In recent years, the associations in which the elderly households lend real estate assets to another household to help them change their residence have appeared. Although elderly households have much savings, they require an additional 60,000 yen to live each month. In addition, since the average life span has extended, there is a risk that they might use up their savings in later years of their lives. Real estate utilization of elderly households is expected as a means to improve this situation. Suburban areas have cheap rent rate compared to the central area of the city. Therefore, if the elderly households put out their real estate assets in the market, it will be possible to find new residents of their houses.
The purpose of this study is to clarify the number of elderly single and couple households who live in big detached houses located in suburban areas and the features of suburban municipalities that the percentage of those households are high.
At first, we analyzed the number of elderly single and couple households who live in big detached house. The analysis revealed that about 3.7 million elderly single and couple households live in residences which are over 100 m2 and about 42% of those households live in suburban areas.
Then, we analyzed the features of the suburban municipalities where there is high percentage of those households by doing factor analysis. The result of analysis shows that about 38% of these municipalities are located in suburban areas and they are affected by two factors. One factor is the degree of urbanization. The other is population density of factory workers.
Finally, we categorize municipalities where there is a high percentage of those households. As a result of cluster analysis, these municipalities can be classified into five types using the following parameters: households, residences, economic levels and industry.
Type I is the area where progress in urbanization and percentage of factory workers are low. Municipalities of type I are located in the suburbs of metropolitan area
Type II is the area where progress in urbanization and percentage of factory workers are high. Municipalities of type II are also located in the suburbs of metropolitan area. But they are far from the center of the metropolitan area than those of type I.
Type III is the area where is not affected by two factors. Municipalities of type III are far from the center of the metropolitan area than those of type II.
Type IV is the area that urbanization is not progressing and percentage of factory workers are high. Municipalities of type IV are far from the center of the metropolitan area than type III.
Type V is the area where urbanization is not progressing and percentage of factory workers are low. Half of type V is located in the suburbs of metropolitan area. The other half is far from the center of the metropolitan area than those of type IV.
