How to buy a house & lot in Tokyo

archivebot · October 10, 2005, 4:03pm

ugnayan

10-11-2005, 01:03 AM

Tanong ko lang po kung may alam kayong institution na nagpapautang sa mga foreigners, lalo na Filipino, para makabili ng property sa Japan? Umuupa ako kasi ng isang house & lot sa Tokyo at namatay na ang may-ari. Ngayon ay binigyan ako ng pagkakataon na bilhin ito. Limang taon na akong umuupa dito at OK naman ang relasyon ko sa may-ari nito…wala akong asawa o kamag-anak na Hapon…mayroong akong pwedeng collateral na property sa Pilipinas. Ang real estate agent ay hinihintay ang sagot ko kung paano ko mabayaran ang bahay at lupa ASAP. This is a serious & urgent request for your answer. Do you have any info?

tank

10-11-2005, 03:37 AM

Tanong ko lang po kung may alam kayong institution na nagpapautang sa mga foreigners, lalo na Filipino, para makabili ng property sa Japan? Umuupa ako kasi ng isang house & lot sa Tokyo at namatay na ang may-ari. Ngayon ay binigyan ako ng pagkakataon na bilhin ito. Limang taon na akong umuupa dito at OK naman ang relasyon ko sa may-ari nito…wala akong asawa o kamag-anak na Hapon…mayroong akong pwedeng collateral na property sa Pilipinas. Ang real estate agent ay hinihintay ang sagot ko kung paano ko mabayaran ang bahay at lupa ASAP. This is a serious & urgent request for your answer. Do you have any info?Only those who have permanent visa can purchase house and lot here in Japan, if you have a permanent visa and have a permanet job, then you can easily find a financer for the loan.

ugnayan

10-11-2005, 02:53 PM

Thanks for your quick reply, Tank! On my 5th year in Japan, the Immigration encouraged me to apply for permanent residency. I actually work for an NGO/NPO since I came to Japan in 1992. Last year, I finally worked on my permanent residency application and I didn’t receive any notice of approval yet. Based on my Japanese Immigration consultation, foreigners can buy a property in Japan…I don’t have the means yet in Japan (I have properties in the Philippines–inherited ones)…but I have the offer to buy a property ASAP. Kindly tell me the possible financier for the loan…I may consult them soon. I’d appreciate your immediate reply. Thanks & God bless!

tank

10-11-2005, 03:12 PM

Thanks for your quick reply, Tank! On my 5th year in Japan, the Immigration encouraged me to apply for permanent residency. I actually work for an NGO/NPO since I came to Japan in 1992. Last year, I finally worked on my permanent residency application and I didn’t receive any notice of approval yet. Based on my Japanese Immigration consultation, foreigners can buy a property in Japan…I don’t have the means yet in Japan (I have properties in the Philippines–inherited ones)…but I have the offer to buy a property ASAP. Kindly tell me the possible financier for the loan…I may consult them soon. I’d appreciate your immediate reply. Thanks & God bless!You’re welcome! There are so many house financing company here, try to click this link. hope this helps!
http://search.yahoo.co.jp/search?p=jyutaku+loa n&fr=top&src=top

neblus

10-11-2005, 04:13 PM

Sorry could not find an enligh link but you could try this one.
This is a new product launched just April 2005 to cater to those not “eligible” to bank loans. The interest is based on the amount of money you can put in in the beginning. Instead of 10% downpayment, mag-advance ka ng 20% then interest goes down by another 1% for example.

Depending on your work and stability of the company you are connected with, even without PERMANENT RESIDENCY visa you could get a loan. Condition lang is you have to actually LIVE on it and not rent it …

http://gemoney.jp/jutaku_loan/index.asp

There are branches opened in Ginza, Shibuya all the way to Sapporo so pwedeng mag-consult directly.

ugnayan

10-11-2005, 05:55 PM

Maraming salamat sa weblinks na ibinigay nyo, Tank & Neblus!!! I’m free the whole day and so I ended up reading most of the links especially the one given by Tank. I’m still reading some of the info, particularly, Shinsei Bank, Jyutaku Koko (http://www.jyukou.go.jp/) & Let’s Japan.org Forum. Sad to say, last week I wrote to 2 Philippine banks based in Japan and no response at all. Glad that I can get good reply from Timog Forum…and that I’m new here. Hats off to you!

pointblank

10-12-2005, 08:13 PM

Hello guys…

Yung comment ni Tank is correct in practical terms, but needs some clarification.

