Glossary
Jutaku-loan (home loan / mortgage)
A Japanese residential mortgage for an owner-occupied home, with low rates but strict residency and income screening.
A jutaku loan is a mortgage for a home you will live in yourself, distinct from an investment loan for a rental. The headline appeal is the rate: variable rates in Japan often sit well under one percent, far below most countries. The catch for foreigners is qualifying. Most banks want permanent residency, a stable Japanese income, and Japanese-language servicing, so non-residents and tourist-visa buyers usually cannot get a standard jutaku loan and pay cash or use a specialist lender at a higher rate. Full approval comes only after the purchase contract is signed, which is exactly why the financing contingency clause matters.