Expert: Hans Weber, Licensed Broker Associate - 10/25/2008

Question
what's the difference between a RE agent, RE Broker, Associate Broker, RE salesperson and licensed RE assistant? Wwhat can a RE agent do, and not do?  

Answer
Hello William,

Thank you for your question.

A real estate agent/salesperson in New York has taken a state licensing course and passed it and then taken the state exam and passed it and then their license is associated with a real estate broker's office.  This agent/salesperson then does real estate business under the brokerage license of the broker who is responsible for this agent's actions.

A real estate broker has been a real estate agent for over a year and has had successful completed real estate transactions and then takes the New York State real estate broker's licensing course and passed it and then passed the state test.  This process upgrades the agent/salesperson license to a broker's license.  If this person stays with their previous real state broker's office they become an Associate Broker, as their broker's license is "associated" with the broker's office.

However, after passing the broker's course and exam the individual is a licensed broker and can open thier own real estate brokerage office and do business on their own and take in real estate agents to work under their broekrage license.

A licensed assistant is any of the above that may wish to work for/assist another agent/broker in their daily activities, usually on salary.

A real estate agent's license entitles them to practice real estate sales for compensation.

Hope this helps you.

Hans