Short answerIn Indiana, everyone licensed to sell real estate holds a broker license; the separate salesperson license ended in 2014. A managing broker supervises other brokers at a firm. A REALTOR® is a licensee who belongs to the National Association of REALTORS® and agrees to follow its Code of Ethics.
The terms side by side
| Term | What it means in Indiana |
|---|---|
| Real estate agent | A common, informal name for anyone licensed to help buy or sell real estate. |
| Broker | The license every Indiana real estate licensee holds. Indiana ended the salesperson license on July 1, 2014. |
| Managing broker | A broker with added education and experience who supervises the brokers at a firm. |
| Brokerage or firm | The company a broker works under. Agreements are with the brokerage, signed by the broker. |
| REALTOR® | A licensee who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and its state and local associations, bound by its Code of Ethics. |
Does the title change what you get?
Every Indiana licensee owes duties set by state law. Membership as a REALTOR® adds the Code of Ethics and access to association forms and the local MLS. What matters most is the person's knowledge of your market and how they handle the hard parts of a deal.
I am John Long, a REALTOR® and broker with 1 Percent Lists Indiana Real Estate.
Frequently asked questions
Is REALTOR® just another word for agent?
No. It is a membership mark for members of the National Association of REALTORS®. Not every licensee is a member.
Can an Indiana broker work alone?
A broker must be affiliated with a firm and supervised under its managing broker, unless the broker is the managing broker of their own firm.
Keep reading
Want to know what a buyer's inspector may find before they do?
Book a free pre listing condition walk. I walk the house with you, point out what inspectors and FHA, VA, and USDA appraisers tend to flag, and give you planning ranges so you can decide what to fix, credit, price in, or disclose.
Book a condition walkOr call or text (812) 525-5489, or email john@yourpropertynegotiator.com.
The condition walk is a REALTOR® and contractor evaluation, not a home inspection, and it does not replace one. If you have already signed a listing agreement with another agent, please take these questions to your agent.
Looking at a house and not sure what you are getting into?
Ask for a free Before You Offer review. Send me the listing. I look over the photos, the seller's disclosure, and recent sales, then flag likely condition issues and planning cost ranges before you write an offer.
Request a Before You Offer reviewOr call or text (812) 525-5489, or email john@yourpropertynegotiator.com.
The Before You Offer review is a REALTOR® and contractor review of the listing, not a home inspection. It is for buyers who are not already working with an agent. If you have an agent, please bring these questions to your agent.
Sources
- Indiana Code 25-34.1-10, Real Estate Agency Relationships
- Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, Real Estate Commission
- National Association of REALTORS®, Code of Ethics
Written by John Long, REALTOR®, 1 Percent Lists Indiana Real Estate. Working contractor who has priced hundreds of home inspection repair requests. Former labor relations negotiator for a major manufacturer and U.S. Coast Guard veteran.
John Long, REALTOR® · 1 Percent Lists Indiana Real Estate · (812) 525-5489 · yourpropertynegotiator.com
This page is general information, not a substitute for a professional home inspection, and not legal, tax, insurance, or lending advice. Ask a real estate attorney about contracts and disclosure, a CPA about taxes, your lender about loan rules, and a licensed inspector or tradesperson about your house. Nothing here guarantees a sale price, net proceeds, repair cost, payment, timeline, appraisal, inspection result, or loan approval. Cost figures are planning estimates, not bids. I own Wardmark Property Operations LLC, a contracting company. You are always free to use any contractor you choose.