Mortgages for non-Japanese speakers

[Anthonyh]

Dear Forum Members,

I am a permanent resident of Japan but try as I may, I’m still awful at speaking and reading Japanese. This is really hindering my chances of getting a mortgage.

Does anyone know of a bank that does not require the borrower to speak or read Japanese?

[RetireJapan]

Shinsei had English loan support until recently, but I believe they ended it last month.

Anyone else?

[eetc155]

Maybe give SMBC Prestia a go?

[Wales4rugbyWC23]

SMBC, too. Although I do remember having to write my address in Japanese hundered of times...

[RetireJapan]

SMBC, too. Although I do remember having to write my address in Japanese hundered of times...

Argh! The PTSD is kicking in... my mortgage signing took about two hours, mainly because I had to write my full name and address dozens of times (a few of them were more than one on the same page).

It almost broke me

[Wales4rugbyWC23]

SMBC, too. Although I do remember having to write my address in Japanese hundered of times...

Argh! The PTSD is kicking in... my mortgage signing took about two hours, mainly because I had to write my full name and address dozens of times (a few of them were more than one on the same page).

It almost broke me

I remember our bank loan rep telling me that these were 'all' very important documents.

[northSaver]

SMBC, too. Although I do remember having to write my address in Japanese hundered of times...

Argh! The PTSD is kicking in... my mortgage signing took about two hours, mainly because I had to write my full name and address dozens of times (a few of them were more than one on the same page).

It almost broke me

I'm going through that right now with the sale of my property. More forms than you can shake a stick at. And no matter how many times I do it, I'm never 100% satisfied with the way the kanji comes out. At least one always looks like a small child or a drunk wrote it

The inkan is another source of personal trauma. Probably because I bought the cheapest and smallest one in the shop when I first arrived, it takes great skill and precision to do a "good one" each time. The other week I was stamping a very important document on the fold between two pages, as you do, and the inkan went flying across the room leaving a nasty red smudge on the fold. Judging by the faces of everyone in the room I think I was the only one to see the funny side of it. So after copious apologies and bowing I did it again just about the smudge and they seemed to accept it.

It's times like this I wish my wife were the owner of the such things and not me!

[Anthonyh]

Thank you for the replies so far.

My struggles go on.

Here is what I facing:

Star Bank Tokyo and SMBC both refused to give me a loan because the property is too far away from one of their branches.

Chiba bank won’t give me a joint mortgage with my Japanese wife, even though I have PR, because I cannot speak Japanese to a good enough level.

The hunt for a provider goes on but any more hints would be welcome.

[zeroshiki]

Where in Chiba is this that SMBC doesn't have a branch close enough? Or do you mean Prestia?

Have you tried the Net banks? SBI or AU Jibun are well known and active in giving out mortgages.

[beanhead]

Have you tried the Net banks? SBI or AU Jibun are well known and active in giving out mortgages.

Aeon Bank too. Not quite an online bank, but similar.