New apartment supply in Tokyo drops for second month
According to the Real Estate Economic Institute, a total of 2,323 brand-new apartments were released for sale across greater Tokyo in February, up 22.3% from the previous month but down 6.7% from last year. This is the second month in a row to see a year-on-year decline in supply.
New housing starts down 2.3% in 2018
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), there were 942,370 new housing starts across Japan in 2018, a 2.3% drop from 2017 and the second year in a row to see a decline.
40% stake sold in The Ritz Carlton Kyoto
The Sekisui House Reit has acquired 40% joint ownership of the trust beneficiary rights to the The Ritz Carlton Kyoto for 17.8 billion Yen (approx. 160 million USD). The sale took place on January 31 and the seller was the Reit's sponsor, Sekisui House.
Tokyo apartment asking prices in November 2018
According to Tokyo Kantei the average asking price of a 70 sqm (753 sq.ft) second-hand apartment across greater Tokyo was 37,100,000 Yen in November 2018, up 2.3% from the previous month and up 2.5% from the previous year. The average building age was 24.4 years.
Tokyo’s office vacancies hit 27-year low
The average office vacancy rate across central Tokyo’s main business districts dropped to the 1% range in November, according to office brokerage Miki Shoji. This is the lowest rate since the end of the bubble economy in 1991 which saw a vacancy rate of 1.79%.
New apartment contract ratio hits 10 year low in November
According to the Real Estate Economic Institute, a total of 3,461 brand new apartments were released for sale across greater Tokyo in November, up 21.7% from the previous month and up 2.8% from last year.
The most expensive apartments in Tokyo (2018 ranking)
The following is a ranking of the most expensive apartments in Tokyo provided by apartment information site Mansion Review (mansion-review.jp). It is not surprising to note that 9 of the top 10 buildings are located in Minato-ku, while 1 is located in Chiyoda’s Bancho neighborhood.