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If you spend enough time in the Jamaican property world—whether as a buyer, seller, landlord, or tenant—one myth will greet you everywhere: “The broker is the boss of the realtor.”
It’s a belief held not just by clients, but amusingly, even by some realtors themselves. But in Jamaica’s real-estate framework, that assumption is simply not true. The relationship is more nuanced, more professional, and far more business-oriented than many Jamaicans realise.
This article breaks it down plainly, respectfully, and truthfully—so clients understand what’s really happening when they pick up the phone to call a realtor, and why understanding this relationship is essential to a smooth, fair, and professional working experience.
As Dean Jones, Founder of Jamaica Homes, puts it:
“The biggest confusion in Jamaican real estate is the idea that a realtor is an employee. A realtor is a business owner, and the broker is their regulator. Once you understand that, everything else starts to make sense.”
1. Realtors in Jamaica Are Independent Business Operators
Most Jamaicans picture realtors walking into a corporate office every morning, sitting at a desk, receiving instructions, and collecting a salary as if they’re part of a traditional company. In reality, realtors are independent contractors.
Even though they carry the umbrella of a brand—their day-to-day work is their own enterprise.
In Jamaica:
- Realtors usually work remotely.
- Many operate from home, their vehicle, or wherever is convenient.
- Large agencies usally have some physical hot desks and structured office hours for back office staff.
- Their clients, schedules, and strategic decisions are self-managed.
This flexibility is not a luxury—it is the nature of the profession.
Under the Real Estate (Dealers and Developers) Act (REDA) and the Real Estate Board (REB) of Jamaica, realtors must act within the law, maintain ethical standards, and comply with the rules of their dealer (broker). But outside of compliance, realtors decide how they operate.
Dean Jones explains it well:
“The broker provides the licence; the realtor creates the livelihood. You’re not looking at boss and worker—you’re looking at two professionals linked by law, not hierarchy.”
2. The Broker’s Role: Compliance, Oversight, and Legal Responsibility
In Jamaica, every realtor must operate under a Dealer’s Licence—that is, a broker. This is a legal requirement under REDDA.
But that dealer (broker) is not the day-to-day supervisor in the way a manager oversees staff in a corporate setting. Instead, the broker’s primary responsibilities are compliance-based:
What a Broker Actually Does
- Ensures listings comply with the Real Estate Board’s rules.
- Reviews documents before they are uploaded to the MLS.
- Co-signs agreements, contracts, and listing documents.
- Ensures that the realtor is licensed and operating legally.
- Protects the agency from liability.
In many large agencies, there is a compliance team, but even in those cases, the buck stops with the broker.
What a Broker Does NOT Do
- They do not instruct realtors daily on what to do.
- They do not decide which clients a realtor must take.
- They do not manage the realtor’s schedule.
- They do not pay the realtor a salary.
- They do not follow realtors around approving every decision.
To put it plainly:
“A broker in Jamaica is a gatekeeper, not a puppeteer.” —Dean Jones
The realtor submits their listings, the broker checks them, signs off, and ensures compliance with the Real Estate Board. That’s the relationship.
3. The Financial Reality: Realtors Pay the Broker, Not the Other Way Around
This is where the misunderstanding really unravels.
Most clients assume the broker pays the realtor—because that is the typical corporate structure they are used to. But in real estate, the opposite is true.
Realtors generate their own income
- They find clients.
- They market properties.
- They facilitate viewings.
- They negotiate offers.
- They close deals.
At the end of a successful transaction, the commission goes to the broker, who then pays the realtor their portion. The realtor’s income is therefore commission-based, entrepreneurial, and entirely self-driven.
So when a client thinks they can “report” a realtor to the broker over a disagreement, they misunderstand the economic reality:
Realtors are not employees. They are business owners working under a licensed umbrella.
Dean Jones summarises it powerfully:
“You can’t try to discipline a business owner like an employee. Clients must understand: your realtor is running a company, not clocking into a job.”
4. Realtors Choose Their Clients—Not the Other Way Around
Another major misconception in Jamaica is the belief that once you reach out to a realtor, they are obligated to take you on.
Not true.
Because realtors operate independently, each one has the right to:
- Accept or decline clients.
- End a working relationship.
- Choose whether to continue representing someone.
- Walk away from toxic or disrespectful behaviour.
This is not arrogance—it is business protection.
In fact, many agents choose not to work with a client if:
- The communication is abusive.
- The expectations are unrealistic.
- The client is attempting to circumvent processes.
- The client refuses to follow REB or MLS protocols.
- The client is not financially prepared to transact.
And importantly:
A realtor can terminate an agreement.
It is a two-way street.
Clients are often surprised to hear this, but it is built into the legal structure of the profession.
Dean Jones puts it plainly:
“Respect is part of the transaction. Realtors don’t just sell properties—they manage relationships. And every professional has the right to step away from a harmful one.”
