Glossary
Real Estate Terms, Explained
Straightforward definitions for the terms you'll run into when working with real estate agent data. Written for people who sell to agents, not for agents themselves.
MLS (Multiple Listing Service)
A Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is a private database that real estate agents use to share property listings with each other. Each MLS is operated regionally, and access is restricted to licensed agents who pay membership fees.
IDX (Internet Data Exchange)
IDX (Internet Data Exchange) is a system that allows real estate agents and brokers to display MLS listings on their own websites. It's the technology behind the property search tools you see on agent and brokerage websites.
NAR (National Association of Realtors)
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) is the largest trade association in the United States, representing over 1.5 million real estate professionals. Only NAR members can use the trademarked title "Realtor."
Realtor vs Real Estate Agent
A real estate agent is anyone licensed to help people buy or sell property. A Realtor is a real estate agent who is also a member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR). "Realtor" is a trademarked term — not all agents are Realtors.
Real Estate Brokerage
A real estate brokerage is a firm where licensed real estate agents work. Every agent must "hang their license" at a brokerage — they can't operate independently without a broker's license. Brokerages provide agents with support, training, and legal oversight.
Commission Split
A commission split is the division of a real estate transaction's commission between the brokerage and the individual agent. When an agent closes a deal, they don't keep the full commission — a portion goes to their brokerage.
CRM (Real Estate)
A real estate CRM (Customer Relationship Management) is software that helps agents manage their contacts, leads, and transactions. It's the central system agents use to track relationships and follow up with prospects.
Cold Email (Real Estate Outreach)
Cold email is the practice of sending unsolicited emails to prospects you have no prior relationship with. In the real estate industry, it's used by businesses to reach agents and by agents to reach potential clients.
CAN-SPAM Act
The CAN-SPAM Act is a US federal law (2003) that sets rules for commercial email. It requires businesses to include opt-out mechanisms, physical addresses, and honest subject lines in marketing emails. Violations can result in fines up to $51,744 per email.
Real Estate Lead
A real estate lead is a person who has shown interest in buying, selling, or renting property — or a contact who could potentially become a client. For businesses selling to agents, a "lead" is an agent who could become a customer.
Email List (Real Estate)
A real estate agent email list is a compiled database of email addresses belonging to licensed real estate agents. These lists are used by businesses to run marketing campaigns, sales outreach, and recruitment efforts targeting agents.
CSV (Comma-Separated Values)
A CSV (Comma-Separated Values) file is a plain text format for storing tabular data. It's the standard format for exchanging contact lists, agent databases, and lead data between different software tools.