Honestly I think chris was being too harsh on the first property. From what I have seen watching this channel its rare to find something with that much space in Tokyo, by the time you renovate it, I think it could look quite nice. Has potential.
Rolling exterior shutters like that also pretty standard in Germany (on *most* homes). You can live without it, sure, but it's nice to have the shade/darkness, thermal insulation, (slight) protection against intruders or bad weather. I personally like that you can fully darken your bedroom at night.
They are definitely storm shutters for typhoons. I've no idea why a real estate agent in Japan doesn't know this. I live in Japan and we had them put on parts of our house when we built.
Alex, I have to say I love these collaborations you do with Chris. These are very entertaining videos, especially to interior architects such as myself. I have to say that the third house had some good interior details and finishes, and it offers unique experiences to its users, so my favourite was the third house.
I'm in love with the 3rd one and I think the stairs are actually an upside rather than a downside as someone who spends a lot of time at home and also works from home the little exercise from walking stairs helps a lot and I think some of the rooms could be really nice as office space
That is true, although at the same time I remember back to a time when I lived in a flat where the bathroom was upstairs, the kitchen was downstairs, and I was in the middle, and it wasn't tiring or anything but above all just plain annoying that anytime you had to use the bathroom, or just grab a glass of water or a snack you had to go up/down aaaall the time, it gets old quite quickly unfortunately :D
Something worth mentioning - I’m currently looking at buying in Tokyo. I found several properties (new build detached homes) that I liked. But I had to take all of them off my list because they were Leasehold properties! 😮 There are significant considerations you want to be ok with before buying a leasehold property - eg. lease 20yrs. After which, land owner does NOT have to renew. That’s right, YOU have to move on. Another, you cannot sell or remodel without land owners permission. Is this ever a problem? Maybe not, but do you want to spend $500+k USD and run into this problem 20yrs from now? My point, Just be aware, that’s all.
@@TokyoPortfolio I didn’t even know it was a thing until a few days ago. Def. not a criticism, just something to be aware of. I’m still casually looking into this tidbit; It seems like if you’re willing to buy a Mansion, then a leasehold detached isn’t much difference - home ownership wise... Correction: Apparently when you buy a mansion, you own some percentage of the land as well; so Freehold vs Leashold is also a consideration when buying a mansion.
If you want to buy in Tokyo, I recommend trying to find a plot of land and then going to a house builder and getting a house built exactly as you want it. You end up with a brand new house way better than you will find either pre-built new or on the second hand market for a similar price. Just did it myself - it's a lot easier than it sounds and kind of a fun process! The only disadvantage is that it's going to take around 1 year from buying a plot of land to getting the house designed how you want it and built.
@@oxfordtiger 100%. This was something I was considering as well. I was looking at old homes with larger plots, with the idea of demo & rebuild. My thinking, $300k USD to buy the old home and $250-300k for demo + Built and a $50k buffer for the gotchas. But, this all takes time and I would need to be available for the ad-hoc meeting, review, inspection, etc. And all of that is best done in person (more often than not). All in all, I decided I'll go the "easy" path and just buy brand new.
I've also considered buying "farm land" in Saitama and getting my hands dirty with some farming 😁 But, that's for another later time... "Baby Steps" as they say...
I know this is a weird take, but I actually like the first one the most. If you spend another 30k to redo parts of the interior it would be a solid place to live. Minami-senju is a very run-down neighbourhood, but it's also easy to get anywhere from there due to really good transport from there.
@oker601 There is absolutely no way it can possibly cost $150,000. Firstly, asbestos is only a problem if it's damaged, many people still live in houses that contain asbestos, in fact, the building I work in every day has asbestos roofing and it's absolutely fine as long as it's intact. It only becomes a problem if it's damaged, then it releases fibres into the air which is bad for you if inhaled in large quantities. So even if it had asbestos, it would still be optional to replace it. Now, IF you wanted to replace it, it's around $15,000 to completely replace asbestos roofing in a house. So you're not talking about nothing, but it's not anywhere near the amount you're suggesting. Now, to show how ridiculous the amount that you've mentioned to renovate that apartment actually is. I'm currently having a house built. Excluding the land and landscaping costs, the entire build is $200,000 for a relatively big 4 bed, 2 bath, 2 carpark house with separate media room (210 metres squared). Now, that includes $25,000 worth of extras like stone bench tops, better kitchen appliances, ducted air conditioning, among other things. So you could build that house for $175,000. But then you also need to keep in mind that the cost includes another $20,000 worth of fees for council approvals, flattening the block of land, connecting the house to the utilities (water, electricity, phone, internet). The house itself, including steel frame, the entire roof and the foundation is around $155,000. You clearly have no idea what you're talking about, your suggestion of at least $150,000 is so comically overkill that it's hard to take you serious. You can build an entire house for that amount.
I like it also, most of it looks like it's in decent enough shape. Clean it up, some new paint, new carpet in the living room. I might gut the smaller bath but the larger one I actually kind of like the tile work. Pressure wash it down, replace the tub and toilet then call it good. Put in some new appliances in the kitchen, maybe redo the cabinets but honestly I might be able to just live with them. Not bad for the price from where I stand.
I clicked on this because it looked familiar. The first apartment is literally where my friend's family lives, and her family's house is the exact same layout (although they've done some upgrades). I have memories of sleeping over in the tatami room. I don't really talk to her anymore, but I'll always remember nights over in Minami-senju. Thanks for the memories.
If I was searching for a house in Japan and had the money to buy any of the these three houses, I would buy the first one and use a part of the 650,000 leftover for renovation.
The location of the first one is fine too, and I actually like the view. Unsure what reno costs are like in Japan, but if your budget is $1m USD, you have a lot of money left to redo the entire interior. The dealbreaker for me of the last house is the bathroom. I don't want the toilet in the same room as the bath and sink.
Amen! The first one is by far the best. With renovation, you'd live like a king. Great view, lots of sunlight, spacious rooms. The third one is like a dungeon. This is where they shot the 3rd Saw movie, I think...
@@kittehgo it should suffice if you know the right ppl. i would look to purchase the materials myself and just engage contractors for labor. it would definitely cost alot more as contractors does mark up the prices for material if u opt not to source for the materials urself.
