This Swiss Couple Bought a Home in Japan to See Their Kids and Grandkids

Quick Overview

A retired Swiss couple, Jacqueline and Andreas, purchased a condo in Yachiyo, Chiba, Japan, for ¥14.9 million ($97,000/CHF 74,000) to be close to their family, despite finding the process difficult due to not having a Japanese bank account and preferring lower maintenance than a detached house.

Key Points: The retired couple from Altendorf, Switzerland, purchased a 60 sqm (645 sqft) condo in Yachiyo, Chiba, for ¥14.9 million (approx. $97,000 or CHF 74,000). Their primary motivation for buying was to live close to their children and grandchildren who reside in Yachiyo and the neighboring city of Sakura. The condo was built in 2006, and the couple performed minimal renovations, mainly replacing wallpaper, the floor in the bathroom, and installing a new IH cooktop, costing about 10% of the purchase price (¥1.5 million/CHF 8,000). They cited the high cost and steep stairs of detached houses in Switzerland (which cost ten times more) as reasons they chose a condo. Ongoing monthly costs for the condo are low, around ¥30,000 ($195/CHF 150), which covers property management and utilities, simplifying upkeep. The couple has been visiting Japan since 2015 and plans to spend extended periods there once Andreas retires (in about a year), preferring this setup over hotels or Airbnbs due to restrictions and lack of personal equipment. The property's first-floor location with a spacious, private garden was a major appeal, as ground-level access is rare in Japan due to privacy concerns.

Context: The video features an interview with Jacqueline and Andreas, a retired couple from Altendorf, Switzerland, who purchased a condominium unit in Yachiyo, Chiba, Japan. They bought the property to be near their children and grandchildren who live locally. The couple contrasts the low cost and low maintenance of this Japanese condo with the high cost and physical demands (like steep stairs) of living in Switzerland, especially as they age.

Detailed Analysis

A retired Swiss couple, Jacqueline and Andreas, discuss their decision to purchase a condo in Yachiyo, Chiba, Japan, primarily to be close to their family (two children and three grandchildren living nearby). The condo is 60 sqm (645 sqft) and was built in 2006. They paid ¥14.9 million (approx. $97,000 or CHF 74,000) for the unit. The renovations were minimal, costing about ¥1.5 million (approx. CHF 8,000), focusing on replacing wallpaper, the bathroom floor, and upgrading the cooktop to an IH unit. The couple explicitly chose a condo over a detached house because they are getting older and Japanese houses often have steep stairs, and they prefer not to manage external property maintenance, which the condo management takes care of for a monthly fee of about ¥30,000 ($195/CHF 150). They noted that the low cost compared to Swiss real estate (where a similar property would cost ten times more) was a factor, but the primary driver was family proximity. They plan to spend extended time there once Andreas retires, as staying in hotels or Airbnbs is restrictive and expensive for long visits. The first-floor unit with a rare, spacious, private garden was also a major benefit.