Agent vs. REALTOR®: How They're Different
What is the difference between a real estate agent and a REALTOR®? This is one of the most common questions our team fields from prospective clients. While both help clients buy and sell homes, some differences are worth noting as you start your search for a new home or to ask one of our real estate agents to sell your current property.
Whether a REALTOR® or real estate agent, both are required to obtain and maintain state licensure to purchase, sell, or rent a property. Each state has a different curriculum and requirements in this regard. States such as Alabama require 60 hours of formal education, while states like California require 135 hours or more. This coursework covers all the ins and outs of the real estate industry that agents need to know to represent their clients properly.
REALTORS® take their training a step further. Members of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) belong to an organization that has trained agents across the country since 1908. NAR training includes a heavy focus on ethics, and everyone who earns the title of REALTOR® is required to adhere to the organization's code of ethics. The bottom line is Realtors® maintain a high degree of professionalism, strives to protect their client's rights and best interests, and adhere to the "golden rule" in everything they do.
There are seventeen articles that REALTORS® promise to adhere to at all times. These include:
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