Understanding the Difference Between a Realtor & a Real Estate Agent Definition of Realtor and Real Estate agent What is a realtor? A realtor, or licensed professional, is a person who acts as an intermediator between buyers of real property and sellers. They are members of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and must adhere to a strict code of ethics. Real estate professionals are licensed, but not necessarily NAR-members. Real estate agents and realtors both help clients buy or sell property, but realtors also have access to more resources and opportunities for networking. One key difference between a realtor