a real estate agent who is a member of the National Association of Realtors
"The local realtor helped us navigate the complex paperwork to sell our home quickly."
A person or business that sells or leases out real estate, acting as an agent for the property owner.
"The local Realtor helped us find a new house and handled all the paperwork to lease it from the original owner."
In plain English: A realtor is someone who helps people buy and sell houses for money.
"My friend hired a realtor to help her sell her house quickly."
Usage: A realtor is specifically a licensed real estate broker who belongs to the National Association of Realtors and adheres to its code of ethics, whereas any professional selling homes can be called a real estate agent. Use this term when referring to agents with that specific membership status rather than using it as a generic synonym for anyone in the industry.
The word "realtor" was coined in 1916 by Charles N. Chadbourn as a specific term for licensed agents who are members of the National Association of Realtors. It combines the prefix "real," referring to real estate, with the suffix "-or" used to denote an agent or professional.