Nothing prevents you from buying a house and lot in Japan since Japan does not have laws that tie the ownership of land to citizenship (unlike the Philippines). So yes, anyone - including foreigners - can buy property here in Japan AS LONG AS YOU HAVE THE MONEY to do it.

That is where the permanent residency thing comes in - mahirap kang makahanap ng financial institution that is willing to give a loan to a foreigner without permanent residency.

While you may be lucky in finding some institutions that are willing to loan to you (kasama na diyan yung suggestions ni Neblus), remember that without a permanent residency, you are considered a flight risk - and therefore you will be charged less advantageous rates to make up for that risk to the lender. These institutions will also be the more aggressive ones - they end up catering to the riskier clients since they cannot penetrate the mainstream market as well as major banks.

No matter what you do, do not take out loans from highly aggressive high interest places like Acom, Orix & similar companies.

betong

10-12-2005, 09:47 PM

No matter what you do, do not take out loans from highly aggressive high interest places like Acom, Orix & similar companies.

That again was straight to the point, well said Pointblank.

I have been here for not too long yet but I try to learn a lot about the culture and what is up and about in this foreign land. Many stories I have read of people getting into trouble with these no frills money lending companies. Many a story have I heard of people not being able to pay for the exorbitant loans they have made which were compounded by the ceiling high rated they have. I have even read about companies who specialize in helping those people who are under such bad debts disappear - they help them leave their homes and get a new life somewhere, hidden from the thugs that were hounding them (I believe that this is the aggressivity that Pointblank was pointing out). And in a recent post about a Filipina killing her own three children out of desperation (and what seemed to be chronic depression), because they were unable to pay off their debts.
So, I should agree with Pointblank in saying that you have to be very careful with the people you will be dealing with should you ever make a loan. Some of them are not called loan sharks for nothing.

betong

10-12-2005, 09:47 PM

Just wanted to add what my feline lady friend said to me when I was watching an アコム add. I commented on how nice the lady looked and how I would just get tricked into buying anything she was trying to sell. Of course, I didn’t speak a word of Japanese then (not like I am a LOT better now…) so I didn’t know what the advertisement was about.
That’s when she told me it was a loaning company and that was exactly how they were luring their prey, they look nice and all and you get lured in till it’s too late for you to realize that you were being preyed upon by sharks.
Let us not forget about wolves in sheep’s clothings…:growl:

ugnayan

10-13-2005, 12:19 AM

Glad to read additional answers, comments and even pieces of advice on my inquiry. Bless your heart, Pointblank & Betong, for taking time to write and share your ideas & concern! I was with my Taiwanese & Japanese friends talking about my situation this evening. It’s indeed a blessing that the house & lot were offered to me to buy them…though now I felt it’s a bit a burden though all my friends (including our kababayan) encouraged me to buy them. I have another question: Is there a Japanese law restricting the inflow of foreign money amounting to Y15M–the total cost of the offered house & lot in Tokyo?

princess sakura

10-13-2005, 12:23 AM

hello po ang alam ko pag may permanent visa ka or may stable job ka,
pwede ka naman mag loan pero there are times na kailangan nila ng guarantor
ekek ano (sa totoo lang kakalito un policy nila huh)neway simple lang yan depende sa hihiraman:rolleyes: mag kakatalo lang sa percentage at agreement.so
try to research further para makapili ka ng suitable sa budjet mo.un na

neblus

10-13-2005, 01:50 AM

Hi Ugnayan,

Y15M for a House & Lot is very cheap. If your intention is to stay and live there, then I would say it wont be a bad investment. Depende na rin siguro sa laki ng lot and location in Tokyo but a 100 sq.m. house and lot in Gotanda area for example would cost around Y60M.

Tama rin si Pointblank at Betong. Dont go to the “Personal Loan Companies” like ACOM, Orix etc. These are not designed to cater para sa housing loans and the interest rates will be really out of proportion. 30%!

