I Don’t Want My Clients to Lose Money in Real Estate

I strongly believe that the value of a real estate investment is largely determined at the time you buy it.

Of course, you can increase a property’s value after purchasing it through renovations, proper management, and smart investment strategies.

But if you pay significantly more than the property’s fair market value in the first place, you are already starting at a disadvantage.

That is why, when a client tells me, “I want to buy this property,” my job is not simply to help them complete the purchase.

The first question I ask is:

“Is this property really worth buying at this price?”

I genuinely do not want the people who come to me for advice to lose money in real estate.

The longer I have worked in this industry, the stronger that belief has become.

I May Look Gentle, But I’m Stronger Than I Look

I grew up with very kind and loving parents, and perhaps because of that, people often describe me as gentle, warm, or easygoing when they first meet me.

But inside, I have always been very determined.

Once I decide to do something, I do not give up easily.

There is a popular personality test in Japan based on animals. According to mine, I am “a koala on the outside and a black panther on the inside.”

I was surprised when I first heard it.

But people who know me well often laugh and say, “That actually sounds exactly like you.”

And I have to admit—I think they are right.

“Megumi, You Succeeded Because You Never Give Up.”

A few years after I entered the real estate business, one of my clients from Singapore said something to me that I have never forgotten.

This client had known me since before I incorporated my company.

One day, they told me:

“Megumi, you succeeded because you never give up.”

Those words made me incredibly happy.

It was not simply because someone told me I had succeeded.

What meant more to me was that they saw me as someone who does not give up.

It felt like the perfect way to describe who I am.

Looking back, I think I learned that determination—without even realizing it—from my grandfather.

My Grandfather and the Words “A Lifetime of Effort”

My grandfather survived an extraordinary period of history.

During the war, he was taken prisoner and held in Siberia before eventually making it safely back to Japan from Manchuria.

He told us that there were times when there was almost nothing to eat and that survival meant eating whatever was available, including insects and wild plants.

After returning to Japan, he continued to work hard and eventually became a firefighter in Osaka.

He also worked diligently to master beautiful Japanese calligraphy.

He served as a firefighter for many years, and his contribution was eventually recognized with a national decoration.

His calligraphy also remains part of his legacy—the characters he wrote are still engraved at the railway station nearest the fire station where he served.

After my grandfather passed away, I lived alone in his house for a period of time.

One day, I noticed a framed piece of calligraphy hanging there.

Written in large, powerful characters were the words:

生涯努力 — Shōgai Doryoku

It means:

“A lifetime of effort.”

I do not remember when that frame first appeared in the house.

I must have walked past it many times.

But at that particular moment in my life, I truly noticed those words for the first time.

At the time, I was attending university in Japan on my own, working part-time jobs while studying.

And I had a dream.

I wanted to start my own business while I was still young.

Seeing my grandfather’s words reminded me that dreams do not happen simply because we want them.

We have to keep working toward them.

Starting My Business at 25

I was not able to start my own company immediately after graduating from university.

First, I obtained my Japanese real estate license qualification, the Takken (Real Estate Transaction Specialist).

I then spent six months working for a residential leasing brokerage and another six months gaining experience at a real estate sales company.

Then, at the age of 25, I took the step I had been dreaming about.

I started my own real estate business.

At 27, I achieved another goal and incorporated the company.

But that was not the finish line.

In many ways, it was only the beginning.

Over the years, I have had the privilege of assisting many clients from both Japan and overseas.

As the number of clients grew, our team grew as well.

Gradually, our company became capable of doing much more than simply brokering real estate transactions.

Today, we also purchase properties ourselves, operate and manage them, renovate them, and resell them.

And that experience completely changed the way I look at real estate.

Buying Property With Our Own Money Changed My Perspective

There is a major difference between looking at a property as a real estate agent and looking at it when it is your own money being invested.

Once our company began purchasing and operating properties ourselves, I found myself asking much deeper questions.

“Is this really the right price?”

“How much will the repairs actually cost?”

“Can we realistically achieve the expected rental income?”

“What could this property be worth if we sell it several years from now?”

“Does it really make sense to own this property long-term?”

Becoming the buyer, the owner, and the investor gave me a much deeper understanding of real estate.

More importantly, it helped me understand my clients’ perspective on an entirely different level.

That is why I believe so strongly:

Real estate is often won or lost at the time of purchase.

A cheap property is not automatically a good investment.

An expensive or luxury property is not automatically a safe investment either.

What matters is:

“Is the price you are paying appropriate for the true value of the property?”

Japanese Real Estate Is Different

Over the years, I have assisted clients from many different countries and regions with purchasing real estate in Japan.

One thing has become very clear to me:

The Japanese real estate market is quite different from real estate markets in North America, Europe, and other parts of Asia.

You cannot always determine whether a Japanese property is a good investment simply by looking at its asking price.

You need to consider the value of the land and the building separately, the age and condition of the property, renovation costs, building and zoning restrictions, rental demand, taxes, ongoing management costs, and ultimately your exit strategy.

For overseas buyers in particular, Japanese business practices and the real estate transaction process can sometimes be difficult to understand.

That is exactly why I want people to talk to me before they buy—not after.

I Want to Remain Someone Who Never Gives Up

A great deal has changed since I first started my business at 25.

Our company has grown.

Our team has grown.

The range of services we can provide has grown.

But there is one thing I never want to change.

I want to continue treating every client and every property seriously.

If I do not know something, I will research it.

If there is a problem, I will look for a solution.

I do not want to simply say, “It cannot be done,” and walk away.

And most importantly,

I do not give up easily.

The words my Singaporean client once said to me—

“Megumi, you succeeded because you never give up.”

And the words my grandfather left behind—

“A lifetime of effort.”

Today, those two messages represent the way I approach both my work and my life.

No matter how much our company grows, I never want to lose that mindset.

Before You Buy, Talk to Me.

I don’t want the people who come to me for help to lose money in real estate.

If you are considering buying property in Japan, you may be wondering:

“Is this property really a good purchase?”

“Is the asking price reasonable?”

“Can a foreigner buy this type of property in Japan?”

“What should I be careful about before making an offer?”

You do not need to have already decided to purchase.

You do not even need to be our client yet.

Please feel free to email me.

Sometimes the most important real estate advice is the advice you receive before you buy.

I would be happy to start by helping you determine what truly makes sense for you.

CEO Megumi Wilson, Wilson Real Estate Co., Ltd.