Licensee vs. REALTOR® vs. ABR®: 3 Key Differences Between Real Estate Agents

Not All Agents Are the Same3 Key Differences That Change Your Buy

Real estate terminology can be confusing — and sometimes you have to unlearn what you thought you knew, starting with the word "REALTOR®." Here's how a licensee, a REALTOR®, and an Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABR®) actually differ, and why it matters for your homebuying experience.

Three Levels of Real Estate Professionals

Each level builds on the one before it. Everyone starts as a licensee; some become REALTORS®; and a smaller group go further to specialize in representing buyers. That last step is the one that most directly affects you.

Level1

Real Estate Licensee

The licensed foundation

All real estate agents must be licensed. Each state sets its own requirements for the minimum number of education hours, and before receiving a license, agents must pass an exam covering national, state, and local real estate laws, standards, and practices.

After passing the exam and affiliating with a brokerage, a licensee can begin representing buyers and sellers in property transactions. It's a real, regulated credential — but it's the baseline, not the ceiling.

Level2

REALTOR®

A higher ethical standard

In addition to being licensed, REALTORS® adhere to higher standards. The term REALTOR® is a registered trademark that can only be used by active members of the National Association of REALTORS® — the largest trade association in the U.S., with over 1.5 million members.

This matters to homebuyers because REALTORS® abide by a strict Code of Ethics and Professional Standards — duties that exceed state licensing law and help ensure fair, honest treatment for all parties. Curious what to ask before you commit? See questions to ask a buyer's rep.

Best for buyers

Level3

Accredited Buyer's Representative · ABR®

Specialized in representing you

Some REALTORS® develop deeper expertise by completing additional education and earning credentials in specialized areas — including buyer representation. To earn the ABR® designation, a REALTOR® must complete several courses and demonstrate prior experience representing buyers.

The training emphasizes fiduciary-level standards — good faith, loyalty, and careful attention to a buyer's needs — along with a deep familiarity with the buyer's side of a deal. In plain terms, an ABR® brings specialized buyer expertise to your purchase. (Exactly what a broker owes you in New Mexico is worth understanding too — see what your broker owes you.) A great place to start is mapping out your priorities together — see topics to discuss with your buyer's rep.

A New Mexico note

Here's a local quirk worth knowing: New Mexico doesn't issue a "salesperson" or "agent" license — every licensee is technically a "broker" (an associate broker working under a qualifying broker). So the word on a business card tells you less than you'd think. What actually matters is the training behind it and the type of brokerage relationship. In New Mexico, most brokerages — including ours — work as transaction brokers, a non-fiduciary relationship that still carries a real set of Broker Duties; a full agency relationship is used only in specific situations. Want the details? See what your broker owes you. New here? Start with our first-time homebuyer tips or the full homebuyer's toolkit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a real estate agent and a REALTOR®?

Every REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional, but not every licensed agent is a REALTOR®. The term REALTOR® is a registered trademark reserved for active members of the National Association of REALTORS®, who agree to abide by a strict Code of Ethics and Professional Standards that go beyond state licensing law. The difference isn't the license — it's the additional ethical commitment to treat all parties fairly and honestly.

What does the ABR® designation mean for me as a buyer?

ABR® stands for Accredited Buyer's Representative — an official designation conferred by the Center for REALTOR® Development. REALTORS® earn it by completing additional coursework and demonstrating real experience representing buyers. The training emphasizes fiduciary-level standards — good faith, loyalty, and a buyer-first focus — so an ABR® brings specialized expertise to working with buyers. It reflects training and competence; the specific duties you're owed also depend on your brokerage relationship, which in New Mexico is often a transaction-broker relationship.

Does every real estate agent automatically represent the buyer's interests?

Not automatically — and in New Mexico, representation works a bit differently than many people expect. Every licensee owes a baseline set of statutory Broker Duties to all parties, plus added duties to the party they're directly serving (such as not revealing a buyer's top price to the seller). Most New Mexico brokerages, including ours, work as transaction brokers — a non-fiduciary relationship that still carries those duties — and use a full agency relationship only in specific situations, in writing. The best way to know exactly what you're owed is to talk it through early.

Is Laurel Brandi a REALTOR® and an ABR®?

Yes. Laurel Brandi is a REALTOR® with the ABR® (Accredited Buyer's Representative), SRS®, and GREEN® designations, serving buyers throughout Las Cruces and southern New Mexico through New Mexico Properties. Because her focus is first-time buyers, relocators, and upsizers, buyer representation is the heart of her practice — not an afterthought.