A listing agent is the real estate agent a seller hires to price, market and show a house, negotiate offers, and manage it through closing. The listing agent owes the seller a fiduciary duty and is paid a commission at closing, usually split with the buyer's agent. Listing a house is the traditional alternative to a direct cash sale or a for-sale-by-owner listing.
Why it matters
A listing agent can widen the pool of buyers, at the cost of a commission and the time a listing takes to sell.