If you're selling or buying a high-end home, working with a luxury real estate brokerage is the best way to make sure the process goes smoothly.
When you sell a high-end home, you need to make the perfect first impression. Gorgeous photos and an expert selling strategy are only the start. Luxury realtors at the best high-end real estate companies have the expertise to market your home to serious buyers and negotiate an offer that maximizes your final sale price.
Need help finding a great luxury realtor? Clever can help! Clever is a free service that matches you with handpicked agents in your local market, including high-end brokerages like Sotheby's and Berkshire Hathaway.
In addition to connecting you with a top-rated agent who specializes in your price range and neighborhood, Clever also negotiates 1.5% listing fees for you. On a $1 million home, finding your agent through Clever would save you $15,000!
» SAVE: Find your perfect agent, sell your home for a 1.5% listing fee!
Or, read on to find our full rankings of the best luxury real estate companies in the U.S.
🏆 Top 10 luxury real estate brokerages
1. Sotheby's International Realty
Sotheby's International Realty is a subsidiary of Realogy and shares its name with the renowned international auction house. Established in 1976, this firm is committed to providing the exceptional service that characterizes the Sotheby's Auction House.
The auction house struck an agreement in 2004 with Realogy to license the Sotheby's International Realty brand. This partnership took the real estate brand global by offering franchises to certain real estate brokerages. Currently, Sotheby's ranks as one of the top luxury real estate companies in the world, with over 21,000 agents under its brand.
However, Sotheby's offers more than just an iconic history. In 2016, it began offering high-definition property walkthroughs using Virtual Reality and Apple TV, proving this storied luxury real estate brand remains an innovative company in the 21st century.
Clever can help you find the perfect high-end realtor — and get unbelievable savings too!
With Clever, you'll:
✅ Find top realtors from trusted brokers, like Sotheby's and Berkshire Hathaway
✅ Sell your high-end property for only a 1.5% listing fee
✅ Earn cash back on qualifying purchases.
Clever's service is 100% free, with zero obligation. You can interview as many agents as you like, or walk away at any time. Enter your zip code to find a top local agent today!
2. Christie's International Real Estate
Christie's International Real Estate is another top luxury brokerage whose brand is synonymous with high-end real estate. This company works exclusively with properties valued at $1 million or more, so you can trust that their specialists have the expertise to market your home to the right buyers.
Like Sotheby's, Christie's is a subsidiary of a centuries-old international auction house with an iconic history. The global Christie's International Real Estate affiliate network has an impressive track record of closing over $500 billion of real estate transactions within the last five years. The firm's brand recognition and affiliate network make it a great option for anyone looking to sell or buy a luxury home.
» MORE: How much is realtor commission on a $1 million house?
3. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices sells commercial, residential, and luxury home real estate. While Berkshire isn't exclusively a high-end real estate company, its network of highly trained Luxury Collection Specialists possess the expertise to help sellers and buyers get the best deal.
As of 2021, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices ranks as the third-largest real estate brokerage in the U.S., with more than $150 billion in annual sales volume, over 800 offices, and nearly 45,000 licensed agents.
» MORE: How much commission does Berkshire Hathaway charge?
4. Keller Williams Luxury International
Founded in 1983, Keller Williams is the biggest international real estate brokerage firm by agent count. Their Luxury International division focuses on serving the upper-tier home market.
This brokerage firm brands themselves as specialists that raise the bar when it comes to customer service and focuses on their client's needs to sell or find their next home. With offices throughout the United States, KW's brand, and its extensive global agent network, Luxury International exceeds the needs of high-end buyers and sellers.
» MORE: Learn about Keller Williams commission fees
5. Nest Seekers International
Established in 2001, Nest Seekers International is one of the youngest and smallest luxury real estate brands on our list. Currently, the firm has more than 25 offices and over 1,000 employees.
Nest Seekers touts its in-house creative agency, which employs a "daring and unconventional" marketing approach to set your listing apart from the competition. Its revolutionary and technology-driven listing process has made the firm one of the premier high-end real estate companies.
6. Distinctive Collection by Better Homes and Gardens
Although Better Homes and Gardens isn't widely known as a high-end real estate brokerage, its Distinctive Collection offers luxury buyers and sellers a similar level of service and support to top firms like Sotheby's and Christie's.
