NYC Services & Professionals Real Estate Brokerages

The 8 Best Real Estate Brokerages in NYC (2026)

Updated October 2026 · 8 picks

The best real estate brokerages in NYC in 2026 are Corcoran, Douglas Elliman and Brown Harris Stevens — the city's longest-established residential firms — plus Compass, the largest by agent count. For luxury, look at Sotheby's International Realty and SERHANT.; for townhouses, Leslie J. Garfield. In New York, the individual agent matters as much as the brand.

The list at a glance

Corcoran Offices across Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Hamptons, Manhattan
Douglas Elliman Offices across New York City and Long Island, Manhattan
Brown Harris Stevens Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Hamptons and beyond, Manhattan
Compass Headquartered in Manhattan, Manhattan
Sotheby's International Realty East Side and Downtown Manhattan offices, Manhattan
SERHANT. Headquartered in Manhattan, Manhattan
Nest Seekers International Offices in Manhattan and the Hamptons, Manhattan
Leslie J. Garfield Upper East Side, Manhattan

1. Corcoran — Offices across Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Hamptons, Manhattan

The name most New Yorkers know — founded by Barbara Corcoran in 1973.

Specialty Residential sales and rentals, new developmentBest for Buyers, sellers, renters and developers

Corcoran was founded by Barbara Corcoran in 1973 with a $1,000 loan and grew into one of New York's defining residential brokerages, with offices throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn and in the Hamptons. Its market reports on Manhattan and Brooklyn sales are among the most widely quoted in the city.

It covers every corner of the residential market, from rentals to new development marketing, and its Corcoran Sunshine arm specializes in selling new condominium projects.

Good to know: Its quarterly Manhattan and Brooklyn market reports are free and a good way to understand pricing before you meet any agent.

Website

2. Douglas Elliman — Offices across New York City and Long Island, Manhattan

A New York brokerage since 1911, and one of the largest in the country.

Specialty Residential sales, luxury, new development, rentalsBest for Buyers, sellers, renters and developers

Douglas Elliman has been selling New York real estate since 1911 and is now a publicly traded company with offices across the United States, but its roots and much of its business are still in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island.

The Elliman Report, produced with appraisal firm Miller Samuel, is one of the standard sources on New York housing prices. Its new development marketing arm is a major force in Manhattan condo launches.

Good to know: The Elliman Report breaks the market down by neighborhood — useful for checking whether an asking price is in line.

Website

3. Brown Harris Stevens — Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Hamptons and beyond, Manhattan

New York's oldest-school luxury brokerage, dating back to 1873.

Specialty Luxury residential sales, co-ops, townhousesBest for Buyers and sellers, especially at the high end

Brown Harris Stevens traces its history to 1873, making it one of the oldest real estate firms in New York, and it has long been associated with the classic prewar co-ops of the Upper East Side and Upper West Side. It merged with sister firm Halstead in 2020.

Its agents are particularly strong in the co-op market, where knowing a building's board and its quirks makes a real difference to a sale.

Good to know: For a classic prewar co-op, an agent who has sold in that specific building before is worth a lot — ask.

Website

4. Compass — Headquartered in Manhattan, Manhattan

The tech-driven brokerage founded in New York in 2012 that became the largest in the US.

Specialty Residential sales and rentalsBest for Buyers, sellers and renters

Compass was founded in New York in 2012 and grew rapidly by recruiting top agents from established firms and giving them its own technology platform. It is now the largest residential brokerage in the United States by sales volume, and has a very large presence in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Because Compass is built around individual agents and teams, quality varies by agent — look at a specific agent's recent sales in your target neighborhood.

Good to know: Search the site for agents by neighborhood and check their recent closed sales, not just their listings.

Website

5. Sotheby's International Realty — East Side and Downtown Manhattan offices, Manhattan

The luxury brand with an international buyer network.

