Best Real Estate Agents in New York City 2026
Best Real Estate Agents in New York City 2026
Finding the right real estate agent in New York City can save you tens of thousands of dollars — or cost you just as much if you pick the wrong one. NYC’s market is unlike any other in the country: co-op board approvals, building financials, sponsor units, land leases, and pied-a-terre restrictions add layers of complexity that require specialized knowledge.
We evaluated agents across all five boroughs based on transaction volume, client reviews, market specialization, and negotiation track record. Here are the 8 best real estate agents in New York City for 2026.
1. Rachel Steinberg — Douglas Elliman
Specialty: Manhattan luxury co-ops and condos
Avg. sale price: $3.2M
Years active: 14
Transactions (2025): 38
Avg. days on market: 62
Rachel Steinberg consistently ranks among Douglas Elliman’s top 1% of agents nationwide. Her practice focuses on Upper East Side and Midtown co-ops priced between $1.5M and $10M. She has a deep understanding of co-op board requirements and regularly advises clients on how to structure financial packages that satisfy even the most demanding boards.
Steinberg’s negotiation record is strong — her average sale-to-list ratio sits at 97%, meaning sellers get close to asking price while buyers don’t overpay. She’s known for thorough building due diligence, pulling maintenance fee histories, capital improvement assessments, and reserve fund status reports before clients make offers.
Best for: Buyers and sellers in the $2M–$8M co-op market on the Upper East Side and Midtown East. Not the right fit for outer borough or first-time buyer transactions.
2. Marcus Delgado — Compass
Specialty: Brooklyn brownstones and townhouses
Avg. sale price: $2.1M
Years active: 11
Transactions (2025): 44
Avg. days on market: 48
Marcus Delgado has built his reputation in Brooklyn’s brownstone belt — Park Slope, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Fort Greene, and Bed-Stuy. He handles both buyer and seller representation but has become especially sought-after by sellers, where his staging and marketing approach consistently generates multiple-offer situations.
His team processes an unusually high volume for the townhouse segment, which typically moves slower than condo and co-op sales. Delgado attributes this to accurate pricing from day one — his listings average just 48 days on market versus the Brooklyn townhouse average of 78 days. He also maintains a network of Brooklyn-based contractors and architects, which is useful for buyers evaluating renovation-ready properties.
Best for: Brooklyn townhouse buyers and sellers, especially in the $1.5M–$4M range. Also handles brownstone-to-condo conversions. If you’re looking at your home buying budget, Delgado’s team can help identify value in emerging Brooklyn blocks.
3. Jennifer Kwon — Corcoran
Specialty: First-time buyers, Manhattan and Brooklyn condos
Avg. sale price: $875K
Years active: 9
Transactions (2025): 56
Avg. days on market: 41
Jennifer Kwon focuses on the segment most NYC agents overlook: first-time buyers navigating their first apartment purchase in the $500K–$1.5M range. Her high transaction count reflects the volume-driven nature of this market, and her average days on market are well below the borough averages.
Kwon walks first-time buyers through the entire process — from mortgage pre-approval and co-op financial package preparation to closing cost breakdowns and move-in logistics. She maintains relationships with several lenders who specialize in NYC co-op and condo loans, where financing rules differ from conventional home purchases.
Her team also handles a significant number of first-time buyer program applications, including SONYMA loans and NYC Housing Connect lotteries for below-market-rate units.
Best for: First-time buyers in Manhattan and Brooklyn looking at condos and co-ops under $1.5M. She’s patient with the learning curve and doesn’t push clients toward higher-priced units to inflate commissions.
4. David Harrington — Brown Harris Stevens
Specialty: Pre-war luxury, Park Avenue and Fifth Avenue
Avg. sale price: $5.8M
Years active: 22
Transactions (2025): 24
Avg. days on market: 89
David Harrington operates at the top of the NYC market. His focus on Park Avenue and Fifth Avenue co-ops puts him in a category where relationships and discretion matter more than marketing volume. Many of his transactions happen off-market — he estimates 35–40% of his deals never appear on public listing sites.
