Real estate glossary
Listing agreement
Also called: Residential Listing Agreement, RLA
The contract between you and your listing broker that sets the list price, how long the listing lasts and how the broker gets paid.
A listing agreement is the contract you sign with a real estate brokerage so they can market and sell your home. In California the standard form is the Residential Listing Agreement, often shortened to RLA.
It usually covers the list price, the length of the listing (its term), the commission and how it is shared, what happens if you sell to someone the agent introduced after the listing ends, and who pays for things like marketing.
Most residential listings are an "exclusive right to sell", which means the broker is generally owed their commission if the home sells during the term — even if you find the buyer yourself.
What it means for you as a seller
Read the term, the commission section and any cancellation terms before you sign. It is the first document in your sale and it shapes every step after it.
Related terms
- Real estate commissionThe fee paid to real estate brokers for a sale, usually a percentage of the price, agreed in writing and always negotiable.
- MLS (Multiple Listing Service)A shared database of homes for sale that brokers use to market listings to each other and feed listing websites.
- Purchase agreementThe written contract a buyer uses to make an offer; once both sides sign it, it sets the price, deadlines and terms of the sale.
Not legal or tax advice. These explanations are general information to help you follow your own transaction. Laws, forms and customs vary by state and county, and the terms of your own contract always control. For advice about your situation, talk to your real estate agent, a real estate attorney or a tax professional. Last updated .