Quick answer
- A REALTOR® is the individual licensed professional representing you.
- A team is a group of REALTORS® and support staff working together under one brand.
- A brokerage is the licensed entity every REALTOR® must work under — it holds the trust accounts and compliance oversight.
- CalgaryListings Group is a team. Crystal Tost and Tyler Tost are the REALTORS®. eXp Realty is the brokerage. These are three distinct things, and it's worth knowing which is which before you hire anyone.
These three words get used interchangeably in casual conversation, and that causes real confusion when you're trying to evaluate who's actually representing you. Here's what each one means.
REALTOR®
A REALTOR® is an individually licensed real estate professional who is also a member of a real estate board — in Calgary, that's the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB®) — and bound by its code of ethics. Not every licensed salesperson uses the term; REALTOR® specifically signals board membership. This is the person who actually represents you: writes your offer, negotiates on your behalf, and is legally responsible for the advice you receive.
Real estate team
A team is a group of REALTORS® — sometimes alongside non-licensed support staff like transaction coordinators or marketing specialists — operating together under a shared brand, usually all licensed with the same brokerage. Team structure varies a lot: some teams have one lead agent who represents every client personally with staff handling logistics behind the scenes; others rotate clients between several agents. It's worth asking directly who will actually show you homes and write your offer.
Brokerage
A brokerage is the licensed business entity that every REALTOR® and team must operate under. In Alberta, brokerages are regulated by the Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA). The brokerage holds trust accounts, sets compliance standards, and provides the legal and technological infrastructure — but it doesn't represent you directly; the individual REALTOR® does.
A few related terms
- MLS® — the Multiple Listing Service, the shared database REALTOR® members use to list property. See our guide to Calgary MLS® search.
- CREB® — the Calgary Real Estate Board, which operates the local MLS® system and represents Calgary-area REALTORS®.
- RECA — the Real Estate Council of Alberta, the provincial regulator that licenses REALTORS® and brokerages.
Worked example: CalgaryListings Group
| Entity | What it is | Who/what it names |
|---|---|---|
| CalgaryListings Group | Real estate team | The team brand behind CalgaryListings.com |
| Crystal Tost, Tyler Tost | REALTORS® | The individually licensed professionals on the team |
| eXp Realty | Brokerage | The licensed brokerage the team operates under |
CalgaryListings Group doesn't own or operate a brokerage — eXp Realty does, and it isn't a subsidiary of eXp Realty either; it's a team that holds its licence there. Read more about the team on our about page.
Want to know more about who you'd actually be working with?
Meet the TeamFrequently Asked Questions
Is CalgaryListings Group a brokerage?
No. CalgaryListings Group is a real estate team. The brokerage it operates under is eXp Realty.
Does every real estate agent use the title REALTOR®?
No — REALTOR® specifically means the person is a member of a real estate board and bound by its code of ethics. Licensed agents who aren't board members don't use the term.
Who regulates real estate brokerages in Alberta?
The Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA) licenses and regulates brokerages and REALTORS® in the province.
If I hire a team, who actually represents me?
That depends on the team's structure — some assign one lead agent throughout, others rotate. Ask directly before you sign anything.