The Better Homes and Gardens brokerage network has more than 10,000 agents at local offices throughout the United States, Canada, the Bahamas, and Jamaica. Their agents use a full suite of marketing tools to make your home stand out and help buyers find high-end homes that meet their needs.
The "standard" 6% commission predates the internet, when realtors had to work harder to find clients and potential buyers.
At Clever, we connect top-rated real estate agents with sellers like you at zero upfront cost to the agents — so they’re willing to pass savings along to you.
You get full service for a pre-negotiated low listing fee (1.5% instead of the typical 3% rate), which can save you tens of thousands at the closing table.
7. The RE/MAX Collection
Like many other top real estate brokerages, RE/MAX offers exclusive services to high-end buyers and sellers through its RE/MAX Collection division. To qualify for the RE/MAX Collection, a home must be worth at least twice the average selling price in the local market.
With more than 23,000 luxury agents, RE/MAX Collection has the global coverage to help you buy or sell no matter where you're located.
8. Coldwell Banker Global Luxury
Coldwell Banker's luxury division brands itself as the gold standard for luxury real estate. The long-standing history, reputation, and track record of its parent company precedes it. This luxury division leverages technology and expertise to meet and exceed the needs of high-end clients.
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury has property specialists in more than 3,000 offices, making it one of the top luxury real estate companies in the world. Its focus on customer service and presence puts it ahead in the high-end property market.
9. HomeSmart International
Founded in 2000, HomeSmart International turned the real estate industry upside down by harnessing the power of technology not only for agents, but customers too. Based in Arizona, this firm offers you guidance throughout the home selling process or home buying process.
They prioritize communication by keeping clients updated through text messages and other automated marketing methods. Over 19,000 real estate agents in the United States work under HomeSmart International. Its approach to using technology throughout the process makes it a top choice for technology-savvy home sellers and buyers.
10. Compass Luxury Homes
Compass Luxury Homes is the youngest brokerage firm on our list, but it's quickly making a name for itself as one of the top high-end real estate companies in the U.S.
This brokerage firm offers a concierge program to help sellers prepare their property for the market. Luxury services range from staging to repairing the home to get the most for the property. Compass Luxury Homes also improves the home buying process by offering a mobile app buyers can use to curate a portfolio of properties to track and discuss with their agents.
Save thousands when you sell your luxury home
Clever can help you find a real estate agent who works for a luxury brokerage you already know and love. Rather than paying the average realtor fee of 3% to list your home, though, we've pre-negotiated listing fees of just 1.5%.
Clever has helped hundreds of luxury buyers and sellers get exclusive savings while working with the top realtors in their local market. Here's what one customer who saved over $50,000 with Clever had to say:
Since Clever connects its partner agents to qualified clients like you at zero upfront cost, they're willing to pass on part of the savings to you. You'll get the same full-service support at half the price. Or, if you're buying, you could be eligible to receive cash back after closing.
Clever's service is 100% free and there's no obligation. You can interview as many agents as you like until you find the perfect luxury realtor, or you can walk away if you aren't completely satisfied with your matches.
If you're weighing your options for buying or selling a house, Clever can help!
Our fully licensed concierge team can answer your questions and provide objective advice on getting the best outcome with your sale or purchase.
When you enter your info below, we'll ask you a few questions about your situation via a short form. Then our concierge team will be in touch shortly to help.
This service is free, and there’s never any obligation to move forward with us.
FAQs about luxury realtors
What are the best luxury realtors in the U.S.?
The best luxury real estate brokerages include firms like Sotheby's International Realty and Christie's International Real Estate. However, most nationwide brokerages offer dedicated service and support to affluent buyers and sellers, so it's worth exploring all your options to find the best fit for your unique priorities. Read our full guide to finding the perfect realtor.
What's the best way to sell a luxury home?
The best way to sell a luxury home is to work with a real estate agent who specializes in high-end homes. Luxury properties attract a much smaller pool of buyers than the average home, so they tend to sit on the market longer, which makes it harder to get your target sale price. Finding an agent with experience selling luxury homes in your neighborhood makes all the difference. Using an agent matching service like Clever Real Estate or HomeLight is an easy way to connect with top local realtors so you can compare marketing strategies, commission rates, and overall value.
