2014

In 2014, the total office space expected to hit the market could amount to just half of the level seen in 2012. Meanwhile, vacancy rates are expected to continue their decline this year as companies shift to new offices and expand operations.

According to Miki Shoji, approximately 844,700 sqm of new office space is expected to be supplied in Tokyo's central five business districts (Chiyoda, Chuo, Minato, Shinjuku and Shibuya) in 2014. This is a 4% increase from 2013, but is only half of the level seen in the last peak in 2012. Read more

by Zoe Ward

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

According to real estate listing site Homes, the average gross yield on an apartment in Minato-ku in January was 5.8%, down 0.2 points from December. The average yield across Tokyo was 7.5%, down 0.1 points from the previous month.

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

The average asking price of a secondhand apartment in Minato-ku was 738,929 Yen/sqm as of January 1, up 3.27% from the previous month. The average asking price for land was 839,050 Yen/sqm, down 21.7% from the previous month. Read more

by Zoe Ward

Secondhand apartment prices in November - 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 40,610,000 Yen in November, down 0.1% from the previous month but up 3.4% from last year. The average apartment age was 20.6 years.

In central Tokyo's six wards (Chiyoda, Chuo, Minato, Shinjuku, Bunkyo and Shibuya), the average apartment price was 54,690,000 Yen, up 0.2% from the previous month and up 6.7% from last year. The average apartment age was 20.9 years.Read more

by Zoe Ward