Realtor

What It Is:

A realtor is a professional designation for a real estate broker who has membership in the National Association of Realtors (or NAR).

How It Works/Example:

Real estate agents must be certified members of the NAR in order to bear the title "realtor." Realtors work for real estate agencies affiliated with the NAR and act in a brokerage capacity, bringing together buyers and sellers in the real estate market.

To illustrate, suppose a family wishes to purchase a home. The family meets with a realtor who then inquires about the type of home they are looking for and then researches among currently available homes. Following this, the realtor shows a family some homes they may want to consider purchasing based on what they are looking for and what is currently available.

Why It Matters:

Realtors, as professional members of the National Association of Realtors (NAR), are centrally certified to broker home sales and purchases following a code of professional standards, ensuring clients that they can expect a high level of professionalism and integrity.