Do Immigrants Always Experience Lower Homeownership Probabilities than Natives? Evidence from Japan

In recent years, the Japanese government has made significant efforts to promote the integration of migrants in response to serious labor shortages and rising immigrant numbers. Housing is a key indicator of migration integration, yet the gap in homeownership between natives and immigrants in Japan remains unclear. While studies in the U.S. and Europe have found lower homeownership rates among immigrants, this study reveals that Chinese migrant households—comprising over 60% of permanent immigrant households in Japan—are more likely to own homes than native households, after controlling for individual and regional factors. In contrast, immigrants from other countries have lower homeownership probabilities than natives. These findings are explained using the housing tenure choice theory. Additionally, this study explores the factors influencing housing tenure decisions among both natives and immigrants in Japan and investigates the reasons behind the observed differences. This research provides novel empirical evidence to inform migration integration policies.