資金計画

Financing a home in Japan

The financial steps and vocabulary you will run into while planning a home purchase or renovation in Japan, including what changes with your residency status.

The total cost, not just the build price

The main construction cost is the largest share of the budget, but it is not the whole budget. Site work such as ground improvement and utility connections, and other costs such as registration fees, loan fees, and insurance, add to the total. We give you the full number upfront.

Main construction cost

70-80%

The core cost of building the structure itself

Site work

15-20%

Ground improvement, utility connections, exterior work, and similar site costs

Other costs

5-10%

Registration fees, loan fees, insurance, and taxes

Running costs after move-in are part of the plan

Heating and cooling: insulation level changes your heating and cooling costs. A higher-insulation spec costs more upfront, but often costs less in total over the years you live in the house.
Maintenance: the exterior wall and roof materials you choose change what repainting or resurfacing costs ten and twenty years out.
Insurance: a higher earthquake-resistance grade can lower your earthquake insurance premium — see our seismic performance page.

Higher performance can pay for itself

Raising a home's performance costs more upfront, but between subsidy programs, tax benefits, and lower running costs, the total is often favorable.

Higher insulation can qualify for subsidy programs

Raising the insulation spec to meet current energy-efficiency standards can make the home eligible for government subsidy programs, which offset part of the added cost.

Seismic grade 3 can lower your insurance premium

Building to the highest seismic grade can reduce your earthquake insurance premium — over a 35-year mortgage, that adds up.

Long-term-quality-housing certification widens tax benefits

Certification raises the cap on the mortgage tax credit and reduces registration, acquisition, and property tax.

Seismic and damping performance →

Loan pre-approval and bridge loans

A bank reviews your income and employment for pre-approval before you apply formally for a mortgage. Because a mortgage is usually disbursed at handover, a short-term bridge loan often covers the land purchase and construction payments before that.

Fixed and variable rates

A fixed-rate loan keeps the same payment for the life of the loan, which makes budgeting predictable. A variable-rate loan can start lower but carries the risk of a higher payment later if rates rise.

We work with multiple partner banks: the monthly payment can vary a great deal depending on rate type and loan term. We help you compare options and find the loan that fits your situation.

Residency status and mortgages

Whether you can get a mortgage, and on what terms, depends on your visa status and the individual bank's policy, not on a single national rule. Permanent residency generally gives you access to more lenders and terms; other visa categories can still qualify at some banks, often with a Japanese co-signer or guarantor company involved. Paperwork and screening are in Japanese either way. We recommend checking pre-approval early, before you commit to land or a plan, and we can help coordinate that conversation with our partner banks.

Tax and subsidy programs

A mortgage tax deduction, energy-efficiency subsidy programs, and reduced registration or property tax for certified long-term-quality housing are all available, though the details change from year to year. We check current eligibility with you when we prepare your estimate.

Please note: subsidy and tax programs change from year to year. We confirm current eligibility with you when we prepare your estimate.

Our support

We work with a set of partner banks and can also refer you to our affiliated tax accountant and financial planner for tax questions that go beyond what we can answer directly.

How we support your financing plan

Initial hearing

We ask about your budget and priorities and align on a realistic price range.

Preliminary estimate

We give you the total cost alongside the floor plan proposal, including how performance choices change your running costs.

Loan matching

We compare our partner banks and propose the loan that fits your situation.

Contracts and the legally required disclosure statement are prepared in Japanese only.

Talk to us about your home

We can walk you through the process in plain language. Send us a message using the contact form.