FREQUENCY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Q : Can non-resident foreigners buy property in Japan? |
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A : Yes. There is no limitation for foreigners to buy property in Japan.
Whatever you are a resident or non-resident in Japan, you can buy apartments or houses with ways similar to that of Japanese.
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Q : Can foreigners buy land in Japan? |
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A : Yes. There are no legal restrictions for foreigners to buy land in Japan.
Even non-resident foreigners can buy land in Japan other than those that specified rules applied. Actually, Japan is one of a few Asian countries that allow foreigners to own a land on a freehold basis.
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Q : Can non-resident foreigners obtain the land ownership when buying a property in Japan? |
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A : Yes. Japan is freehold market that allow buyers (whatever non-resident foreigners or resident foreigners) to own the land at the same time when buying a house.
If the property is a condo, the land will be co-own by all the owners of the residential building.
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Q : Can non-resident foreigners open bank accounts in Japan? |
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A : Normally, only those foreigners living in Japan can open local bank accounts in Japan.
Therefore, it is almost impossible for a non-resident foreigner to open a bank account.
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Q : How to make payment when purchasing a property in Japan? |
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A : For resident foreigners, it is very simple as the payment can be transferred from their local bank accounts.
For non-resident foreigners, the payment can only be settled by transferring to the designated bank account in Japan directly from their home country.
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Q : Can a non-resident foreigner obtain bank loans in Japan when buying a property? |
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A : In general, most of the banks in Japan do not offer loans for non-residents
and therefore it is difficult to obtain loans for a non-resident foreigner.
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Q : Can foreigners buy a property with joint ownership? |
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A : Yes. It is possible to buy a property in either sole ownership or joint ownership.
The percentage of each owner’s share will be recorded on the property documents. With joint ownership, it required all parties to agree when selling a property.
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Q : Is it possible to negotiate on the property price? |
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A : It is not a normal practice for price negotiation in Japan but it is possible, especially for second-hand property.
However, there are some occasions when putting in a lowball offer on the price might cause seller rejection.
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Q : Can foreigners obtain visa if buying a property in Japan? |
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A : The current system has no linkage for property buying and visa application.
For details, please refer to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
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Q : Can foreigners set up a company in Japan and buy a property under the company name? |
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A : Yes. If a foreigner has set up a company in Japan, property can be purchased under the name of the company.
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