Do you know ‘Otori-bukken’ ?
Truth be told,
We have to admit there are a number of
shady and dishonest real estate agents in Japan.
As a foreign investor considering investment opportunities
in the Japanese real estate market,
it’s crucial to be aware of the tactics some unscrupulous agents
employ to lure potential clients.
Beautiful Stories, Hard Realities
Real estate agents/realtors are always holding seminars in Tokyo, Osaka and elsewhere, luring in amateur investors (for Japanese investors so far)
and telling them beautiful stories of how this person or that person got rich in the property market.
I never exaggerate such successes in my seminars, although of course they do exist.
Instead, I always tell the audience true stories from my experience and those of other clients and inexperienced investors, and in particular about the mistakes made.
How the commission for agents (realtors) work in Japan ?
The system is very different from that of USA.
In the US, sellers pay the commission to the sellers agents (listing agents) and buyers don’t pay the commission.
(Later, sellers agents split the commission with buyers agents)
In Japan, a buyer pays the 3% commission to buyers agent and a seller pays the same 3% to sellers agent (listing agent)
3% is the statutory rate and not negotiable (it is but I don’t negotiate).
Japan has been infamous for the problem of “dual agency”.
My latest YouTube video clip about the shady realtors in Japan.
Despite the very strong suspect which many industry specialists are pointing out, major brands are exploiting
both buyers and sellers all the time.
Please find out how they make money.
Their murky deals are long over due.Read more