What type of agency is practiced by a real estate salesperson?

A real estate salesperson typically operates under a special agency. This type of agency is characterized by the authority granted to the agent to perform a specific act or transaction on behalf of the principal, such as selling a property. The agent does not have the authority to make broader decisions beyond the scope of the sale defined in the listing agreement.

In the context of real estate, a salesperson represents a broker and acts on their behalf to facilitate transactions. Their powers are limited to what is outlined in their agreement with the broker, making them a special agent rather than a general or universal agent. General agency would imply broader powers, allowing for a wider range of transactions or decision-making, while universal agency would grant complete control over all affairs of the principal, which is not the case in typical real estate sales. Dual agency refers to a situation where one agent represents both the buyer and the seller in a transaction, but this is a specific circumstance rather than the standard practice for all real estate salespeople.