From Trust to Homeownership: Jel’s Journey to Buying His Dream Home in Japan

At Akiya Supporter, every client's journey is different. Some purchases happen quickly, while others take patience, persistence, and a little bit of luck.

Jel's story is one I'll never forget—not because everything went perfectly, but because we never gave up.

"I Chose You Because You Seemed Honest"

When Jel first contacted me, he told me something that has stayed with me ever since.

"I came to you because you looked like an honest and trustworthy person."

Before finding Akiya Supporter, he had already tried another company. Although they offered similar services, he felt the pricing was too high and, more importantly, he never felt the transparency and honesty he was looking for.

Trust is incredibly important when you're buying a home in another country, and I was grateful that he chose to work with us.

Searching for the Right Area

Initially, Jel was interested in several different regions around Japan.

However, since I live in Tochigi Prefecture and know the area well, he decided to focus his search there. Together, we shortlisted several properties to visit in one day.

I still remember that day—it was raining heavily from morning until evening.

Despite the weather, it turned into a memorable trip. During our viewings, I learned that Jel loves traveling, speaks good Japanese, and is simply a genuinely kind person.

One unexpected surprise?

We discovered an enormous bee nest at one of the properties!

It's certainly not something you see during every house viewing.

A giant bee nest we found in a neighboring property during our house viewings.

A House That Almost Became Home

One property immediately stood out.

Jel loved it and wanted to move forward.

Before signing the contract, he requested a professional home inspection. While this is standard practice in many Western countries, inspections are still relatively uncommon when purchasing older homes in Japan.

Many Japanese buyers accept that older houses come with certain risks because the purchase prices are generally much lower than in many other countries.

Still, I completely understood why Jel wanted the inspection, so I arranged everything for him.

It turned out to be one of the best decisions he made.

The inspection revealed that the land had settled significantly, leaving part of the foundation unsupported.

It was a serious structural issue.

Inspection Report

After discussing the report, Jel decided to walk away from the purchase.

Looking back, I'm very glad he did.

The Search Continued

Around the same time, another Akiya Supporter client, Danny, successfully purchased his dream home.

Naturally, Jel wondered if he would ever find his own.

I simply told him:

"Your house is out there. We just haven't found it yet."

Not long afterward, he asked me to view several more properties on his behalf because he couldn't travel to Japan at the time.

After reviewing videos and photos together, he chose one house.

Unfortunately, we later learned that the seller preferred to sell only to a Japanese buyer because the property was located in a very small rural community.

It was disappointing, but it reminded us that patience is sometimes part of the buying process in Japan.

Then We Found The One

There was one final property that caught both of our attention.

It was slightly above Jel's original budget, but it was also one of the most unique homes I had ever seen.

After taking some time to think, he decided it was worth pursuing.

The seller's agent was initially hesitant about working with an overseas buyer.

Fortunately, I was able to explain that the licensed Japanese real estate agent I work with has extensive experience helping international buyers complete transactions smoothly.

That reassurance made all the difference.

From there, everything moved forward without any major problems.

Jel bought this house.

A New Home... and a New Family Member

Jel officially became a homeowner in Japan.

But that wasn't the only exciting milestone.

During the process, he and his wife welcomed their first baby.

This year, Jel, his wife, their baby, and his wife's family all came to Japan to visit their new home.

We ate lunch together at a Japanese restaurant.

Together, we met the seller's agent, collected the keys, arranged the utilities, and walked through the house as they imagined their future there.

Seeing the entire family smiling inside their new home was one of the most rewarding moments I've experienced.

They plan to renovate the house little by little, and I can't wait to see how it transforms over the coming years.

Unique architecture of his house

Congratulations, Jel!

Buying property in Japan isn't always straightforward.

There can be unexpected inspections, seller preferences, language barriers, and plenty of emotional ups and downs.

But with patience and the right support, it's absolutely possible.

Congratulations on your first home, Jel.

Thank you for trusting Akiya Supporter throughout your journey.

We're honored to have been part of this important chapter in your life, and we'll continue supporting you long after the purchase is complete.

Thank you,

Haruka from Akiya Supporter