It’s been a while since I posted an original article here at Yokohama Living (volunteers are welcome) but I don’t have much time these days. But these two articles from the Japan Times were just too good to miss. That is if you are considering buying property in Japan.

The first article is about actual experiences foreigners have had purchasing property in Japan and it ranges from the very positive to the negative. Jim, an American in Yokohama had a pretty good experience.

The process went very smoothly, no doubt helped by the fact that I’m a permanent resident and we qualified financially. Of course, decreasing property values are a concern, but when you rent you’re spending money that will never return.

On the other hand, Ivan from England, didn’t have such a good experience.

Maybe it was just me, or maybe it’s because I’m non-Japanese, but it’s the worst place I have ever lived in in Japan. I get lots of complaints from the people living below. On the first day after we moved they came and said we were too loud, on the second day they came and said that if we had flooring we would have to put carpets down. I was told by the caretaker that the person who lived in my apartment before me moved for out for the same reason that we are now moving.

Read more:Tales of experience from foreign homeowners

The second article is the very appropriately titled step by step guide to owning a home in Japan. It is a good read and really there is something in there for people buying houses almost anywhere.