GE Money Mortgage, the one that I forwarded could offer between 3 to 5 percent depende nga sa amount of downpayment na you are willing to pay. Based on similar pre-approval system sa US, punta ka sa any branch and magpa-credit check ka. Maximum amount na pwedeng hiramin would be Y100M and depending on results ng checking, decide kung anong total price ng bahay na kaya mo. If you do not have “permanent residency” visa, unfortunately this might be the only option open for you.

However, GE financial products are mostly for those not able to get Japanese bank loans. Due to the competition, these banks could offer as low as 1% interest rates for first 3 years at least… so kung may appropriate visa ka, then try the banks muna and see.

Buying the house for Investment purposes would be a different issue din so you might to check those as well. Their capital gains tax for properties owned for less then some period of years could be as high as 70% so tingnan mo rin.

pointblank

10-13-2005, 06:23 PM

No, there is no limitation to the amount of money you can bring into and out of Japan, as long as you do it legally. By legal, this means that your status in Japan is legal, you remit through an authorized bank, and you declare the remittance (I think the bank can do that for you). All the Japanese government simply wants to do is to make sure that you are not laundering money from illegal sources - hence the need for accountable identity.

As for whether you can easily remit 15 million yen OUT of the Philippines, yan ang hindi ko alam… knowing our government… :mad:

bootylicious79ph

10-16-2005, 05:28 AM

moshi moshi! musta na mga pinoy jan sa nihon, wala lng jst dropping by.

ugnayan

10-17-2005, 10:07 PM

Napakabuti ninyo, mga kababayan, dahil sa pagsagot ng mga tanong ko! Habang pinaghahandaan ang meeting ko sa house agent sa linggong ito malaking tulong ang mga impormasyon na isinulat ninyo. May Plan A, B at C na ako.

Tapos na sana ang proposals ko e naaksidente pa ako at nakain ang mga araw ko sa pag-aasikaso sa ospital, insurance, sasakyan, etc. at di pa tapos ang usapan. While nursing my back pain, I read more about Timog Forum kasi bago pa nga lang ako dito. Nabasa ko ang mga sulat sa, “Are you proud being a Filipino?”

Pupunta ang car insurance Japanese staff & other concerned parties sa tinutuluyan ko ngayon na ibenebenta sa akin anytime this week. Siguro magugulat din sila, kagaya ng house agent noong unang pumunta sa amin, na makita ang malaking bandila ng Pilipinas na nakawagayway sa living room and kitchen namin. Mula Hunyo 2000, siguro aabot na ng 500 katao ang nakapasok sa tirahan namin na tinaguriang Filipino Mission Center at halos kalahati dito ay mga Hapon. Dito palaging may International Parties pero mas marami silang nalalaman tungkol sa bayan at kultura natin dahil ang inyong lingkod ang event organizer–intention ko ito dahil nga sa maraming masama at maling balita na nasasagap nila tungkol sa atin. Natutuwa ang mga bisita ko sa pagluluto ng adobo, sinigang, banana at camote que, turon, pancit at iba pang lutong Pinoy Marami rin ang nagugulat na binubuo ang plano ng international charity concerts like AsiAid for tsunami victims at KatrinAid for hurricane victims dito sa amin. Of course, hindi rin nakakalimutan ang proyekto para sa mga kababayan natin sa Pilipinas at Filipino Diaspora.

Neblus, maraming nagsabi (Hapon, Pilipino at ibang lahi) na napakamura nga ang bigay sa akin ng bahay at lupa na ito. Noong buhay pa ang may-ari, natuwa sya na ako ang uupa nito lalo na ipinakilala ako na dating nagtrabaho sa Malacanang Palace sa pamumuno ng hinangahan nyang babae na si Corazon Aquino pero pinili kong maglingkod sa kababayan natin sa iba’t-ibang bansa hanggang napunta ako sa Japan. Nakakalambot ng puso para sa mga Hapon noong yumuko sya hanggang sahig para batiin nya ako sa sarili nyang tirahan. Samahan mo ako sa panalangin sa Diyos na maka-raise ako ng ganitong kalaking pera o maintindihan ng house agent ang proposals ko this week!

