Final answer:
A broker as a property manager acts as a general agent, handling various ongoing tasks for the property owner, while a broker as a buyer's broker serves as a special agent, focusing on a specific transaction for the buyer.
Step-by-step explanation:
A broker who is acting as a property manager would be a general agent while one acting as a buyer's broker would be a special agent. The distinction lies in the scope of authority and responsibilities granted to the broker in each role. A property manager is typically authorized to perform a range of tasks on behalf of the owner, such as collecting rent, handling maintenance and repairs, and potentially re-leasing the property. This broader scope of ongoing tasks consistent with managing a property makes the broker a general agent. On the other hand, a buyer's broker usually has a more limited and specific role, which is to represent a buyer in the search for and purchase of property. This generally singular transaction focus identifies the broker as a special agent in this context.