What best describes a subagent in real estate?

• A. The principal
• B. The buyer
• C. The licensee’s client
• D. An agent of an agent

Answer: (D)

In real estate, a subagent is someone who works under another licensee who already represents a client. That additional licensee acts under the authority of the primary agent, not directly under the principal, so the subagent is effectively an agent of an agent. The subagent owes fiduciary duties to the principal (often the seller in a listing) and helps carry out the listing agent’s instructions, such as locating buyers, showing the property, and presenting offers. The key idea is that the subagent’s authority and duties originate from the agent, not from the principal themselves.