I recently read "Long Game" by Dorie Clark. It served as a reminder (or perhaps, a refresher) on the significance of daily routines in shaping our future success. In contrast to traditional Japanese professionals who remain with a single company until retirement, my approach to life and work is assertive and dynamic. However, Clark's book emphasized the power of continuous small trials and how they cumulate into eventual success.
Today, I'd like to discuss key moments that reshaped my life's trajectory, focusing on home ownership. The decisions surrounding a car and a job will be explored in upcoming blogs.
The House in Chiba
In 2008, I invested in a piece of land in Chiba Prefecture and proceeded with building a terrace house. With a 10% down payment, the rest was covered by a 35-year mortgage. For a 31-year-old, this was a significant life milestone in Japan, and I achieved it earlier than many of my peers. Proud as I was, I believed that this would be my forever home.
Yet, eight years later in 2016, I sold it. In reality, I only spent around 2-3 years there, frequently flying overseas for my role at Toyo Engineering. The house became akin to a transit hotel, given its proximity to Narita.
Two pivotal moments led to my decision to sell. In 2015, a job assignment took me to KL, Malaysia. Staying in a monthly condominium with my family made me realize the importance of quality family time, rather than the size of our living space. Secondly, I transitioned from Toyo in Chiba to Yokogawa in Mitaka, which meant a two-hour one-way commute. It was untenable.
I knew I had to move closer to Tokyo's 23 wards. Thus, I chose Setagaya due to its 30-minute distance to Mitaka and its reputable public junior high schools for my younger son.
A Move that Transformed My Family
Relocating to Setagaya brought numerous positive changes:
- My younger son developed a passion for drumming, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to it.
- My wife, previously a homemaker in Chiba, started part-time work. This eventually led her to earn a career consultant license and secure a permanent role.
- My elder son, who had always been studious, benefited from the move. While most of his success is attributed to his hard work, Setagaya's proximity to quality tutoring services for interview and essay writing played a part.
- As for me, the move to Setagaya fueled my entrepreneurial spirit. I pursued an MBA in 2021, started a consulting side business, and am now a member of the Japan Management Consulting Association.
Reflections on Home Ownership
The central theme of this blog is the transformative power of home ownership. However, these experiences weren’t solely shaped by a house. They are interconnected with other life decisions.
From my journey, here are some insights:
Owning a home is not just a life event but a decision about the kind of life you wish to live.
A house can be a liability, not necessarily an asset. (I'll delve deeper into this in a future post.)
Flexibility and agility are crucial in our prime years. Significant investments, especially mortgages, should be approached with caution unless you're certain of your long-term plans.
In conclusion, I apologize for the lengthy narrative, but I believe my experiences can offer valuable insights for those contemplating significant life decisions, like purchasing a home. Always weigh the pros and cons.
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