Real Estate Brokerage Info Sheet
Key Concepts
- A real estate brokerage is a company that employs licensed real estate agents to help clients buy, sell, and rent properties.
- Real estate brokerages are responsible for supervising and training their agents, and ensuring that all transactions are conducted ethically and legally.
- A real estate broker is a licensed professional who has additional training and qualifications beyond those required of a real estate agent. Brokers can open their own brokerages and hire agents to work for them.
- The commission for real estate transactions is typically split between the brokerage and the agent; the exact percentage can vary depending on a number of factors.
Definitions
- Real estate brokerage: A company that employs licensed real estate agents to help clients buy, sell, and rent properties.
- Real estate agent: A licensed professional who works for a real estate brokerage and helps clients buy, sell, and rent properties.
- Real estate broker: A licensed professional who has additional training and qualifications beyond those required of a real estate agent. Brokers can open their own brokerages and hire agents to work for them.
- Commission: The fee paid to the brokerage and the agent for a real estate transaction, usually a percentage of the sale price.
- Dual agency: When a real estate agent represents both the buyer and the seller in a transaction. This is legal in some states but prohibited in others.
- Fiduciary duty: The legal obligation of a real estate agent to act in the best interests of their client and disclose all relevant information about the transaction.
- Multiple listing service (MLS): A database of properties for sale that is used by real estate agents and brokerages to find homes for their clients.
Important Information
- Real estate brokerages are required to have a broker-in-charge who is responsible for overseeing the activities of the agents.
- Real estate agents are required to complete a certain number of hours of pre-licensing education and pass a state licensing exam.
- Brokers are required to have additional training and experience beyond what is required of agents, and often have more responsibility within the brokerage.
- Dual agency can present a conflict of interest and is illegal in some states.
- It is important for real estate agents to disclose all relevant information about a property to their clients, including any known defects or issues.
- The commission for a real estate transaction is negotiable, but is typically around 5-6% of the sale price.
- The MLS is a valuable tool for real estate agents and brokerages to find homes for their clients, and is often a key selling point for clients who want their home to be listed on the service.
Summary
- Real estate brokerages are companies that employ licensed real estate agents to help clients buy, sell, and rent properties.
- Agents and brokers have different levels of education and experience, with brokers often having more responsibility within the brokerage.
- Dual agency can present a conflict of interest and is illegal in some states.
- It is important for real estate agents to act in the best interests of their clients and disclose all relevant information about a property.
- The commission for a real estate transaction is negotiable and typically split between the brokerage and the agent.
- The MLS is a valuable tool for real estate agents and brokerages to find homes for their clients.