What’s the difference between a real estate agent and a REALTOR®?

What’s the difference between a real estate agent and a REALTOR®?

When you’re looking for a good restaurant, you might get some advice from a friend. The same is true when you’re searching for a real estate agent. When you get a recommendation, how much research do you do about that restaurant? What about that real estate agent? The first thing you can do to vet a real estate professional is to find out if the agent merely holds a real estate license or is a Texas REALTOR®. There’s a difference between the two, and the difference matters. Becoming a REALTOR® Before a person can sell real estate in Texas, he must be licensed by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) as a salesperson and sponsored by an established broker. A requirement of 180 hours of educational courses, passing the licensing exam and an additional 90 classroom hours of real estate education must be completed. But holding a real estate salesperson or broker’s license from TREC does not make someone a Texas REALTOR®. After earning the license, many agents elect to join their local association of REALTORS®, the state-level association, and the National Association of REALTOR® (NAR). Only after all these steps are taken can a person be called a REALTOR®. Membership in this three-level system gives REALTOR® (and their clients) advantages over agents who don’t join. Why use a REALTOR? REALTORS® must adhere to NAR’s REALTOR® Code of Ethics, which clearly identifies their responsibilities to the consumer. The Code of Ethics is the cornerstone of what it means to be a REALTOR®. REALTORS® pledge that they will treat all parties fairly and protect their clients’ interests. It’s a consumer-oriented code that holds REALTORS® to a higher standard of professional behavior. Adhering to the Code of Ethics isn’t the only way REALTORS® are set apart from real estate licensees. Texas REALTORS® in particular have a long track record of working with state and local officials, as well as other regulatory bodies. These highly organized and effective efforts are focused on four main areas: keeping the cost associated with real estate transactions reasonable; preserving private-property rights; protecting consumers from proposals that make homeownership more difficult; and maintaining the overall health of the real estate economy. It’s a difference that counts Whether you’re buying or selling property, working with a Texas REALTOR® can make a huge difference in the level of professionalism and skill you’ll receive during the process. You’ll enjoy a smoother transaction by working with a knowledgeable practitioner who puts the needs of her clients first. Find more information on selecting the best Texas Realtor for your needs at TexasRealEstate.com. For more advice about buying and selling real estate in and around Denton and Wise Counties, visit GDWCAR.com or TexasRealEstate.com.