The longer days-on-market average reflects the ultra-luxury segment’s reality, not performance issues. At the $5M+ price point, buyer pools are smaller and co-op board processes take longer. Harrington’s value is in his access — he knows which apartments are quietly available and which boards are receptive to various buyer profiles.
His 22-year tenure at Brown Harris Stevens gives him institutional knowledge of building histories, management changes, and upcoming capital projects that affect value. He’s the agent other agents consult when dealing with the most prestigious addresses.
Best for: Buyers and sellers in the $3M+ pre-war co-op market on the Upper East Side. Not set up for entry-level transactions or the speed that condos and new developments require.
5. Alicia Fontaine — Sotheby’s International Realty
Specialty: New development sales and investor properties
Avg. sale price: $2.8M
Years active: 12
Transactions (2025): 31
Avg. days on market: 55
Alicia Fontaine specializes in new construction condos across Manhattan and Brooklyn’s waterfront. She represents both developers (as their exclusive sales agent) and individual buyers navigating the new development purchase process.
New development buying in NYC has its own rules — negotiating on closing costs and concessions rather than price, understanding offering plans, reviewing sponsor financial statements, and timing contract signing around construction milestones. Fontaine’s dual expertise (she’s worked the developer side for three major projects) gives her unusual insight into what’s negotiable and what isn’t.
She also maintains an active investor practice, helping clients acquire and manage rental properties and pied-a-terre units. Her team provides detailed cash flow analyses including NYC’s unique tax considerations — mansion tax, transfer taxes, and the pied-a-terre tax proposals that resurface annually.
Best for: New development purchases in Manhattan and Brooklyn waterfront. Also strong for investors building NYC rental portfolios. Our mortgage calculator can help you compare financing options for new development timelines.
6. Brian O’Neill — Keller Williams NYC
Specialty: Queens and the Bronx, multi-family investment
Avg. sale price: $680K
Years active: 8
Transactions (2025): 62
Avg. days on market: 37
Brian O’Neill works the markets that Manhattan-focused agents rarely touch — Astoria, Jackson Heights, Flushing, Woodside in Queens, and Riverdale, Pelham Bay, and Throggs Neck in the Bronx. His transaction volume is the highest on this list, reflecting the faster pace and higher inventory in these boroughs.
O’Neill’s niche within the niche is multi-family properties: 2–4 unit buildings where owner-occupants can use FHA financing and have tenants help cover the mortgage. He walks buyers through rental income projections, NYC rent stabilization rules (which affect many older multi-family buildings), and the real costs of being a landlord in New York.
His average sale price of $680K reflects the Queens and Bronx market, where you can still find 2-family houses for under $800K — a fraction of comparable properties in Brooklyn. For buyers priced out of Manhattan and Brooklyn, O’Neill knows where the value is.
Best for: Buyers looking at Queens and the Bronx, especially multi-family investment properties. Also good for first-time buyers who want more space for less money. Check our closing cost calculator to budget for NYC’s transfer taxes and fees.
7. Samantha Chen — Compass
Specialty: Downtown Manhattan condos, loft conversions
Avg. sale price: $1.9M
Years active: 10
Transactions (2025): 42
Avg. days on market: 52
Samantha Chen dominates the Downtown Manhattan condo market — Tribeca, SoHo, the West Village, Chelsea, and the Financial District. Her focus on condos (rather than co-ops) means her clients avoid the co-op board approval process, which attracts international buyers, those with non-traditional income sources, and buyers who need faster closings.
Chen’s marketing operation is particularly polished. Her listings feature professional photography, 3D virtual tours, and targeted digital advertising that reaches international buyers — a significant buyer pool for Downtown Manhattan condos. Sellers working with her report above-average web traffic and showing volume.
She also specializes in loft conversions — raw commercial spaces converted to residential use under NYC’s various conversion programs. These properties have unique title, zoning, and financing considerations that require specific expertise.
Best for: Downtown Manhattan condo buyers and sellers in the $1M–$5M range. Especially useful for international buyers or those with complex income situations who would struggle with co-op board requirements.
