Half of Sapporo's new apartments remain unsold
For the first time in five years, more than half of the newly completed condominiums in Sapporo City remain unsold. Although sales were strong in 2013, buyers are becoming increasingly priced out of the new apartment market due to rising prices. These prices have been underpinned by higher construction costs, including raw materials and labour, which means that developers are either unable or reluctant to reduce the end prices offered to consumers.
Over 90% of Hokkaido’s new condominiums are located in Sapporo. In 2015, 51% of units in condominiums that had already been completed remained unsold by developers.Read more
Tokyo apartment asking prices increase for 21st consecutive month
According to Tokyo Kantei, the average asking price of a 70 sqm (753 sq.ft) second-hand apartment in greater Tokyo in March 2016 was 33,840,000 Yen, up 0.8% from the previous month and up 14.5% from last year. The average building age was 22.0 years.
In the Tokyo metropolitan area, the average asking price was 46,860,000 Yen, up 0.9% from the previous month and up 15.5% from last year. This is the 21st month in a row to see an increase in prices. The average building age was 21.5 years.
In Tokyo’s 23 wards, the average price was 51,790,000 Yen, up 0.3% from the previous month and up 14.2% from last year. The average building age was 21.5 years.
In Tokyo’s central six wards (Chiyoda, Chuo, Minato, Shinjuku, Bunkyo and Shibuya), the average asking price was 71,460,000 Yen, up 0.5% from the previous month and up 10.5% from last year. The average building age was 20.0 years.Read more
Apartments planned for former Dojunkai housing block in Shinagawa
A densely packed neighbourhood built after the 1923 Great Kanto earthquake is about to be demolished and replaced with a 40 meter tall, 13-storey apartment building. Construction is scheduled to start in 2017 with completion by early 2019.
The former Dojunkai Ebara Jutaku was a housing subdivision that was developed as part of Tokyo’s recovery following the devastating 1923 earthquake. It contained a number of wood-framed 2-storey homes fronting onto narrow pathways. The neighbourhood was originally laid out in a circular pattern, similar to the area in front of Denenchofu Station, with 356 houses, a playground, clinic and shops. Most of the area was destroyed during WWII air raids and re-arranged post-war, with only the current small block surviving to this day.Read more
116-year old building in Kobe to be razed by developer
One of Kobe’s earliest western-style buildings has been sold to a developer and will be demolished to make way for a high-rise apartment building. The property, which was sold along with an adjoining block of land, had a price tag of several billion Yen.
26-storey apartment building for Minami Aoyama
A 26-storey, 105 meter tall apartment building is currently under construction in the Minami Aoyama 2 Chome address in central Tokyo. The Minami Aoyama 2 Chome Project is due for completion in late February 2018. The developer is Mitsui Fudosan Residential, with construction and planning by Obayashi Corporation.
The 3,910 sqm site is located alongside Gaien-Higashi Street and on the very northernmost point of the historic Aoyama Cemetery. In the past the site had a mix of several small buildings and has been a car park for the past few years. It is directly across the street from Aoyama Park (North), which was was originally barracks for the Imperial Army.Read more
Average apartment rent in March 2016
According to Tokyo Kantei, the average monthly rent of a condominium in greater Tokyo was 2,589 Yen/sqm in March, up 2.4% from the previous month but down 0.9% from last year. The average apartment size was 59.69 sqm and the average building age was 19.6 years.
In the Tokyo metropolitan area, the average monthly rent was 3,216 Yen/sqm, up 1.7% from the previous month and up 3.5% from last year. The average apartment size was 56.21 sqm and the average building age was 17.5 years.
In Tokyo’s 23 wards, the average rent was 3,354 Yen/sqm, up 1.4% from the previous month and up 3.8% from last year. The average apartment size was 55.70 sqm and the average building age was 16.9 years.
New apartment supply drops for 4th month in a row
According to the Real Estate Economic Institute, 2,693 brand new apartments were released for sale in greater Tokyo in March, up 20.4% from the previous month but down 39.6% from last year. This is below the Institute’s previous estimate of 4,500 units, and is the 4th month in a row to see a drop in supply from 12 months prior. It is also the first time since 2009 that the annual supply for the month of March dropped below 3,000 units.
1,820 apartments were sold, resulting in a contract rate of 67.6%, down 5.3 points from the previous month and down 12.0 points from last year.
317 apartments in high-rise buildings (over 20-storeys) were offered for sale. The contract rate was 64.4%, down 14.6 points from last year.
The average price of a new apartment across greater Tokyo was 56,380,000 Yen, down 2.3% from the previous month but up 8.7% from last year. The average price per square meter was 802,000 Yen, down 4.0% from the previous month but up 9.0% from last year.Read more