Sun Realty: providing exclusive homes to foreigners for 50 years

According to Minato Ward statistics from December, the number of foreign residents in the ward has increased 1.7 times in the last 10 years and today 1 out of 10 residents is from overseas. How did housing services for these foreigners begin?

Sun Realty & Insurance Co. was founded in 1954 as the only real estate company providing residences to the international community. "It started when we offered a housing service for U.S. military personnel," says Shigeyasu Wada of Sun Realty. Since then, Sun Realty has become a wellknown name to expatriates and diplomats for over 50 years, offering unparalleled service and exclusive environments that meet their lifestyle and needs.

Sun Realty's philosophy is to provide the finest-quality residences together with attentive service and good property maintenance. Many foreigners living in Japan have found their homes through Sun Realty. "We've had a lot of positive feedback and word of mouth referrals from clients we did business with. We believe our reputation is a very valuable asset," says Sun Realty's Seishiro Mimura.

All of Sun Realty's sales representatives are bilingual and experienced, with a thorough knowledge of the real estate market, and as they do not work on a commission basis, they can take the time to listen to each client's specific needs and offer properties that best suit them.

"Since expats come to Japan usually for terms of two to three years, their time is limited and precious. We need to provide a comfortable home that is convenient for commuting, shopping and schools. Safety and location are of prime importance," says Wada. "As for the floor plan, a spacious foyer, living room and dining room are mandatory since entertaining at home is quite common in the international community."

Around 90 percent of the finest- quality houses and apartments built and owned by Homat Homes and Kowa Real Estate are exclusively listed with Sun Realty. Founded in 1954, Homat Homes has developed more than 3,000 houses and apartments in central Tokyo for foreign residents. The Western-style floor plan was also popular among Japanese, particularly members of the country's former aristocracy, such as the Owari Tokugawa family, who asked Homat Homes to develop the same style houses for them. In Mejiro's Tokugawa Village, a 2-hectare (6,000-tsubo) compound built on the site of the residence of Marquis Yoshichika Tokugawa, there are currently 33 detached houses for rent.

As you wander around the most sought-after residential neighborhood in Minato, you may notice some six-story apartments surrounded by Japanese-style greenery and a blend of East/West architectural details with a "Homat" name. Homat residences are located in some of Tokyo's most prime locations yet tranquil neighborhoods.

The floor plan is carefully designed to take into account the meaning of each room and place them in perfect harmony. The distinct separation of the public area from the private area has been a timehonored Homat concept. Recently, most Homat residences have been fully renovated in a contemporary style, but the basic concept remains the same. "The flow line is well thought out for smooth movement so the layout of each room makes sense. Rooms are spacious and have lots of storage space such as a pantry, guest coat closet in the foyer and large walk-in closets. The trend now is for a more openstyle kitchen that guests can come into and participate," says Mimura.

Since Sun Realty has been in business for over 50 years, at times it comes across clients who have lived in Homat residences when they were children, and are back in Tokyo as expatriates and want to live in a Homat home again, says Wada. Sun Realty's expertise gained through its long history of serving foreign residents, along with exclusive listing of Homat residences, has established the company's reputation for quality and service in Japan's international community.

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