Unless you’ve bought a home in the past, chances are pretty good you aren’t necessarily familiar with the difference between a Realtor and a real estate agent. In fact, many people use the two terms interchangeably. The fact of the matter is, however, that they’re not the same. As you go through the process of getting approved for your home loan and finding the right home for you, make sure you put the same kind of thoughtfulness into choosing who you want to help you through the home buying process.

The big difference between a Realtor and a real estate agent isn’t so much in what they do, but how they do it. A Realtor has to agree to a Code of Ethics. This code contains 17 principles and promises that a Realtor agrees to. While some Realtors may be better than others, having the Realtor designation is a good starting point.

Here are just some of the things that a Realtor agrees to:

• Putting buyer and seller interests above their own. This means dealing honestly and directly, even if it costs them commissions.
• Not exaggerating, misrepresenting or concealing facts. This means that you can trust what a Realtor says.
• Cooperate with other agents when it’s in the client’s interest. That means even if a house is represented by an agent who is not a Realtor, the Realtor will do what she can to work with them to get you the house you want.
• No conflicts of interest. This includes things like kickbacks, third-party fees or commissions. Any time a Realtor would profit from working with you, they have to disclose it.
• No co-mingling of funds. Client funds are always separate from Realtor funds.
• Make sure everyone has copies of documents. The document should be easy to understand, and everyone will get a copy of anything they sign.
• Nondiscrimination. Realtors won’t discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.
• Professional treatment of the competition. Realtors are not to bad mouth competition, file unfounded complains or try to steal a competitor’s clients.