The New York housing market is finally cooling off. Mortgage rates have shot up. They are expected to remain elevated through 2024.
If you’re a home seller, you’re nervous to sell now with dropping prices. You also don’t want to sell your low-interest mortgage home and buy another home at the current interest rates.
Should you sell now before home prices plummet? Or wait for rates to fall? Unless you want to learn how to sell a house by owner in New York, you’re looking for a REALTOR to help.
If you’re a home buyer, you don’t know whether you can even afford a home. Prices are still high. And interest rates have added hundreds of dollars to your mortgage payments. Is now the best time to buy a house in New York? Or wait?
A great REALTOR can help you navigate these choppy waters and make the right decision. And once you decide, they can be the pro you rely on to help you buy or sell.
Some REALTORS will save you thousands with technology. Others will help you sell your luxury property for top dollar, and still others can show you how to stop foreclosure in New York.
With our rankings of the 7 best REALTORS in New York, you can find the right one for a smooth and hassle-free real estate transaction.
🏅 Rankings: Top 7 REALTORS in New York
- Derek Greene: Best for FSBO Assistance
- John Farrell: Best Overall
- Dan Axtmann: Local Residential Specialist
- Jill Lehmann: Best for Property Management
- Richard Leasure: Most Expereinced Realtor
- Lily Tran: Best for Condos
- Natalia Zukhovich: Best for Residential Properties
Reviews: 7 Best REALTORS in New York
1. Derek Greene, The Greene Realty Group
BEST FOR FSBO ASSISTANCE
Derek Greene
- Experience: 17+ years
4.9/5.0
(171 reviews)
4.9/5.0
(171 reviews)Derek Greene, founder of The Greene Realty Group offers flat fee services in 7 states. The price of the packages varies state-wise.
- Common services include open house assistance, contract review, market analysis, and broker consultation. You can upload 30 photos and add a virtual tour video. You also get legal forms and state disclosure etc.
Coverage in 7 States: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
👉 Our Take: We recommend Derek Greene for his exceptional service to FSBO home sellers.
» Derek Greene, The Greene Realty Group: Check out the services provided by Derek Greene via Houzeo.com
Here are a few highlights about The Greene Realty Group:
- Marketing Assistance: Your listing is advertised across popular websites like Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com and several other syndicated websites. You can also post video tours and advertise open houses through their MLS.
- Houzeo Agent Advantage: Derek has access to a 100% online platform that facilitates easy listing, fast changes, online showings, and offers.
- Transaction Sides: Derek has sold 500+ properties in the last 12 months and has over 3,565 listings.
In our research, we found no red flags with The Greene Realty Group. Derek has a great reputation among the broker community.
Derek Greene Realtor: Derek Greene has an “Excellent” 4.9 out of 5-star rating from 171 total reviews on Houzeo.com
Derek Greene is the founder of The Greene Realty Group. He offers his services in 7 states. He is a thorough professional.
Previous sellers not only saved money, but they also received excellent service and guidance.
2. John Farrell, Exit Realty Homeward Bound
SHORT-SALE SPECIALIST
John Farrell
- Experience: 39+ years
- 3.4/5.0
(17 reviews)
3.4/5.0
(17 reviews)John Farrell is an experienced REALTOR based in New York. He specializes in foreclosure, eviction, title, violations, and short sale. Exit Realty Homeward Bound is a full-service Real Estate Company serving in New York.
- With John Farrell, you can expect a full commission of 5% – 6%.
Coverage: John provides services in – Afton, Albany, Apalachin, Au Sable Forks, Barker, Berkshire, Binghamton, Buffalo, Castle Creek, Chenango Forks, Conklin, Deposit Endicott, Glen Aubrey, Greene, Greenville, Hancock, Harpursville, Johnson City, Kirkwood.
👉 Our Take: We recommend John because of his expertise and extensive knowledge.
John and Exit Realty is one of the best Realtor options in New York.
