INFORMATION

Develop a Sense of Your Own desire

Good for you, you have made up your mind to buy in the Boso area, we think it is a very good idea. Next, try to formulated a general idea of what your mind and heart wish for on location, setting, style, condition and budget; having ideas on these points smooths the process and helps us to find you a great spot.

Research Properties and Think About Your Financing Options

Please look in our listing and let us know if you find a property you like. You can also tell us houses or properties you find in other websites. We will research the property and explain the ancillary equipment, regulations, limitations, and classifications of the property. These are very important things to know before buying any property in Japan.

While you are searching your desirable property, you may have to think of financing at the same time. If you are planning on getting a home loan, you might face a tough time finding banks that can lend to foreigners. Some Japanese banks offers home loans only if you have permanent residence status, are married to a Japanese citizen who has stable monthly income, or have long-term work experience in Japan and if your spouse has a permanent residence visa.

Application to Purchase

In the purchasing application, please check the information of the property you would like to purchase, and write down your desired purchase price and conditions, like purchase with a loan or cash. The reason to use this application is to inform the seller that you are seriously considering purchasing the property.

Get Pre-Approval for Loan

If you are purchasing a property with loan, at the same time you are submitting your purchase application, you will need to begin the loan pre-approval (or pre-screening) process by talking with your lender.
At this point, you will be asked to submit copies of: Identification documents, such as your passport and local driver’s license Your annual tax receipts (源泉徴収票, Gensen choushu-hyou)

Receive and Review Explanation of Important Matters

The Explanation of Important Matters (重要事項説明書, Jūyō jikō setsumeisho) is a legal disclosure document prepared by the seller’s agent that is supposed to contain all of the material information any buyer would need to make an informed purchase decision.

• Any existing mortgages registered on the property
• Boundary lines or encumbrances
• Boundary disputes with neighbors
• Broken items
• Management fee, if any

Contract and Pay the Deposit (Earnest Money/手付金, Tetsukekin)

Once you are satisfied with the content of the Explanation of Important Matters, it is time to sign the Purchase Agreement. The buyer pays the deposit, known as Earnest Money (手付金, Tetsukekin) to the seller at that time. It usually accounts for 5-10% of the total purchase price and is calculated as part of the total purchase price when the deal is closed.

What you also need to bring:

• Identification documents, such as your passport and local driver’s license
• A copy of your Residential registration
• Value of the stamp duty
• A seal (印鑑, inkan)

Final Settlement

When the buyer transfers the remaining balance to the seller’s account, then the title of the property will be transferred to the buyer. This ownership change is handled by a judicial scrivener (司法書士, Shiho shoshi). On completion, the seller hands over all the keys to the buyer, and the transfer of ownership is complete. CONGRATULATIONS!