5 ms·

Typically Japan is used as an example. Rural houses there are extremely cheap these days. Urban housing is still expensive.

mitthrowaway2 3y ago
To expand on this, housing in first-tier cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka is quite expensive (although not bonkers like it's gotten in Canada/Australia/etc). Housing in smaller second- and third-tier cities is very affordable, while still maintaining access to good hospitals, public transit, jobs, and so on. Rural housing is practically free aside from the cost of renovation.
- bryanlarsen 3y ago
  Housing everywhere in Japan is basically free aside from the cost of renovation + the cost of the land. Houses are considered to be disposable there, you're expected to tear it down and build a new one when you buy one, so they are priced accordingly. The difference is that land in Tokyo etc is expensive.
  - huytersd 3y ago
    But why would you? It seems like most young people with no money could just stay for free.
    - chaostheory 3y ago
      Because it’s the (outdated) law due to earthquakes. Building and materials have gotten much better since the original laws were passed.
      - huytersd 3y ago
        Are you required by law to build a new house? What if the house was just built a year ago.
    - mitthrowaway2 3y ago
      Old houses in rural areas often need a lot of care due to their age and condition. They may have sat empty for several years and suffered damage from a lack of maintenance. Also if they're cheap postwar construction, they may not be very earthquake safe. If they're older traditional architecture, they're probably ok but still probably need a lot of TLC.
jankyxenon 3y ago
Makes sense - if I look at the overall Japan numbers, they look pretty flat (seems like foreign nationals are plugging some of the decline). Curious what happens when there's a real demographic nosedive.
jseliger 3y ago
Urban housing is still expensive Not compared to most countries: https://www.sightline.org/2021/03/25/yes-other-countries-do-housing-better-case-1-japan/ https://www.sightline.org/2021/03/25/yes-other-countries-do-..., https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/11/opinion/editorials/tokyo-housing.html https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/11/opinion/editorials/tokyo-...

mitthrowaway2 3y ago

To expand on this, housing in first-tier cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka is quite expensive (although not bonkers like it's gotten in Canada/Australia/etc). Housing in smaller second- and third-tier cities is very affordable, while still maintaining access to good hospitals, public transit, jobs, and so on. Rural housing is practically free aside from the cost of renovation.

bryanlarsen 3y ago
Housing everywhere in Japan is basically free aside from the cost of renovation + the cost of the land. Houses are considered to be disposable there, you're expected to tear it down and build a new one when you buy one, so they are priced accordingly. The difference is that land in Tokyo etc is expensive.
- huytersd 3y ago
  But why would you? It seems like most young people with no money could just stay for free.
  - chaostheory 3y ago
    Because it’s the (outdated) law due to earthquakes. Building and materials have gotten much better since the original laws were passed.
    - huytersd 3y ago
      Are you required by law to build a new house? What if the house was just built a year ago.
  - mitthrowaway2 3y ago
    Old houses in rural areas often need a lot of care due to their age and condition. They may have sat empty for several years and suffered damage from a lack of maintenance. Also if they're cheap postwar construction, they may not be very earthquake safe. If they're older traditional architecture, they're probably ok but still probably need a lot of TLC.

jankyxenon 3y ago

Makes sense - if I look at the overall Japan numbers, they look pretty flat (seems like foreign nationals are plugging some of the decline). Curious what happens when there's a real demographic nosedive.

jseliger 3y ago

Urban housing is still expensive Not compared to most countries: https://www.sightline.org/2021/03/25/yes-other-countries-do-housing-better-case-1-japan/ https://www.sightline.org/2021/03/25/yes-other-countries-do-..., https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/11/opinion/editorials/tokyo-housing.html https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/11/opinion/editorials/tokyo-...