What is a Realtor?
A realtor is a professional designation for a real estate broker who has membership in the National Association of Realtors (or NAR).
How Does a Realtor Work?
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 Does a Realtor Matter?
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.