A real estate agent is anyone licensed to help people buy, sell, or lease property. A Realtor is a licensed agent or broker who has also joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and agreed to follow its Code of Ethics — "Realtor" is actually a registered trademark, not a job title. And in Indiana specifically, "broker" is the state's official license name for what most other states call an "agent," which is why nearly every licensed Indiana real estate professional you meet technically holds a broker's license, even if they introduce themselves as your "agent." Here's how those three terms actually break down, and why it's worth knowing the difference before you hire someone to represent you.

What Does "Real Estate Agent" Actually Mean?

"Real estate agent" is the everyday, generic term for anyone who holds a state real estate license and is legally allowed to represent buyers or sellers in a transaction. It's not a specific license type — it's shorthand people use in conversation. Every state requires its own license, typically earned through pre-licensing education, a state exam, and ongoing continuing education. The agent's license lets them show homes, write offers, and negotiate on your behalf, but it doesn't by itself say anything about which professional association they belong to or what level of license they hold.

Indiana's Licensing Quirk: Why Everyone's a "Broker" Here

This is where Indiana trips people up. Since Indiana overhauled its real estate licensing statute (Indiana Code § 25-34.1) in 2014, the state stopped using the term "salesperson" or "agent" as an official license category. Instead, what most states call an agent's license, Indiana calls a broker license — issued and regulated by the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA) through the Indiana Real Estate Commission. So if you see "Broker" on someone's business card or yard sign in Westfield, Carmel, or Noblesville, that doesn't necessarily mean they run their own brokerage — in Indiana, it's simply the standard license every practicing real estate professional holds.

What Makes Someone a Realtor?

Not every licensed agent or broker is a Realtor. "Realtor" is a registered trademark of the National Association of REALTORS®, and it's reserved exclusively for licensees who pay dues to join NAR (and, locally, their state and county Realtor associations) and agree to abide by NAR's Code of Ethics — a set of professional and ethical standards that goes beyond baseline state licensing requirements. Practically speaking, most active agents and brokers in the Indianapolis-area market are Realtors, because MLS access typically runs through a local Realtor association. But the two terms aren't legally synonymous, and only NAR members should use the capitalized, trademarked term.

Managing Broker vs. Broker: Who's in Charge?

Within Indiana's system, there's a second tier above the standard broker license: the managing broker. A managing broker has completed additional education and exam requirements beyond the standard broker license and is legally responsible for supervising every broker working under their brokerage. Every Indiana real estate brokerage must have a managing broker of record. So when Jason Kraus is described as "Broker/Owner" of REMAX Advanced Realty, that reflects both his ownership of the brokerage and his managing-broker-level responsibility for the agents working under it.

Why This Matters When You're Buying or Selling in Hamilton County

For a buyer or seller, the practical takeaway is less about the label and more about what it signals. A Realtor designation means the person you're working with has agreed to a formal code of ethics and typically has full MLS access — important for pricing accuracy and market data. A managing broker's oversight means there's a licensed professional accountable for how the brokerage's agents handle your transaction. And in Indiana, since "broker" doesn't automatically mean "owns the company," it's always fair to simply ask directly: are you a Realtor, and who's your managing broker? Any professional worth hiring will answer both questions without hesitation.

Frequently asked questions

Is a Realtor better than a regular real estate agent?
Not automatically, but a Realtor has agreed to NAR's Code of Ethics and typically has full access to the local MLS, which most agents rely on for accurate, up-to-date listing and sales data. It's one useful signal among several — track record and local market knowledge matter just as much.

Do I have to work with a Realtor, or can I use any licensed agent?
You can legally work with any agent or broker who holds a valid Indiana real estate license, Realtor or not. Most active professionals in the Hamilton County market are Realtors, but licensing (not NAR membership) is what's legally required to represent you.

What's a managing broker, and will I ever deal with one directly?
A managing broker supervises all the agents at a brokerage and is legally responsible for their conduct. You may not interact with them directly during your transaction, but they're the person accountable if something goes wrong at the brokerage level.

How do I check if my agent is a Realtor?
Ask them directly, or check their listing on their local Realtor association's website or the National Association of REALTORS® membership directory.

Does the MOVE Group at REMAX Advanced Realty work as Realtors?
Yes. Jason Kraus and the MOVE Group hold active Indiana real estate broker licenses and are Realtors, members of their local and national Realtor associations.

For more on the buying process, see our guides to Hamilton County, IN Real Estate, Top Realtor in Westfield, IN, and Buyer's Agent in Westfield, IN.

Whether you're buying your first home or your fifth, it's worth working with a licensed, Realtor-affiliated agent who's transparent about their credentials and their brokerage's oversight. If you're planning a move in Westfield, Carmel, Noblesville, or anywhere else in Hamilton County, reach out — we're happy to walk you through exactly who you'd be working with and why it matters.

Jason Kraus, Broker/Owner, REMAX Advanced Realty — MOVE Group, Hamilton County's dedicated local team headquartered in Westfield.