- Effective Pricing: All Exit Realty agents are prepared to effectively price your home to promote a speedy sale.
- Home Valuation: You are provided with a CMA report to price your home competitively in your area.
- Open House Alerts: Buyers are notified with the most recent relevant open houses in your neighborhood.
- Transaction Sides: John has sold over 3,500 homes in New York.
Achievements:
- Broome County’s Highest Performer for consistent 25 years.
- Tri-Real-a-thon awarded three times
- Awarded #1 Exit Lister/sales/sponsors among 35,000 agents in North America
- 127 sales in the last 12 months
- Certified Residential Specialist Designation
- Top One percent nationwide
- National Association of Realtors E-PRO Designation
In our research we found a few draw backs about John Farrell:
- Less Customer Friendly: Few of the sellers have found John less client friendly.
- Low on Tech: Exit Realty’s website does not provide in-detail information for first time users. You need to talk with its agent for services and prices.
John Farrell has a rating of 3.4 stars out of 5 on Zillow.
John has over 39 years of experience in the real estate field. He has been the highest-performing Realtor in Broome County for 25 years with more than 3,500 sales.
John also has extensive knowledge in finance, contracts, negotiating, and marketing while buying or selling a house.
3. Dan Axtmann, Berkshire Hathway Homeservices
RESIDENTIAL SPECIALIST
Dan Axtmann
- Experience: 18+ years
- 5.0/5.0
(195 reviews)
Daniel Axtmann is a REALTOR associated with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices in New York. He specializes in residential listings and sales, relocation, foreclosure, and short sales.
- Dan is a full-service Realtor, so you can expect a 5% – 6% commission of the transaction while working with him.
👉 Our Take: We recommend Dan for his expertise in real estate transactions. His past clients praise his quality of paying attention to details.
Dan Axtmann with Berkshire Hathay Homeservices, provides comprehensive marketing and technology services across the Empire State.
- Good on Tech: Berkshire Hathway offers virtual interactions with their agents. You get access to online contract signing and other document-sharing tools.
- Home Valuation: You get monthly and quarterly market update reports via email. You can market your home in the neighborhood competitively.
Achievements:
- 2011 Realtor of The Year, Prudential Serls Prime Properties, Lagrange office
- Member, Mid-Hudson Multiple Listing Service – Member, Empire Access Multiple Listing Service
- Member, Greater Hudson Valley Multiple Listing Service – Member, National Association of Realtors
- Member, New York State Association of Realtors – Member, Dutchess County Association of Realtors
- Member, American Marketing Association
- Lifelong resident of Dutchess County
In our research, we found no red flags with Realtor Daniel Axtmann. He has a great reputation within the REALTORS community.
Daniel Axtmann has 5 out of 5 stars from 195 reviews on Zillow.
Dan Axtmann has an experience of 18+ years in the housing market. He keeps himself updated with the latest tech to make your real estate experience more smoother.
Daniel is always available for his clients and has excellent knowledge about the local real estate market.
4. Jill Lehmann, Coldwell Banker Timberland Properties
RELOCATION SPECIALIST
Jill Lehmann
- Experience: 16+years
- 4.9/5.0
(28 reviews)
4.9/5.0
(28 reviews)
Jill Lehman is associated with Coldwell Banker Timberland Properties. She is an FAA licensed Realtor in New York.
- With Jill you need to pay a full-service realtor fees of 5% – 6% of transaction commission.
👉 Our Take: We recommend Jill for her incredible knowledge of the Catskill real estate market. Her past clients not only saved money in their transactions with Jill, but they also experienced a stress-free process.
Jill and Coldwell Banker provide you with the latest tech features:
- Virtual Tour: The online listing allows prospective buyers to have a virtual tour of your home.
- Market Exposure: The listing syndication on other real estate websites increases traffic to your listing. This gives it wide exposure.
- Interactive Map Search: The interactive map search option shows you the homes in your neighborhood.
