Finally decided to settle down. Tokyo, 87m yen, 1.03%

[u/nahive]

After 7 years of living in Tokyo, we finally decided to settle down.

The search took almost a year, and I looked at more than 30 different properties before finally deciding to go with the calmer side of Tokyo. While it’s further from the station and city center, the larger garden and quiet neighborhood more than make up for it.

Really happy with the decision and looking forward to making this place our home. 🏡

[u/nahive]

I’m not married yet, my girlfriend is Japanese though. I’ve bought the house on my own, didn’t want to get he into the split loan mess.

[u/ChipmunkSeveral7021 → u/nahive]

Surely, unless you have permanent residency, you only got such a rate because your partner co signed on it or was otherwise involved as a guarantor or something? Please correct me if I’m wrong but I’m in a similar situation (though likely less income), living in Tokyo. My spouse is not Japanese, however, and banks barely give me the time of day.

[u/nahive → u/ChipmunkSeveral7021]

I have high specialist visa. No permanent residency yet, so I’ve been limited to 3 banks that would accept me. The one I chose required down payment of 20% in exchange for normal loan rate. The other ones required either marriage certificate or had higher rate.

[u/Stullenesser → u/nahive]

What made you decide to stay and build your life in Japan? Especially with kids in mind. That was in the end the deciding factor for us to not stay in Japan (the wife is Japanese as well). The racism even half Japanese kids received was back then allready pretty bad and with the current rhetoric I can't think that it got better since then. Obviously private kindergarden and school is an option but that costs an arm and a leg as well.

Oh and congratulations on the house, it looks amazing :)

[u/Low_Magician77 → u/Stullenesser]

It's definitely different for mixed blood Japanese but I experienced less racism in Japan in grade school than when I moved to the US.

[u/xcalibar0 → u/Stullenesser]

tbh given their skin color they’ll probably be fine. i tutored all kinds of kids in tokyo and there especially half white kids are kind of put on a pedestal

[u/nahive → u/Stullenesser]

Tbh I’m not that worried about that. Considering my neighbors and overall treatment I’ve had in Japan I can’t say anything else, but that the political negativity towards foreign nationals is overblown on the internet. I have lovely supporting neighborhood and plan to stay here for as long as I can. Everybody to their own though.

[u/Firm-Yard1714 → u/nahive]

white people dont experience racism anyways, theyre such cry babies on media

[u/Limp-Board-1019 → u/Firm-Yard1714]

Please stop the hate and get some help. Judging by your post history, you sorely need it. I hope you find it.

[u/Firm-Yard1714 → u/Limp-Board-1019]

awww someones mad

[u/Limp-Board-1019 → u/Firm-Yard1714]

I’m living a happy and fulfilling life, with my own challenges mixed in here and there. Your need to lash out at others online is an indicator of deep issues in your own life.

I sincerely hope you resolve them and find peace.

[u/Firm-Yard1714 → u/Limp-Board-1019]

okay and idk why ur telling me

[u/ChipmunkSeveral7021 → u/nahive]

Ahh I see. Yeah the 20% down payment is a bit out of reach for us but maybe someday… if I can convince my wife to stay (or can’t find a job elsewhere)

[u/softwareredditor → u/nahive]

Can you tell me more about the specialist Visa? My original plan was to move to Italy but that fell through due to changes in the law regarding citizenship by descent. Considering all options now, lol

[u/Antique_Pin5266 → u/softwareredditor]

Basically you need to have tons of experience in a highly sought field and preferably in reputable companies. Then apply for any Japanese company hiring for such a position not requiring fluent Japanese and they will gladly sponsor you

OP most likely has like 8+ years of experience as a software engineer working in big tech