Definition of "Real estate broker"

Ginny Solis-Wright real estate agent

Written by

Ginny Solis-Wrightelite badge icon

Realty One Group

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.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Real Estate Terms

Founded in 1939 and located in Washington, DC, the NAA has 36,000 members with 11 regional groups. It consists of 60 state and local associations of managers, investors, developers, ...

Same as term cape cod colonial house: Early American style 1 1/2 story house with a steep gable roof covered with shingles. The bedrooms are on the first floor, but the attic is often ...

The altering of a rented or leased premises by a landlord rendering it unsuitable for habitation in order to effectuate the tenant's vacating. Constructive eviction occurs when the tenant ...

The American Dream has cemented the role of homeownership into the collective conscience of the US population. Homeownership provides a place for families to stay that is their own, as well ...

“What is Rent Control?”, you ask.Rent Control is how some governmental policies that prevent the Landlord from abusively raising the rent are called in the real estate ...

A lessee (tenant) subleases the apartment to a third party .The tenant is now sandwiched between the lessor and the sublessee. In other words, the tenant is acting as a lessee to the ...

Unexpected growth in an urban locality. ...

Room that is fit for living in. the building in which the room is located conforms with the building code and has a certificate of occupancy. Usable for all purposes, but does not include ...

Formal statement by an auditor, after through examination and consideration, as to whether a real estate company's financial statements fairly present financial position and operating ...

Popular Real Estate Questions