Japan Has 9 Million Empty Homes. Why Can't Young People Afford One?

Japan's record number of vacant homes does not create nine million affordable choices for young buyers. Most are rental vacancies, unused properties, or homes in places that do not match younger people's jobs and daily needs, while housing in major urban markets has become increasingly expensive. Young adults have not simply rejected homeownership; many face a mismatch between available homes and homes they can realistically use and afford.

日本创纪录的空房数量，并没有为年轻购房者带来900万个负担得起的选择。多数空房是待租房、长期闲置房，或位于无法匹配年轻人工作和日常需求的地区；与此同时，主要城市市场的住房越来越昂贵。年轻人并非只是拒绝买房，他们面对的是现有房屋与真正用得上、买得起的房屋之间的错位。