The Professional Who Finds Your Home.
A REALTOR® is your guide through the buying or selling process — searching the market, advising on price, negotiating offers and keeping the paperwork on track. This page explains what a REALTOR® does, why registration matters and how your real estate agent works alongside your mortgage agent to keep a purchase moving smoothly.
What a REALTOR® does
Buying or selling a home involves dozens of moving parts. A REALTOR® manages them on your behalf.
For buyers, your REALTOR® searches listings against your budget, neighbourhood and must-haves, arranges viewings and helps you compare options objectively.
Using recent comparable sales and local market knowledge, a REALTOR® helps buyers judge whether a home is fairly priced and helps sellers set a listing price that reflects current conditions.
Whether you are making an offer or reviewing one, your REALTOR® handles the back-and-forth on price, conditions, deposit and closing date, and explains the trade-offs so you can decide with confidence.
From the agreement of purchase and sale to conditions, waivers and disclosure documents, a REALTOR® keeps buyers and sellers organized and on top of deadlines through to closing.
Why registration matters
In Ontario, real estate salespeople and brokers must be registered and are regulated by the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO). The title "REALTOR®" is a trademark used by members who belong to their professional association and agree to a code of ethics — it is not simply another word for a salesperson.
Working with a registered professional means there are standards, insurance and a complaints process behind the person you are trusting with one of the largest transactions of your life. You can learn more about the regulator, deposit protection and how registration works on our RECO overview.
REALTOR® + mortgage agent
Your real estate agent and Paul work toward the same goal — a purchase that closes without surprises.
Financing before you shop
A common first step is speaking with a mortgage agent before you start viewing homes. Getting pre-approved helps clarify a realistic price range and shows sellers you are a serious buyer when it comes time to make an offer. A pre-approval is a preliminary review — it is not a commitment to lend, and any final mortgage decision rests with the lender based on the borrower, the property, documentation and lender guidelines.
Aligning conditions and closing
Once you have an accepted offer, your REALTOR® and Paul coordinate the details that matter to your financing — the financing condition and its timeline, any appraisal the lender may require, and the closing date that flows to your lawyer. Keeping everyone aligned helps conditions get satisfied on schedule and reduces last-minute stress before closing.
Related pages
About RECO
Who regulates real estate professionals in Ontario and how consumers are protected.
Professional Partners
The wider team — lawyers, appraisers, inspectors and more — behind a smooth purchase.
Buying a Home
A step-by-step overview of the home-buying process from search to closing.
Pre-Approval
Why a pre-approval helps you shop with a clear budget and make offers with confidence.
Have a REALTOR® or need financing first?
Get pre-approved so you're ready to make an offer.