Sa sagot mo, Pointblank, kaya siguro no reply ang 2 Philippine banks na sinulatan ko e hindi pwede sigurong maglabas ng ganitong halaga…pero sana sinagot man lang kahit anong sabihin May kasamahan akong staff sa YMCA na personally nag-follow-up e natanggap naman daw ang sulat at tatawagan daw ako…pero 2 linggo na akong naghihintay. Maganda rin ang sagot at tanong mo sa “Are you proud being a Filipino?”

Let’s hope & pray na mabili ang property na offered sa akin kasi magandang testamento ito ng Filipino presence sa Japan. In fact, nafeature na ito sa The Correspondents sa ABS-CBN/TFC last year & this year. Marami ng tumirang film, TV, radio & print media personalities FOR FREE dito. Naging bahay ampunan ng battered housewives, even husbands, Japanese-Filipino children at temporary shelter ng mga Filipino & international trainees and tourists.

As part of our mission policy, we actually don’t receive nor solicit funds…but maybe this time I’d just present to my family & friends abroad about this dilemna…the reason I asked earlier kung may batas sa pwedeng ipasok na pera sa Japan to buy this specific property…knowing about money laundering cases, etc.

Ipapamalita ko rin kung ano ang mangyayari…siguro mag-house blessing part 2 kung mabili na at imbitado kayo! Prayerfully, mapabilis ang approval ng Permanent Residency ko kapag may property na rin. Though almost half of my life ay nakatira ako sa iba’t-ibang bansa, I will hold on to my Filipino citizenship Mabuhay ang mga Ilocanong kayumanggi kagaya ko!

RAIN

11-05-2005, 11:29 PM

Buying a house You need a permanent residence VISA.
Permanent job.monthly salary ,japanese wife guarantee of their parent .walang problema sa banko pag umutang ka ng pera.di ko alam ang case mo .My friend ako 10 years sa japan priest nag apply sya ng permanent residence .binigyan siya ng notice back to P.I to apply another VISA japanese embassy sa manila.After six month nasa japan uli siya.

ugnayan

11-06-2005, 02:42 AM

Thanks, Rain, for your response! The 2-storey house & lot that I’m renting for more than 5 years now is actually offered to me to buy it. Since the owner died and the family members need money badly, they thought of selling their property to me even they know that I’m a foreigner without permanent residency (PR) visa. I have applied my PR last year but no approval yet.

A fellow part-time lecturer (British) and single like me was able to buy a house & lot in Chiba few years ago. In my Japanese Immigration consultation, a foreigner can buy a house & lot in Japan. Shinsei Bank allows non-permanent residents to loan.

The other day, I went to the bank to apply for housing loan; 2 Japanese businessmen, 1 Japanase female friend & 1 Filipina volunteered to accompany me. I was encouraged to apply but my Japanese female friend adviced me to reconsider my plan…In the application form, there’s a space for “Joint Income Guarantor” and “Co-owner”…The sample form states that the guarantor be the spouse and the co-owner be the parent/s-in-law. It sounds like a discrimination against single people, huh…I’m not comfortable to indicate my companions be my co-owners neither. What to do? Well, I have 10 days to go before I talk again with the owner’s family agent.

Another Japanese friend advised me to just marry a Japanese man and this may settle my situation & PR. My Taiwanese good friend married to Japanese plead me not to marry a local man. (Pumasok ang isyung kasalan dahil sa aking sitwasyon…kasalan an kung kakapit din ako For more than 13 years in Japan, honestly, I’m not actually convinced to marry one here I’d appreciate your prayers for God’s guidance & provision!

(Thanks to all the people who are following my situation and standing with me in prayers! I’ve referred you here at Timog Forum to know the development of my case & how Filipinos in Japan are responding my inquiries. I hope you can learn more of the plight of the Filipinos here as you read other threads. Isn’t it great how we Filipinos abroad try to help each other even just information exchange? Salamat mga kababayan sa katagumpayan ng ating paglalakbay!)

japphi

11-06-2005, 08:53 AM

I have read the topic of buying property dito sa Japan.Masayang malaman na isa sa kababayan natin ang malakas ang loob na bumili nang house and lot dito.Gusto ko tuloy ipagsisigaw na “Sige ipakita mo sa mga hapon na kahit mababa ang tingin sa mga Filipino ay kaya paring bumili nang property nila”.

