Agent, Broker, Realtor: What’s the Difference?
When you people plan to buy any property of yours, when you plan to sell it or even rent out your property, i.e. a house, you meet many people for this work, who also give you different guidanceAgent vs Broker vs Realtor: Key Real Estate Roles Explained for Home buyers and Sellers 2025. Out of them, I will usually tell you three reforms that come in front of you, namely random real estate agents, brokers and retailers. For the common people, these three people seem the same, but in fact, there is a lot of difference between these three, which is very important for you to know.
Who is a real estate agent?
A real estate agent is a person who has a license to buy, sell, rent or lease real estate in the area where he lives. An agent can obtain his license only by passing a state or country law exam. However, an agent cannot work on his own, that is, he cannot do any work without a license, but he must work under a license or broker.
- All the responsibilities of a real estate agent are usually as follows:
- Find customers for buying and selling a house or any kind of shop
- Ask for a TV that sells the property to convince them to buy
- He also helps a lot in determining the price of the property, that is, the house
- Shows the property to the buyer or the tenant
- Completes all the paperwork
What does a broker do?
A broker is a person who is more educated and experienced than an agent. A broker not only gets a general license but also holds a higher level of treatment. To become a broker, one has to obtain a higher level license. For this, further training and passing exams are also very important. A broker can work independently anywhere and in any place and can also open his real estate office anywhere and in any place.
Here are the main responsibilities of a broker that can be:
- The broker supervises and trains the agent.
- Handles the legal issues of buying or selling property.
- Keeps accounts of commissions and all transactions.
- Takes all the responsibility of the company himself.
A broker is generally much better for those who want to buy or sell large properties or who need more specific non-legal advice.
What is a retailer?
A retailer is not a professional or a new professional person, but a membership. When an agent or broker becomes a full member of the National Association of Retailers (NAR), he is considered a retailer. It is said that to become a retailer, he must follow a special code of conduct, which is not generally applicable to an agent or any broker.
- The special thing about a retailer is that he only.
- Works completely with honesty and integrity.
- The retailer gives priority to the interests of the customer.
- The retailer also keeps all the latest information about the market.
- The retailer also adheres to the rules legally and professionally.
It is not at all necessary for a retailer that every agent can become a broker or a retailer, but every retailer is necessarily an agent or a broker.
Understand this difference in simple words.
| Role | License Required | Can Work Independently? | Member of NAR? | Typical Tasks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agent | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ Optional | Buying, selling, and renting property |
| Broker | ✅ Yes (Advanced) | ✅ Yes | ❌ Optional | Manage agents, run brokerage |
| Realtor | ✅ Yes | Depends on role | ✅ Yes | Ethical real estate transactions |
Which one might be better for you?
If you are thinking of buying a home for the first time or thinking of selling it, you can also contact a real estate agent and get his help. If you need more expertise in this matter or have any kind of large loan or any kind of complex transaction, then definitely contact a broker.
And if you need any kind of assurance that you are an honest representative or your own trained or professional, then it is better that you choose a retailer.
Understand with a small example.
For example, suppose you have a house and you want to buy it and for that you contact an agent and that agent shows you different types of houses and also talks about their price and helps you in preparing all the contracts.
But if you have to invest in a big house or a big project anywhere where you need legal advice and when you need certainty, then he will be the best broker for you. If the same agent is a member of the NAR, then he will be called a retailer and he can also give you additional confidence on his part.
Final Result
In the world of real estate, agents, brokers, and retailers can all play a very important role. Knowing the difference between them can not only help you make a better decision, but it can also be a great way to secure all the investments you want to make. If you want to buy the best house of your dreams or any kind of property at a reasonable price, you should contact a professional.
Remember:
Every retailer is an agent or broker, but every agent or dealer can never be a dealer.