Hi everyone. I am exploring options for a housing loan in Tokyo and would appreciate insights from anyone who has navigated a similar setup.
My situation is straightforward. I am a permanent resident with good annual income. Stable job. Clean credit. The usual financial hygiene. The only friction point is language. I cannot speak Japanese.
I already tried SBI Shinsei and the screening team declined my application for a very surprising reason. They said they could not proceed because they are required to explain multiple legal and contractual terms in Japanese and I would not be able to understand them.
I would like to hear from others in a similar position. Which banks are more open to working with non Japanese speakers. Which institutions provide English support throughout the entire mortgage workflow from screening to contract signing. Any success stories with SMBC Trust Bank, Prestia, Sony Bank, or other lenders would help me map the landscape efficiently.
If anyone has tips on what documentation banks care about the most for PR holders or what I should prepare before the next application, I am all ear.
by Ok_Assignment_8421