REAL TipS: BUYING

Is my agent a Texas REALTOR®?

If you plan to buy a home in the near future, finding a REALTOR® is key to ensuring your interests are protected and your headaches are minimized. According to the Texas Real Estate Commission, there are approximately 110,000 active licensed real estate brokers and agents in Texas. Of those, nearly 85,000 are Texas REALTORS®. But how do you know which agents are also REALTORS®, and why should it matter?

A person who is licensed with the Texas Real Estate Commission can legally sell real estate in Texas, but that alone does not qualify someone as a Texas REALTOR®. Only membership in the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) permits real estate agents to use the trademarked term REALTOR®. All Texas REALTORS® are members of NAR, the Texas Association of REALTORS®, and the vast majority are members of a local association of REALTORS®. The glaring difference between a licensed real estate professional who is a REALTOR® and one who is not is that an agent is simply licensed to sell real estate in the state, while those agents who choose to become REALTORS® are additionally bound by a strict code of ethics and must maintain a level of integrity and professionalism as required by their association membership.

How do you know if your real estate agent is a Texas REALTOR®? Simply ask.

Texas Association of Realtors®