What Are the Different Types of Real Estate Agents?

A real estate agent is a general term describing someone licensed to represent one or more parties in a real estate transaction.

To become licensed, all real estate agents must complete educational coursework, pass an exam, pay recurring fees to keep the license active, and be sponsored by a licensed real estate brokerage. The exact requirements vary by state.

While anyone holding a real estate sales license can technically represent you in any type of property transaction, some situations call for agents who specialize in particular areas or types of real estate.

This guide lays out the different types of real estate agents to help you understand your options and find the right fit for your situation.

What are the types of real estate agents?

Listing agent

A listing agent (also called a "seller's agent") represents you in the sale of your property.

Your listing agent is responsible for marketing your home and attracting offers, negotiating the best possible terms, and ensuring the deal actually closes.

"Listing agents represent the seller, so their job is to market the home in the best way possible to secure the highest possible offer from a buyer," explains Andrew Fortune, real estate brokerage owner and realtor at Great Colorado Homes. "There are many other things that a listing agent does, but this is their #1 priority."

When you decide to hire an agent, you'll sign a listing agreement. This contract establishes terms — including the services the agent will provide, how long the agent has the exclusive right to sell your property, and the commission fee.

Typically, you'll pay a listing agent a commission of 2.5–3% of the home's sale price, with the nationwide average commission rate at 2.88%.[1] But commissions are negotiable, and some agents offer rates as low as 1.5% while still providing full service.

It's almost always worth it to work with a listing agent when selling your home. Only 5% of sellers decide to sell without a realtor, mainly to avoid commission fees.[2]

While selling on your own might make sense in a few specific circumstances — like if you’re selling to a family member or have a lot of experience selling homes — it’s not a good idea for most homeowners. If you go that route, you risk doing a lot of work yourself only to walk away with less profit overall. Homes sold without an agent sell for $65,000 less on average.[2]

With an agent's expertise at pricing, marketing, and negotiating, you can maximize your sale price far beyond the cost of commission, making the fee well worth it.

Buyer's agent

A buyer's agent (also called a "selling agent") represents you in the purchase of a property.

Your buyer's agent will help you get all the pieces in place so you're ready to buy, identify prospective properties, set up and accompany you on tours, submit purchase offers, negotiate the best possible terms, and navigate the closing process.

"The buyer's agent's #1 job is to listen to what their clients want, then navigate them through the many twists and turns of buying a home to get their clients the best deal possible on the best home possible," says Fortune.

You'll sign a buyer agency agreement before your agent can show you homes. This contract establishes terms — including the services the agent will provide, how long the agent has the exclusive right to represent you, and the commission fee.

The buyer's agent fee is usually 2.5–3% of the home's final sale price, with the nationwide average at 2.82%.[1] While you're ultimately responsible for your agent's commission, the seller will usually cover it via a concession at closing.

Previously, sellers set the buyer's agent commission rate and advertised it in their MLS listings. But after the 2024 NAR lawsuit settlement, sellers can no longer advertise it on the MLS. Instead, buyers must sign a contract with their agent specifying the commission rate before the agent can provide services.[3] Some people thought these changes would mean that the practice of sellers paying the buyer's agent fee would change, but in reality, it hasn't.

Since the seller will likely pay your agent's fee, you don't have to weigh the costs of having an agent vs. the benefits the way sellers do. About 88% of buyers use an agent. Like other buyers, you may find an agent particularly helpful for understanding the home-buying process, pointing out property features and flaws you wouldn't have noticed otherwise, finding the right home, negotiating terms, and completing paperwork correctly.[2]

Dual agent

A dual agent represents both the seller and buyer in a single real estate transaction. This typically occurs when (1) a buyer without an agent approaches a listing agent directly at an open house or online or (2) an agent gets a new listing that's a good fit for a buyer they're already representing.

Agreeing to dual agency representation may offer some potential benefits to sellers and buyers.

Sellers may be able to save money if the agent agrees to reduce or waive the buyer's agent fee. And buyers who bring that opportunity for the seller could give their offer a competitive edge. More generally, dual agents can sometimes help both parties streamline the entire process and move faster.

"Dual agency can accelerate the process, but this is only possible if both parties are aware and seek independent advice on pricing and repairs," explains Daniel Cabrera, Owner and Founder of Sell My House Fast SA TX, who has personally bought and sold more than 300 homes.

But dual agency can also be risky. It sets up a potential conflict of interest, as it's difficult for one agent to objectively represent two opposing parties in a negotiation. You also run the risk of the agent sharing confidential information — inadvertently or purposefully — that could negatively affect your outcome with the other side.

"Agents need to balance the needs of both clients, which at times are at polar opposites," says Giulia Prestia, a real estate agent in Brooklyn, NY with Century 21 Realty First. "Most buyers do not understand, but it is absolutely the role of the agent to explain the pros and cons of dual agency to clients."