- Good on Tech: You can schedule showings and more using the mobile app.
- Drone Photography: Jill is FAA licensed to use drone photography of your property.
Achievements:
- President’s Elite Award Winner representing the top 1% of Coldwell Banker agents in the world
- Featured speaker at Coldwell Banker’s Generation Blue Experience 2021
- She closed 64 properties in the previous year.
In our research, we found no red flags with Jill Lehman, Coldwell Banker Timberland Properties. She is one of the trusted real estate agents by her clients.
Jill Ogden has a rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars on Zillow.
Jill is a full-service Realtor with Coldwell Banker. She pecializes in resort and second-home properties, relocation, and home staging.
Her clients call her always highly responsive throughout their real estate journey.
5. Richard Leasure, Howard Hanna
BEST FOR COMMERCIAL RE
Richard Leasure
- Experience: 44+years
- 5.0/5.0
( 23 reviews)
Richard Leasure is a New York Realtor and Associate Broker at Howard Hanna Pittsford. He specializes in listing and buyer’s agents, relocation, and commercial real estate.
- Richard charges the fees of a full-service Realtor.
Coverage in Counties: Richard is licensed in New York and provides his services Wayne County, Yates County, NY, Monroe County, Ontario County, Orleans County, and Livingston County.
👉 Our Take: We recommend Richard for his more than 40 years of experience in the real estate market. He closed over 1,000 properties.
Richard is associated with Howard Hanna and offers the following features:
- Home Valuation: You can get a good estimate of your home’s value to price your home competitively.
- Price Updates: The listings are updated continuously so you can receive the latest prices.
We found no drawbacks about Richard. He is one of the experienced Realtors and has a good reputation in the broker community.
Richard has a 5-star rating on Howard Hanna
Rick is said to be most informed real estate agent in New York. He has a list of repititive client who enjoy working with him.
He has a professional approach when it comes to marketing the properties.
6. Lily Tran, Exp Realty
Condo Specialist
Lily Tran
- Experience: 23+years
- 5/5
(239 reviews)
5/5
(239 reviews)Lily Tran is an associate broker with eXp Realty. She specializes in selling condos and Cooperative residentials.
- Lily is a full-service Realtor. You need to pay 5% – 6% realtor fees for the transaction.
👉 Our Take: We recommend Lily for her exceptional background in the real estate and high her attentiveness to her clients.
Lily Tran has helped home sellers in New York for more than 20 years.
- Excellent Customer Service: Lily aims at making clients comfortable while working with them throughout the process.
- Local Expertise: Lily has been a resident of Forest Hills for over 30 years. Therefore, she has the required expertise of the local market to help home buyer/sellers.
Achievements:
- Awarded #1 sales associate in her brokerage for top sales value.
- Recognized with Top 20 under 40 rising stars in Real Estate awards
- Featured in the National Top Agents magazine.
- Has done 112 sales in last 12 months
In our research, we found no red flags about Lily Tran. She is one of the most recommended real estate agent by her clients.
Lily Tran has 5 out of 5 stars from 239 reviews on Zillow.
» Lily Tran, eXp Realty: Check out what previous clients have to say about Lily.
Lily has helped clients in neighborhood of Queens to find their dream homes. She is a certified Seller Representative Specialist (SRS) and Buyer Representative Specialist (BRS).
Since 2017, Lily has been donating $100 to a Food Pantry, out of every property transaction closed.
7. Natalia Zukhovich, Robert Defalco Realty
Makes selling easy
Natalia Zukhovich
- Experience: 21+years
- 5/5
(91 reviews)
Natalia Zukhovich is associated with Robert Defalco Realty. She specializes in foreclosures, short-sale, finance, contract, and negotiation.
- She is a full-service realtor. You can expect 5% – 6% transaction fees.
👉 Our Take: We recommend Natalia for her exceptional customer reviews and professionalism. She makes the home selling process stress free and gets you a top dollar sale for your property.
