Top 20 real estate agents in New York, NY
The top real estate agents in New York, NY are not all the same type of broker. Some dominate ultra-luxury Manhattan co-ops and condos. Some are high-review buyer agents. Some lead large teams across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and new development sales. This 2026 listicle ranks agents and teams using public sales-volume signals, verified online presence, client-review visibility, brokerage strength, neighborhood focus, and contact accessibility.
Publisher note: This article is not a paid ranking and should not be treated as legal, financial, or brokerage advice. Phone numbers, review totals, brokerage affiliations, and sales-volume figures can change. Always verify an agent’s New York State license, current brokerage, commission structure, and recent transactions before hiring.
Top real estate agents in New York, NY: quick comparison
Use this table as a fast shortlist. The detailed cards below explain each agent or team’s market fit, public presence, review signal, and best-use case.
| Rank | Agent / team | Brokerage | Phone | Best for | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deborah Kern | Corcoran | (917) 710-1150 | Ultra-luxury Manhattan buyers and sellers | Corcoran profile |
| 2 | Serena Boardman | Sotheby’s International Realty | (212) 606-7611 | Upper East Side luxury co-ops and townhouses | SerenaBoardman.com |
| 3 | The Carrie Chiang Team | Corcoran | (212) 836-1088 | Luxury condos, co-ops, and trophy homes | Corcoran profile |
| 4 | Cathy Franklin | Corcoran | (917) 863-8209 | High-end Manhattan condos, co-ops, townhouses | Corcoran profile |
| 5 | Lisa Simonsen | Brown Harris Stevens | (917) 575-6775 | Luxury Park/Fifth Avenue and international clients | BHS profile |
| 6 | Noble Black & Partners | Corcoran / Douglas Elliman public history | (347) 526-3308 | Luxury advisory and Manhattan resales | NobleBlackAndPartners.com |
| 7 | The Eklund | Gomes Team | Douglas Elliman | (206) 423-9055 / (212) 598-3199 | New development and luxury marketing | EklundGomes.com |
| 8 | The Ryan Serhant Team | SERHANT. | (347) 652-2750 | Media-led luxury sales and new development | Serhant.com |
| 9 | Lisa Lippman Team | Brown Harris Stevens | Via BHS profile | Upper West Side and high-end Manhattan | BHS profile |
| 10 | Nikki Field / The Field Team | Sotheby’s International Realty | (212) 606-7669 | International and luxury buyers | NikkiField.com |
| 11 | Dylan Hoffman / The Hoffman Team | Compass | (646) 431-2260 | Manhattan and Brooklyn buyers/sellers | DylanHoffman.com |
| 12 | Matthew Bizzarro / The Bizzarro Agency | The Bizzarro Agency | (917) 997-1899 | First-time buyers and seller representation | BizzarroAgency.com |
| 13 | Josh Rubin / Rubin Team | Douglas Elliman | (917) 727-6321 | High-review NYC buyer and seller support | RubinTeam.com |
| 14 | Eugene Litvak / The Litvak Team | Compass | (347) 254-5606 | Sales, rentals, relocation, Brooklyn/Manhattan | Compass profile |
| 15 | Aaron Graf / LG Fairmont | LG Fairmont at Compass | (917) 420-1204 | Tech-enabled brokerage and review visibility | LGFairmont.com |
| 16 | Ben Willig | Elegran / Forbes Global Properties | (609) 709-9560 | NYC buyers, renters, and sellers | StreetEasy / Elegran profile |
| 17 | Frances Katzen / The Katzen Team | Douglas Elliman | (212) 350-8575 | Complex luxury transactions | Elliman profile |
| 18 | Steve Gold | Corcoran | Via Corcoran profile | Downtown luxury and celebrity-adjacent listings | Corcoran profile |
| 19 | The De Niro Team | Brown Harris Stevens | (212) 460-0655 | Luxury advisory and relationship-driven clients | DeNiroTeam.com |
| 20 | Eleonora Srugo | Douglas Elliman | Via Elliman profile | Luxury Manhattan and media-visible listings | Elliman profile |
How we ranked NYC’s top agents
New York City real estate is too complex for a single “best agent” answer. A strong Park Slope brownstone broker may not be the right fit for a Fifth Avenue co-op. A high-volume luxury broker may not be the best choice for a first-time buyer who needs hands-on education. For that reason, this ranking uses a blended editorial method.
We looked at public sales-volume signals, RealTrends visibility, brokerage profile strength, review presence on Zillow or other public platforms, phone and website accessibility, years of experience when available, and fit by property type. The list includes individual agents and teams because many top NYC agents now work through structured teams.
The 20 best real estate agents and teams in New York City
Deborah Kern
Deborah Kern earns the top position because her public RealTrends profile shows exceptional production, including more than $1B in latest volume and 122 latest transactions. She is best suited for ultra-luxury Manhattan clients who need discretion, deep network access, and high-end condominium or co-op knowledge.
Review snapshot: Public directory presence is visible, but luxury agents often rely more on private referrals than large public review counts. Verify recent client references directly.
