Noor — Chicago-based Dermatologist Residential Investment, Ueno, Tokyo
Noor came to us with a clear goal: invest in Japanese real estate. Our first conversation was honest — Japan is a market that rewards those who understand it, and for overseas buyers, the path to ownership is rarely straightforward. We walked him through the realities: the market, the process, the timeline, and what financing actually looks like for a foreign national. We didn’t oversell it.
With a clear picture of what the process involved, he chose to move forward.
The property itself came from an unexpected place. A fake listing of the building had circulated — the owner had never intended to sell. When we tracked down the actual owner and approached him, he was understandably skeptical. Gen built the relationship from scratch, meeting him in person over time until he was comfortable moving forward. The seller offered us a fee.
The property was a five-storey residential building in Ueno, Tokyo. Well-connected, with strong and consistent rental demand from long-term tenants. The acquisition price was approximately JPY 300 million.
Noor was in Chicago for the entirety of the process. Everything was handled over email and messages — property search, negotiation, legal coordination, corporate setup. We brought in lawyers to establish a Japanese corporation in his name, a necessary structure for overseas buyers seeking financing. The entire process was coordinated on his behalf, with our team managing each step.
Financing was secured at approximately 2% through our network of financial institutions — structured through the corporation, covering roughly half the acquisition price. For an overseas buyer, this is not a given. It requires the right structure, the right relationships, and patience.
The full process took around six months.
Noor visited Tokyo twice — both times by choice, not necessity. Once to see the building in person, and once for the final signing, though even that was not strictly required.
The building is fully tenanted. After financing costs and management fees, Noor is running positive cash flow. We continue to manage the property on his behalf.
“Noor was a pleasure to work with — straightforward, trusting, and easy to communicate with throughout. The kind of person that makes this work enjoyable.”