A Realtor (with a capital R) is a licensed real estate agent who is also a dues-paying member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR). The dues to join the NAR range from $300 to $1000 annually. Realtors are obligated to follow the Realtor Code of Ethics that defines the professional standards of practice.

Non-NAR members, until 1991, did not have access to the NAR’s Multiple Listing Service (MLS)—a significant disadvantage to non-member agents. But the Thompson v. Metropolitan Multilist decision in 1991 effectively eliminated the primary significance of the ‘Realtor’ designation.

If capitalized, Realtor is a registered trademark of the NAR. But non-member agents frequently use the lowercase term, ‘realtor,’ with impunity.

The right real estate agent becomes your managing partner when selling real estate. They evaluate both your property’s condition and appearance—making suggestions that will encourage buyers.

Using their knowledge of current market conditions, they help you establish a realistic asking price for your home or commercial property. An aggressive agent will aggressively market your property to get it in front of as many buyers as possible. They conduct showings and negotiate offers with potential buyers’ agents. And they help you wade through the paperwork until closing.

If you’re looking for a house or a commercial building to buy, you’ve probably done quite a bit of online research. But real properties often don’t even resemble the high-quality real estate photography in the marketing materials.

Professional videography can help, but there’s no substitute for a showing accompanied by an experienced real estate agent. Their job is to help you get what you want in a property, and not be fooled by any marketing.

After you find what you are looking for, their job is to help you negotiate the best deal possible and conduct thorough due diligence, so you will not discover serious problems with the property after becoming its owner.

All Realtors are real estate agents. But not all real estate agents have the ‘Realtor’ designation. The ‘Realtor’ (with a capital R) designation is a registered trademark of the National Association of Realtors—a massive association working on behalf of real estate agents.

To use the Realtor designation, the agent must become a member of the NAR. Besides paying dues, the NAR has a few additional requirements for its members. But there is no functional difference between a member and non-member, other than the marketing value of the ‘Realtor’ designation.

A real estate broker is a real estate agent with additional training and certification. Real estate agents must work under the supervision of a brokerage firm. However, the rules regarding the brokers’ regulations level for its agents vary by state.

When an agent takes the extra training and testing to become a broker, they can work independently, or they can start their own brokerage firm and hire agents.

The typical real estate commission is 6% in residential real estate and about 4-8% for commercial real estate. The commission is divided by the listing and the buyer’s agents and is paid by the seller.

If the commission doesn’t have to be divided between agents (when either the seller or the buyer isn’t using an agent), the seller may be charged only half of it.

If the listing broker is working independently from a brokerage firm, a lower commission can typically be negotiated—especially if selling a more expensive property.

Picking the right real estate agent is no simple task. Not only do they need to be competent, but you must be able to get along with them throughout the stressful process of selling real estate.

Selecting someone honest is a given. But you should also choose someone who will work hard on your behalf, and look after your best interests.

Check reviews about the agents you consider, how many transactions they closed in the current or last year, how much time the properties they listed spent on the market on average, and for how much they sold. Compare these indicators between the candidates to make the best choice.

The best way to find a good real estate agent is to study our directory of top performing residential and commercial agents in your area. The information contained in our list will give you a good idea as to which of those agents might be best suited for the sale of your property.

We’ve selected and vetted the best professionals so you will be able to choose a reliable agent to request a service from or partner with.