Over 56% of Homebuyers Reportedly Lacked Understanding of Housing Performance; 67% Realize Importance of Seismic Resistance After Purchase

■ Survey on Homebuyers' Understanding of "Housing Performance" Buying a home is one of the biggest purchases in a person's life. In recent years, there has been growing interest in "housing performance," such as seismic resistance ratings, insulation, and energy efficiency. These are key factors in home selection, related to earthquake preparedness, utility cost savings, and comfort in summer and winter. So, to what extent do actual homebuyers understand these performance aspects when choosing a house? This time, in collaboration with Landplaza Inc., we conducted a survey on "Understanding of Housing Performance at the Time of Home Purchase" among 250 men and women nationwide who had previously indicated they had purchased a home. ※ When quoting the contents of this press release, please do the following: - State that the source is a "survey by NEXER Inc. and Landplaza Inc." - Include a link to Landplaza Inc. (https://www.landplaza.co.jp/) - Include a link to the relevant article. "Survey on Understanding of Housing Performance at the Time of Home Purchase" Overview Survey Method: Online questionnaire Survey Period: May 1, 2026 – May 11, 2026 Target Audience: Men and women nationwide who indicated in a preliminary survey that they have purchased a home. Valid Responses: 250 samples. ■ 56.0% Responded They "Vaguely/Hardly Understood" Housing Performance at Time of Purchase First, we asked to what extent they understood "housing performance" (seismic rating, insulation, energy efficiency, etc.) at the time of purchase. The results showed that 8.8% "understood well" and 35.2% "understood to some extent," totaling 44.0% who purchased their homes with a certain level of knowledge. On the other hand, 28.0% "vaguely understood" and another 28.0% "hardly understood," revealing that a combined 56.0% purchased their homes with only a vague grasp of housing performance. A house is one of life's biggest purchases, yet many cases seem to proceed to purchase without a full understanding of performance aspects like seismic resistance, insulation, and energy efficiency. ■ Information Source Top is "Sales Representative from Housing Company" at 55.2% Next, we asked where they obtained information about housing performance. The most common answer was "Sales representative from a housing company" at 55.2%. This was followed by "Housing exhibition" at 31.2% and "Internet search" at 22.8%. In contrast, "Word-of-mouth from acquaintances/family" (11.6%), "Books/magazines" (8.8%), "Comparison sites" (3.6%), and "SNS" (2.4%) were all minority sources. This shows that information on housing performance is more often obtained from the seller's side, such as sales reps and exhibitions, rather than from internet searches or personal networks. ■ 72.0% Unaware of "Long-Life Quality Housing" System Next, we asked if they knew about the "Long-life quality housing" system, a scheme related to housing performance. This is a certification system for homes that meet certain criteria to be lived in for a long time in good condition, known for its benefits to buyers like tax breaks and lower mortgage interest rates. The results showed that 28.0% "knew" about it, while a staggering 72.0% "did not know." This means over 70% of homebuyers purchased their homes without knowing about this system. The reality is that a system beneficial to buyers is not sufficiently recognized. ■ Of Those Who "Knew" the System, Only 24.3% Understood the Details Next, we asked those who knew about "Long-life quality housing" how well they understood its details. The results showed that 24.3% "understood the conditions and benefits of the system." However, the largest group, 61.4%, "partially understood," and 14.3% "did not understand much." This means only about one in four who knew of the system's existence understood its details, showing that many are aware of the name but not the specifics. ■ 36.4% Experienced a Change in Perception After Purchase We then asked if their perception of housing performance changed after purchasing their home. The results showed that 12.8% said it "changed significantly" and 23.6% said it "changed somewhat," totaling 36.4% who experienced some change in perception. On the other hand, 49.6% said it "didn't change much" and 14.0% said it "didn't change at all," totaling 63.6% with no major change in perception. ■ About 67% of Those Whose Perception Changed "Became Aware of the Importance of Seismic Performance" Finally, we asked those whose perception changed how it changed specifically. The most common answer was "Became aware of the importance of seismic performance" at 67.0%. This was followed by "Realized the importance of insulation performance" at 58.2%, "Felt the difference in comfort (heat/cold)" at 42.9%, and "Realized the impact on utility costs" at 39.6%. These are all items directly related to daily life, suggesting many people experience the difference in housing performance after they start living in the house. "Felt the importance of maintenance" was also at 36.3%, indicating that not a few people realized the importance of upkeep for long-term residence. On the other hand, 15.4% responded they "felt location and layout should be prioritized over performance," suggesting some cases where the balance with other conditions is re-evaluated after living there. ■ Conclusion This survey revealed that about 56% of homebuyers felt they "only vaguely understood" housing performance at the time of purchase. The most common source of information was the housing company's sales representative. Of those whose perception of housing performance changed after purchase, about 67% became aware of the importance of seismic performance. It seems not uncommon for people to realize the importance of housing performance after they have actually started living in their home. A house is a long-term commitment. That is why it is important to gather solid information about housing performance from the pre-purchase stage and identify the conditions that are truly necessary for you and your family.