Brown Harris Stevens is a traditional, full-service real estate brokerage that caters to the luxury market. Founded in 1873, it is one of the oldest and most prestigious real estate companies in the country. It serves high-end markets in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Florida.
Agents at Brown Harris Stevens are highly experienced. The company claims its agents achieve the highest average sale price per agent in the nation, with its New York realtors selling an average of over $6 million in real estate per agent in 2023.[1]
If you work with a Brown Harris Stevens agent, you can expect to pay the standard commission rate of 2.5–3%. On a $2,000,000 home sale, that 3% listing fee would cost you $60,000. But if you went with a low-commission brokerage, you could spend half of that — saving $30,000.
Great service doesn’t have to cost premium prices. For example, Clever Real Estate can connect you with local luxury agents who offer full service for just 1.5%. Find top-rated agents who can sell your luxury home for half the traditional commission rate.
Brown Harris Stevens overview
-
What it is: Traditional real estate brokerage specializing in luxury properties
-
Commission rate: Standard 2.5–3% of the home sale price per agent
-
Customer rating: 3.3/5 across 60 reviews
-
Locations: New York City, New Jersey, Connecticut, and South Florida
-
Benefits: Luxury expertise, prestigious brand, global network
-
Downsides: Limited ability to negotiate lower rates, customer reviews are lower than competitors'
Services
| Listing agent services | Full service |
| Buyer's agent services | Full service |
Brown Harris Stevens real estate agents offer full service.
If you’re selling a home, you can expect these services from your listing agent:
- Home pricing guidance and comparative market analysis (CMA)
- Listing on the local multiple listing service (MLS) and syndication to major real estate websites
- Professional photography
- Marketing materials
- Open houses
- Private showings
- Negotiation support
- Transaction coordination
- Closing assistance
If you’re buying a property, you'll get:
- Assistance searching for properties based on your criteria and budget
- Local market expertise and neighborhood insights
- Scheduling and coordinating showings
- Assistance with making a competitive offer
- Representation during negotiations
- Assistance with inspections and appraisals
- Support through closing
Brown Harris Stevens can offer exceptional insights into the luxury real estate market thanks to its on-staff chief economist and research and analytics teams. This data-driven approach helps buyers and sellers make more informed decisions about pricing and timing.
Brown Harris Stevens is also a member of several global luxury referral networks, including Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, Luxury Portfolio International, and Mayfair International Realty. These networks give the company access to buyers and sellers worldwide and also enable it to offer excellent relocation services to international clients.
Commission rate
| Listing agent fee | 2.5–3% |
| Buyer's agent fee | 2.5–3% |
Traditional brokerages such as Brown Harris Stevens typically charge a 2.5–3% commission. The average real estate commission in the United States is currently around 2.82% for listing agents and 2.75% for buyer’s agents.
Since August 2024, real estate fees have undergone logistical changes as a result of a settlement involving the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Previously, buyer’s agent fees were set by sellers and advertised in their MLS listings. Now, buyers must negotiate commissions directly with their agents. Most sellers are still covering the cost of the buyer’s agent commission via a concession at closing.
If you want to pay less in commissions, you can try to negotiate rates with your listing agent. However, this can be more challenging with established, traditional brokerages like Brown Harris Stevens. Agents have little incentive to offer a reduced commission, so they’re unlikely to lower their rates by much, if at all.
If you want a top realtor, but you don’t want to pay traditional realtor fees, there's an alternative.
Clever can connect you with full-service luxury agents from brand-name brokerages. But instead of paying the traditional rate, you’ll get a listing fee of just 1.5% — and save thousands in commission without compromising quality.
Agent quality
| Quality indicators |
|
| # of agents | ~2,300 |
| Locations | New York City, New Jersey, Connecticut, South Florida |
Brown Harris Stevens agents are specialists in the luxury market and have achieved the highest average sale price per agent in the U.S. Their properties regularly include celebrity homes that sell for millions of dollars.[2]
The brokerage supports the development of its realtors through a variety of initiatives. BHS Masters is a way for members of the Executive Team to pass on insights to agents of all levels. BHS X, meanwhile, provides advanced educational seminars on a variety of topics. Agents also benefit from BHS Research, which produces market reports and answers questions on topics like property taxes and building permits.
Brown Harris Stevens has around 2,300 agents across New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Florida.[3] Agents tend to focus on high-value areas, such as New York City, The Hamptons, Westchester, and Palm Beach. To connect with one of them, you can search by area or office on Brown Harris Stevens’ website.
We recommend interviewing at least 2–3 agents to find the right realtor. Evaluate each one based on their:
- Knowledge of the local market
- Experience with properties similar to yours
- Communication style and availability
- Customer reviews and testimonials
- Marketing or property search plan
- Negotiating strategy
These factors matter more than a brokerage’s brand recognition and will help you find an agent who is best aligned with your real estate goals.
Brown Harris Stevens reviews from customers
Brown Harris Stevens reviews are mixed, with an average rating of 3.3 out of 5 based on 60 reviews across Google and Yelp. The company has relatively few online reviews, which may skew its overall rating. Brown Harris Stevens also has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, but it’s not accredited, nor does it have any reviews or complaints with the BBB.
