Kurobe City — buying kominka and vacant houses

We buy vacant houses in Kurobe City as they are.

A city spread over the Kurobe river fan. Around the shozu springs of Ikuji, old rows of houses survive where the water channels and daily life are one. In the hills of Unazuki and Uchiyama stand houses framed heavily to bear the snow. With so much spring water, the underfloor varies greatly from house to house, so that is where we look hardest.

We buy vacant houses in Kurobe City as they are, contents included. No clearing needed.
In Ikuji, old streets remain along the spring-water channels, and we check the underfloor carefully.
Even if the boundaries of the land are unclear, we compare the public map with the site ourselves.
A subsidy is the "Kurobe City dilapidated dangerous vacant-house demolition subsidy".
Brokerage fee ¥0, free appraisal. As little as 2 weeks from the on-site survey.

Areas of Kurobe City we cover

Ikuji

Mikkaichi

Ishida

Taie

Uchiyama

Unazuki Onsen

Aimoto

Urayama

and all of Kurobe City

We cover other districts too. We are a builder in Yatsuo, Toyama City, and drive to the streets of Ikuji and the hills of Unazuki alike. Just tell us where the house is and roughly what state it is in. Other municipalities in Toyama Prefecture are listed in Selling a vacant house or kominka in Toyama (overview).

Houses in Kurobe City, and why they fall empty

In Kurobe, old rows of houses survive in the spring-water village of Ikuji, famed for its water, and empty houses are increasing around Unazuki Onsen and in the hills of the former Unazuki town. Ikuji is a singular place where shozu springs run between the houses, and the local character shows in how the houses are built.

A house near a hot-spring area can sometimes be turned into a minpaku guesthouse or a shop. Because of that, it can be valued differently from a price set purely on the assumption of demolition. As a builder with a track record of opening minpaku guesthouses, we appraise a house with an eye to how it could be used, too.

If you want a broad view of prices before selling, see Using the akiya banks in Toyama. You can keep the house listed on an akiya bank and just have us appraise it for a direct purchase.

How houses sell in Kurobe City

Old houses remain in the spring-water streets of Ikuji, and the city runs inland as far as Unazuki Onsen. Salt and wind by the sea, snow damage in the hills: those are the points of the appraisal. With plenty of jobs locally there is rental demand too, so some houses can be priced on a repair-and-rent basis.

Snow, roads and land in Kurobe City

Ikuji is a distinctive settlement where channels of shozu spring water run alongside every house lot. On land facing a channel, the boundary and who maintains the channel can become an issue. We often hear, when it comes to selling, “I don't even know where my land ends.” We take care of matching the cadastral map (the land-division map held at the Legal Affairs Bureau) against the site ourselves, so it's fine if you don't know.

The hills of the former Unazuki town get deep snow, and around the hot-spring town stand former inns and staff dormitories. They are built differently from houses, but as a company that also handles lodging management (minpaku management), this is our strong suit. Talk to us about a building that has changed use, as it is.

Kurobe has jobs, so for a house near the centre a repair-and-rent price is realistic. Whether it stands by the sea, in town or in the hills changes how we build the appraisal.

Subsidies in Kurobe City

Kurobe City has subsidies for demolishing or renovating vacant houses. Budget and conditions are set each fiscal year, and starting work before the grant is approved disqualifies you as a rule. Whether selling, renting or repairing is best can depend on the scheme, so we check it alongside the appraisal.

Kurobe City dilapidated dangerous vacant-house demolition subsidy
Covers demolition of vacant houses at risk of collapse if left. It starts with a consultation at the urban planning division, and the work must be done by a contractor within the city.

* Check the municipality's official page for current availability and requirements.

Kurobe City FAQ

Can I really sell a vacant house in Kurobe City without clearing it out?＋−

Yes. In Kurobe City too, we buy with the contents and the altar still inside; we dispose of them, so no clearing out. From the spring-water lanes of Ikuji to the hills of Unazuki and Uchiyama, we take them all as they are.

How long from appraisal to handover in Kurobe City?＋−

As little as two weeks from the site survey. A few days from your request to the visit, and the price within a week. Spring water is everywhere here, so we focus on the underfloor, and within Kurobe City it goes smoothly.

Another firm said it can't be sold without demolishing. Is that true in Kurobe City?＋−

We don't assume demolition. We repair the houses we buy and pass them on, so there is no demolition cost to deduct from the price. Many requests here come from heirs living outside the prefecture, and the better the condition, the bigger the difference. Appraisal is free, with no charge if you decline.

Seaside houses in Ikuji have salt damage. Will you still buy?＋−

Yes. Salt and sea-wind damage to the exterior is factored into the appraisal. If the frame is sound it can be repaired, and the spring-water streets draw enquiries about shop conversions.

Do you take houses in the hills like Unazuki, or buildings near the hot springs?＋−

Yes. We look at houses with snow-damaged roofs and eaves as they are. Around the hot-spring town we also consider how well the building suits lodging.

What should I ask a company before asking them to buy my vacant house in Kurobe?＋−

On land facing a waterway, as in Ikuji, it is sometimes unclear where your land ends. Ask first who will take on settling that. We start by matching the official map against the site. Also ask whether they buy with the contents or price after subtracting demolition; that makes offers easier to compare.

Besides selling, can a vacant house in Kurobe be rented out?＋−

Yes. Kurobe has many working people, so for a house towards the town centre we can price it on a restore-and-rent basis. Around Unazuki Onsen a house can also become a minpaku or a shop. Even if you have not decided between selling and renting, we lay both out side by side at the appraisal.