Understanding the Difference between a Realtor and Real Estate Agent Definition of a Realtor and Real Estate Agent What is a Realtor, exactly? A realtor, or licensed professional, is a person who acts as an intermediator between buyers of real property and sellers. They are also members of the National Association of Realtors. Real estate brokers, on the contrary, are licensed professionals and are not required to be members of the NAR. Both realtors and real estate agents help clients buy, sell, or rent properties, but realtors have access to additional resources and networking opportunities. A realtor is different from