What is the difference between a real estate licensee
and a Realtor®?

Someone who has a real estate license is not necessary a Realtor®. In order to use the Realtor® trademark, you have to belong to a Board of Realtors®. When you join a local Board of Realtors®, you also join the state Board of Realtors and the National Board of Realtors®. Realtors® have a stringent Code of Ethics they must abide by. Real Estate Licensees do not.

Belonging to a Board of Realtors®, gives you the ability to put your listings on a Multiple Listing Service (MLS) as long as it is an Exclusive Authorization to Sell Listing. There are many benefits to the MLS. It requires all the pertinent information be gathered in a uniform manner. It allows all the Realtors® to have easy access to all the listed properties so they can easily help their Buyers in finding the right property. It is a wonderful tool for Appraisers to see what has been sold when working on an appraisal. It is also a great tool for the general public to be able to search for property right from their computer.

Whenever listings are put on a MLS, they are automatically put on www.realtor.com. This is the only way listings can show up on that website. So, if you want to search for properties anywhere in the United States, just go to www.realtor.com, put in the zip code and any other search items you prefer, and you will have access to all the properties listed on the MLS.

Please see “Why work with a Realtor®” to guide you on why you should chose just one Realtor® to work for you instead of calling the individual Realtor® on each property.