Acrocity! I used to be a third party financial examiner of this complex. Developed by Haseko and Recruit Cosmos, it was a rather adventurous project conceived during the bubble economy, but was only completed after it had burst. The reason why this had to be such a large scale project was because the Minami-Senju area was synonymous to Tokyo’s red light district. The developers effectively needed “clean up” that image. The property we saw was definitely an example of some of the larger apartments, situated in one of the low rise buildings within the complex. It has a lot of potential, with it occupying 180 sqm, which is substantially larger than an average Tokyo property. However, the necessary renovation will take the overall cost to well above 100M yen, and one will have to factor in that this place is not necessarily a desired area to live in Tokyo, which will affect its resale value. Having said that, I still believe this is the best deal amongst the three properties we saw today.
I know your focus is Tokyo, but it would be nice to see similar videos for other prefectures/cities. Especially covering things that are different about real estate in other regions. Does Kyushu have features/materials to deal with the heat/humidity all year round? What about Tohoku and Hokkaido for dealing with snow?
Ooooh the 3rd apartment got something of a cozy vibe to it. The basement especially where you can convert it to a guest party zone. Put up a bar, a mini kitchen and stuff, install a projector, some bean bags and you're good to go. Guests don't have to go up into your house completely since your 1st toilet is just up above them. Really nice place.
There's an animated intro for this series now?! Nice! All the houses look pretty good although the first one needs some work. The last one's basement has a lot of potential to be used in anything.
Holy crap does Minami Senju bring back memories. In 1993 when I was teaching near Tamachi Station in Tokyo, I remember peeps at one company joking “Are you from Minami Senju?” implying that you weren’t um….Bill Gates.
I like the last one the best. As you move up or down each floor has it's own purpose which helps you get into the right mindset for whatever you've set up that room for. Additionally because each area has it's own floor, it's harder to disturb those above or below you. I would actually make my basement the bedroom. It's probably nice a cool down there and less ligtht which would be perfect for sleeping. Kitchen would be dinning only with a breakfast nook and a nice dinning room table. Master bedroom would be the living room and the top floor would be my office.
What's good to do around Minami-Senju? Glad you asked. I live in Machiya, so it's pretty close to there, and to me the highlight is always cycling along the Arakawa river. Seriously, it's so convenient to have quick access to a good cycling area, and you won't easily run out of road around here. Apart from that? Well, it's kinda cheaper compared to other neighbourhoods, and still gives a nice downtown feel. So there you go.
The most fun i have with these videos are finding the places on google earth and checking out the area nearby, distance to station etc.. that lets me evaluate the house/apartment way better.. so as a total amateur realestate evaluator i'd say this: I would choose the big moldy apartment, try push down the price a bit and give it a sweet renovation. The spaces was just perfect, lots of room and you can get really creative. A apartment with those spaces will let you renovate it truly well.
Back in the mid 00-10 I usually stayed in places in Minami-Senju. Really liked it, it had the essentials and the best part was the cheap prices and how connected it was.
Houses in Japan just blow my mind, they’re so creative with their space and layouts, I loved the first house, lots of potential, I don’t like rock yards tho lol I live in Saskatchewan, Canada. We own a house that’s 1,100 sq feet, a bungalow type house with a basement and 10 acres of land.
Low maintenance pretty much, you'd be seen as very strange if you don't match your neighborhood same goes for putting something like this in Saskatchewan but reputation is much more important in Japan
@@lunawense6288 Rock Gardens are usually a bigger city thing here in Saskatchewan, with our summer heat tho I find it doesn’t help cool the house down, makes it hotter, so grass/gardens are always my go to.
I liked the first house (not the old apartment). Yeah, living room could be bigger, but its not bad at all. I did expect 3 floors to be fair. And the house and garden could easily be decorated quite well.
The basement has better lighting than my cave hole of a storage closet bed room. How. It's underground. I think all three properties have their charms and perks, but I probably like the third one the best. Though I have to agree with Chris on the point that the ungodly amount of stairs and layout would make it incredibly inconvenient to live in - Especially if you're getting older or are prone to back issues.
Being American, i think the 1st (once renovated) or 2nd properties would be the more familiar options, but i love how much character the 3rd place has. The basement particularly seems nice as a musician, since i could have a studio space that wouldn't bug people too bad.
If the first one was half the price it's listed for I think it's a steal. A bit of renovation would totally revamp that place, and it's roomy to begin with.
i lived in minami senju and the allure of it is that its close to the line and gets you around tokyo while sleeping for cheap, you found everything great about it in your first statement. Its just a great place to live to get to the expensive parts without dying on cost for living
I seriously love that 3rd one. I would actually live on that top floor room. Looks so cozy, and has an excellent view. Doubt I could ever afford such a wonderful place though
Im a sucker for a apartments with a Basement, so personally i liked number 3 a lot, in general also decent sized rooms, and the stairs i dont think are an issue, good exercise, only real downside is over 1 million is a lot of money
About the Minami-Senju area: 1. Shopping facilities There are 3 middle-sized shopping facilities: Lala-terrace Minami-Senju, Bivi Minami-Senju, and PontePorta Senju. You won't have trouble finding places to shop or to eat. 2. Shioiri Park(汐入公園) This park has tennis courts, BBQ facilities and even a outdoor concert stage. It's a good place to jog or enjoy a picnic. 3. Camellia flowers Some of the larger streets in this area has flower beds of Camellia aligned along them, which bloom in spring and make a good scenary.
I like the first one because you wouldn't even have to go *that* high on renovations to make it really good(most of it was cleanup with only a few places needing genuine renovation) and it seemed like it was in a decent transit area. Renovation and purchase would put it well below $750,000(I would honestly be surprised if it would take more than $50k in renovation to get it it nice and furnished)
I don't know, I feel like I'd have to tear out and rebuild about half of the interior walls in the first one so you don't have rooms with so many odd corners.
Yeah, what Rolf said, I'd be amazed if you didn't have to burn at least 300K to gut the place, move/remove internal walls to fix the layout AND buying new utilities. Also in my case, I'm 1m94 (Idk, like 6'5"?) so I could imagine having to import some length appropriate stuff.