Natalia is one of the best Realtors in New York, Staten Islands.
- Expericnced Realtors: Robert Defalco Realty has the finest realtors in the business. They bring in over 30 years of experience collectively.
- Selling Made Easy: Past clients of Natalia have praised her for making their real estate journey easy and professional.
- Multiple Specialities: Natalia specializes in multiple services like Foreclosure, Property Management, Short sale, negotiations, etc.
In our research, we found no red flags with Natalia Zukhovich. She has an excellent reputation within the broker community.
Natalia Zukhovich has 5 out of 5 stars on Zillow.
» Natalia Zukhovich, Robert Defalco Realty: Check out the reviews and experience sellers had with Natalia.
Natalia Zukhovich provides real estate services in association with Robert Defalco Realty. She bring in an experience of more than 21 years in the industry.
Her clients always had an excellent experience while working with her. She is also priased by them for her realistic advices against certain transactions.
What are Realtor Agents?
Realtor Agents are real estate professionals adhering to the code of ethics laid down by the National Association of REALTORS (NAR), America’s largest real estate association.
REALTORS can be commercial brokers, real estate agents, appraisers, property managers, and counselors working in the real estate sector.
» NAR Code of Ethics: A REALTOR’s pledge to business integrity and fair dealing.
What is the Average Realtor Commission in New York?
The average Realtor commission is typically between 5% – 6%. However, this fee is negotiable and varies state-wide.
With increasing competition and better alternatives, Realtor agents are willing to lower their commissions and provide concessions to the home seller.
» How to Negotiate Real Estate Commissions: Pro tips on how to negotiate agent commissions and save thousands!
Who Pays REALTOR Fees in New York?
The seller typically pays the REALTOR fees. Although the seller is responsible for paying these fees, they can always negotiate with the buyer on this.
In simple terms, it can be said that REALTOR fees are a part of the sale price of a home.
Do Closing Costs include REALTOR Fees?
Yes! Realtor fees are a major part of closing costs. Closing costs, also known as “settlement costs,” are the final expenses to complete the real estate transaction.
1. Home Selling
A sizeable chunk of the seller’s closing costs, comprising 5%–6% of the sales price, is made up of REALTOR commissions. It is important to note that the seller pays a commission to both the listing agent and the buyer’s agent.
The commissions can vary according to the type of service you want to opt for selling your home.
- Flat Fee MLS: Sell your home with an average fee of $399 and save thousands in commissions. Get the best possible exposure for your home by listing it on the MLS.
- Discount Real Estate Brokers: The average fee these low-commission brokers charge is $5,000 or 1.5% of the sale price. They provide services at reduced rates thereby making them a top choice for sellers.
⚡Seller Closing Costs in New York: Find out what closing costs you pay as a seller in New York.
2. Home Buying
Buyer closing costs do not usually include the REALTOR fees. However, this fee is already included in the price the buyer pays for their home.
⚡Buyer Closing Costs in New York: Find what closing costs you pay as a buyer in New York.
REALTORS vs. Agents vs. Brokers
- Real Estate Agents: Agents are licensed professionals who represent buyers or sellers in real estate transactions. They must work with a broker or a brokerage.
- Real Estate Broker: Brokers are agents with experience and a license, allowed after completing additional coursework. They can either start their own brokerage or work independently as agents.
- REALTOR®: REALTORs are agents or brokers that are members of NAR and follow NAR’s code of ethics. Their modes of operation and responsibilities include that of agents and/or brokers.
How to Find REALTORS in New York?
Home sellers and buyers can find a top-rated REALTOR with proper research. If you wish to sell or buy a single-family home or a condo, it is essential to find a REALTOR who specializes in that type of sale.
Here’s how you can find a Realtor for your home selling/buying needs:
- Find Licensed Realtors: Look for agents who are members of the NAR. Select Realtors with lower commission rates and check whether they provide virtual or full services.
