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Joint Loan Availability For Foreigners in Japan: Should You Get Married ?
Buying a home in Japan as a couple often involves figuring out how to maximize your borrowing power. If you’re planning to finance a property together, you’ll likely come across two options: Pair Loans and Joint Mortgages (Shuunyuu Gassan / Income Combination). While both allow you to use the combined income of two people, the… More
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Home Loans in Japan for Foreigners: Bank Options and Key Differences Based on Visa Status
Buying a home in Japan is a dream for many foreigners living and working here. Although it is not difficult to buy a property in Japan as a foreigner, navigating mortgage financing can be a complex process, especially since the conditions differ greatly depending on whether you hold a working visa or permanent residency (PR)… More
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How to Get Financing from Banks in Japan as a Foreigner
Buying a home in Japan as a foreigner is easy since there is no restrictions on foreigners buying and owning properties, and securing financing from a Japanese bank is straightforward. The most important factor in getting a home loan in Japan as a foreigner is paying income tax in Japan. Without a record of paying… More
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(Webinar03) How to Buy a Home in Japan as a Foreigner
The Japanese real estate market overall has recovered remarkably since the pandemic, with land prices nationwide and sale prices in central Tokyo continuing to grow year on year, but what exactly are the lasting impacts of COVID on the property market? In this webinar, Dovetail, a Tokyo-based bilingual real estate agency, dives into this question… More
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“Dual Agency” is Not Illegal in Japan Yet Causes Conflicts of Interest for Everyone
In Japan’s real estate market, the practice of “Kakoikomi” (囲い込み) has been a growing concern. This refers to a situation where a seller’s agent intentionally prevents a buyer’s agent from scheduling property viewings or introducing a particular property to clients. The reason? The seller’s agent wants to find a buyer independently to secure commissions from… More
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Understanding Unspoken Rules in Japanese Real Estate: Seller’s Agents will not Allow Buyers to Work with Multiple Agents for Viewings
Japan’s real estate market is unique in many ways, with cultural norms and industry-specific rules that may not always be clearly communicated to prospective buyers, particularly those from overseas. One such rule that plays a crucial role in the buying process is the expectation that once you view a property with a real estate agent,… More
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Akiya in Japan: The Reality Behind “Abandoned” Homes
When people hear the term akiya (空き家), often translated as “abandoned house,” they may imagine a ghostly structure left to decay, offered for free or at rock-bottom prices. While such properties do exist, the common narrative surrounding akiya is misleading. In reality, when an akiya is listed with a price, it is simply a second-hand… More
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A brief guide to finding your apartment in Japan
If you are planning on renting an apartment in Japan, there is a lot of information you will need to know to be prepared. In this article, I will explain the most important points as succinctly as possible, while linking each point to a more detailed article for those interested. The following will be covered:… More
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How apartment applications work in Japan
Once you’ve found an apartment you like in Japan, you’ll need to submit an application in order to put the property on hold. Apartment applications aren’t too complicated, but they do require a lot of information. In this article we will explain what documents you need, the information you will need to prepare, and what… More
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When should you start searching for an apartment in Japan?
If you’ve decided to move to Japan, or are already in Japan and know you need to move soon, it’s natural to want to start looking at apartments as early as possible. Depending on your plans and needs though, searching too early could end up being an inefficient use of your time. In this article,… More