I agree with Chris that the 2nd house is a bit out there but it has a garden. Also I think a bit higher fence would add a bit more privacy. 2nd house is my favourite but if I wanna live closer to the city its 1. 3rd one is just a no go. 4 floors? I come home to relax not exercise
The stair-phobia is a real thing... After living 20+ years in a house on 7 levels (so, call it 4 floors and cellar) it's so totally routine --- but when you try to sell it, basically all potential buyers run out of puff by the third floor. They try to take it all in, but they're just a bit out of breath and get negative about everything. As a child it's fantastic, to be separated from parental supervision by at least two floors. Absolutely would buy again, worry about selling it later.
That last house did seen nice. The stairs and that steel door to the living room made it a bit weird, but its japan. It did have a carport, which I would assume is premium in tokyo, so that there would seal it for me. The two of the older ones did seem a bit on the "rough" side and would end up costing about the same as the last one after a reno. Also that basement would offer alot of options.
I'm guessing that since the kitchen is in there, the fire door will allow occupants from higher floors to go down the stairs safely even if there's a kitchen fire raging at that moment.
Great video!!! My favourite was the first one, because of the view and the layout. I saw the floor plan and I loved the layout, you have basically 360° view around you with enough acces to fresh air and even if it's current state is a little sorry, I just see so much potential. Of course, I don't know anything about renovating places in Japan, what to consider and all the costs but I had some ideas of what it could look like and MY GOD I would absolutely love to live there!!!
Minami Senju station isn't THAT bad. I stayed at Hotel Palace Japan for a few nights and the room wasn't bad. It's not far from the SkyTree and the area is relatively quiet. Still, some decent eats in the area and there was a grocery store nearby. And if you are a single male who is into... red light district stuff, there is Yoshiwara nearby - I was just getting a feel for the area I was in and let's just say I was beckoned to come check the girls out near several shops - though I didn't want to drop that kind of money there. But if that's what you are into, it's available even if you are a foreigner.
First place was best value for money. How much could renovations cost? I cannot imagine more than 180k (basically putting 1k per square meter). Had really nice view and balconies. Give us insight into renovations costs and maintenance cost for the apartment building please!
The last one is definitely my favourite. It feels the most cozy and homely to me, with the white walls and light wood. I also love the verticality of it, somehow I prefer taller than wider houses. It's in an amazing location, but with that price tag, it's a bit to consider.
The final one for $1.2m in a cool suburb of Tokyo isn't that bad. The basement is especially cool. My ideal location is Yoyogi with a private rooftop garden/entertainment area but it'd need to come with a time machine so that I could go to Yoyogi Sega arcade (RIP).
The first house is definitely a winner in the renovation department. Lots of space and you can modernize the hell out of it. For buying it as is, the last house is where its at. Though having lived on a 3 story townhouse before, getting furniture upstairs is always a pain and those stairways seem quite narrow and have some hard angles.
Alex was really questioning Chris‘ childhood trauma or sanity there with all of the horror movie thoughts. Felt like he was ready to give a therapy session or make a run for it 😅
It's always crazy what some people consider a terrible home, and what some people consider a great home. They kept saying that the first home would have to be gutted, and how terrible it is. I think that that is a beautiful home! I would love to live there. It would be perfect. Edit: They are all gorgeous properties. I want the last one.
@@sumireravenclaw8034 Well yeah, the prices are ridiculous. Houses where I lived in North Dakota, usually ran from $20,000 to $30,000. It's all location. They are still beautiful, though.
I feel like each place was for a different part of someones life, the third place feels like the really successful 25-30 yr old, the first place feels like a diy middle aged(40-45+), got 2-3 kids(11+ age), looking for something alitle more city but not central, and the 2nd place feels like I'm 30, got 1-3 kids, or some on the way, and I'm looking for a nice quiet suburb. edit: you could also flip what i said about the first and second place as well. I do like the second one best, but that's because I'm OK with taking the train into the city if i want to.
I liked the middle house that he called boring. I could see myself living there. The last property has all that cool looking concrete, I am a fan of concrete.
22:48 - My inner Star Trek fan looked at the angled windows and immediately began wondering how I could make that room look like guest quarters on the Enterprise-D. :D Really loved the tours though. Great work as always! Question if I may: I feel like I see built-in bookcases or shelves inside of bedrooms fairly often. Is that a common thing in Japanese homes (or larger apartments)? I'm guessing maybe not too common in the smaller properties closer to the inner city areas?
That basement in the last house is amazing for a music production studio or like a gig room for friends and family to meet up together to jam or record. Awesome!
Me, seeing the first property: wow, there's actually a lot of potential in this, some rooms you could totally keep as-is with a deep clean for a retro vibe! Chris: Everything about this is terrible. Me: That's a good point, that _is_ terrible. I do actually see the potential in that property. That bathroom looks dated, but dated in such a way that if you change only a handful of things, it could actually be a fun design again. Sure, it looks to have 30 years worth of someone living there, but a deep clean is more rewarding than you think! If it takes a bit off the asking price to see some stains I know how to fix, all the better.
I actually like the second one best in terms of livability, the 3rd I like the privacy and the concrete but that's a lot of stairs to go through on the daily. With the first one, since it's a condo, are there restrictions on how much construction you can do? Like would you be allowed to literally break down the walls and make new rooms/layouts?
Trust me, after a few weeks you dont even feel the stairs anymore. I have to walk 4 big stairs in my house daily. And you forget that they are there. Also i am a bit more healthy now
Fun vid! I’m not sure if this was covered in a prior video, but when buying an apartment in Japan, are there monthly maintenance fees? In the US, we have condos and co-ops which will have these fees, but not sure if it’s similar in Japan.
As a real estate agent I feel the pain when you're trying to sell a property and the potential buyers are just as negative like Chris. "Ah asbestos, mold, smells like shit..." and you're like 😐
Honestly the value for money in tokyo real estate is just amazing. One of the key reasons i moved here. Of course, its not a market to park your wealth, or make a heap of fast cash on price rises, nor is it amazing for rental yields. BUT, if you actually just want to live here the property prices are incredible, compared to my home city of Sydney, Australia, i can actually have hope for a life here.
