Buying a Home
What is the difference between a REALTOR and a real estate agent?
By Steve Lockhart
The short answer
Both words describe real people in this business, but they are not the same thing. A real estate agent is the licensed role: a person licensed by the state to help clients buy, sell, and lease property.
Full answer
Both words describe real people in this business, but they are not the same thing. A real estate agent is the licensed role: a person licensed by the state to help clients buy, sell, and lease property. A REALTOR is an agent or broker who has joined the National Association of REALTORS, and the membership carries a commitment to the association's Code of Ethics. Every REALTOR is an agent or broker, but not every agent or broker is a REALTOR. In Nevada, agents are licensed by the Nevada Real Estate Division and work under a licensed broker. The license is what makes it legal to represent you, and it is verifiable through the state's public license lookup. The REALTOR designation sits on top of that. To use the trademark, an agent must belong to their local and state associations and to the National Association of REALTORS, and the membership means they agree to be held to the Code of Ethics, a set of professional and ethical duties that covers how they treat clients, customers, other professionals, and the public. REALTOR membership also typically comes with access to the local multiple listing service and its data, which matters for accurate pricing and market coverage. For the record, I am a licensed Nevada agent and a member of the National Association of REALTORS, and my license number, S.0194053, is published on my site so anyone can verify it. But the practical point for you is that neither label tells the whole story. The license proves someone can legally do the work, the REALTOR designation shows they have agreed to a code of ethics, and the real test is the conversation: whether they listen, explain, and put your interests ahead of a quick commission.
Go a little deeper
Frequently asked
Questions buyers often follow up on
Does the REALTOR designation mean someone is better?
It does not guarantee skill or results, but it does mean the person has agreed to be bound by a professional code of ethics and can lose the designation for violating it. Judgment, experience, and fit still come from talking to the person, not from the credential alone.
How do I verify a Nevada real estate license?
The Nevada Real Estate Division publishes a public license lookup, and a REALTOR's membership can be verified through the National Association of REALTORS. Verifying both takes minutes, and it is the right check before you hire anyone.
Is Steve Lockhart a REALTOR?
Yes. Steve is a licensed Nevada agent with license number S.0194053 and a member of the National Association of REALTORS, affiliated with First Mutual Realty Group.
The Lockhart Method
The Lockhart Method
Your Home | My Strategy | Proven Results
My strategy: verify the license, then invest your time in the conversation. A valid license and a code of ethics are the floor, and the ceiling is whether the person in front of you listens carefully, thinks clearly, and advocates for your interests, not theirs.
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