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Today's article is the second in a series of articles introducing points to keep in mind when selling a house to a foreigner and how to avoid problems in real estate transactions!

Keep a written record of the details of the transaction to prevent problems.
The “said or not said” problem exists even among Japanese, but it tends to be more pronounced when dealing with non-Japanese. Even if it is “OK” between Japanese people, foreigners may aggressively make claims and complaints, which may easily lead to trouble.

In some cases, they may make reckless demands with the sense that they hope the seller will lose patience. In order to avoid problems that may develop into a “said or no said” situation, it is recommended that the details of the transaction be kept in writing.

There is a possibility that you may be asked for a substantial price reduction.
There is a possibility that a prospective foreign buyer will ask for a substantial price reduction. In some cases, those from countries with strong kinship ties may bring relatives who are not involved in the contract to negotiate a discount.

Be aware that once you agree to such a strong price reduction request, you will not be able to restore the amount. Also, if you accept one request, there is a possibility that you will be asked to do so again and again. If you are not sure how to respond to a request for a price reduction, you should consult with an intermediary and carefully consider the situation.

Make sure to inform them that payment is in Japanese yen.
Payment must be made in Japanese yen. It is possible that you may be asked to pay in your own currency, but be aware that you may lose money if you buy or sell in currencies other than Japanese yen. Depending on the timing of the conversion to Japanese yen, the exchange rate may cause the value to drop significantly from the amount sold.

In addition, a commission will be charged for the conversion itself, which will reduce your profit. Make sure to inform the seller that payment will be made in Japanese yen, and clearly state this in the contract.

Communicate manners and rules to prevent problems after the sale
After selling a property to a foreigner, problems may arise regarding the property's management. If the property is purchased as an investment property and not lived in, it is a good idea to inform them in advance that dirt and bad odors may reduce the value of the property and lead to a deterioration of public safety, as well as the rules of the condominium management association and neighborhood associations unique to Japan.

It is also recommended to inform the residents of the neighborhood of your property of basic manners and rules, just in case they do not want to be inconvenienced.

Choose an intermediary company that is strong in dealing with foreigners.
If you are considering selling real estate to foreigners, it is a good idea to choose a real estate company that is strong in foreigners. Although a general real estate company can also help you, if they are not accustomed to dealing with foreigners, you may run into trouble.

Also, if you want to target foreigners, the way to find buyers is different, such as listing the property on a real estate portal site for foreigners. By selecting a real estate company with strengths in dealing with foreigners, you will be able to proceed smoothly with your sales activities.

However, it can be said that the number of real estate companies that specialize in dealing with foreigners is still small. It is important to use a lump-sum real estate appraisal, request multiple real estate companies, compare and consider, and choose carefully.

If you want to sell quickly, why not consider a purchase?
If a property does not sell easily, you can broaden your view to selling to foreigners, but it may take a lot of time and effort. If you are having trouble selling your property, you may want to consider a “purchase” as well.

What I have introduced so far is an “agency” that has a real estate company as an intermediary and buys and sells. On the other hand, purchase is a method of having a real estate company directly purchase a housing. If it is a purchase, sales activities and the like will become unnecessary, and the period until it becomes cash will be shortened.

However, since the sale price of a purchase tends to become cheap compared with agency, attention will be necessary. If you want to sell quickly and at a high price, in addition to using a purchase, you can think of other methods, such as advance preparation and price strategy, or a purchase guarantee.


This was an article about how to sell real estate quickly and at a high price, including buy-back.

I hope you can gain a deeper understanding of the subject!

If you are interested in buying or selling real estate in Japan, please refer to this article.

Please feel free to contact us as our company can also respond to various consultations!


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