New apartment supply in Tokyo down for 7th month
According to the Real Estate Economic Institute, 3,050 brand new apartments were released for sale in greater Tokyo in June, up 1.6% from the previous month but down 12.9% from last year. This is the 7th month in a row to see a year-on-year decline in supply.
2,124 apartments were sold, resulting in a contract ratio of 69.6%, down 1.3 points from the previous month and down 9.1 points from last year. 410 apartments in high-rise buildings (over 20-storeys) were offered for sale, down 45.0% from last year. The contract ratio was 81.0%, up 7.1 points from the previous month but down 0.6 points from last year.
The average price of a new apartment across greater Tokyo was 56,720,000 Yen, down 0.4% from the previous month and down 2.5% from last year. The average price per square meter was 823,000 Yen, showing no change from the previous month but down 0.7% from last year.Read more
50-yr old office building in Tokyo converted into hostel
Yasuda Real Estate has converted a 50-year old office building in Chuo-ku, Tokyo, into a tourist-oriented hostel.
The owl-themed Wise Owl Hostels Tokyo is located above Hatchobori Station on the Hibiya Metro Line. Floors 2 ~ 5 will have dormitory and private-room accommodation, while the 6th floor will have a furnished, 2-Bedroom serviced apartment of 83 sqm (860 sq.ft) in size. The apartment can accommodate up to four guests, with a minimum stay of one month. The monthly rent has yet to be announced.Read more
Tokyo metro apartment prices increase for 45th consecutive month
According to REINS, 3,069 second-hand apartments were sold across greater Tokyo in June, up 2.3% from the previous month but down 1.4% from last year. The average sale price was 30,160,000 Yen, up 0.8% from the previous month and up 3.5% from last year. The average price per square meter was 477,700 Yen, up 1.7% from the previous month and up 5.4% from last year. This is the 42nd month in a row to see a year-on-year increase in the sale price per square meter. The average building age was 20.67 years.
In the Tokyo metropolitan area 1,583 second-hand apartments were sold, up 5.3% from the previous month and up 0.3% from last year. The average sale price was 37,440,000 Yen, up 1.3% from the previous month and up 5.0% from last year. The average price per square meter was 642,400 Yen, up 2.6% from the previous month and up 7.7% from last year. This is the 45th month in a row to see a year-on-year increase in the sale price per square meter. The average building age was 19.24 years.
Central Tokyo’s 3 wards
In central Tokyo’s 3 wards (Chiyoda, Chuo and Minato), 207 second-hand apartments were sold, up 16.3% from the previous month and up 20.3% from last year. This is a record high number of transactions for the month of June.Read more
Mori Trust planning new luxury hotel in Sapporo
Mori Trust have acquired the Norinchukin Bank’s Sapporo Branch building and land in Sapporo’s Odori Nishi 5 Chome district for approximately 9 billion Yen (88 million USD). The real estate developer plans to demolish the existing 60-year old building and place it with a high-end hotel catering to wealthy foreign tourists. Completion is tentatively scheduled for around 2020.Read more
Rosenka land values increase nationwide for first time in 8 years
According to Japan’s National Tax Agency, rosenka land values across Japan in 2016 increased by 0.2% from 2015. This is the first time to see an increase in the nationwide average since pre-global financial crisis in 2008.
Recent monetary easing measures, strong activity in the real estate market in central Tokyo and a surge in the number of foreign tourists are behind the increase in land prices.
Tokyo was in top place with an average increase of 2.9%. Land near the Kyukyodo Building in Ginza remains the most expensive land in Japan for the 31st year in a row. The rosenka land value in 2016 was 32,000,000 Yen/sqm (29,000 USD/sq.ft), up 18.7% from 2015 and has exceeded pre-Lehman Crisis pricing. This land reached a peak of 36,500,000 Yen/sqm in 1992, before dropping to 11,360,000 Yen/sqm in 1997.
Land alongside Omotesando Avenue in Tokyo had a rosenka value of 10,070,000 Yen/sqm in 2016, up 14.2% from 2015.Read more