Kaya lang malaki pa rin ang feeling na better to think it twice.Kahit na sabihing may nag papautang sa mga foreigners dito,different cases I’m sure…foremost ang credibility nang guarantor nila.INGAT SA MGA NAGPAPAUTANG.For 18 years here marami na akong nabalitaan.At sigurado dito rin sa mga members na ang asawa ay hapon na katulad ko ay may nakabili na rin nang property dito pero sa hapon nakapangalan.At kadalasan pa ay 15 to 35 years ang bayaran.

Ilang beses na ba ang may nabalitaan tayo sa news dito na mga hapon nag-suicide nang dahil lang sa prublema sa loan nila,mga balitang tinatakot nila dahil hindi nakakabayad.Asawa ko nga takot mag-loan dahil wala na syang mga parents na pwedeng gawing guarator.At takot din syang maki-usap sa kamag-anak na dahil nakakatakot maging guarantor sa mga panahong ito.

Kaming mga kababayan dito ay nagwi-wish lahat na sana ay maging tagumpay sa’yo ang pagbili nang house and lot dito as your investment.Pero dapat isipin mo rin na if time comes at gusto mo itong ipagbili if ever na nag-decide ka nang umuwi sa atin,gagamit ka ulit nang pera o mag-lo-loan ulit para i-renovate yon.Dahil walang costumer na bibili nang bahay na luma na hindi renovated…not unless ibigay mo yon sa halagang gusto nila na sigurado talo ka sa presyo at hindi investment na masasabi.Hindi tulad sa atin.
Hope you could find a nice solution for this…GOODLUCK!!

RAIN

11-06-2005, 10:47 AM

Good morning i just call my friend a priest this morning i tell your problem sabi niya No way daw na makabili ka dito kahit may negosyo ka .kung kasal ka sa hapon no problem.

RAIN

japphi

11-06-2005, 11:31 AM

Additonal doon sa tanong ni UGNAYAN…here is an example,pakitingnan lang dito sa http://tabunka.org/newsletter/immigration_p2.html kung may time ka.

Saka i-search mo munang maige baka may prublema doon sa lupa or what.Magtanong ka sa city hall,baka nakasanla yan o me naka-pending na prublema.Kahit na may pera ka,mura sya,etc.Baka pag nabili mo yan saka may kakatok sa’yo o magdadatingan yung mga prublema,na hindi na iba dito sa Japan.
Paalala lang as a kabayan.

ugnayan

11-07-2005, 10:30 PM

Malaking pasasalamat ko sa iyo, Japphi, sa pagsulat mo lalo na sa paalala na i-check ko muna ang background ng property at sa link na ibinigay mo. I took time to read related articles in United for a Multicultural Japan. They’re very helpful to me and hope to join them so that I can expand my services to our kababayan someday. Kaya lang parang sa mga may-asawang Hapon lang ito…e wala akong balak mag-asawa ng Hapon kahit na may mga inerereto na for the past days :).

I deeply appreciate your comments, RAIN! Late this afternoon, I returned call to Shinsei Bank and the staff sounded very accomodating that my problem of “Joint Income Guarantor” or “Co-owner” was settled. They actually called me many times last week to send my application even they knew I’m single and no permanent residency visa yet. Some are willing to be my guarantors but the bank specified that my guarantors should be my family members or in-laws.

I think the bank accomodates me since my loan is only JPY 15 million and I indicated to pay in 10 years and agreed that the property (land, parking lot & 2-storey house) is my collateral. Since this is Tokyo city-based (walking distance to Tachikawa City, Showa Kinen Park & US Yokota Airbase), it’s win-win situation in case something happens to me in the future.

Needless to say, it’s rather humbling for me going through all this process, a lot of inquiries, seeking advice and receiving offers of help since I’m also into NGO work. Kung ako man ang pinagtatanungan ng mga kababayan natin at kapwa dayuhan noon ng iba’t-ibang isyu at tulong, ako naman ngayon ang nasa sitwasyon kung saan marami akong tinatanong…at tumatanggap ng tulong.