Serena Boardman
Serena Boardman is one of the most recognized luxury real estate agents in New York City. Public RealTrends data lists her among top New York agents by volume, and Sotheby’s describes her as a top-producing individual broker with more than $5B in career sales.
Review snapshot: Public profiles show active listing presence. For this level of luxury representation, ask for recent seller references and comparable closed deals.
The Carrie Chiang Team
Carrie Chiang is a long-standing power broker in New York real estate. The Carrie Chiang Team’s public RealTrends profile shows more than $260M in latest volume, and public profiles describe a multibillion-dollar sales history across New York’s upper-tier residential market.
Review snapshot: Zillow profile presence is visible, including sales-history signals. Review count should be verified before publishing.
Cathy Franklin
Cathy Franklin is a strong fit for sellers and buyers in high-end Manhattan co-ops, condominiums, and townhouses. RealTrends lists her among top New York agents by volume, and her Corcoran profile gives a direct public phone and email.
Review snapshot: Public profiles emphasize experience and sales history more than volume of consumer reviews. Ask for building-specific references.
Lisa Simonsen
Lisa Simonsen is a luxury broker with strong public production signals. Her RealTrends profile lists more than $200M in latest volume, and Brown Harris Stevens describes her as licensed in multiple states with a global client network.
Review snapshot: Zillow shows public review activity. For sellers, verify recent comparable sales and average days on market.
Noble Black & Partners
Noble Black & Partners is a strong pick for luxury advisory, Manhattan resale strategy, and high-touch seller representation. Public profiles describe billions in career sales and prominent luxury transactions.
Review snapshot: Public profiles show strong presence, but buyers should verify current brokerage affiliation and recent closed comps before contacting.
The Eklund | Gomes Team
The Eklund | Gomes Team is best known for high-visibility luxury marketing, new development sellouts, and a broad national footprint. For developers and luxury sellers, their advantage is branding, exposure, and team infrastructure.
Review snapshot: Zillow and directory profiles show public presence. For developers, ask for sellout history, launch strategy, and comparable sponsor sales.
The Ryan Serhant Team
Ryan Serhant and SERHANT. bring a media-first approach to New York real estate. Public Zillow data for The Ryan Serhant Team shows 4.8 rating, 128 team reviews, more than 1,700 total sales, and a published phone number.
Review snapshot: Strong public review footprint, but sellers should still interview the specific team member who will manage the listing.
Lisa Lippman Team
Lisa Lippman is a long-time Brown Harris Stevens leader and a strong match for high-end cooperative, condominium, and townhouse sellers. BHS describes her as a top-producing Manhattan agent with decades of experience.
Review snapshot: Public Zillow presence is available. For luxury listings, review building-specific comps and marketing plan before hiring.
Nikki Field / The Field Team
Nikki Field is a strong choice for international buyers, investors, and luxury clients who need global real estate experience. Realtor.com notes her long-standing Sotheby’s presence and team sales model in Manhattan.
Review snapshot: Zillow profile presence is visible. Ask about cross-border transaction support and attorney/lender coordination.
Dylan Hoffman / The Hoffman Team
Dylan Hoffman is one of the strongest review-visible agents in this list. Public profiles describe him as a 24-year NYC real estate veteran, and Zillow local pages show a 5.0 rating with hundreds of reviews for the team.
Review snapshot: Strong public review signal. Buyers should ask who handles showings, negotiation, and board-package support.
Matthew Bizzarro / The Bizzarro Agency
Matthew Bizzarro is a strong pick for readers who want a public-review-forward team rather than a private luxury broker. Public profiles describe The Bizzarro Agency as highly reviewed, with major visibility across buyer, seller, and investor services.
Review snapshot: Public materials claim hundreds of five-star reviews across platforms. Verify the most recent reviews before publishing.
Josh Rubin / Rubin Team
Josh Rubin is a strong review-visible option for buyers and sellers who want responsive service and deal education. Public profiles show strong client-review activity and a Douglas Elliman presence.
Review snapshot: Strong review count across public profiles. Ask how the team handles board packages and offer strategy.
Eugene Litvak / The Litvak Team
Eugene Litvak is a good fit for buyers, sellers, renters, and relocation clients who want a structured team. Public profiles describe a large Compass team with multilingual service and long NYC experience.
Review snapshot: Compass profile includes testimonial-style reviews. Verify current review count and team member assignment.
Aaron Graf / LG Fairmont
Aaron Graf and LG Fairmont stand out for review visibility and brokerage-building presence. Zillow shows a 5.0 team rating with more than 250 reviews, 34 sales in the last 12 months, and over 1,000 total sales.
Review snapshot: Strong public review count. Sellers should ask which LGF agent will personally handle pricing and negotiations.
Ben Willig
Ben Willig is a strong option for buyers, renters, and sellers who want a review-visible NYC agent with broad residential experience. StreetEasy describes nearly two decades of NYC experience and more than 1,000 clients guided through buying, selling, and renting.
Review snapshot: Strong public review presence. Ask for current active brokerage and recent deal examples.
