The program offers services beyond simply selling, buying or renting homes. In fact, it provides special services such as “Carefree Service” for women looking for female real estate agents and “Global Real Estate Service,” which links foreign residents with English-speaking real estate agents.
“The specialized real estate information service is open to all,” said Jho Hyun-hee, an official at the Seodaemun-gu Office Land Registration Division. “However, it was especially designed for university students, the disabled, foreigners and workers without the time or the ability to visit real estate agencies that suit them. We initiated the program to help newcomers save time and money from contacting multiple real estate agencies.”
To apply for the service, one must first download the application form from the Seodaemun-gu Office Web site (http://www.sdm.go.kr/) and indicate the region of the house, the type of housing, housing price and whether the person wishes to sell, buy or rent the property.
The real estate information provision service is specialized since it allows the applicants to make specific demands according to their needs. For instance, when filling out the type of housing, one can choose from apartments, studios, officetels, detached houses and others. Also, applicants wishing to rent houses should specify the monthly rental fee and the amount of key money. One should even indicate how long the person wishes to use the service.
Once the form is completed, the applicant can submit it to the Seodaemun-gu Office Land Registration Division by fax or mail. The requirements are then shared with the 580 real estate agencies in the district that cooperate with the Seodaemun-gu Office.
“The applicants will receive information about houses on lease, sales or demands from real estate agencies by text messages or phone calls,” Jho said. “Our office provides the service to citizens at free of charge. The applicant pays the brokerage only when the client and real estate agent sign a contract.”
Meanwhile, many students at Ewha supported the real estate information provision newly offered by the Seodaemun-gu Office.
“The service helps tenants save time,” Won Da-yeon (English Education, 1) said. “They are submitting requirements to the district office only but are virtually visiting 580 real estate agencies in the district. I think it is a great program and might use it later in university.”
Huh Ryun-jung
ryunhuh@ewhain.net