agency
subagent
A subagent is an agent of an agent: a licensee, typically from another brokerage, who works through the listing broker to help sell a property and owes fiduciary duties to the seller. Historically, MLS offers of cooperation created subagency, which could make the seller liable for subagents' misdeeds. Subagency has become less common as buyer agency has grown, and its use varies by state.
- Exam tip
- A subagent represents the seller even while working with the buyer. Questions may ask whose side a subagent is on; the answer is the seller's.
- Example
- A cooperating agent shows a buyer a listing as the seller's subagent, so she must not tell the seller's lowest acceptable price to the buyer.
Related terms & state variants
Sources
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Last verified: 2026-10-23