Real Estate Broker
Definition of "Real estate broker"
One of the most recurring real estate doubts is regarding what is a broker in comparison to what is a real estate agent.
Well, it depends from state to state to tell exactly what a Broker can and cannot do, but it’s safe to say that, in every state, a Real Estate Broker is someone with more real estate education and experience than a real estate agent. To become one, you have to attend a certain number of Real Estate classes and pass the state exam. The duration of those classes is longer than the ones an agent goes through and the exam they take is more difficult to pass too. Summing up: although all Brokers can act also as Agents, not every Agent can act as a Broker.
In general, you could say that a Broker is the person with the certification necessary to list the property and sign the papers and overview the transaction between the home seller and the home buyer. But there is a large variety of other services he/she provides for home sellers and home buyers, like Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), preparing contracts and acting as the guardian of the escrow. Sometimes, the home seller or buyer doesn’t even meet the Broker, but a real estate agent that works under him/her.
The Broker is the one who collects the commission once the sale is made and he/she divides the value to all participating parts like the buyer’s agent and the seller’s agent – most of the times an employee of his, but, depending on the type of listing agreement (like an Open Listing) it can be someone independent from him/her.
Popular Real Estate Terms
Current cost to replace property with an identical property after allowing for the depreciated value of the property. ...
(1) Cash revenue from product sales or services rendered less cash expenses. It is different from accrual earnings. (2) The money available after deducting operating expenses and mortgage ...
Provision permitting a lender to charge the borrower a penalty for repaying a loan before its due date. ...
Written agreement in which the lessee pays rent to the lessor for the use of real property for a stated time period. An example is the tenant's rental of an apartment or office space. ...
Last installment payment, substantially greater than the previous installment payments. The unpaid balance of a long-term loan is paid off in a lump sum at the end of the loan term. ...
In an electrical system, the connection box where all the circuit systems are installed with a series of electrical breakers. The major distribution or collection duct in an ...
Tank placed beneath the ground to accumulate sewage. ...
Borrower's right to redeem his property by immediately paying off the loan balance and any related costs. ...
Ratio of annual mortgage payments divided by the initial principal of the mortgage. This only applies to loans involving constant payment. For example, a $500,000 loan with an annual ...
Have a question or comment?
We're here to help.