Choosing a Real Estate Agency When Purchasing a Property in Japan

In today’s Internet-based global society, it has become easy for anyone to search for real estate properties in almost any country in the world. Through the Internet, it has also become easier for investors to purchase real estate in a country where they don’t reside.

Since it has become easy to search for everything yourself, it has become a common mistake for property investors to not put too much consideration in the real estate agency they choose.

But in order to find the best investment property that meets your needs, it is best to find a good real estate agency. This is especially true if you are looking to buy a property in Japan for the first time. Without a good real estate agent, buying a property in Japan can be quite troublesome with many complicated rules and procedures. It may even affect the income you generate from your investment.

In this article, we talk about how to choose a reliable real estate agency if you are a foreigner looking to buy property in Japan.

■ Has a unit or team that specializes in dealing with foreign clientele

As a foreign investor, one of the most important things to consider is whether the real estate agency offers services in multiple languages.

But it is more than just about offering multilingual support. You should choose a real estate agency that has a dedicated unit or team that specializes in dealing with foreign clients, and has the knowledge and experience in working with foreign investors regarding property selling and purchasing.

Before a foreign national can purchase property in Japan, there are many things that need to be confirmed, such as whether the client resides in Japan, what kind of visa they hold if they are residing in Japan, the payment method and the need for a loan, etc. Without confirming such information through meetings and consultations, there is no way to find out if the real estate agency can offer you the property that meets your requirements.

In order to ensure a smooth and reliable procedure for your property purchase, it is best to choose a real estate agency that has a dedicated unit or team that specializes in dealing with foreign clients,

■ Expertise in digital technology and communication

Another important consideration for a trouble-free property purchase in Japan is whether the real estate agency has expertise in digital technology and communication. This includes expertise in online meetings and transactions.

There has been an increasing number of foreign investors buying property in Japan without being a resident of the country. In such cases, the real estate agent and the foreign client often conclude the entire transaction online, without meeting in person.

Note: Some transactions may require correspondence by post.

But it is not just about being able to communicate with the client online. It is also important for the real estate agency to have a system that allows them to transfer and sign documents or conduct financial transactions online as much as possible.

Without this kind of setup, your property purchase in Japan can take a longer time or incur higher overhead costs. This is a crucial point when there are deadlines to be met for the submission of documents to the property seller or the bank.

A real estate agency that has high digital proficiency can also provide more information to the client about suitable properties through the use of various digital media and online services.

At wagaya Japan, over 90% of our client interactions are conducted online. Through wagaya Japan, you can search for properties in Japan wherever you are in the world.

■ Reliable Property Management Services

Property management services are an important factor if you are looking to buy a property as an investment.

Many real estate agencies in Japan focus their business on a specific field, such as property rentals, property sales, and property management. If you are buying a property as an investment, you should be wary of choosing a company that focuses only on property sales. The main goal of such companies is to sell property, so they will likely put less time and effort into the leasing and management of the property after it has been sold. Furthermore, since they aim to sell at as high a price as possible, there have been many cases where property owners faced a tough financial situation after the purchase.

When buying a property for investment, the characteristics of the property itself are definitely important, but equally important is how well the property is leased and managed. This is especially crucial if you plan to own the property as an investment for the long term, as it can greatly affect the income you generate from the property.

wagaya Japan offers a property management service called “wagaya PM&L” that is specialized for foreign property owners in Japan. With our experience and knowhow from managing over 16,000 properties nationwide, we can provide total support for your property management and leasing.

• wagaya PM&L website

■Summary

In this day and age, the Internet has made it easy to search for real estate information, and it has made property investment in Japan more accessible.

Still, investing in a property requires a huge amount of capital, and continuous expenses are required to manage and maintain the property after its purchase. This is why you should look for a reliable real estate agency who can give you the best advice and support for your investment.

If you are looking to buy a property in japan, contact wagaya Japan.