A new house near the station costs ¥51.8 million. Nice kitchen, roomy living space, parking. But what if you already drive?
Looking farther away reveals similarly sized houses around ¥35 million. That's a gap of roughly ¥16 million, though differences in land, builder and finishes also matter.
Spread that gap over a 35-year mortgage at a hypothetical fixed 1.2% rate and it becomes about ¥47,000 a month. Wait—that's practically rent for a small apartment in some areas. You're comparing station convenience with another home's monthly rent.
A close station can save commuting time and help resale value. A distant house can mean more driving, school runs and reliance on someone else's schedule. Neither option wins automatically.
Before committing for decades, compare what each location actually costs and how you'll use it. A house deserves more homework than picking a weekend destination.
