American, ~40 years old, here on a spouse visa, likely applying for PR next year. been here for a total of 9 years spread out over the last 20. we're both permanently employed by a large foreign companies and considered "high earners". We also have a family.
Both my wife and I are comfortable living in Japan and see ourselves staying for the foreseeable future, but we’re also not opposed to relocating back to the U.S. if circumstances or opportunities change down the line. 5 years is a definite, 10 is most likely; but 15+ gets murky. Because of that, I’m trying to think about home ownership as a life decision, because owning a home brings a little permanence.
We currently live in Yokohama and are considering moving closer to Naka-ku in the next few years due to international school options for the kids (middle school onward). At the moment I'm in a purely an information-gathering phase; and our actual decision point will be around next January, since our current lease runs late-2027.
I’m already familiar with the usual Japan-specific factors (building depreciation, land value vs. structure, rebuilding culture, etc.), so I’m less interested in theory and more in real-world experiences.
For those who bought a home without being 100% certain Japan would be permanent:
- What pushed you to buy anyway?
- In hindsight, did it feel like the right decision?
- If you later left Japan (or expect to), how did you think about selling vs. renting it out?
- Did the stability for your family (schools, community, not moving) outweigh the financial trade-offs?
I’d really appreciate hearing from people who’ve owned for several years or faced a similar decision.
Thanks in advance.
by KokoRonin226