I love Minami-senju and often stay in one of the hotels when I come to japan. very cheep hotels, you meet and talk to tourists from all over the world, as you said very good rail connections, Lala Terrace is just up past the station for all your food and shopping needs, Asakusa and a large temple (senso-ji) is a nice work or short bus trip away, at night I goto my favorite pub/cafe TEPUI , awesome pizzas, the owner speaks English well, a very welcoming place.
Hate to say it, but the videos are better in my opinion without the Abroad in Japan guy. I've watched his videos for a while and loved watching Natsuki, but his sarcasm at every turn gets old quickly.
The last place is amazing. It's crazy to think how cheap property is in Japan. These places are closer than I am to Toronto and my townhouse that is on a damn condo board is worth more than anything in this video and is smaller than all these place.
I actually really liked that second one. The first one would probably cost more than the second after you renovated it, so it's not as attractive in that. After a refab, the first would also be great, but I wouldn't want to be the one to refab it. I did like how it being only one floor made it feel bigger than it actually is. Though, even if all we did was clean up the mold and put in some brighter light bulbs, I could see my family living there. Though, the lighting might also be filming dimming it. Everything felt separated enough whiles till being close enough. The bathroom being centralized while having a large formal bathroom next to the bedrooms is nice. The third, because of all the stairs, not only does it feel the smallest, it is the most inconvenient to live in. While it might have the most area of the three, the stairwell takes up half the floor plan. It just felt like it's for a smaller family. As someone who grew up in a three story apartment condo, having to go from the top floor to the bottom all the time was annoying. As for the second place, I liked how the second floor was just bedrooms. The "study room" felt redundant, so I'd probably use that as a walk-in closet, that way all three bedrooms have one. The first floor bedroom would probably be used as an office. Having a formal dining area is nice. If only two of the upstairs bedrooms are needed as such, one of them could be turned into an office as well. The kitchen felt a bit small, but I could live with it. Like Chris said, my only problem with it is how close the neighbors are.
The first one for sure, the view all around is fantastic, good floor plan, lots of space, kitchen is fine as it is just change the dishwasher, bathrooms need to be redone without going overboard (the more trendy you go the fastest it gets outdated) change the carpet, clean, patch and repaint...and of course complain like Chris to get them to lower the price 😂💦
I like the final one the best and has most character by far, If money wasn't an issue. Stairs doesn't bother me at all and would be nothing once you get used to it. I used to live in a bedroom on 2nd floor with everything on first and would go up those stairs so many times a day back in day that the stairs eventually felt like nothing to me after a while
“WE DON’T TALK ABOUT WHAT’S UNDER THE KITCHEN FLOOR.”
I would be scared too if Connor was under my floorboards
What horrors did you hide down there...
@@carn109 That's where he keeps Dr. Jelly between commercials
Potatoes ?
Dude, you must've been drunk during this. Wtf is wrong with you 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
>Alex, trying to sell the apartment and making you imagine what it could be
>Chris roasting it at every chance
Perfect duo.
Strong good cop, bad cop vibes :D
Should Alex even accept criticism from a man who doesn't know what linen is?
If only Chris was funny...
@@oliversissonphone6143 Hes funnier than you
*true* fair and balanced coverage
Thanks Chris for finding something wrong with all of the properties. Commenters: what is your favorite of the three?
I wouldn't tear it all out. I'd give it.. A grate scrubbin'
Definitely the 3rd, because of the basement. It would make such a great movie room.
that's all it knee's
Is Char alright? Lots of murder on Chris's mind! 😅
Honestly I think chris was being too harsh on the first property. From what I have seen watching this channel its rare to find something with that much space in Tokyo, by the time you renovate it, I think it could look quite nice. Has potential.
I believe a lot of houses have shutters on them not just because they want to feel safer but also to be protected from strong typhoons.
Or the sun. Helps block it before the sun heats up the room
Rolling exterior shutters like that also pretty standard in Germany (on *most* homes). You can live without it, sure, but it's nice to have the shade/darkness, thermal insulation, (slight) protection against intruders or bad weather. I personally like that you can fully darken your bedroom at night.
They are definitely storm shutters for typhoons. I've no idea why a real estate agent in Japan doesn't know this. I live in Japan and we had them put on parts of our house when we built.
I feel safe in my slice of America and I want them for the privacy
Just get blinds lol. No need for massive shudders made for typhoons for the sun. @@Robonator14
do i have a million? no. Am i moving to japan? no. But this is entertaining to watch
I have a Million and movign to Japan.. in Sims/my mind
Yes.
Same haha. I love watching real estate shows from overseas. It's so interesting.
I do
My thoughts exactly lol
Alex, I have to say I love these collaborations you do with Chris. These are very entertaining videos, especially to interior architects such as myself. I have to say that the third house had some good interior details and finishes, and it offers unique experiences to its users, so my favourite was the third house.
I'm in love with the 3rd one and I think the stairs are actually an upside rather than a downside as someone who spends a lot of time at home and also works from home the little exercise from walking stairs helps a lot and I think some of the rooms could be really nice as office space
added bonus, the kids can tire themselves out running up/down the stairs. :)
@@Chris-ut6eq Until they fall and break a leg.
Good life lesson, breaking a leg is.
Until you move in and have to start taking your furniture to each floor.
That is true, although at the same time I remember back to a time when I lived in a flat where the bathroom was upstairs, the kitchen was downstairs, and I was in the middle, and it wasn't tiring or anything but above all just plain annoying that anytime you had to use the bathroom, or just grab a glass of water or a snack you had to go up/down aaaall the time, it gets old quite quickly unfortunately :D
You guys got such a good enthusiastic vs. semi-depressed vibe going that makes everything so funny! Don't stop making these!
😂 I agree - so highly entertaining
Semi?😂
Something worth mentioning - I’m currently looking at buying in Tokyo. I found several properties (new build detached homes) that I liked. But I had to take all of them off my list because they were Leasehold properties! 😮
There are significant considerations you want to be ok with before buying a leasehold property - eg. lease 20yrs. After which, land owner does NOT have to renew. That’s right, YOU have to move on. Another, you cannot sell or remodel without land owners permission.
Is this ever a problem? Maybe not, but do you want to spend $500+k USD and run into this problem 20yrs from now?
