Realtor, agent, broker — most people use these words like they mean the same thing. They don’t, and the difference matters when you’re trusting someone with the biggest transaction of your life.
Agent vs. broker: what’s the difference?
A real estate agent is licensed to help people buy and sell, but must work under a supervising broker. A broker has completed additional education, logged years of experience, and passed the broker licensing exam — and can operate independently.
I’m a Principal Broker, which means I own and run my own brokerage, Gina Lee Realty. Every transaction carries my name and my responsibility. No hand-off, no junior agent learning on your deal.
What a broker owes you
In Texas, a broker owes clients fiduciary duties: loyalty, obedience, disclosure, confidentiality, accounting, and reasonable care. In plain language — I work for your interests, I tell you everything material I know, and your information stays private.
How brokers get paid (and what’s changed)
Since the NAR settlement, commissions work differently than they used to: everything is negotiable, and everything is in writing before we start. I’ll show you exactly how compensation works, who pays what, and what your options are — no surprises at the closing table.
Why it matters in practice
When an inspection finds foundation issues, when an appraisal comes in $30,000 low, when a builder tries to keep your earnest money — that’s when you find out what your representation was worth. A broker who’s negotiated hundreds of these moments doesn’t panic. We solve.
If you want a broker who treats your money like her own, let’s talk.
📞 Call or text: (214) 790-3190
💬 KakaoTalk: scan the QR code on my homepage
— Gina Lee, Principal Broker, Gina Lee Realty