What Is a Realtor? (And How They're Different From Real Estate Agents)

What Is a Realtor?

A Realtor is a licensed real estate agent or broker who is a member of the National Association of Realtors. That’s it. It’s a membership designation, not a license level and not a certification. The word “Realtor” is trademarked by NAR — you can’t call yourself one without being a dues-paying member of the national association, your state association, and your local board.

Most people use “Realtor” and “real estate agent” interchangeably. They’re not the same thing, and the difference matters — especially when it comes to MLS access.

Realtor vs Real Estate Agent vs Broker

These three terms get mixed up constantly. Here’s the actual distinction:

Real Estate Agent

A person licensed by the state to help people buy and sell property. In Texas, that means passing the TREC licensing exam and working under a licensed broker. A real estate agent can show homes, write offers, and negotiate transactions — but they must be sponsored by a broker.

Having a real estate license doesn’t automatically make you a Realtor. It doesn’t give you MLS access. It means the state says you’ve met the minimum requirements to practice real estate.

Realtor

A real estate agent or broker who is a member of NAR, their state association (TAR in Texas), and their local association (HAR in Houston). The Realtor designation comes with:

• Access to MLS (in most markets, you need association membership to access MLS)
• Agreement to follow NAR’s Code of Ethics
• Ongoing dues to national, state, and local associations
• Continuing education requirements beyond what the state requires

The practical implication: most agents who actively list and sell homes are Realtors, because they need MLS access to do their job. An agent who isn’t a Realtor typically can’t list your home on MLS — which means your property won’t appear on HAR.com, Zillow, Redfin, or Realtor.com.

Broker

A higher-level license than agent. In Texas, becoming a broker requires additional education, experience, and a separate exam. A broker can operate independently — they don’t need to work under another broker. They can open their own brokerage, hire agents, and manage transactions directly.

At Creekstone Real Estate, you work directly with the broker. Not an agent who reports to a broker. Not a team member who escalates to the broker when something goes wrong. The broker — the person with the higher license, the deeper experience, and the direct accountability.

Sell your home for just 1% commission.

What Does a Realtor Actually Do for Sellers?

The Realtor designation tells you someone has MLS access and agreed to a code of ethics. It doesn’t tell you what level of service they provide. That varies enormously from one Realtor to the next.

A full-service Realtor handling a listing typically provides:

• Pricing strategy — running a comparative market analysis (CMA) using recent sales data, not Zillow estimates
• MLS listing — entering your property into MLS with full syndication to HAR.com, Zillow, Redfin, and Realtor.com
• Professional photography — coordinating a photographer, reviewing the images, and presenting your home at its best
• Showing coordination — managing showing requests through a centralized showing service or directly
• Negotiation — reviewing offers, advising on terms, handling counteroffers, managing inspection negotiations
• Transaction management — contract to close, working with the title company, tracking deadlines, resolving issues

A limited-service Realtor might only provide MLS entry and nothing else. The Realtor title doesn’t guarantee the service level — you have to ask. See limited service vs full service listings in Texas for more on the distinction.

The NAR Code of Ethics

NAR requires Realtors to follow a Code of Ethics with 17 articles covering duties to clients, the public, and other Realtors. The highlights:

• Honesty and transparency in all dealings
• Protecting the client’s interests
• Accurate advertising and representation
• Fair dealing and no discrimination
• Cooperation with other Realtors

Violations can result in fines, suspension, or expulsion from NAR. In practice, the Code of Ethics provides a baseline standard — but it’s the individual agent’s professionalism that determines the quality of your experience.

What Does It Cost to Be a Realtor?

Being a Realtor isn’t cheap. The dues and fees add up:

• NAR dues — approximately $150-200/year (national)
• TAR dues — approximately $100-150/year (Texas Association of Realtors)
• HAR dues — varies (Houston association)
• MLS fees — the brokerage MLS account runs over $1,900/year for HAR, and each agent pays for their own account on top of that
• Supra eKey — $16.50/month for electronic lockbox access (needed to show properties and to provide lockboxes for your listings)
• E&O insurance — errors and omissions coverage, required by most brokerages
• Continuing education — required to maintain both the license and the Realtor designation

Before a Realtor closes their first transaction of the year, they’re already several thousand dollars into overhead. This is part of why commission exists — it covers a real cost of doing business. For a detailed look at where commission dollars go, see how realtor commissions are split.

Sell your home for just 1% commission.

Do You Need a Realtor to Sell Your House?

Legally, no. You can sell FSBO (for sale by owner) without any agent involvement.

Practically, you need MLS access to reach the largest pool of buyers — and MLS access requires a Realtor. Without MLS, your home doesn’t appear on HAR.com, Zillow, Redfin, or Realtor.com. You’re limited to a yard sign, social media, and word of mouth.

Your options for getting on MLS:

• Flat fee MLS — a Realtor enters your listing for a flat upfront fee ($200-1,400). You handle everything else. This is a limited service arrangement.
• 1% full-service listing — a Realtor handles everything for 1% at closing.
• Traditional listing — a Realtor handles everything for 2.5-3% at closing.

All three options get you on MLS. The difference is how much you pay and how much work you do yourself.

How to Choose a Good Realtor

The Realtor designation is a minimum bar — it tells you someone has MLS access and agreed to a code of ethics. It doesn’t tell you they’re good at their job. Here’s how to evaluate:

1. Check their license. TREC has a public license lookup. Verify they’re licensed and in good standing.
2. Read reviews. Google, Zillow, HAR. Look at both quantity and recency — 40 reviews over 5 years is better than 5 reviews from 2019.
3. Ask about their service model. Full service or limited service? What exactly is included in their fee?
4. Ask who you’ll work with. The agent who pitches you or someone else? A team member or the listing broker directly?
5. Ask about commission. What’s the listing fee? What’s included? Are there additional charges? See lowest commission realtors in Houston for comparison.
6. Ask about communication. How often will you hear from them? How do they update you on showings and feedback?
7. Trust your gut. If they’re evasive about fees, vague about services, or more focused on getting your signature than answering your questions — move on.

Related Articles

• What Is MLS?
• Do Realtors Have to Pay for MLS?
• Discount Realtor Houston: Full-Service Listing for 1%
• How Realtor Commissions Are Split in Texas
• Who Pays Realtor Fees in Texas?
• How to Sell a House in Houston