Pagpapala nga ang offer na property pero alam ko na kaakbay nito ay malaking responsibilidad…ng ayon pa nga lang ay may pressures na. It’s just by God’s help that I can keep on with grace and composure…tuloy nagpapadala ako sa Jokes thread to help ease the tension

God’s blessings sa ating lahat sa Filipino Diaspora!

fisher

11-07-2005, 11:50 PM

Tanong ko lang po kung may alam kayong institution na nagpapautang sa mga foreigners, lalo na Filipino, para makabili ng property sa Japan? Umuupa ako kasi ng isang house & lot sa Tokyo at namatay na ang may-ari. Ngayon ay binigyan ako ng pagkakataon na bilhin ito. Limang taon na akong umuupa dito at OK naman ang relasyon ko sa may-ari nito…wala akong asawa o kamag-anak na Hapon…mayroong akong pwedeng collateral na property sa Pilipinas. Ang real estate agent ay hinihintay ang sagot ko kung paano ko mabayaran ang bahay at lupa ASAP. This is a serious & urgent request for your answer. Do you have any info?
Magandang gabi sa iyo Ugnayan! Ako ay may asawang haponesa.Binili ko ang bahay ko 6 yrs. ago.It costs 28 million and so and it is a 4 minute walk from the station.15 million yen in Tokyo is very,very cheap! I hope you can purchase it and I pray for it.
But I want to tell you what I was required for; 1st, I have to present my permanent resident visa.2nd,I have a permanent job,meaning I am a “sha in”. 3rd,The banks researched my company and my salary if I can afford to pay it in monthly basis.4th,no money laundering cases.5th,a Japanese guarantor.6th,that I was atleast a three years employee in my company.7th,a down payment money.It was okay and I was lucky.Now I have my own house and lot with my own car parked in my own lot! Viva sa lahat ng Filipino sa Japan!Dahil mayroon sa lahi natin na nagmamayari ng bahay at lupa sa Japan.And take note; It is in my own name.
So, 'yong sinabi ni Rain ay tama. But I don’t know sa case mo.Hindi naman kasi sapat na may pera ka lang.You have to follow their rules and regulations but I hope you could be an exemption and I will be very happy in case.Lapitan mo ang mga banko like Tokyo Mitsubishi Bank and ask some advices and infomations about loans.I will be glad if I can attend to your house blessing though you’re not inviting me yet.Goodluck to you!And GOD bless you!

ugnayan

11-10-2005, 02:02 PM

I’m grateful and happy for you, fisher, that you openly shared your story! Congratulations for you’re the first Filipino I heard buying a house & lot in Japan!

Last June-July, I was invited to speak in Canada and USA and I visited many houses owned by Filipinos. Many of the Filipinos I met in Vancouver are maids and caregivers but they were able to buy a property. I thought of the future influx of Filipino caregivers and nurses in Japan if they will do the same…In California, I went to houses owned by Filipino medical practitioners (nurses, medtech, dentist) and their properties include a swimming pool! Some of them have a working permit and not US citizens but they were able to own houses, lots, etc. I was thinking then what makes the Filipinos in Japan not consider what the Filipinos in North America are doing with regard to property acquisition. Could it be the system in Japan?

Well, I never thought that I’ll go through the process of buying a property in Japan until last month. All the people I talked to commented that the property is really cheap! But with my single status and visa situation where I’m allowed to work only part-time until granted permanent residency, these make things challenging…Thanks to Timog Forum that I can gain insights and even inspiration from you, fellow Filipino!

Fisher, kapag nasa pangalan ko na ang bahay at lupa, imbitado kita sa 2nd house blessing at lahat ng nakakabasa ng sulat na ito. In fact, I sent an e-mail to the Singaporean minister who officiated the house blessing in July 2000 and he looks forward to coming to Japan next year–prayerfully, to officiate the 2nd house blessing. This Singaporean man was with a team in Cebu last month to help the Streetkids outreaches.

Let me share my reading this morning as I grapple the pressure of my dilemma these days…“It can be scary to lower your defenses and open up your life to others. When you reveal your failures, feeling, frustrations, and fears, you risk rejection. But the benefits are worth the risk. Vulnerability is emotionally liberating…Pretent iousness repels but authenticity attracts, and vulnerability is the pathway to intimacy…How do you build credibility? Not by pretending to be perfect, but by being honest.” (Chapter 35, Purpose-Driven Life)

fisher

11-11-2005, 12:38 AM

I’m grateful and happy for you, fisher, that you openly shared your story! Congratulations for you’re the first Filipino I heard buying a house & lot in Japan!

