Reviewed by Casa Academy and updated July 29, 2026 using the current DBPR checklist and Pearson VUE scheduling guidance.
Seller's Agent vs Buyer's Agent
A seller's agent (listing agent) represents the owner's interests in marketing and negotiating the sale, while a buyer's agent represents the purchaser's interests in property search, offer strategy, and closing, with distinct fiduciary duties owed to each respective client.
Exam context
Seller's agent represents owner; buyer's agent represents purchaser. Dual agency needs disclosed consent. Fiduciary duties include loyalty and confidentiality to the client represented.
Duties and compensation
Listing agents owe loyalty, disclosure, obedience, accounting, and reasonable skill to the seller. Buyer's agents owe the same duties to the buyer. Compensation often flows from seller-paid cooperative commission in MLS transactions, but buyer representation agreements may specify hourly or success fees. Agents must clarify who they represent before sharing confidential information.
Dual and designated agency
When one brokerage represents both parties, informed written consent to dual agency is required in most states, limiting advocacy on price and terms. Designated agency assigns different licensees within the firm to each side. Subagency is largely obsolete. License exams test prohibited actions such as sharing a buyer's maximum price with the seller without consent.
Examples
Buyer representation
A buyer signs an exclusive buyer agency agreement. Their agent shows competing listings and advises offering $5,000 below list based on comparable sales without disclosing the buyer's top budget to sellers.
Listing focus
A seller's agent markets a home, negotiates multiple offers, and recommends accepting the highest net proceeds after reviewing contingencies and closing dates.
Keep studying
Related terms
- Dual agencyOne firm representing both buyer and seller.
- Exclusive agencyListing agreement type defining seller representation.
Related resources
- Free exam prep
Practice related licensing questions with instant feedback.
- Real estate glossary hub
Browse all published national glossary entries.
- Florida exam topic hub
Florida-specific explainers and question sets for this topic area.
Sources
- NAR: agency relationships(National Association of Realtors)