不動産屋(ふどうさんや)

ETYMOLOGY:
不動産(ふどうさん) (real estate) + 屋(や) (shop/business suffix)

FORMAL ALTERNATIVES:

• 不動産(ふどうさん)会社(かいしゃ) (real estate company)
• 不動産(ふどうさん)業者(ぎょうしゃ) (real estate dealer)
• 宅地(たくち)建物(たてもの)取引(とりひき)業者(ぎょうしゃ) (licensed real estate transaction business - official term)

LICENSING:

Real estate agents in Japan need:

• 宅地(たくち)建物(たてもの)取引士(とりひきし) (real estate transaction specialist license)
• 宅建(たっけん) (abbreviation for the above license/exam)

COMMON SERVICES:

• 賃貸(ちんたい)物件(ぶっけん) (rental properties)
• 売買(ばいばい)物件(ぶっけん) (properties for sale)
• 部屋(へや)探(さが)し (apartment hunting)

FEES:

• 仲介(ちゅうかい)手数料(てすうりょう) (brokerage fee) - typically 1 month's rent for rentals
• 礼金(れいきん)/敷金(しききん) (key money/security deposit) - arranged through agent

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

• 不動産屋(ふどうさんや)に行(い)く (to go to a real estate agency)
• 不動産屋(ふどうさんや)で物件(ぶっけん)を探(さが)す (to look for properties at an agency)
• 不動産屋(ふどうさんや)を通(とお)す (to go through a real estate agent)