This is one of the most common points of confusion for first-time buyers in Australia, and it costs people money.
The core difference
A real estate agent (also called a selling agent) is legally engaged by the seller. Their job, and their fiduciary duty, is to get the seller the highest possible price. Every conversation you have with a selling agent happens through that lens.
A buyer's agent is engaged by you. They have no relationship with the seller and no incentive to push the price up. Their fee is agreed with you upfront, regardless of the final sale price.
Why this matters in practice
When you inspect a home and ask the selling agent "is this a fair price?", you're asking someone whose job is to convince you it is, or at least not talk you out of paying full price.
A buyer's agent, by contrast, will independently value the property and tell you if it's overpriced, has hidden issues, or if there's a better option nearby.
Do you need both?
Yes, they're not interchangeable. You'll still interact with selling agents throughout your search (they represent the properties on the market). A buyer's agent works alongside that process, representing your interests specifically.
The takeaway
If nobody in the transaction is working exclusively for you, nobody is minimising what you pay. That's the gap a buyer's agent fills. Curious what that actually costs? Read our breakdown of whether a buyer's agent is worth it and what you get for the fee.