About 74% of Physicians Report Feeling They Encountered Unethical Real Estate Operators; Top Complaint: 'Superficial Answers to Questions'

What Consultation Formats Do Physicians, Burdened by On-Call and Night Shifts, Seek?

Being a physician is a battle against time.

Amid on-call duties, night shifts, and emergency patient care, it is not easy to dedicate sufficient time to private matters such as considering real estate investment.

So, how do busy physicians actually consult with real estate operators, on what basis do they make decisions, and what frustrations or anxieties do they experience during this process?

To explore these questions, we conducted a joint survey with 'GALA NAVI,' a real estate investment media platform, targeting 38 physicians who, in a preliminary survey, responded that they had experience consulting or meeting with real estate investment operators as employed or practicing physicians. The survey focused on 'Consultation Format Needs and Decision-Making Processes Among Busy Physicians.'

※ When quoting the content of this press release, please observe the following:

・ Clearly state the source as 'Survey by NEXER Group and the real estate investment media GALA NAVI'

・ Include a hyperlink to GALA NAVI (https://www.gala-navi.com/)

・ Include a hyperlink to the survey results article (https://www.gala-navi.com/column/research/c070073)

Survey Overview: 'Physician Consultation Format Needs and Decision-Making Process'

Survey Method: Online questionnaire

Survey Period: June 12–16, 2026

Target Respondents: Physicians who previously indicated they had experience consulting or meeting with real estate investment operators as employed or practicing physicians

Valid Responses: 38 samples

Survey Questions:

Question 1: Please state your occupation.

Question 2: Please indicate your annual income bracket.

Question 3: How frequently do you perform on-call or night shift duties?

Question 4: Please describe your current real estate investment status.

Question 5: Which consultation formats have you actually used? (Multiple selections allowed)

Question 6: Which consultation formats would you like to use in the future? (Multiple selections allowed)

Question 7: What time slots do you prefer for consultations? (Multiple selections allowed)

Question 8: What time slots were you actually able to consult? (Multiple selections allowed)

Question 9: How long did it take from information gathering to making a decision?

Question 10: How many times did you consult or meet with operators before making a decision?

Question 11: How many companies did you consult when comparing operators?

Question 12: Did you use an anonymous simulation tool before contacting operators?

Question 13: What aspects of the operators' consultation responses did you find unsatisfactory? (Multiple selections allowed)

Question 14: Have you ever felt, during consultations, that operators were targeting physicians as easy prey?

※ Percentages are rounded to the second decimal place, so totals may not sum to 100%.

44.7% are employed physicians at general hospitals; 23.7% earn between ¥15 million and ¥20 million annually

First, we asked respondents about their employment status.

The largest group was 'employed physicians at general hospitals' at 44.7%.

This was followed by 'employed physicians at university hospitals' at 26.3%, 'practicing physicians' at 18.4%, and 'other medical professionals' at 10.5%.

Employed physicians accounted for about 70% of respondents, indicating that most are hospital-based professionals seeking investment advice while working.

Next, we asked about annual income brackets.

The most common responses were 'up to ¥15 million' and 'up to ¥20 million,' both at 23.7%. This was followed by 'up to ¥12 million' at 21.1%, 'up to ¥25 million' at 15.8%, and 'over ¥25 million' at 7.9%.

Responses were concentrated between ¥12 million and ¥25 million, a distribution that aligns well with the typical income range of individuals considering real estate investment.

39.5% reported on-call/night shift frequency as '2–3 times per month'

Next, we asked about the frequency of on-call and night shift duties.

The most common response was '2–3 times per month' at 39.5%.

This was followed by 'once a week or more' at 26.3%, 'none' at 21.1%, and 'once a month or less' at 13.2%.

Altogether, 79.0% of physicians reported some level of on-call or night shift duty.

Given their irregular work schedules, finding and securing time for real estate investment consultations is clearly a significant challenge for busy physicians.

47.4% reported currently 'holding real estate investments'

Next, we asked about their current real estate investment status.

The most common response was 'holding investments' at 47.4%.

This was followed by 'not currently considering' at 21.1%, and 'about to contract' and 'comparing options' both at 15.8%.

About half of the physicians already own properties, while a significant number are either about to finalize contracts or still comparing options, indicating a balanced representation across various stages of the investment journey.

47.4% actually used 'online individual consultations'; 'in-person seminars' are the most desired format for the future

Next, we asked about the consultation formats they have actually used.

The most common was 'online individual consultations (e.g., Zoom)' at 47.4%.

This was followed by 'in-person seminars' at 39.5%, 'in-person individual consultations' at 34.2%, and 'chat consultations' at 31.6%. The distribution of formats used was broad and not concentrated in a single method.

While online individual consultations were most common, responses also came in for in-person seminars, in-person individual consultations, and chat consultations. This suggests a clear demand for both the convenience of online formats and the value of face-to-face interaction.

We also asked about preferred consultation formats for the future.

The most common response was 'in-person seminars' at 42.1%.

This was followed by 'in-person individual consultations' and 'online individual consultations,' both at 39.5%, and 'phone consultations' at 36.8%.

While online individual consultations were the most commonly used format, in-person seminars emerged as the most desired format for the future.

This indicates that while some value the convenience of online one-on-one consultations, others place high expectations on in-person settings for gathering information and discussing investment options.

34.2% prefer 'during Saturdays'; 'during Sundays' was the most common time actually available

Next, we asked about preferred consultation time slots.

The most common response was 'during Saturdays' at 34.2%.

This was followed by 'weekday 5–8 PM,' 'weekday 8–10 PM,' and 'during Sundays,' all at 28.9%. The preference for evenings and weekends over weekday daytime hours was clearly evident.

Weekday daytime hours are typically the least flexible for most physicians.

Therefore, whether consultation windows are available during evenings or weekends significantly impacts accessibility.

We also asked about the time slots they were actually able to consult.

The most common was 'during Sundays' at 31.6%.

This was followed by 'during Saturdays' at 26.3%, and 'weekday 5–8 PM' and 'weekday 8–10 PM' both at 23.7%.

It is not always possible to consult at the preferred times.

This small mismatch may relate to the issues discussed later.