Frances Katzen / The Katzen Team
Frances Katzen is a strong match for sellers and buyers dealing with complex luxury transactions. Public profiles describe deep knowledge of layouts, building histories, new development, and recent comparable sales.
Review snapshot: Public profiles show presence. Ask for recent comparable sales and team structure before signing.
Steve Gold
Steve Gold is a recognizable downtown Manhattan luxury agent with a media profile and long-running presence in high-end New York real estate. Corcoran describes his career sales as exceeding $4B in residential luxury real estate.
Review snapshot: Zillow profile presence exists, but public review count may not reflect private luxury referral business.
The De Niro Team
The De Niro Team is a strong fit for buyers and sellers who value discretion, relationships, and luxury-market guidance. The team’s website highlights more than 20 years of experience and testimonial-style client feedback.
Review snapshot: The team publishes testimonials. Buyers should ask for recent neighborhood-specific closed deals.
Eleonora Srugo
Eleonora Srugo rounds out the list because of her public visibility in luxury New York real estate, Douglas Elliman presence, and media profile. She may fit sellers who want a high-exposure, personality-driven marketing approach.
Review snapshot: Public media presence is strong. Verify direct client reviews and recent transactions before hiring.
Top agents by specialty
Best for luxury Manhattan
- Deborah Kern
- Serena Boardman
- Carrie Chiang Team
- Cathy Franklin
- Lisa Simonsen
Best for public reviews
- Dylan Hoffman
- Aaron Graf / LG Fairmont
- Josh Rubin
- Ben Willig
- Matthew Bizzarro
Best for new development
- Eklund | Gomes Team
- Ryan Serhant Team
- Frances Katzen
- Noble Black & Partners
Best for international buyers
- Nikki Field
- Serena Boardman
- Lisa Simonsen
- Deborah Kern
Top agents by borough and neighborhood
Manhattan dominates most high-volume rankings because luxury co-ops, condos, townhouses, and new development closings produce large sales-volume totals. For Upper East Side, Fifth Avenue, Park Avenue, Central Park South, and Tribeca luxury, start with agents like Deborah Kern, Serena Boardman, Carrie Chiang, Cathy Franklin, Lisa Simonsen, Noble Black, and Lisa Lippman.
For Brooklyn, first-time buyers, and review-led guidance, consider Dylan Hoffman, Eugene Litvak, Matthew Bizzarro, Josh Rubin, Aaron Graf, or Ben Willig. Buyers focused on Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights, Williamsburg, DUMBO, or brownstone neighborhoods should always ask for neighborhood-specific deal history.
For Queens submarkets like Long Island City and Astoria, ask each agent whether they have recent closed sales in that exact area. NYC is too local for a broad “New York expert” claim to be enough.
How to choose the right real estate agent in New York
The right New York real estate agent depends on your property type, borough, budget, and timing. A seller with a $12M Upper East Side co-op needs someone who understands board approval, discretion, pricing psychology, and private buyer networks. A first-time buyer in Brooklyn may need a patient buyer’s agent who can explain financing, inspections, co-op packages, and offer strategy.
Before hiring an agent, ask about recent closed sales in your neighborhood, average days on market, list-price-to-sale-price ratio, board-package experience, marketing plan, commission, buyer-agent compensation, and who will actually handle your transaction day to day.
Questions to ask a NYC agent before you hire them
- How many homes have you closed in this neighborhood in the last 12 months?
- Do you specialize in co-ops, condos, townhouses, rentals, or new development?
- How do you handle co-op board approval and financial packages?
- What is your pricing strategy if the listing does not get offers in the first 30 days?
- Will I work with you directly or with another team member?
- What public reviews or client references can I verify?
- What are your commission terms and what services are included?
Frequently asked questions
Who are the top real estate agents in New York City?
Based on public sales-volume data, brokerage presence, reviews, and market visibility, top NYC agents and teams include Deborah Kern, Serena Boardman, Carrie Chiang, Cathy Franklin, Lisa Simonsen, Noble Black, Eklund | Gomes, Ryan Serhant, Nikki Field, Dylan Hoffman, and others listed above.
How do I choose the best real estate agent in NYC?
Match the agent to your property type and neighborhood. Ask for recent closed deals in your exact building type, not just general Manhattan or Brooklyn experience.
Do I need a buyer’s agent in New York City?
Many buyers benefit from a buyer’s agent because NYC deals can involve co-op boards, attorney review, financial disclosures, building rules, and fast-moving negotiations. Ask how the agent is compensated before you start touring.
What is the difference between a real estate agent and broker in NYC?
A licensed salesperson works under a broker. A broker has a higher license level and can supervise agents or operate a brokerage. Always verify the person’s current New York State license before signing an agreement.
Which brokerage is best for luxury real estate in Manhattan?
Major luxury brokerages in Manhattan include Corcoran, Douglas Elliman, Compass, Sotheby’s International Realty, Brown Harris Stevens, SERHANT., and The Agency. The individual agent matters more than the logo alone.
Should I trust online agent reviews?
Reviews are helpful, but they should not be the only factor. Look for recent reviews, verified transactions, specific neighborhood experience, and direct client references.