Last June-July, I was invited to speak in Canada and USA and I visited many houses owned by Filipinos. Many of the Filipinos I met in Vancouver are maids and caregivers but they were able to buy a property. I thought of the future influx of Filipino caregivers and nurses in Japan if they will do the same…In California, I went to houses owned by Filipino medical practitioners (nurses, medtech, dentist) and their properties include a swimming pool! Some of them have a working permit and not US citizens but they were able to own houses, lots, etc. I was thinking then what makes the Filipinos in Japan not consider what the Filipinos in North America are doing with regard to property acquisition. Could it be the system in Japan?

Well, I never thought that I’ll go through the process of buying a property in Japan until last month. All the people I talked to commented that the property is really cheap! But with my single status and visa situation where I’m allowed to work only part-time until granted permanent residency, these make things challenging…Thanks to Timog Forum that I can gain insights and even inspiration from you, fellow Filipino!

Fisher, kapag nasa pangalan ko na ang bahay at lupa, imbitado kita sa 2nd house blessing at lahat ng nakakabasa ng sulat na ito. In fact, I sent an e-mail to the Singaporean minister who officiated the house blessing in July 2000 and he looks forward to coming to Japan next year–prayerfully, to officiate the 2nd house blessing. This Singaporean man was with a team in Cebu last month to help the Streetkids outreaches.

Let me share my reading this morning as I grapple the pressure of my dilemma these days…“It can be scary to lower your defenses and open up your life to others. When you reveal your failures, feeling, frustrations, and fears, you risk rejection. But the benefits are worth the risk. Vulnerability is emotionally liberating…Pretent iousness repels but authenticity attracts, and vulnerability is the pathway to intimacy…How do you build credibility? Not by pretending to be perfect, but by being honest.” (Chapter 35, Purpose-Driven Life)
Ugnayan,from the very first time na nabasa ko ang post mo I saw na you are a person who live not for yourself.You want this house for something you can do to help others.I think you have a big heart.I hope to be a volunteer when I retire.Are you a volunteer or an NGO? I hope you could acquire this house for you to continue your works.I’m praying for you.In the future,may I ask you to help me get into a voluuteer works anywhere in the world if you are in this kind of field?God bless you.

ugnayan

11-19-2005, 04:34 AM

Good day, Fisher! Sorry di ko nasagot ang sulat mo kaagad…Naging abala sa mga pulong-pulong at paghahanda ng mga papeles itong nakaraang linggo.

Habang hinihintay ang housing loan requirements ng isang bangko sa Tokyo, napatawag ako sa 2 loan companies. Sa GE Company, napag-alaman ko na nasa pilot study pa lang sila sa housing loan at nakipag-partner sa 2 real estate agents, Ken Corporation and ITG. Mababait naman sila at maraming beses kaming nag-usap. So far, 2 pa lang foreigner ang nag-apply ng housing loan at isa ang natanggap–American writer na bumili ng apartment sa Setagaya-ku, Tokyo. Noong nalaman ng Ken Corporation na JPY 15 M ang hinihiram ko, nasabi nila na napakaliit naman ang hinihiram ko kaya hinikayat na lang na sa bangko ako hihiram. Wala pang rent-to-own silang sistema…

Kagaya ng ibang bangko, kung hindi bihasa sa Nihonggo, hindi pwedeng mag-loan. Ganito ang sagot sa loan company na pangalawang tinawagan ko. (Naisulat ko ito para sa impormasyon ng mga ibang mambabasa.)

Kahapon kasama ko ang isang Japanese church minister-professor para humarap sa real estate agent ng owner ng house & lot for sale para sabihin ang requirements ng bangko; natanggap ko lang Thursday night–isang linggong hinintay. Sabi ng manager na maganda kung ako nga raw ang makabili at gusto rin ng pamilya na mapasaakin ang property nila. Kaagad ibinigay ang mga importanteng documents para sa bangko…Itinawag ko kaagad naman sa bangko na mayroon na ako ng karamihan ng requirements nila. Well, noong nalaman na second hand na pala ang bahay at nakatira na ako ng 5 taon dito, nagulat ang bank staff. So far, sa policy nila, sa bagong tayong bahay pa lang sila nagpapautang. It seems iisa pa lang ang napautangan nila…ang naayos ng Ken Corporation. (Btw, nabisita na rin ako ng Japanese Immigration staff at Japanese Interpolice dito–wala akong pwedeng maitago).

