Tax

Tokyo Shines as Second Wealthiest City in the World, Despite Fewer Billionaires

 

 

Understanding the wealth distribution across the globe

 

can offer invaluable insights into potential opportunities

 

and trends in the real estate market.

 

That’s why today, we’re turning our spotlight on a recent report by Henley & Partners, a British consulting firm,

 

which ranks cities based on their millionaire populations.

 

Particularly interesting for us is the position of Tokyo, Japan’s bustling capital, in this global landscape.

 

As we unpack these insights, we’ll consider what this means for real estate investment in Japan,

 

and how these trends might shape our strategies moving forward.

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Redefining Investment Strategies: Why Japan’s Real Estate Market is the Next Big Opportunity for Chinese Investors

 

Are you an investor exploring alternative

real estate investment opportunities in Asia?

 

 

The recent changes in Singapore’s property tax regulations may prompt you to look elsewhere

 

for promising investments.

 

As a Japanese real estate agent specializing in assisting foreign investors,

 

I’m here to help you navigate this changing landscape and

 

discover the potential of Japan’s real estate market.

 

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Navigating Withholding Obligations for Foreign Investors: A Comprehensive Guide for Buyers and Landlords

 

Tax implications: When a non-resident sells

or rents out real estate in Japan

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

 

(Case study)

 

In Japan, taxes are levied on residents (referred to as “residents”) regardless of nationality.

 

In this case, the income subject to taxation includes not only income generated within Japan

 

but also income from around the world.

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Japanese real estate essentials: What kinds of taxes are imposed on real estate in Japan? 

Tax matters.

In fact, the most expensive item in our life is not ‘real estate’ but ‘our government’.

And the government is the tax.

So what kinds of taxes are imposed on real estate in Japan? 

Real estate-related taxis include personal income tax, corporate tax, fixed-asset tax, city planning tax, real estate acquisition tax, registration tax, stamp duty, and consumption tax 

 

Personal income tax related to real estate is the tax on individuals who gain rental income or capital gain through the sales of real estate.

Corporate tax is a tax on companies that have taxable income. Therefore, their real estate rental income and any profit from a real estate sale have an impact on their total taxable income level.

The corporate tax rate in Japan is currently about 37% (as of July 2019) so if you have a very profitable property, it is wise to hold the title under a corporate name rather than an individual name.

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Japanese real estate essentials: What kind of laws do you need to understand before you buy a property in Japan ?

Here is  how it works : Japanese real estate essentials.

What kind of laws are protecting rights of your real estate in Japan ?

The civil law describes the general rules for the purchase and sales (and lease) of the property.

The civil law regulates ownership and superficies and also provide the definition of rights such as pledge and mortgage.

As a conventional individual, I think you only need to know how the mortgage works in Japan.

The land lease and building lease law, which is special law of civil law, provides

the general rules of land lease and building lease.

The act on sectional ownership of buildings provides the general rules on sectional ownership, meaning

the law is for the condominiums.

The real estate registration law is for the real estate registration system.

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YouTube clip : Capital gain tax in Japan

When you buy a property and sell it in profit in the future, you are liable to

the capital gain tax of the Japanese government whether you are in

Japan or overseas country.

How does it work ?

How much is tax ?

Please find out more details in my video below.

Toshihiko Yamamoto
Real estate investing consultant and author.
Founder of Yamamoto Property Advisory in Tokyo.
International property Investment consultant and licensed
real estate broker (Japan).
He serves the foreign companies and individuals to buy and sell
the real estates in Japan as well as own homes.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from
Osaka Prefecture University in Japan
and an MBA from Bond University in Australia

Toshihiko’s book, “The Savvy Foreign Investor’s Guide to Japanese Properties: How to Expertly Buy, Manage and Sell Real Estate in Japan”is now out on Amazon, iBooks (iTunes, Apple) and Google Play.
About the book 
Amazon.com Link

 

 

How the investment in a local city works ? : Opportunity to invest in center of Sapporo residential building. No down payment is needed


(Night life Susukino in Sapporo)      (Odoori koen)
No down payment is needed.
Remarkable opportunity in Sapporo is up for sale in Sapporo.
One of my business partners has come across a pretty good property in Sapporo in northern Japan.We don’t usually deal with a property in Sapporo.
However, as the project already has passed the provisional review by 
a premier Japanese bank, I am introducing it on his behalf.
Let’s find out how viable it is.
Oh, by the way, If you seek investment that can expect the appreciation of 20% over next 3 years,
Japan is not your destination. Please go and find a property in countries like Thailand or Vietnam.

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Real Case Study : How viable is buying a property to rent in Japan ? : How to get Financing and Tax implication

(Yokohama city center)
Evaluating Real Estate as an investment
According to an article in USA today, single-family homes in large U.S. cities have generated returns of about 9% annually on average,
according to the study, which examined results from 1986 to 2014.
Yes, there are risks in real estate investment.
Becoming a landlord isn’t without its risks — from bad tenants and periodic market slumps to changing tax laws and natural disasters
such as tsunami and earthquake.
The principle and the mechanism of the real estate investment in Japan is exactly the same

as other countries.In theory, you borrow the money at 3% from a bank and buy the real estate that generates 8% yield.
The spread (in this case 5%) is your profit.
You don’t need the rocket science.   But really ?  Let’s find out how viable it is.
In financial parlance
it is called ‘leveraging’.

Leveraging does not necessarily mean success.
Skeptics about the real estate investment in Japan where the population is
declining and rapidly ageing have lots of ammunition.
Leverage magnifies all of your returns and those returns aren’t always positive!
I
f you want to make investments where you can expect the appreciation of 20% over next 3 years,
Japan is not your destination.

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Cost to exit : Understanding the tax angles when you buy the property in Japan Part-3


Successful investment strategy doesn’t simply mean buying and operating property.

Exit strategy is significantly important for the overall success.
You need to think about the exit strategy while you are acquiring property.
When you build the exit strategy, tax laws play the important role.
Today I am discussing the tax regulations when you sell your property outright.
Tax when you exit the property
The capital gain generated by selling your real estate is called transfer
income
in Japan  (It is almost same as capital gain tax in US)
To calculate the capital gains or losses, take the sales price then deduct selling expenses,
from the amount realized. Then deduct the original cost of property, plus expenses deemed to
have increased its value, less claims which have notionally decreased its value.
Expenses deemed to have increased its value are capital improvements
(roof replacement, central air conditioning installation, rewiring, etc.), assessments for local improvements
(water connections, sidewalks, roads), casualty losses (restoration of damaged property), legal fees.
Expenses deemed to have decreased its value are depreciation, casualty or theft loss deductions
and insurance reimbursement, certain credits, exclusions and deductions.

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Cost to hold your property : Understanding the tax angles when you buy the property in Japan Part-2

Previously I discussed the transaction taxes you have to pay at time of the acquisition of the property.
When you are holding the property (both land and building) in Japan, you need to pay two annual taxes whether you are making money out of the investment or not regardless of the purpose of the ownership.
One is fixed asset tax and second is city planning tax.
Land and houses and buildings on which the city planning tax is levied are the same as the objects of taxation for the fixed assets tax.
When the deal went through. the new owner’s first annual property-tax bill came to standard rate 1.7% of its assessed value.
Unlike London or New York, in Japan the same tax rate is applied to price band.

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