- Interview Realtors: Interview short-listed Realtors and convey your requirements. Find out their specialisation, whether they offer cutting-edge technology and online services.
- Review and Finalize: Check reviews on trusted websites like Google, Yelp, Trustpilot, etc. Finalize the one that best understands your real estate goals.
Can You List Your Home on the MLS Without a REALTOR?
No. Only licensed real estate agents have access to the MLS. There is no way to list on the MLS without an agent.
You can just opt for a Flat Fee MLS listing service. With a Flat-Fee MLS listing, you pay a small fee instead of a full listing agent commission. A Flat Fee MLS listing is the fastest way to get listed on the MLS and hit the market.
With high-tech services like Houzeo real estate, you can get listed faster than a traditional full-service Realtor. And save thousands!
» How to Get Access to MLS: Here’s how to list on MLS without a REALTOR!
Alternatives to Realtors in Ne York
Realtors are the best option for first-time home sellers. But if saving money is your goal, there are several other options.
- Hire a Discount Real Estate Broker: Discount real estate brokers offer all the services of a traditional broker for a discounted commission. Typically, discount brokers will charge anywhere between 0.5% to 2% commission to list and sell your home.
- Flat Fee MLS Listing Service: With New York Flat-Fee MLS companies, you can not only save thousands of dollars in commissions but also take advantage of their technology for selling your house without a Realtor.
- Sell to an iBuyer: Many iBuyers, like Opendoor and Offerpad, purchase hundreds of homes nationwide. iBuyers can be a great option if you’re wondering how to sell your house fast in New York.
- Sell to Cash Home Buyers: Individual cash home buyers and companies that buy houses for cash in New York make all-cash offers, usually within 24 to 48 hours. Cash buyers let you skip the hassle of listing on the MLS, inspection, appraisal, etc.
- Sell For Sale By Owner: For Sale By Owner websites will help you list and sell a house by owner and save thousands in listing agent commission. Many FSBO websites will also get you listed on the MLS and help you with FSBO paperwork.
Final Word
Having a good REALTOR® when selling or buying a house can make the process a cakewalk. Their guidance can help you get the best price for your property or find your dream home.
However, the average REALTOR commission of 6% reduces your profits substantially. Additionally, seller closing costs are quite high.
Although there is no escaping the closing costs, opting for Flat Fee Realtor can help you save 3% listing agent commission.
Frequently Asked Questions about REALTORS in New York
How do I find a good REALTOR in New York?
You can find a good REALTOR in New York based on your requirements. For instance, if you wish to sell a luxury property then you can opt for a REALTOR® accordingly. To help you in the process we have compiled the above list for you.
Who are the top licensed REALTORS in New York?
As per our research, Derek Greene is the best REALTOR in New York. You can find out about his services, coverage, and customer reviews here.
What percentage do most REALTORS charge in New York?
REALTOR® in New York charge 5% - 6% of the sale price.
Who pays Realtor fees in New York?
Sellers are responsible for paying the REALTOR fee in New York.
How to sell your house without a REALTOR® in New York?
You can sell your house without a REALTOR in New York by opting for FSBO. Also, there are FSBO platforms like Houzeo that can help you in selling your property at reduced rates.
Eager to Know How Houzeo Works?
We’ve got you covered. Check out the following video to understand how Houzeo works and why it is one of the best For Sale By Owner websites in New York.
» NEED MORE CLARITY? Read these exclusive Houzeo reviews and learn why it is one of the best FSBO sites in America.
Also Read
- Real Estate Companies in New York: Check out the Best Real Estate Companies in New York in 2023.
- Selling a House By Owner in New York: Know about the Ins and Outs of Selling a House in New York.
- Selling a House As Is in New York: If you want to sell your house without incurring any repair charges, then check out this blog on the ‘as-is’ approach.
- For Sale By Owner Contract New York: Check out how to create a contract for an FSBO transaction in New York.
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New York Realtors
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