My point, Just be aware, that’s all.
Yeah, you're right. I've never mentioned that in any of my videos, but also none of the properties I've featured so far are leasehold.
@@TokyoPortfolio I didn’t even know it was a thing until a few days ago. Def. not a criticism, just something to be aware of. I’m still casually looking into this tidbit; It seems like if you’re willing to buy a Mansion, then a leasehold detached isn’t much difference - home ownership wise... Correction: Apparently when you buy a mansion, you own some percentage of the land as well; so Freehold vs Leashold is also a consideration when buying a mansion.
If you want to buy in Tokyo, I recommend trying to find a plot of land and then going to a house builder and getting a house built exactly as you want it. You end up with a brand new house way better than you will find either pre-built new or on the second hand market for a similar price. Just did it myself - it's a lot easier than it sounds and kind of a fun process! The only disadvantage is that it's going to take around 1 year from buying a plot of land to getting the house designed how you want it and built.
@@oxfordtiger 100%. This was something I was considering as well. I was looking at old homes with larger plots, with the idea of demo & rebuild. My thinking, $300k USD to buy the old home and $250-300k for demo + Built and a $50k buffer for the gotchas.
But, this all takes time and I would need to be available for the ad-hoc meeting, review, inspection, etc. And all of that is best done in person (more often than not).
All in all, I decided I'll go the "easy" path and just buy brand new.
I've also considered buying "farm land" in Saitama and getting my hands dirty with some farming 😁 But, that's for another later time... "Baby Steps" as they say...
I know this is a weird take, but I actually like the first one the most. If you spend another 30k to redo parts of the interior it would be a solid place to live. Minami-senju is a very run-down neighbourhood, but it's also easy to get anywhere from there due to really good transport from there.
30k, Yeah right, more like 150k at least, specially if it does have abestos.
@oker601 There is absolutely no way it can possibly cost $150,000.
Firstly, asbestos is only a problem if it's damaged, many people still live in houses that contain asbestos, in fact, the building I work in every day has asbestos roofing and it's absolutely fine as long as it's intact. It only becomes a problem if it's damaged, then it releases fibres into the air which is bad for you if inhaled in large quantities. So even if it had asbestos, it would still be optional to replace it. Now, IF you wanted to replace it, it's around $15,000 to completely replace asbestos roofing in a house. So you're not talking about nothing, but it's not anywhere near the amount you're suggesting.
Now, to show how ridiculous the amount that you've mentioned to renovate that apartment actually is. I'm currently having a house built. Excluding the land and landscaping costs, the entire build is $200,000 for a relatively big 4 bed, 2 bath, 2 carpark house with separate media room (210 metres squared).
Now, that includes $25,000 worth of extras like stone bench tops, better kitchen appliances, ducted air conditioning, among other things. So you could build that house for $175,000. But then you also need to keep in mind that the cost includes another $20,000 worth of fees for council approvals, flattening the block of land, connecting the house to the utilities (water, electricity, phone, internet). The house itself, including steel frame, the entire roof and the foundation is around $155,000.
You clearly have no idea what you're talking about, your suggestion of at least $150,000 is so comically overkill that it's hard to take you serious. You can build an entire house for that amount.
I like it also, most of it looks like it's in decent enough shape. Clean it up, some new paint, new carpet in the living room. I might gut the smaller bath but the larger one I actually kind of like the tile work. Pressure wash it down, replace the tub and toilet then call it good. Put in some new appliances in the kitchen, maybe redo the cabinets but honestly I might be able to just live with them.
Not bad for the price from where I stand.
I clicked on this because it looked familiar. The first apartment is literally where my friend's family lives, and her family's house is the exact same layout (although they've done some upgrades). I have memories of sleeping over in the tatami room. I don't really talk to her anymore, but I'll always remember nights over in Minami-senju. Thanks for the memories.
lmao I love Chris tearing into everything the second Alex tries to compliment it
Alex is just dying from all of Chris's critical comments. Got me crackin' up.
I like to think the realtor inside of him was dying on the inside a little bit but then remembers that this is just Chris being Chris.
I may not ever be able to buy a place like this but I WILL imagine what it would be like
If I was searching for a house in Japan and had the money to buy any of the these three houses, I would buy the first one and use a part of the 650,000 leftover for renovation.
The location of the first one is fine too, and I actually like the view. Unsure what reno costs are like in Japan, but if your budget is $1m USD, you have a lot of money left to redo the entire interior. The dealbreaker for me of the last house is the bathroom. I don't want the toilet in the same room as the bath and sink.
I don't think 650.000 will be enough for a renovation
Amen! The first one is by far the best. With renovation, you'd live like a king. Great view, lots of sunlight, spacious rooms. The third one is like a dungeon. This is where they shot the 3rd Saw movie, I think...
That's not how mortgages work.
@@kittehgo it should suffice if you know the right ppl. i would look to purchase the materials myself and just engage contractors for labor. it would definitely cost alot more as contractors does mark up the prices for material if u opt not to source for the materials urself.
Acrocity! I used to be a third party financial examiner of this complex. Developed by Haseko and Recruit Cosmos, it was a rather adventurous project conceived during the bubble economy, but was only completed after it had burst. The reason why this had to be such a large scale project was because the Minami-Senju area was synonymous to Tokyo’s red light district. The developers effectively needed “clean up” that image. The property we saw was definitely an example of some of the larger apartments, situated in one of the low rise buildings within the complex. It has a lot of potential, with it occupying 180 sqm, which is substantially larger than an average Tokyo property. However, the necessary renovation will take the overall cost to well above 100M yen, and one will have to factor in that this place is not necessarily a desired area to live in Tokyo, which will affect its resale value. Having said that, I still believe this is the best deal amongst the three properties we saw today.
I know your focus is Tokyo, but it would be nice to see similar videos for other prefectures/cities. Especially covering things that are different about real estate in other regions. Does Kyushu have features/materials to deal with the heat/humidity all year round? What about Tohoku and Hokkaido for dealing with snow?
The unscreen chemistry between the two of you showing off different property listings in Japan is surprisingly entertaining. 😂
Ooooh the 3rd apartment got something of a cozy vibe to it. The basement especially where you can convert it to a guest party zone. Put up a bar, a mini kitchen and stuff, install a projector, some bean bags and you're good to go. Guests don't have to go up into your house completely since your 1st toilet is just up above them. Really nice place.