Specialty Luxury residential salesBest for High-end buyers and sellers, including international clients

Sotheby's International Realty carries the auction house's name into luxury real estate and has a global network of affiliated offices, which makes it a natural choice for sellers of high-end apartments and townhouses who want international exposure.

Its Manhattan offices focus on the top of the market, including Upper East Side co-ops and downtown lofts.

Good to know: Best for sellers of luxury property who want international buyers to see the listing.

Website

6. SERHANT. — Headquartered in Manhattan, Manhattan

Ryan Serhant's media-driven brokerage, known for marketing luxury and new development.

Specialty Luxury sales, new development marketingBest for Sellers and developers who want maximum exposure

SERHANT. was launched in 2020 by Ryan Serhant, a former star of Million Dollar Listing New York, and describes itself as a brokerage and media company. It leans heavily on video and social media marketing, which has made it a fast-growing force in luxury listings and new development sales.

If you are selling and want your property promoted to the widest possible audience online, its marketing machine is the reason to talk to it.

Good to know: Ask to see the marketing plan — content production is its main differentiator.

Website

7. Nest Seekers International — Offices in Manhattan and the Hamptons, Manhattan

A large independent brokerage covering rentals, sales and the Hamptons.

Specialty Rentals, residential sales, HamptonsBest for Renters, buyers and sellers

Nest Seekers International is one of New York's larger independent brokerages, with a big rental and sales operation in Manhattan and a strong Hamptons business. It has also built a media presence through its property video channel.

Its search tools cover rentals as well as sales, so it is a practical starting point for people moving to the city.

Good to know: A useful site for browsing Manhattan rentals by neighborhood when you first arrive.

Website

8. Leslie J. Garfield — Upper East Side, Manhattan

The townhouse specialist — if it has its own front door, they probably know it.

Specialty Manhattan and Brooklyn townhousesBest for Townhouse buyers and sellers

Leslie J. Garfield is a boutique brokerage that focuses on New York townhouses — brownstones, limestone mansions and carriage houses in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Townhouses are a small, specialized market with their own rules on renovation, landmarking and financing.

Its townhouse-only focus and market reports make it a reference point for anyone buying or selling a single-family house in the city.

Good to know: Ask about landmark district rules before you fall in love with a facade — renovations can need city approval.

Website

Frequently asked questions

Who pays the broker's fee for a rental in NYC?

Since the FARE Act took effect in June 2025, a broker hired by the landlord to list an apartment cannot charge the tenant a fee. If you, the tenant, hire a broker to find you an apartment, you can still agree to pay them. Read any fee agreement carefully before you sign it.

How much commission do sellers pay in New York City?

Commissions are negotiable. Historically, total residential sales commissions in Manhattan were often around 5–6% of the price, split between the listing and buyer's brokers, but since the 2024 national settlement over agent commissions, buyer-broker compensation is negotiated more explicitly and arrangements vary more widely.

What is the REBNY listing service?

The Real Estate Board of New York runs the RLS (Residential Listing Service), which member brokerages use to share listings with each other. It means most listed apartments in Manhattan and much of Brooklyn are available through any member firm, so choosing a brokerage is really about choosing a good agent.

Do I need a broker to buy in New York?

No, but most buyers use one, and in competitive co-op markets an experienced buyer's agent helps with pricing, bidding and the board package. Whatever you do, you will also need a real estate attorney — in New York, lawyers handle the contract and the closing.

1. Corcoran — Offices across Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Hamptons, Manhattan

2. Douglas Elliman — Offices across New York City and Long Island, Manhattan

3. Brown Harris Stevens — Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Hamptons and beyond, Manhattan

4. Compass — Headquartered in Manhattan, Manhattan

5. Sotheby's International Realty — East Side and Downtown Manhattan offices, Manhattan

6. SERHANT. — Headquartered in Manhattan, Manhattan

7. Nest Seekers International — Offices in Manhattan and the Hamptons, Manhattan

8. Leslie J. Garfield — Upper East Side, Manhattan

Frequently asked questions

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