Search found 25 matches

by entdark
Fri Mar 22, 2024 6:49 am
Forum: Real Estate
Topic: Step 1 - Mortgage Presecreening
Replies: 18
Views: 949

Re: Step 1 - Mortgage Presecreening

SMCB Plaza Update 1. You cannot sign with SMBC unless you can read the contract natively with no translation. PR and Spousal were fine. (I cannot read Japanese at this level). 2. If one is on maternity leave they need 3 years of tax withholding slips 3. They will give you a rough number on the phon...
by entdark
Tue Mar 19, 2024 11:01 am
Forum: Real Estate
Topic: Step 1 - Mortgage Presecreening
Replies: 18
Views: 949

Re: Step 1 - Mortgage Presecreening

SMCB Plaza Update 1. You cannot sign with SMBC unless you can read the contract natively with no translation. PR and Spousal were fine. (I cannot read Japanese at this level). 2. If one is on maternity leave they need 3 years of tax withholding slips 3. They will give you a rough number on the phon...
by entdark
Tue Mar 19, 2024 5:57 am
Forum: Real Estate
Topic: BOJ rate policy and mortgage
Replies: 7
Views: 403

Re: BOJ rate policy and mortgage

For now I guess they will go from -0.1 to 0 or +0.1. Fixed rates have been increasing because they were anticipating the rate hikes. How much they can rise the rates without blowing themselves up that's another question :roll: Please someone else correct me if I'm wrong but the mortgage loans intere...
by entdark
Mon Jan 29, 2024 5:58 am
Forum: Stock market investing
Topic: Rakuten zairyu card registration deadling is Dec 11
Replies: 35
Views: 46993

Re: Rakuten zairyu card registration deadling is Dec 11

I noticed my purchases didn't go through and then found the notification for this.

Let's hope the residence card goes through :lol:
by entdark
Mon Jan 29, 2024 5:53 am
Forum: Spending and Frugality
Topic: Used cars surprisingly cheap (?)
Replies: 17
Views: 1576

Re: Used cars surprisingly cheap (?)

I'd say they are cheap for a reason. Usually they are high mileage, for a regular car maybe 120k kms is not that much but for a Kei car it is. No warranty. Personally were I buy second hand without being a mechanic the way to go are 認定中古. Cars in worse conditions usually end up in Gulliver or smalle...
by entdark
Mon Jan 08, 2024 12:40 pm
Forum: RetireJapan
Topic: Calling all geeks: phpBB maintenance
Replies: 10
Views: 108651

Re: Calling all geeks: phpBB maintenance

Software updates usually include security bug fixes, personally I wouldn't skip upgrades.
by entdark
Mon Nov 20, 2023 7:26 am
Forum: Spending and Frugality
Topic: Cheap gym alternatives around Tokyo?
Replies: 8
Views: 64567

Re: Cheap gym alternatives around Tokyo?

Before I went to アクトス but since I moved I switched to Chocozap. It's not the best gym, the phone support is subpar. However, it is cheap, it is open 24 hours and the machines there are good enough. I'd say if you are consistent and want more then at some point you can switch to Anytime or Konami gym...
by entdark
Fri Sep 08, 2023 2:50 am
Forum: RetireJapan for Dummies
Topic: Brokerage in USD? (No conversion involved)
Replies: 4
Views: 3338

Re: Brokerage in USD? (No conversion involved)

adamu wrote: Fri Sep 08, 2023 12:30 am You can deposit USD into Rakuten without converting it to JPY

https://www.rakuten-sec.co.jp/web/servi ... x_pay.html
Thanks. I phoned Rakuten bank of Securities, they told me it wasn't possible, so I thought it was the same for Securities.
by entdark
Fri Sep 08, 2023 12:19 am
Forum: RetireJapan for Dummies
Topic: Brokerage in USD? (No conversion involved)
Replies: 4
Views: 3338

Brokerage in USD? (No conversion involved)

In Rakuten I see I can invest in USD by purchasing them with JPY. If I send USD to my account then it would get converted USD->JPY->USD.

What are my options in Japan for using the USD directly? I see Prestia would allow time deposits but unsure if there's something better. Maybe IKBR?
by entdark
Mon Jul 24, 2023 5:17 am
Forum: Spending and Frugality
Topic: Good buys on Mercari? (Or other used marketplaces)
Replies: 20
Views: 12484

Re: Good buys on Mercari? (Or other used marketplaces)

I dislike the Mercari culture of having to ask permission to buy something. Like, it's right there. Let me buy it. But sellers will cancel and say you're a dick if you don't ask permission sometimes. Their push for everything to basically be free shipping is great however. After several purchases i...