The positive Brown Harris Stevens reviews mainly focus on the quality of individual agents. Many clients found their agents to be highly professional and dedicated to helping make the real estate process easy and stress-free.
However, other clients complained about being matched with realtors who were rude and unprofessional. We also encountered some complaints about listings containing inaccurate information.
✅ Knowledgeable and experienced agents
Many clients praise the market knowledge and expertise that Brown Harris Stevens agents provide. In complex and fast-moving markets, such as New York City’s, that extra insight often helped buyers and sellers achieve favorable outcomes.
She really listened to what we wanted, knew the NYC market inside and out, and found us the perfect place. She’s honest, responsive, and made the whole process smooth and stress-free. We couldn’t have asked for a better realtor!
I worked with Widger Frota multiple times and cannot say enough good things about him and the service he provides. He is knowledgeable and organized. But most of all, he is a pleasure to work with. Wigder knows the market and has amazing follow through.
✅ Dedicated and responsive to clients
A number of Brown Harris Stevens reviews singled out individual agents for their exceptional service. Agents were frequently noted for being attentive to their clients’ needs and being easy to reach.
I couldn't be happier with my agent Vera Cappi. She went above and beyond to help us sell our home and was available to answer our questions no matter what time we called.
I had a wonderful experience with the sale of the condo. Michael Carroll is the agent you should use from this agency. He is very professional and understanding, and patient. I can't speak highly enough of him.
⚠️ Some unprofessional agents
While many clients were happy with their agents, others felt differently. They complained of agents who were rude or failed to provide the level of professionalism one would expect from a prestigious brokerage like Brown Harris Stevens. The fact that different clients could have such drastically different experiences shows how, when choosing an agent, you need to focus on the individual rather than their brokerage.
[The agent] is extremely rude. Cut me off when attempting to ask questions about the property, & I quote stating "has nothing to do with me." Do not recommend working with him unless you want a rude & unprofessional interaction.
Listing agents do not provide the necessary updates, professional courtesy, or respect when engaging with applicants.
⚠️ Inaccurate listing information
We also came across a number of reviews that complained about listings that contained inaccurate information. These oversights ended up wasting clients’ time and causing understandable frustration.
A property they have listed … is inaccurately advertised as a multi-family home. Upon visiting, the on-site agent confirmed this. I drove a considerable distance for this viewing, making the misleading listing a significant inconvenience. I urge Brown Harris Stevens to immediately correct the listing to avoid wasting the time of other potential buyers.
Here’s a rundown of the issues I encountered: 1. [Our agent] had the wrong key information in the selling listing. 2. He didn't bother to care about the inconvenience and frustration caused by the misleading/mistaken information in his listing. When we questioned about the wrong information in the selling list. He did not bother to care and no sorry. 3. He canceled a showing of a buyer last minute without providing a valid reason.
Credibility: Is Brown Harris Stevens Real Estate legit?
| Founding | 1873 by Charles S. Brown |
| Track record |
|
| News |
|
Brown Harris Stevens is a legitimate and well-established real estate brokerage. Founded in 1873, it is one of the oldest brokerages in the country, and it is licensed in all states where it operates. It is owned by Terra Holdings, a privately held real estate services company.
Brown Harris Stevens is known for its focus on the luxury real estate market, particularly in New York City and South Florida. Its agents are regularly featured in national news media for real estate–related commentary.
Brown Harris Stevens has won or been nominated for a number of industry awards. Most recently, it won first and second place for Residential Sales Deals of the Year at the 2025 REBNY Awards and was a finalist at the 2025 Golden I Club for Top Luxury Broker.
Bottom line: Is Brown Harris Stevens right for you?
Brown Harris Stevens may be a good fit for you if you’re buying or selling a luxury property. It has a reputation as a highly prestigious brokerage with connections to sellers and buyers around the world.
There’s no risk in interviewing agents from Brown Harris Stevens, but be sure to compare all your options. Agents from other brokerages may be able to offer service that is a better fit for your needs. Plus, you may be able to reduce your expenses by choosing a low-commission brokerage.
For example, by working with Clever, you can choose from multiple top local realtors who charge just 1.5% listing fees — half of what many traditional brokerages charge. You’ll be able to save on realtor fees without sacrificing the quality service you’d expect from a traditional agent.
- Answer 5 simple questions about your sale
- Get matched with 2–3 top local agents in minutes
- Compare options, choose the best fit, save up to 50% on fees
FAQ
Who owns Brown Harris Stevens?
Brown Harris Stevens is owned by Terra Holdings, a privately held real estate company. Terra Holdings is co-owned by members of the Swig and Zeckendorf families, both prominent real estate families involved in the history of some of New York City’s most iconic buildings, including the Chrysler Building and the United Nations Headquarters.
Does Brown Harris Stevens offer relocation services?
Yes, Brown Harris Stevens is well known for its relocation services. Thanks to its global referral network, it is well equipped to help international clients who are looking to relocate to one of its markets.
