Let’s be honest; it can be pretty darn tricky to get a home loan in Japan as a Japanese citizen, let alone as a foreigner. With countless stacks of paperwork, residency requirements, and rigorous background checks, it’s not surprising that most foreigners tend to fall short of Japan’s mortgage requirements. While we won’t be able to increase your salary or length of time on the job to help you qualify for an overseas property loan, there is one thing this article may be able to help you work around: Japan’s residency requirement.

Ah, the dreaded residency requirement—who’d have thought the majority of Japanese banks would actually require you to live in Japan before they give you money! Shocking, right? Well, as most foreign investors have found out, Japanese banks are pretty strict when it comes to lending money to those not planning to live in good old Nippon, no matter how large their income might be. In this article, we’ll point you in the right direction to obtain an overseas loan for real estate in Japan without living there.

4. UOB (United Overseas Bank) 

United Overseas Bank is a multinational bank headquartered in the financial capital of Singapore. Founded in 1935, UOB has branches in over 19 countries, including the United States, Australia, Canada and Hong Kong. They currently offer the most wide-spanning international property loan for areas in the Kanto and Kansai regions. Buyers interested in Tokyo, Yokohama, Kyoto, Osaka and Fukuoka are free to apply. You’ll also be able to finance up to 70% of the purchase price of the property with no Japanese residency requirements! The only catch is that the property must be for investment purposes.

Contact us on how to qualify for the UOB Japan Property Loan

3. Bank of China (BOC)

Bank of China (BOC) is a state-owned commercial bank headquartered in Beijing. They have a global presence and operate in markets such as France, Hong Kong and Taiwan. They are currently the 5th largest bank in the world by market capitalization. Their Japan branch has started offering home loans to Chinese nationals and other foreigners. However, mortgage loans are given on a case-by-case basis and the Japan residency requirement is entirely at the bank’s discretion.

Contact us on how to qualify for the BOC Japan Property Loan

2. Orix

Orix is a Japanese-owned investment bank with offices and subsidiaries in 24 countries, including Hong Kong and the United States. They currently offer overseas real estate mortgages in the Greater Tokyo Area and Osaka. Buyers can even finance up to 70% of the purchase price or 100% of Orix’s valuation (whichever is lower). To qualify for the Orix Japan Property Loan you’ll have to be a Hong Konger. That means being a Hong Kong ID cardholder or owning a Hong Kong Incorporated Company. With this loan, you can purchase a variety of real estate, including residential and commercial properties for personal use or investment.

Contact us on how to qualify for the Orix Japan Property Loan

1. OCBC (Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation, Limited)

OCBC is another multinational bank based in Singapore with branch offices throughout Asia—most notably Thailand, Hong Kong and Malaysia. OCBC currently offers an Overseas Property Loan for newly built real estate, only in Tokyo. A minimum finance amount of ¥25,000,000 also applies to interested parties.

Contact us on how to qualify for the OCBC Japan Property Loan

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