Listing Agent

A listing agent is a real estate agent who represents a seller in a real estate transaction. Also known as a "selling agent" or "seller's agent." The name "listing agent" is derived from the fact that one of their roles is to add new properties to the list of for sale houses that is shared amongst co-operating real estate brokerages. Back in the day, the lists lived in physical books; today they're found in Multiple Listings Service (MLS) databases.

While real estate agents can handle both sides of a real estate transaction (work for a buyer or a seller or both), a listing agent concentrates their business in selling (listing) homes and is the authority to negotiate the sale of the home on behalf of the home owner.

A real estate agent who lists a home for sale has a legal and binding contract to secure a ready, willing, and able buyer. This contract also provides that the agent has a fiduciary duty to the seller of the property, meaning that as an agent, his duty is to represent the seller, not the buyer. It is a common misunderstanding that many buyers do not want an agent, thinking that the listing agent can get them the best deal. In fact, the opposite is true. While many agents do a a good job in completing a 'dual agency' by representing both buyer and seller, most lawsuits in real estate transactions come from this type of transaction.