New apartment supply in Tokyo increases in September
According to the Real Estate Economic Institute, a total of 3,372 brand new apartments were released for sale across greater Tokyo in September, up 124.5% from the previous month and up 13.2% from last year. This is the first year-on-year increase since June. Several large-scale projects in Tokyo and Chiba contributed to the supply. Also, September is typically busier than August due to the start of the Autumn sales period.
Apartment rents in Tokyo increase for 10th month in a row

The average apartment rent in Tokyo’s 23 wards has increased year-on-year for the 10th month in a row. The average monthly rent in September was 3,504 Yen/sqm, up 6.6% from last year and up 1.2% from the previous month. Both Yokohama and Saitama cities saw a decline in year-on-year rents.
Greater Tokyo second-hand apartment prices increase for 69th month in a row

According to REINS, 3,244 second-hand apartments were sold across greater Tokyo in September, up 40.9% from the previous month and up 0.7% from last year. The average sale price was 32,920,000 Yen, down 0.8% from the previous month but up 2.0% from last year. The average price per square meter was 513,900 Yen, down 1.4% from the previous month but up 1.4% from last year. This is the 69th month in a row to record a year-on-year increase in prices.
Sales in Shibuya condo to start this month

Domestic sales in The Parkhouse Shibuya Nanpeidai are scheduled to start at the end of this month, with 35 units on offer.Pre-sales to overseas investors in Hong Kong started in 2017. The 10-storey condominium is located a 7 minute walk from Shibuya Station and 300 meters from Cerulean Tower. This is the first new condominium to go on sale in the Nanpeidai address in 11 years.
Tokyo to buy National Children’s Castle
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is in talks to buy the National Children’s Castle building and land in Shibuya from the national government. The once popular arts and entertainment complex closed its doors in 2015, ending 30 years of operations.Read more
Failed share houses start to hit foreclosure market
One of the early foreclosures of failed share houses developed as part of a wide-scale scam goes up for public auction next week. The minimum bid for the building and land is set at 23,672,000 Yen (approx. 205,000 USD), with results to be announced on October 25 (Update: It sold for 25,180,000 Yen to a private bidder). Back in January, several share houses by a former Ginza-based share house developer were listed for public foreclosure auction, selling for around a third to less than a half of what the original investors would have paid for them.
Shinagawa Development Project to be completed by 2024
On September 25, East Japan Railway Company (JR-EAST) published the details of their large-scale redevelopment plans for a 9.5 hectare site on the western side of the new station on Tokyo’s JR Yamanote Line between Shinagawa and Tamachi Stations.Read more