"The most common question I get is, 'Whose side are you on?' due to the limitation in negotiating advocacy," adds Cabrera. "Dual agency is fine for paperwork, not for hard bargaining. The best fit is low conflict, the worst fit is emotional."

Most states require agents to disclose dual agency up front or even get written consent. Others outlaw it altogether. Dual agency is currently banned in Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Oklahoma, Texas, Vermont, and Wyoming.

Real estate broker

A real estate broker is an agent who has advanced to a higher professional license. To obtain a broker license, an agent must have had a sales license for 2–3 years and complete additional coursework and an exam.[4] Exact requirements vary by state.

Licensed real estate brokers can work independently or open up their own brokerage firm and employ other agents. Lots of real estate professionals can call themselves "brokers" but may perform different duties day to day.

Generally, associate brokers and managing brokers are members of a brokerage and represent buyers and sellers, whereas designated brokers are the owners and focus on running the business.

“When [you] hire a real estate sales associate, broker associate, or broker of record, [you’re] essentially hiring the broker of record because the broker of record owns the listing,” says Justin Willard, the broker of record at Willard Realty Team. “If something goes wrong, the broker of record has the final say.”

Real estate brokers aren't inherently better than real estate agents. Plenty of successful, qualified agents simply don't want or need a broker's license. Choosing an agent is ultimately about whether they have the right experience and attitude for your needs, not about titles or designations.

Willard also emphasizes experience as the most important differentiator. “If you can hire somebody who is a broker associate over a sales associate, [you know] that they're definitely going to have at least more time in the fire, more experience [than a newer agent].”

Realtor

The term "Realtor" is often used interchangeably with "real estate agent" — like Kleenex and tissue — but a Realtor (capitalized) technically refers to a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). Approximately half of all active licensed agents in the U.S. are Realtors.[5][6]

Realtors pay annual dues, agree to abide by a Code of Ethics, and may have access to exclusive marketing and business development resources.

In practice, Realtors aren't that different from non-Realtor agents. Both hold the same sales license and can represent you in any real estate transaction. Ultimately, what matters most is the agent's experience, track record, and personality — not their title.

Similarly, Marisa Simonetti, CEO of Sell House Fast MN, says that “as far as actual buyer and seller outcomes, there is zero impact on [not having a] NAR membership for us due to combined years of experience in the market.”

Real estate agents with specialized skills or focus areas

In some cases, you may benefit from an agent who specializes in a certain area or service.

For example, if you're in pre-foreclosure or looking to invest in rental properties, you'd want an agent with extensive experience in those respective areas.

Sites like Zillow and Realtor.com allow you to search for agents and filter by specialization or certification. However, Zillow specializations aren't verified. Realtor.com allows you to filter by NAR certifications, which are arguably a more legit starting point, as they indicate the agent has completed additional coursework to achieve that certification.

These are some of the most common NAR certifications:

Discount real estate agent

Discount real estate agents offer lower commission rates for home sellers. Some also offer potential savings for buyers, like cash back.

Discount real estate brokers could help you save big on commission fees. But make sure you find one that offers full service. Otherwise, the trade-off is typically less dedicated service and support throughout your sale.

Limited-service real estate agent

If you only want help with certain aspects of your sale, a limited-service agent will typically let you purchase just the services you need — for example, help with pricing and listing on the MLS — and avoid paying for the ones you don't.

Limited service is usually better suited to experienced sellers with desirable homes in hot markets who don't feel strongly about personalized customer service and support.

"It's most important to use a full-service Realtor when you have a busy life and a family. Those people don't have the time or experience to get involved and ensure the transaction goes smoothly," says Fortune. "Investors are the best clients for limited-service agents because they can do some of the work and are typically already experienced buyers and sellers, buying and selling homes every few months. Most homeowners buy and sell every 5 years. That's not enough deals to be experienced with all the aspects of buying and selling real estate."

Limited-service agents can be an attractive option because of the significant savings. But many sellers end up getting burned if they underestimate how much experience and time are required to successfully sell a home. And many limited-service agents aren't significantly cheaper than full-service discount brokerages, but offer far less value.

How to find the right type of real estate agent for you

To find the right type of real estate agent, seek out someone with relevant experience.

An agent who specializes in luxury homes may not be the best fit for a first-time buyer, and someone with a strong sales record in one neighborhood may have little experience in another. When evaluating agents, look for someone who has recently handled transactions similar to yours in property type, location, and value.

One efficient way to find that match is to use a free agent-matching service like Clever Real Estate. These platforms ask a few questions about your needs and connect you with local agents whose experience is relevant to your situation — saving you the time of searching cold.

Plan to interview more than one agent before deciding. It's the most reliable way to gauge whether someone is actually the right fit for your needs.

"What your primary thing in trying to differentiate one agent from another is time in the fire. How many years have they been in the business? Because there's no substitution for time," emphasizes Willard. "Time teaches you everything. Because there's always something new to learn. Things are always evolving and changing, but you can always reflect back on past transactions when you have a pickle."

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