3 ms·

Fantastically frustrating to someone with an American point of view. What do the Japanese think about it? Perhaps there’s a different point of view?

donw 4y ago
Nope, they hate it, too.
ekianjo 4y ago
They spend their lives buying a house that's worth nothing when they die. Nobody likes it.
- dangus 4y ago
  Japan's home prices have been flat, over decades, which means housing remains relatively affordable: https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-housing-crisis-in-japan-home-prices-stay-flat-11554210002 https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-housing-crisis-in-japan-ho... The West has not kept up with housing demand, which turns homes into more of an investment than they should be in the first place. The CPI adjusted price of a home is over double what it was in the mid-century: https://dqydj.com/historical-home-prices/ https://dqydj.com/historical-home-prices/ If each subsequent generation has decreasing levels of home ownership, spending a higher percentage of their income on housing, the fact that you get to retain the value of your property more easily could be seen as a moot point. You always have to live somewhere, and if the price of your home increases, selling it just means you have to find another place to live that is equally expensive. The only thing this cycle of "investment properties" does is make life worse for the youngest generation. I don't really care what my house will be worth when I'm die, I'll be dead.
  - ekianjo 4y ago
    > I don't really care what my house will be worth when I'm die, I'll be dead. You are completely missing the point. Let's say you have to move when you are in your 60s for any kind of reason. Your properly is absolutely worthless in Japan and you won't be able to buy a new one or even get a loan at that age. You are absolutely hosed.
- Ekaros 4y ago
  So does a renter. Keep paying for something and then end up with nothing. Honestly I see it as anomaly that houses have worth after their useful lifespan.
  - ekianjo 4y ago
    You miss the fact that a renter has flexibility that a home owner does not.

donw 4y ago

Nope, they hate it, too.

ekianjo 4y ago

They spend their lives buying a house that's worth nothing when they die. Nobody likes it.

dangus 4y ago
Japan's home prices have been flat, over decades, which means housing remains relatively affordable: https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-housing-crisis-in-japan-home-prices-stay-flat-11554210002 https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-housing-crisis-in-japan-ho... The West has not kept up with housing demand, which turns homes into more of an investment than they should be in the first place. The CPI adjusted price of a home is over double what it was in the mid-century: https://dqydj.com/historical-home-prices/ https://dqydj.com/historical-home-prices/ If each subsequent generation has decreasing levels of home ownership, spending a higher percentage of their income on housing, the fact that you get to retain the value of your property more easily could be seen as a moot point. You always have to live somewhere, and if the price of your home increases, selling it just means you have to find another place to live that is equally expensive. The only thing this cycle of "investment properties" does is make life worse for the youngest generation. I don't really care what my house will be worth when I'm die, I'll be dead.
- ekianjo 4y ago
  > I don't really care what my house will be worth when I'm die, I'll be dead. You are completely missing the point. Let's say you have to move when you are in your 60s for any kind of reason. Your properly is absolutely worthless in Japan and you won't be able to buy a new one or even get a loan at that age. You are absolutely hosed.
Ekaros 4y ago
So does a renter. Keep paying for something and then end up with nothing. Honestly I see it as anomaly that houses have worth after their useful lifespan.
- ekianjo 4y ago
  You miss the fact that a renter has flexibility that a home owner does not.