If you're looking for help with your home sale or purchase, you may be wondering if hiring a real estate agent vs. a broker could impact your results. In most cases, the title doesn't matter. Instead, you'll want to focus on who has the most relevant experience.
Below, we clarify how each role influences your transaction and how to choose the best professional to represent you.
Real estate broker vs. agent meaning
A real estate agent is a professional who is licensed to help you buy or sell a home.
A real estate broker has an advanced license that typically requires a few years of experience and further education. A broker can also help you buy or sell a home, and they can run a brokerage and manage other agents.
Agents must work under a broker. Brokers can work independently. The broker who runs a brokerage — known as the designated broker or broker of record — is ultimately responsible for every transaction that happens there, even if you're working with an agent day to day.
“Essentially, all the agents are subcontractors,” explains Justin Willard, principal broker of Willard Realty Team in South Florida. “When my agents procure listings, they’re actually binding me to service the client. … Whether you hire a real estate [agent] … or the broker of record, you’re essentially hiring the broker of record, because that person owns the listing.”
A broker of record often has the most experience and knowledge, as they run the business and oversee their agents. However, Willard notes that many brokers of record don’t have time to take listings or handle sales themselves unless their business is small.
Why the broker vs. agent difference usually won't affect you
For most home sales and purchases, the title of the person you hire matters less than you might expect. Here's why:
- Your day-to-day experience will likely look the same either way. You typically work with an agent directly while the designated broker oversees the transaction behind the scenes. If a broker works with you directly, the process feels very similar to working with an agent.
- Both can help you successfully buy or sell a home. Agents and brokers can access the same MLS listings, market your property or search for homes on your behalf, and negotiate offers and navigate contracts. While the designated broker is ultimately responsible for your transaction, this oversight happens in the background. Most buyers and sellers never need to interact with them directly.
- Both can be highly experienced and provide excellent — or poor — service. Brokers are required to have more training, but that doesn't mean they're automatically more experienced. Agents can range from brand-new to highly experienced. Either can deliver great results or fall short, so focus on the factors that actually predict a good outcome, like local market knowledge and recent transaction history.
- You'll likely pay a similar commission regardless of who you hire. Both agents and brokers typically charge a commission rate of around 2.5–3% of the home's sale price. A broker-owner may be slightly more open to negotiating the commission since they don't have to split it with anyone (like agents who work under brokers do). But they're still responsible for covering the firm's overhead, so they may not discount their services.
When the broker vs. agent distinction might matter more
The differences between a broker and an agent matter most when problems arise or when you have a complex transaction and your agent needs guidance.
For example, if a home has an open code violation, the listing agent may check in with the broker of record to confirm what needs to be disclosed, how the issue should be described in the listing, and whether the home will be sold as-is.
Code violations can impact financing, inspections, and closing timelines, so involving the broker of record helps reduce legal risk and avoid surprises. The broker of record may also consult a real estate attorney to ensure everything is handled correctly under state law.
“The buck stops with the broker of record, not with the [agent]. If something goes wrong, the broker of record has the final say,” says Willard.
However, experienced agents manage many issues independently. Newer agents might seek guidance for negotiating inspection repairs or structuring seller concessions, while seasoned agents are often comfortable handling routine negotiations and paperwork without extra oversight.
The bottom line: Focus less on titles, more on fit and experience
Both brokers and agents can deliver excellent service and results, regardless of title. Willard encourages clients to focus on experience, number of closed transactions, and local market knowledge when searching for the right agent. Specialized certificates and designations can be helpful, but only when paired with proven experience.
Interviewing at least two or three agents is the most reliable way to determine the best fit. If you’re unsure where to start, consider free services like Clever Real Estate. Clever matches you with vetted, top-rated local agents you can interview with no obligation to move forward.
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