Yeah the third was the best, the basement can be for a home cinema or gym. And that top room was supercool, lots of potential in that house..🙂
There's an animated intro for this series now?! Nice! All the houses look pretty good although the first one needs some work. The last one's basement has a lot of potential to be used in anything.
Holy crap does Minami Senju bring back memories. In 1993 when I was teaching near Tamachi Station in Tokyo, I remember peeps at one company joking “Are you from Minami Senju?” implying that you weren’t um….Bill Gates.
Chris is the person who bring along to a opening to deter the rest putting in a bid 🤣
i think nobody bids on these houses thats why they let them make this video hahaha i bet they're closed for years lol
I like the last one the best. As you move up or down each floor has it's own purpose which helps you get into the right mindset for whatever you've set up that room for. Additionally because each area has it's own floor, it's harder to disturb those above or below you.
I would actually make my basement the bedroom. It's probably nice a cool down there and less ligtht which would be perfect for sleeping. Kitchen would be dinning only with a breakfast nook and a nice dinning room table. Master bedroom would be the living room and the top floor would be my office.
What's good to do around Minami-Senju? Glad you asked. I live in Machiya, so it's pretty close to there, and to me the highlight is always cycling along the Arakawa river. Seriously, it's so convenient to have quick access to a good cycling area, and you won't easily run out of road around here.
Apart from that? Well, it's kinda cheaper compared to other neighbourhoods, and still gives a nice downtown feel. So there you go.
Having Chris around is probably not good for business but it sure does make an entertaining video 😂
Chris is a Gem, it was a surprise he was in this vid. Loved it. Brings so much fun energy! looking forward to more! - love from UK
That last place is really well done, but it's the location that makes it worth it. Also a big fan of the basement bonus room.
Love these tours with Chris. He adds a whole new dimension.
The most fun i have with these videos are finding the places on google earth and checking out the area nearby, distance to station etc.. that lets me evaluate the house/apartment way better.. so as a total amateur realestate evaluator i'd say this:
I would choose the big moldy apartment, try push down the price a bit and give it a sweet renovation. The spaces was just perfect, lots of room and you can get really creative. A apartment with those spaces will let you renovate it truly well.
Back in the mid 00-10 I usually stayed in places in Minami-Senju. Really liked it, it had the essentials and the best part was the cheap prices and how connected it was.
Houses in Japan just blow my mind, they’re so creative with their space and layouts, I loved the first house, lots of potential, I don’t like rock yards tho lol
I live in Saskatchewan, Canada. We own a house that’s 1,100 sq feet, a bungalow type house with a basement and 10 acres of land.
Low maintenance pretty much, you'd be seen as very strange if you don't match your neighborhood same goes for putting something like this in Saskatchewan but reputation is much more important in Japan
@@lunawense6288 Rock Gardens are usually a bigger city thing here in Saskatchewan, with our summer heat tho I find it doesn’t help cool the house down, makes it hotter, so grass/gardens are always my go to.
Love this series idea, great new intro too
I liked the first house (not the old apartment). Yeah, living room could be bigger, but its not bad at all. I did expect 3 floors to be fair. And the house and garden could easily be decorated quite well.
The basement has better lighting than my cave hole of a storage closet bed room. How. It's underground.
I think all three properties have their charms and perks, but I probably like the third one the best. Though I have to agree with Chris on the point that the ungodly amount of stairs and layout would make it incredibly inconvenient to live in - Especially if you're getting older or are prone to back issues.
Being American, i think the 1st (once renovated) or 2nd properties would be the more familiar options, but i love how much character the 3rd place has. The basement particularly seems nice as a musician, since i could have a studio space that wouldn't bug people too bad.
If the first one was half the price it's listed for I think it's a steal.
A bit of renovation would totally revamp that place, and it's roomy to begin with.
Phew that’s alot of money for a house
i lived in minami senju and the allure of it is that its close to the line and gets you around tokyo while sleeping for cheap, you found everything great about it in your first statement. Its just a great place to live to get to the expensive parts without dying on cost for living
New Portfolio video? I click Like even before I watch because I know Alex will not disappoint xD
I seriously love that 3rd one. I would actually live on that top floor room. Looks so cozy, and has an excellent view. Doubt I could ever afford such a wonderful place though
Im a sucker for a apartments with a Basement, so personally i liked number 3 a lot, in general also decent sized rooms, and the stairs i dont think are an issue, good exercise, only real downside is over 1 million is a lot of money
About the Minami-Senju area:
1. Shopping facilities
There are 3 middle-sized shopping facilities: Lala-terrace Minami-Senju, Bivi Minami-Senju, and PontePorta Senju. You won't have trouble finding places to shop or to eat.
2. Shioiri Park(汐入公園)
This park has tennis courts, BBQ facilities and even a outdoor concert stage. It's a good place to jog or enjoy a picnic.
3. Camellia flowers
Some of the larger streets in this area has flower beds of Camellia aligned along them, which bloom in spring and make a good scenary.
I like the first one because you wouldn't even have to go *that* high on renovations to make it really good(most of it was cleanup with only a few places needing genuine renovation) and it seemed like it was in a decent transit area. Renovation and purchase would put it well below $750,000(I would honestly be surprised if it would take more than $50k in renovation to get it it nice and furnished)
I don't know, I feel like I'd have to tear out and rebuild about half of the interior walls in the first one so you don't have rooms with so many odd corners.
Yeah, what Rolf said, I'd be amazed if you didn't have to burn at least 300K to gut the place, move/remove internal walls to fix the layout AND buying new utilities. Also in my case, I'm 1m94 (Idk, like 6'5"?) so I could imagine having to import some length appropriate stuff.
@@bararobberbaron859 This isn't HGTV. Renovations don't need to be *that* expensive or frivolous
I agree with Chris that the 2nd house is a bit out there but it has a garden. Also I think a bit higher fence would add a bit more privacy. 2nd house is my favourite but if I wanna live closer to the city its 1. 3rd one is just a no go. 4 floors? I come home to relax not exercise
Oh Chris...two time climber of Mt Fuji...deflated by a flight of stairs. Joking aside, I do love the collabs with Mr. Affable.
