The rise of 50-year mortgages in Japan: new era for young buyers amid rising housing prices

The use of housing loans with terms of up to 50 years, far longer than the standard 35-year term, is spreading among younger generations in Japan amid a rise in housing prices. Young Japanese are buying the properties of their choice by reducing monthly payments, but a longer loan term raises the total repayment amount and keeps company employees paying even after they retire. The risk of interest rate fluctuations, caused by the Bank of Japan’s monetary policy shift, is another thing to worry...