Real estate agent vs Realtor...What's the difference? Real Estate agents are licensed to help the public buy and sell real estate. Realtor is a trademarked term for a real estate agent who is a member of the National Association of Realtors and licensed to help the public buy and sell real estate. Basically we pay a yearly preimum to be held to a higher ethical standard of practice. I equate it to the Doctors oath, "do no harm". We are basically super heros in pant suits! It