REALTOR, Agent, Broker – What’s the difference?
Updated 06/2025.
Confused by titles: real estate agent, Broker, Principal Broker? Not sure which to hire? If you’re new to the Portland real estate market, don’t worry – it’s not as confusing as it seems.
Broker vs. Real Estate Agent
Here in Oregon, they are the functionally the same, but a Broker is the proper term and official license title. There is only one license in Oregon for real estate agents (those helping clients buy and sell real estate), called a Broker license.
The term “real estate agent” is often used because it is common vernacular. People nationwide readily understand the term more often than Broker, and Broker is a title often used in other industries which can create additional confusion.
Brokers in the state of Oregon must complete 150+ hours of training, which covers everything from real estate law and finance to property management and negotiation skills. (Read our comprehensive guide on getting your Oregon real estate broker’s license.) Once licensed, they must fulfill continuing education requirements.
In Oregon, you will find two types of Brokers, regular Brokers and Principal Brokers. We will explain both in a minute.
REALTOR® vs. Broker
A REALTOR® is a Broker or licensed real estate agent who’s a member of the National Association of Realtors, the trade association that governs real estate agent education and employs the branded, all-caps title for its members. Only licensed real estate agents (some states use different titles than Broker) can become REALTORS®, and the vast majority are. The title is important because it distinguishes professionals from the rest of the field by requiring them to adhere to a strict Code of Ethics.
In Portland, Oregon Brokers who are REALTORS® are part of the Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors (PMAR) or the East Metro Association of Realtors (EMAR), which by default makes them part of both the state of Oregon Association of Realtors (OAR) and the overarching National Association of Realtors. That’s a lot of associations, but it provides the public with a lot of safeguards and provides the REALTORS with a lot of different levels of support and guidance. The only downside for a REALTOR, perhaps, is that they have to pay each association a fee to maintain their membership.
There are roughly 9,300 REALTORS® in the Portland metro area by the last count. The NAR, or National Association of REALTORS, works hard to promote home-ownership across the country and provides education and support to all of its 1+ million members.
Broker vs. Principal Broker
Principal Brokers are Brokers in Oregon who have worked under a Principal Broker for at least three years and passed a more advanced licensing exam. The Principal Broker license is like an upgraded version of the same Broker license. A Principal Broker license designation is required to supervise other Brokers, and is generally the reason why a Broker would obtain the license upgrade. However, there are a couple of other reasons a Broker may choose to upgrade their license to Principal Broker and still choose not to supervise other Brokers. For example, a Realty company licensed with the state, may in fact, be composed of a single Principal Broker and no other licensed real estate agents, but for that Realty company to exist and be licensed with the state, they must have at least one Principal Broker in their roster. Other Brokers may simply want the extra education and to challenge themselves with the additional advanced exam. Bottom line, a Principal Broker is a more advanced license, but it does not necessitate the supervision of other Brokers.
A Principal Broker’s license does not necessarily mean that they will sell your home better or faster, it means they took additional education courses and passed a more advanced exam. If a real estate agent has little desire to be an administrator over other Brokers and has more desire to focus on helping clients buy and sell homes, they may choose not to pursue a Principal Broker’s license. However, team leaders over other Brokers, as well as the heads of licensed Realty companies, are typically required to hold a Principal Broker’s license.
The most important factor to consider when selecting a Broker is that you trust them and they have a proven track record, supported by written, verifiable reviews and referrals from former clients. They should also be in good standing with the Oregon Real Estate Agency (the state regulatory board) and members of the National Association of REALTORS.
How will you know? It’s quick to look up a real estate agent by first and last name by going to the Oregon Real Estate Agency government website. Check to see if the agent or broker’s license is current, which Principal Broker they work with, and if there are any disciplinary actions on their record.
There are many other helpful things to consider when choosing a licensed real estate agent to work for you, whether you are buying or selling a property. We’ve collected years of advice on that topic and posted it here: How do you pick a Realtor?
Other Names for Real Estate Agents
There may be different names for Brokers depending on the region. For example, all real estate agents in Washington state are Brokers, just like in Oregon, but the supervising broker in Washington is licensed as a Managing Broker, whereas in Oregon, it is called a Principal Broker.
There are no alternative terms for Realtors – a Realtor is a Realtor. They must be members of this national association and adhere to its code of ethics; otherwise, they’re not a Realtor.
In some states, there are real estate salespersons or real estate sales associates who may hold a different license designation; however, these positions and licenses don’t exist in Oregon or Washington currently.
Worked with an Experienced Principal Broker
Licensed since 2003, my small team has completed over 2,000 home sales. Our experienced, top-selling Realtors (sellers agents) charge less than average commission and pay more to market our clients’ homes so they sell faster and for more. Our top buying Realtors (buyers agents) have helped hundreds of local home buyers find their next best match and are laser-focused on buyer needs. We’d love to connect with you! Whether you’re thinking of buying or selling a home, chat with the bot on this site or give us a call today at 503-714-1111.
