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

I really never get this question, but it is a question that all buyers and sellers should ask!

All Realtors® are real estate agents, but not all real estate agents are Realtors®.

In order to be a Realtor, a real estate agent needs to be a member of the National Association of Realtors. As a member of NAR, I must abide by a Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice which is not imposed on a real estate agent that is not a Realtor. I really appreciate the Code of Ethics. I know that sometimes there is a perception of real estate agents that is not always complimentary, but the Code of Ethics is what sets me apart–a very tangible guarantee that my clients will receive the utmost integrity and honesty in the work that I do for them.

The Realtors that I know and work with on a daily basis are ethical, hard-working, and compassionate. They take their moral and ethical obligations towards their clients and their fellow Realtors very seriously simply because that is who they are as people. If you are ever thinking of buying or selling a home and want to know that the real estate agent you are working with will abide by not only the letter of the law but the spirit of the law and be held to a Code of Ethics, then make sure you choose a Realtor!