Search found 138 matches

by Ori
Mon Apr 04, 2022 5:15 am
Forum: General
Topic: Charitable Donations - Ukraine
Replies: 7
Views: 800

Re: Charitable Donations - Ukraine

This thread is asking about Japanese tax rules, so on topic for the forum. So it was fine with you to post the list of charities as long as the topic is carefully worded to look like it has something to do with personal finances, but you preferred the blunt rejection when asked for permission to po...
by Ori
Sat Apr 02, 2022 3:30 pm
Forum: General
Topic: Charitable Donations - Ukraine
Replies: 7
Views: 800

Re: Charitable Donations - Ukraine

These two charities are tax deductible. They will send you some papers which you can use when submitting kakutei shinkoku. 1) ユニセフ:https://www.unicef.or.jp/kinkyu/ukraine/ ウクライナの子供たち、ご家族のために、医療、水と衛生、心理的ケア等に利用されます。 2) READY FOR:https://readyfor.jp/projects/aar_ukraine ウクライナの家を追われた人々のために、食料・生活必需品の購入と配...
by Ori
Sat Mar 12, 2022 2:34 am
Forum: Real Estate
Topic: Older house/Renovation/purchase
Replies: 78
Views: 7599

Re: Older house/Renovation/purchase

I often wonder what the definition is Slightly used means in Japan. For me around 20 years is slightly used.LOL although in Japan I expect its, last week.LOL. Around 0-5 yrs I'd say. Many foreigners (including myself) start house hunting thinking that they are smarter than "stupid" Japane...
by Ori
Wed Feb 23, 2022 5:28 am
Forum: Real Estate
Topic: Older house/Renovation/purchase
Replies: 78
Views: 7599

Re: Older house/Renovation/purchase

I often wonder what the definition is Slightly used means in Japan. For me around 20 years is slightly used.LOL although in Japan I expect its, last week.LOL. Around 0-5 yrs I'd say. Many foreigners (including myself) start house hunting thinking that they are smarter than "stupid" Japane...
by Ori
Mon Feb 21, 2022 4:14 am
Forum: Stock market investing
Topic: What kind of investment options are there for USD?
Replies: 4
Views: 533

Re: What kind of investment options are there for USD?

I had the same problem and I ended up buying AGG (US bonds) and IAU (gold). But I wanted those assets in my portfolio and buying them via Japanese funds was more expensive (unlike other types of assets). AGG pays out yields, and those will be taxed unless in NISA wrapper. REET (global REIT) was also...
by Ori
Mon Feb 21, 2022 3:47 am
Forum: Real Estate
Topic: Older house/Renovation/purchase
Replies: 78
Views: 7599

Re: Older house/Renovation/purchase

Some good advice. Thanks. I was wondering if a 15% offer under the asking price is too much? Internet say that expected discount on used properties is 10-20%, so I'd say you can go even 20% or less, unless it is a highly desirable property. Realtor might say something "Oh, you will offend sell...
by Ori
Mon Feb 21, 2022 3:38 am
Forum: Real Estate
Topic: Older house/Renovation/purchase
Replies: 78
Views: 7599

Re: Older house/Renovation/purchase

We recently put an offer in on a house in Tokyo. Our offer was one million under the asking price. Another couple put in an offer of the exact asking price on the same day. The couple selling the house liked us more so they asked us to increase our offer by 500,000 and they would go with us. We did...
by Ori
Sun Feb 20, 2022 7:14 am
Forum: Real Estate
Topic: Older house/Renovation/purchase
Replies: 78
Views: 7599

Re: Older house/Renovation/purchase

Any advice anyone on making offers, and if you managed to negotiate a price? We noticed how ( as seems the norm here) they have the selling price, then they all start to add on, Tax for A, Insurance for B, home loan insurance for C, and something else for D. It turned out to be around an extra mill...
by Ori
Sun Feb 20, 2022 7:08 am
Forum: Real Estate
Topic: Older house/Renovation/purchase
Replies: 78
Views: 7599

Re: Older house/Renovation/purchase

Unless you are into DIY thing, I wouldn't recommend it. And even then I wouldn't recommend it, unless you have no choice budget-wise. You won't be enjoying life in a building which is freezing cold in winter and steaming hot in summer for all those years until you redo the insulation and replace the...
by Ori
Mon Jan 31, 2022 3:50 pm
Forum: Spending and Frugality
Topic: The joy of Money and Quality of Life
Replies: 34
Views: 6579

Re: The joy of Money and Quality of Life

We also used silver center. Unfortunately, it seems that cooking is high demand low offer service, and in the new town where we moved recently, they couldn't recommend anyone. At the previous place it took them few months to find someone as well. I'm going to try finding someone via taskaji or kuras...