Yen Mortgage

Overview

The yen (JPY) is the currency of Japan. It is the third most-traded currency in the foreign exchange market after United States dollar and the euro. It is also widely used as a reserve currency after the U.S. dollar, the euro and the pound sterling.

Since the 1990s, the Bank of Japan, the country's central bank, has kept interest rates low in order to spur economic growth. Short-term lending rates have responded to this monetary relaxation and fell from 3.7% to 1.3% between 1993 and 2008.[16] Low interest rates combined with a ready liquidity for the Yen prompted investors to borrow money in Japan and invest it in other countries (a practice known as carry trade). This has helped to keep the value of the Yen low compared to other currencies.

The yen declined during the Japanese asset price bubble and continued to do so afterwards, reaching a low of ¥134 to US$1 in February 2002. The Bank of Japan's policy of zero interest rates has discouraged yen investments, with the carry trade of investors borrowing yen and investing in better-paying currencies (thus further pushing down the yen) estimated to be as large as $1 trillion. In February 2007, The Economist estimated that the yen is 15% undervalued against the dollar and as much as 40% undervalued against the euro.

Mortgage

A Yen denominated mortgage can be arranged when the property is located in a country where the borrower earns in Yen.

Japan's Base rate is 0.10%. Thereafter a variable margin, typical 2 - 4% is added to such rate to give the paying mortgage rate. Such margins may vary with the country where the property is located, its loan to value and the location of the lender. and is used to calculate the paying rate of mortgages. 

Rates can be variable, tracker or fixed and the maximum ratio of loan to value that may be obtainable from lenders is 70%. Conditions may apply depending on countries and lenders. 

The granting of such mortgage may however be limited to a minimum amount of 150M Yen.

Capital and Interest Only mortgages are available with a Yen denominated mortgage. In some cases an all Interest Only mortgage may be 0.2% higher than a Capital Repayment equivalent

Switching

IMPORTANT:

In AUSTRALIA, CANADA, DUBAI, FRANCE, HONG KONG, NEW ZEALAND, PORTUGAL, SINGAPORE, SPAIN, UNITED KINGDOM (also) and UNITED STATES, The Mortgage Explorer Ltd can offer a switching  facility where a dual currency loan is granted. There are 2 free currency switches, offered per calendar year and a fee of USD150 per switch applies thereafter.

We consider such facility to be of utmost importance especially at times of great uncertainty in the currency markets. Also when/if a reduction in loan amount has been achieved through the change in exchange rate between  two currencies e.g. the currency where the property is located and the Japanese Yen

Please note:

Foreign exchange movements can be sudden and substantial and you must be able to tolerate a sizeable increase in your loan through such movements. At no stage should you expose yourself to high risks of foreign currency borrowings if you are not able to afford the potential losses that could result from adverse currency movements and the higher interest rate servicing costs that would be required of you due to your having a larger loan. Denominating debt in foreign currencies may not be suitable for you. If you have any doubts as to your suitability for borrowing in foreign currencies or your understanding of the risk involved, you should consult your financial adviser. Changes in the exchange rate may increase the equivalent of your debt, in whatever currency you deem important to you e.g. main income's. Your lender will not tolerate too great an increase in your loan as a result of currency losses and may opt to convert the loan back into the lender's specified base currency at a predetermined level. This may result in a permanent increase in your loan which is not fully compensated for by any other benefits. In this event, you could be left paying interest rates on a larger amount of loan than that you originally borrowed.