The stair-phobia is a real thing... After living 20+ years in a house on 7 levels (so, call it 4 floors and cellar) it's so totally routine --- but when you try to sell it, basically all potential buyers run out of puff by the third floor. They try to take it all in, but they're just a bit out of breath and get negative about everything. As a child it's fantastic, to be separated from parental supervision by at least two floors. Absolutely would buy again, worry about selling it later.
That last house did seen nice. The stairs and that steel door to the living room made it a bit weird, but its japan. It did have a carport, which I would assume is premium in tokyo, so that there would seal it for me. The two of the older ones did seem a bit on the "rough" side and would end up costing about the same as the last one after a reno. Also that basement would offer alot of options.
I'm guessing that since the kitchen is in there, the fire door will allow occupants from higher floors to go down the stairs safely even if there's a kitchen fire raging at that moment.
@@theSpian1 Interesting, sounds plausible.
I think with a bit of work the first one could be absolutely amazing to live in, the real question is how much it'd cost to get it there.
The animated intro....*chef's kiss.
Great video!!!
My favourite was the first one, because of the view and the layout.
I saw the floor plan and I loved the layout, you have basically 360° view around you with enough acces to fresh air and even if it's current state is a little sorry, I just see so much potential.
Of course, I don't know anything about renovating places in Japan, what to consider and all the costs but I had some ideas of what it could look like and MY GOD I would absolutely love to live there!!!
Ever since I visited japan last month I havent been able to stop looking at houses and apartment videos. It was so much fun and I miss it.
Minami Senju station isn't THAT bad. I stayed at Hotel Palace Japan for a few nights and the room wasn't bad. It's not far from the SkyTree and the area is relatively quiet. Still, some decent eats in the area and there was a grocery store nearby.
And if you are a single male who is into... red light district stuff, there is Yoshiwara nearby - I was just getting a feel for the area I was in and let's just say I was beckoned to come check the girls out near several shops - though I didn't want to drop that kind of money there. But if that's what you are into, it's available even if you are a foreigner.
Yes for me too i way at Juyoh hotel for 10 days cheap quiet part of Tokyo i like that place 100 yen machines and close to Ueno and Akiba via H line
I never realised just how hard it is to impress chriss 😂 or if im just easily impressed 😅
I'm loving the animated intro and your dynamic with Chris! As for the houses, I think I can settle with the 2nd but I'd prefer the 3rd.
I got so confused for a second 'cause I didn't remember typing a comment on this video 😅
@@joannasimply Haha ayooo, my long lost twinnnn!!!! 🤗
I have now binged every video on this channel over the past 2 days and I just want more
First place was best value for money. How much could renovations cost? I cannot imagine more than 180k (basically putting 1k per square meter). Had really nice view and balconies.
Give us insight into renovations costs and maintenance cost for the apartment building please!
Depends on the scale, but somewhere between $60k for a light renovation up to $150k+ for a nice-quality gut renovation.
The last one is definitely my favourite. It feels the most cozy and homely to me, with the white walls and light wood. I also love the verticality of it, somehow I prefer taller than wider houses. It's in an amazing location, but with that price tag, it's a bit to consider.
The final one for $1.2m in a cool suburb of Tokyo isn't that bad. The basement is especially cool. My ideal location is Yoyogi with a private rooftop garden/entertainment area but it'd need to come with a time machine so that I could go to Yoyogi Sega arcade (RIP).
It was my favorite as well. The roof area with the full 360 view is awesome!
The first house is definitely a winner in the renovation department. Lots of space and you can modernize the hell out of it. For buying it as is, the last house is where its at. Though having lived on a 3 story townhouse before, getting furniture upstairs is always a pain and those stairways seem quite narrow and have some hard angles.
Alex was really questioning Chris‘ childhood trauma or sanity there with all of the horror movie thoughts. Felt like he was ready to give a therapy session or make a run for it 😅
Here’s the actual reason
Taxes do not have to be paid on receipt but can just be accrued on the property only due when it is sold
It's always crazy what some people consider a terrible home, and what some people consider a great home. They kept saying that the first home would have to be gutted, and how terrible it is. I think that that is a beautiful home! I would love to live there. It would be perfect.
Edit: They are all gorgeous properties. I want the last one.
I mean when these houses at 1m+ anywhere in Tokyo yet where I live these would be like 300k max. lol
@@sumireravenclaw8034 Well yeah, the prices are ridiculous. Houses where I lived in North Dakota, usually ran from $20,000 to $30,000. It's all location. They are still beautiful, though.
I feel like each place was for a different part of someones life, the third place feels like the really successful 25-30 yr old, the first place feels like a diy middle aged(40-45+), got 2-3 kids(11+ age), looking for something alitle more city but not central, and the 2nd place feels like I'm 30, got 1-3 kids, or some on the way, and I'm looking for a nice quiet suburb.
edit: you could also flip what i said about the first and second place as well.
I do like the second one best, but that's because I'm OK with taking the train into the city if i want to.
Yay another Japan video! I love Japanese houses!
The second house looks absolutely beautiful and cozy!
I love Chris but goddamn he should not be a real estate agent 😂
naah, he'd go bankrupt in about a week. I mean, he'd persuade you to NOT buy the house he is selling... 🤣
I liked the middle house that he called boring. I could see myself living there. The last property has all that cool looking concrete, I am a fan of concrete.
22:48 - My inner Star Trek fan looked at the angled windows and immediately began wondering how I could make that room look like guest quarters on the Enterprise-D. :D
Really loved the tours though. Great work as always!
Question if I may: I feel like I see built-in bookcases or shelves inside of bedrooms fairly often. Is that a common thing in Japanese homes (or larger apartments)? I'm guessing maybe not too common in the smaller properties closer to the inner city areas?
That basement in the last house is amazing for a music production studio or like a gig room for friends and family to meet up together to jam or record. Awesome!
Me, seeing the first property: wow, there's actually a lot of potential in this, some rooms you could totally keep as-is with a deep clean for a retro vibe!
Chris: Everything about this is terrible.
Me: That's a good point, that _is_ terrible.
