Detached House or Condo?

When considering the purchase of real estate in Kyoto, are you unsure which is better, a detached house or an apartment? So what are the differences, what are the good and bad points, and what are the things we need to be aware of?

When purchasing real estate in Japan, it is possible to purchase ownership of the land. If you find value in the ownership of land, a detached house is good, and if you value convenience more than ownership of land, there are cases where a good location of a condominium is better.

For example, if you want to own a property in Kyoto, you can own a property near Nanzenji Temple, where you can enjoy the ancient city, or near the Philosophical Road, where you can take a break from the busy life and enjoy a little peace and quiet. Those seeking the spirit of Zen can focus on this kind of location, building on the property, renovating it, or changing it into a house with a livable floor plan.

If you want to buy a property that is easy to live in and has good access from Kyoto Station, there are cases where an apartment is better. It would be nice to have a house in such a location in a detached house, but even if you do, your budget may be higher. In that case, it may be better to choose a condo.

If you value a building, for example, if you own a machiya house in Kyoto or live in a Kyo-machiya house, you're looking for a relatively good location plus a machiya house. Of course there is a budget, so the price of the property, which varies from location to location, the size of the building, and a rough estimate of the cost of renovations.

In the case of a condominium, it is better to focus on the newness of the building, the newness of the interior layout and facilities, and whether the condominium is well managed or not. If you own a condominium, it is better to consider including the ownership cost of real estate because there is a monthly payment of management fee and repair reserve fund to the management association of the condominium.

Tomorrow we'll be discussing the cost of ownership over the future.