`titrebThe perspective of perceived transaction costs: an explanation of real estate intermediation`/titreb The aim of this research is to study the determinants of the use of direct versus intermediated solutions on the French housing market. The theoretical perspective of perceived transaction costs provides a useful framework for understanding the existence of a specific mode of transaction in real estate. From the analysis of 4142 questionnaires on transactions actually carried out, the logit models used show that the real estate intermediation cannot be explained by physical or spatial characteristics of the property, or by socio-demographic variables, but more by perceptions of buyers and sellers in the interest of real estate agents and the benefits they can derive. Six perceived benefits prove relevant for understanding the existence of Realtors in the context of new technologies where direct relationships are now facilitated.