Sa pagpapasakop ko sa kalooban ng Diyos, maluwang na sa aking puso kung ano man ang mangyari sa “offer” na property. Humanly speaking, I exhausted all possible means. Ipapadala ko man lahat ng loan requirements ng bangko sa susunod na linggo, tatanggapin ko ang resulta na gabay ito ng ating Panginoon! Salamat sa inyong panalangin!!!

Fisher, may the Lord bless your heart for your statements above! They have really encouraged & moved me (with tears kasi 'di mo pa ako nakikita o nakikilala e na-discern mo na)! As a child of a church minister, lumaki ako na “bahay ng bayan” lahat ng tinirahan namin at pati na rin ang mga inupahan ko sa loob ng 13 taon sa Japan. Lalong tumindi ang paglilingkod ko sa kapwa–sa bayan man natin o sa Filipino Diaspora–kung iniisip ko na nakapagtapos ako sa universidad dahil sa buwis ng ating mamamayan, ika nga iskolar ng bayan. Sa abot ng makakaya ay makatulong din…

I highly commend your desire to serve in the NGO as a volunteer in the future! I’m directly connected to some of them and have contacts in some NGOs in Japan and overseas. In fact, my residence (the one for sale) serves as our NGO office and rendezvous of different NGO volunteers from the Philippines, Japan and other countries.

Nakapagtrabaho rin ako sa iba’t-ibang kumpanya sa atin at nakaabot pa sa Malacanang Palace, panahon ni President Corazon Aquino, pero mas satisfied ako sa NGO services and mission work. Bago ako nag fulltime sa NGO, sinubok ko muna ng 3 buwan sa pagsakay ng kagaya ng Peace Boat at napadpad sa Asia. Balik trabaho sa Malacanang Palace ng ilang buwan hanggang buo na ang loob ko sa NGO work. Malapit ng 2 dekada na sa ganitong buhay.

Maganda at masarap na ma-expose muna sa iba’t-ibang NGO work at best sa akin ang pagsakay ng international friendship & mission ship. Ito ang advise ko sa mga nagtatanong tungkol sa NGO o mission work. Pwedeng kasama ang buong pamilya habang naglalayag at pumupunta sa iba’t-ibang bansa na may layunin na makatulong sa mga less-privileged people sa mundo. Parang floating United Nations dahil galing sa 35-40 countries ang kasama sa barko at marami kang matutunan at maibahagi sa ship company of about 350 people…sa detalye ng NGO training ko, bisita lang dito: www.om.org

Bilang Filipino volunteer sa NGO na nakabisita ng iba’t-ibang bansa, nakakatuwang tanawin at isipin ang kontribusyon ng kababayan natin sa host citizenry! Nasa kamay pa rin ng Panginoon ang pagkalat ng ating kababayan. (A preacher once said, “Someday the people we work and live with in foreign lands will say, 'Thank you for coming to our country that I’m now here in heaven because of your testimony.”) Nawa’y di lang hanap-buhay o materyal na bagay ang inaasam ng ating kababayan kundi maging instrumento ng pagkakaunawaan, kapayapaan at tunay na kaligtasan.

Needless to say, the main requirement of my contact NGOs is you must be a Christian. This is the blessing and beauty of being one!

honda

11-24-2005, 10:26 PM

i think permanent visa doe’snt exist in order to buy a house & lot…even a permanent job…in making a loan…one thing to get a loan …is they used to check of your income…capacity… .
question…can you afford to pay it…its like buying a brand new car…or loan a car…in my case i wish i could afford to buy a house & lot here in Japan…but it’s very…very expensive…im married to japanese lady…we have one kid…as now im renting a 2LDK…semi mansion type…Y.75.000 a month we.have 2 cars…and i cannot still afford to buy a house and lot…we are both working f you are trying to live forever in Japan then grab it…TOL…

katty0531

11-25-2005, 02:46 PM