I do actually see the potential in that property. That bathroom looks dated, but dated in such a way that if you change only a handful of things, it could actually be a fun design again. Sure, it looks to have 30 years worth of someone living there, but a deep clean is more rewarding than you think! If it takes a bit off the asking price to see some stains I know how to fix, all the better.
I prefer the second one because it has the garden and it appears to be more luminous than the last one.
I am 999,000 Dollars short but will watch anyway for research purposes.
EDIT: After watching the vid, i am actually 1,199,000 Dollars short.
Life goals
I'm just short. :D
Good time to buy if you have U.S. dollars ; 161 Yen per US Dollar July 2, 2024
Love the videos, Alex! Tokyo Portfolio is becoming one of my favorite channels...
I actually like the second one best in terms of livability, the 3rd I like the privacy and the concrete but that's a lot of stairs to go through on the daily. With the first one, since it's a condo, are there restrictions on how much construction you can do? Like would you be allowed to literally break down the walls and make new rooms/layouts?
Trust me, after a few weeks you dont even feel the stairs anymore. I have to walk 4 big stairs in my house daily. And you forget that they are there. Also i am a bit more healthy now
I think it would be difficult to live in this kind of house when you get older or injure your leg and need a crutch.
Metal shutters in front of glass doors / windows are for the typhoon season in case of dangerous weather that might shatter the glass.
Fun vid! I’m not sure if this was covered in a prior video, but when buying an apartment in Japan, are there monthly maintenance fees? In the US, we have condos and co-ops which will have these fees, but not sure if it’s similar in Japan.
yes there are monthly maintenance fees. some buildings are more expensive than others because of extra security or a conciere
i actually like the first appartment the most, because you can really make the best out of them all
I’d like to see more accessible homes in Japan (disability friendly)
As a basement dweller myself, I really like the third home. I agree that it would make for a very cool home theater or hobbying space.
Chris could use a bit more stairs in his life 😄
Chris is on a roll finding the all the CSI scenes. Can't forget the the small throw your garbage windows in the kitchen, classic 1990's
As a real estate agent I feel the pain when you're trying to sell a property and the potential buyers are just as negative like Chris. "Ah asbestos, mold, smells like shit..." and you're like 😐
Honestly the value for money in tokyo real estate is just amazing. One of the key reasons i moved here. Of course, its not a market to park your wealth, or make a heap of fast cash on price rises, nor is it amazing for rental yields. BUT, if you actually just want to live here the property prices are incredible, compared to my home city of Sydney, Australia, i can actually have hope for a life here.
I much prefer these videos with only the host and without that annoying and obnoxious guest..
I love Minami-senju and often stay in one of the hotels when I come to japan. very cheep hotels, you meet and talk to tourists from all over the world, as you said very good rail connections, Lala Terrace is just up past the station for all your food and shopping needs, Asakusa and a large temple (senso-ji) is a nice work or short bus trip away, at night I goto my favorite pub/cafe TEPUI , awesome pizzas, the owner speaks English well, a very welcoming place.
Hate to say it, but the videos are better in my opinion without the Abroad in Japan guy. I've watched his videos for a while and loved watching Natsuki, but his sarcasm at every turn gets old quickly.
Chris Broad reviews Tokyo apartments...this should become a regular series!
The last place is amazing. It's crazy to think how cheap property is in Japan. These places are closer than I am to Toronto and my townhouse that is on a damn condo board is worth more than anything in this video and is smaller than all these place.
I actually really liked that second one. The first one would probably cost more than the second after you renovated it, so it's not as attractive in that. After a refab, the first would also be great, but I wouldn't want to be the one to refab it. I did like how it being only one floor made it feel bigger than it actually is. Though, even if all we did was clean up the mold and put in some brighter light bulbs, I could see my family living there. Though, the lighting might also be filming dimming it. Everything felt separated enough whiles till being close enough. The bathroom being centralized while having a large formal bathroom next to the bedrooms is nice.
The third, because of all the stairs, not only does it feel the smallest, it is the most inconvenient to live in. While it might have the most area of the three, the stairwell takes up half the floor plan. It just felt like it's for a smaller family. As someone who grew up in a three story apartment condo, having to go from the top floor to the bottom all the time was annoying.
As for the second place, I liked how the second floor was just bedrooms. The "study room" felt redundant, so I'd probably use that as a walk-in closet, that way all three bedrooms have one. The first floor bedroom would probably be used as an office. Having a formal dining area is nice. If only two of the upstairs bedrooms are needed as such, one of them could be turned into an office as well. The kitchen felt a bit small, but I could live with it. Like Chris said, my only problem with it is how close the neighbors are.
I lived in Koenji 15 years ago during my stint in Japan during undergrad. It's nice to see "my love town" getting represented. ❤ 😊
last appartment was on fire, really loved it, hope one day we all can farm as much money as it takes to get this property
That last house is honestly incredible. Absolutely my style
The first one was the best. 250k renovating and its a blast
I really liked the house, gave me so much school anime protagonist vibes, it was like seeing the typical anime family living in a house in 3D
Yeah, linen is generally pretty wrinkled most of the time.
Though it is comfortable and pretty good when the weather is warm.
Impress Abroad is the new franchise we've been waiting for!
Without a question the third one. It's just so different from what you're normally used to.
If Alex manages to sell one of these properties from this video id be shocked hahaha. Chris just absolutely shredding them
The first one for sure, the view all around is fantastic, good floor plan, lots of space, kitchen is fine as it is just change the dishwasher, bathrooms need to be redone without going overboard (the more trendy you go the fastest it gets outdated) change the carpet, clean, patch and repaint...and of course complain like Chris to get them to lower the price 😂💦
I really enjoy the dynamics of this video. The afable man roasting your sale is hilarious!! Keep up the good work!!
The 1st one with the 2nd one's modernity and the 3rd one's location would be perfect.
I like the final one the best and has most character by far, If money wasn't an issue. Stairs doesn't bother me at all and would be nothing once you get used to it. I used to live in a bedroom on 2nd floor with everything on first and would go up those stairs so many times a day back in day that the stairs eventually felt like nothing to me after a while
when I win the lottery, I'm buying the 5 story house. I love the industrial vibe of the house