5. Going Over the Realtor’s Head to the Broker: Why It Doesn’t Work
In Jamaican culture, when people feel offended or dissatisfied, they often want to “speak to the manager.” It’s part of our social instinct—moving up the chain of command for resolution.
But in real estate, the chain does not work the way clients assume.
The broker does NOT override the realtor’s business decisions.
If a client tries to:
- Complain because the realtor refused to accept abusive behaviour …
- Demand that the broker force the realtor to work with them …
- Insist that the realtor must continue a relationship they are uncomfortable with …
… the broker cannot compel the realtor.
Why?
Because the realtor is:
- Not an employee
- Not subordinate in day-to-day operations
- Not financially dependent on the broker
- Not obligated to take on any specific client
The only time a broker “steps in” is when:
- Compliance rules are broken
- Legal standards are violated
- Ethical boundaries are crossed
- The brand is put at risk
So the assumption that “the broker will force the realtor to behave the way I want” is a misunderstanding of how the industry works.
Dean Jones says it best:
“Going to the broker to override a realtor is like calling the referee to change a coach’s strategy. That’s not how the game is structured.”
6. Where REDDA, the Real Estate Board, and the REALTOR Association Fit In
The Jamaican real estate industry has three major pillars of oversight:
1. REDDA (The Real Estate Act)
The legal framework governing:
- Licensing
- Dealer requirements
- Advertising rules
- Contract standards
- Compliance obligations
2. The Real Estate Board of Jamaica
The regulator ensuring:
- Education and training
- License renewals
- MLS compliance (when applicable)
- Brokerage accountability
3. The REALTORS® Association of Jamaica
This oversees:
- MLS access
- Professional conduct
- Ethics standards
- Peer-to-peer issues
Together, these form the compliance ecosystem that both brokers and realtors must operate within.
But the day-to-day business decisions—client selection, marketing style, responsiveness, negotiation strategies—belong to the realtor, not the regulator.
7. Why Clients Need to Understand This Structure
Understanding the independence of realtors is not just a technicality—it directly affects how clients navigate the buying or selling process.
Here’s why it matters:
(1) It encourages mutual respect.
A client who recognises the realtor as a professional, not a subordinate, is more likely to communicate effectively and cooperatively.
(2) It prevents conflict.
Once clients understand that brokers cannot override personal business decisions, they stop escalating minor disagreements unnecessarily.
(3) It improves the relationship.
Realtors are far more motivated to help clients who treat them as equals in a professional partnership.
(4) It aligns with Jamaican cultural realities.
In Jamaica’s real estate marketplace—spanning parishes, remote towns, rural properties, and fast-moving urban developments—flexible, independent realtors are the backbone of the system.
8. A More Accurate Way to See the Broker–Realtor Dynamic
Think of it like this:
- The broker is the licence holder, the guardian, the compliance authority.
- The realtor is the business owner, the relationship manager, the dealmaker.
One ensures legality.
The other ensures service.
They complement each other—but one is not the boss of the other.
Dean Jones captures this beautifully:
“The broker provides the foundation, but the realtor builds the house. And no house stands without both.”
Conclusion: Understanding the Relationship Creates Better Client Experiences
When clients understand the true nature of the broker–realtor relationship, they become better partners in the real estate journey. They communicate better. They negotiate more respectfully. They appreciate the professionalism that goes into representing a property or facilitating a sale.
Most importantly, they stop assuming that the broker sits in an office somewhere giving orders to a team of employees.
In Jamaica, real estate is an entrepreneurial business—but with a robust compliance structure to keep everything above board. When clients respect this structure, the results are smoother, faster, and far more rewarding for everyone involved.
To leave you with one final thought:
“Real estate in Jamaica works best when clients understand the ecosystem. Respect the realtor, trust the broker’s oversight, and let the professionals do their jobs. That’s how great deals happen.” —Dean Jones
Disclaimer
The information contained in this article is provided for general guidance and educational purposes within the context of the Jamaican real estate industry. It reflects professional observations, industry practices, and interpretations of regulatory structures based on the Real Estate (Dealers and Developers) Act, the guidelines of the Real Estate Board of Jamaica, and the operational norms of broker–realtor relationships in Jamaica.
This article does not constitute legal advice, financial advice, or professional instruction. Regulations, agency policies, and individual circumstances may vary between brokers, realtors, and real estate companies. Readers are encouraged to seek independent legal or professional guidance specific to their situation before making decisions related to property transactions, contracts, or complaints.
While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy at the time of writing, Jamaica Homes, its founder, and the author accept no responsibility for any loss, misunderstanding, or actions taken as a result of reliance on this content. The views expressed through quotations are those of Dean Jones in his professional capacity and are intended to provide insight, not binding instruction.
By engaging with this material, readers acknowledge that real estate practice in Jamaica involves independent professionals operating within a regulated framework, and individual experiences may differ.