8. Thomas Russo — Corcoran
Specialty: Staten Island and South Brooklyn residential
Avg. sale price: $620K
Years active: 15
Transactions (2025): 58
Avg. days on market: 34
Thomas Russo covers the most affordable single-family home markets within NYC’s five boroughs — Staten Island and southern Brooklyn neighborhoods like Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Dyker Heights, and Marine Park. His 15-year track record and high volume make him the go-to agent for these areas.
Russo’s market is where NYC families buy actual houses — detached and semi-attached homes with yards, driveways, and garages. The buying process here is more similar to suburban home purchases than Manhattan apartment deals, but NYC’s tax structure, closing costs, and legal requirements still apply.
He’s particularly effective at pricing homes correctly from the start. His listings average just 34 days on market — well below the borough average. For buyers, he focuses on practical due diligence: flood zone status (relevant for waterfront Staten Island), foundation condition, and property tax comparisons.
Best for: Families buying single-family homes in Staten Island and South Brooklyn under $1M. Also handles home sales efficiently in these markets, where proper pricing and neighborhood knowledge make the biggest difference.
How to Choose the Right NYC Agent
The best agent for you depends on your specific situation. Consider these factors:
Neighborhood expertise. NYC real estate is hyperlocal. An agent who dominates the Upper East Side co-op market may know nothing about Astoria condos. Look for an agent with at least 3 years and 20+ transactions in your target neighborhood.
Property type experience. Co-ops, condos, townhouses, new developments, and multi-family buildings all require different skills. Co-op deals need board package expertise. New developments need offering plan analysis. Multi-family needs rental market knowledge.
Price range alignment. An agent whose average sale is $3M isn’t going to give your $600K purchase the same attention. Find someone whose typical deal size matches yours.
Communication style. NYC transactions move fast and involve multiple parties — attorneys, managing agents, board members, lenders. Your agent should respond within hours, not days, and keep you updated proactively.
Commission structure. Standard NYC buyer’s agents typically don’t charge buyers directly — the seller pays the commission (usually 5–6% split between listing and buyer’s agents). However, this is changing. Some discount brokerages offer buyer rebates. Ask about commission structure upfront.
Before you start house hunting, use our affordability calculator to set a realistic budget, and explore home service costs in the neighborhoods you’re considering — maintenance expenses vary widely across NYC.
Frequently Asked Questions
What commission do NYC real estate agents charge?
The standard total commission in NYC is 5–6% of the sale price, typically split equally between the listing agent and buyer’s agent. On a $1M apartment, that’s $50,000–$60,000. Some agents negotiate on commission, especially at higher price points. Discount brokerages exist but often provide limited service. Commission is always negotiable, and sellers should discuss rates before signing a listing agreement.
Do I need a buyer’s agent in NYC?
You don’t legally need one, but working without a buyer’s agent in NYC is risky. The listing agent represents the seller’s interests, not yours. A buyer’s agent provides building due diligence, price analysis, negotiation support, and guidance through the co-op board process. Since the seller typically pays the buyer’s agent commission, having representation costs you nothing directly.
How long does it take to buy an apartment in NYC?
From accepted offer to closing, expect 60–90 days for a condo and 90–120 days for a co-op (due to board review and interview). Finding the right apartment can take 2–6 months of active searching, depending on budget and flexibility. The entire process from first search to closing typically runs 4–8 months.
What should I look for in an NYC listing agent?
Track record of selling similar properties in your building or neighborhood, realistic pricing strategy (overpricing is the #1 mistake), quality marketing (professional photos, virtual tours, targeted advertising), and strong relationships with other agents in your market. Ask for their list-to-sale ratio and average days on market — both should be better than neighborhood averages.
Can I use the same agent to sell and buy in NYC?
Yes, and it’s common. An agent handling both sides can coordinate timing to minimize the gap between selling your current place and closing on the new one. Some agents offer a reduced commission rate for dual transactions. Just make sure the agent has genuine expertise in both your selling and buying neighborhoods — a Park Slope specialist may not be the best choice for buying on the Upper West Side.