Clever's team of experts ranked the top realtors and real estate agents in Atlanta, GA. Read on to find the best agent for your sale or purchase, or learn more about our methodology.
Best for
| • Sellers • Luxury homes • Discount fees |
• Buyers • First-time home buyers • Investors |
Clever’s Concierge Team will hand-pick the best agents for your situation — and negotiate lower rates on your behalf. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
Atlanta's top agents for sellers
 |
Collette McDonald eXp Realty |
• Highest rated by customers • 29 sales in 2020 • 18 years of experience • $300M+ in career sales • 150+ five-star Zillow reviews |
• Website • Connect |
|
Abbie Shepherd Keller Williams |
• Top listing specialist • 23 sales in 2020 • 14 years of experience • $11M+ in sales in 2020 • Represented the seller in 70% of deals |
• Website •Connect |
|
Erika C. Brown Adams Realtors |
• Best for selling and buying together • 26 sales in 2020 • 23 years of experience • Top producing realtor for 10+ years • Top 10% for both seller and buyer deals |
• Website •Connect |
|
Sally English Realty Associates of Atlanta |
• Most experienced • 26 sales in 2020 • 35 years of experience • $10M+ in sales in 2020 • 400+ career listings |
• Website •Connect |
|
Beth Ann Clanin Keller Williams |
• Top producer in 2020 • 30 sales in 2020 • 18 years of experience • $15M+ in sales in 2020 • 45 sales in the last 12 months |
• Website •Connect |
As a seller, it pays to find an agent who has experience selling homes in your specific neighborhood and price range. 75% of sellers contacted one agent before making a decision according to a National Association of Realtors (NAR) report. You should interview several agents to compare pricing opinions and marketing plans before you make a decision.
Clever’s Concierge Team will hand-pick the best agents for your situation — and negotiate lower rates on your behalf. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
Best agents for selling luxury homes
|
Betsy Akers Sotheby's International |
• $80M+ in sales in 2020 • 182 sales at $1M+ • $13.9M highest sale price • Life membership in Atlanta Top Producers |
• Website •Connect |
|
Ashley Battleson Engel & Volkers |
• $35M+ in sales in 2020 • 75 sales at $1M+ • $3.7M highest sale price • Life membership in Atlanta Top Producers |
• Website •Connect |
 |
Ben Hirsh Hirsh Real Estate |
• $84M+ in sales in 2020 • 149 sales at $1M+ • $7.2M highest sale price • #1 Top Producer by Volume in 2019 |
• Website •Connect |
|
Sam Bayne Sotheby's International |
• $80M+ in sales in 2020 • 119 sales at $1M+ • $8.9M highest sale price • $1+ billion in sales since 2001 |
• Website •Connect |
According to data from the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing, there were 1,128 luxury homes for sale in Atlanta in August. However, only 300 were sold and, on average, the sale price for luxury real estate was $200K+ less than the list price.
If you have a home worth more than $1 million, take the time to interview agents who specialize in handling more expensive listings.
Best agents for discount fees
|
Rhonda Duffy Duffy Realty |
• Approx. 1% listing fee • 569 recent sales • 27 years of experience |
• Website •Connect |
|
Michael Smith Chapman Hall |
• 1% listing fee • 53 recent sales • 17 years of experience |
• Website •Connect |
|
Mark Tidwell Linc Realty of Atlanta |
• 1.5—2.5% listing fee • 12 recent sales • 15 years of experience |
• Website •Connect |
Sellers in Atlanta pay an average of 5.68% of the house's sale price in realtor commissions, which is higher than the national average. Considering the median home value in Atlanta is $299,308, that amounts to $17,000 in fees.
Some agents (like those in the table above) advertise listing fees that are lower than the average in Atlanta to attract customers with cost savings. Note that the listing fee is only half of what you pay — most sellers also pay a buyer’s agent commission of 2—3%.
But you can always negotiate realtor commissions. There is no fixed rate, and it’s left to you and your agent to agree on a price.
Clever negotiates low rates with top listing agents in Atlanta. Sell your house with a full-service agent from a major brokerage (Keller Williams, RE/MAX, etc.) for a 1.5% listing fee — that's half the usual rate.
Our matching service is 100% free to use with no obligation. Give us a try today!
Atlanta's top agents for buyers
|
Ivan Savant Berkshire Hathaway |
• Top buyer specialist • $199K—415K price range • 6 years of experience • Top Agent with Berkshire Hathaway 2016—2019 • Represents buyers in 65% of deals |
• Website •Connect |
|
Martin Archacki Keller Williams |
• Highest rated by customers • $162K—350K price range • 20 years of experience • 150+ 5-star Zillow reviews |
• Website •Connect |
|
Austin Landers Dorsey Alston |
• Top producer in 2020 • $190K—401K price range • 7 years of experience • Voted Atlanta's Funniest Realtor 2018 • 30+ buyer-side deals in 2020 |
• Website •Connect |
|
Erika C. Brown Adams Realtors |
• Most experienced • $90K—300K price range • 23 years of experience • Top producing realtor for 10+ years • 450+ career deals |
• Website •Connect |
|
Collette McDonald eXp Realty |
• Best for buying luxury homes • $257K—600K price range • 18 years of experience • Lead of a Top 10 Team in Atlanta • 10+ buyer-side deals at $1M+ |
• Website •Connect |
As a buyer, your agent will help you find your next home and act as a guide through the entire home-buying process. Your agent will connect you with local professionals, like home inspectors and a title company, and coordinate with all parties to keep the sale on track.
Make sure to select an agent with the right experience for your home search. You want someone who will be knowledgeable about the neighborhoods you’re considering and have relationships with other agents active in those areas.
Clever’s Concierge Team will hand-pick the best agents for your home search. You'll be matched with agents who have experience in the neighborhoods and price range where you plan to buy.
Just answer a few questions to get your matches. Our service is 100% free with zero obligation. Give us a try today!
Best agents for first-time home buyers
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Austin Landers Dorsey Alston |
• Represents buyers in 62% of sales • $190K—401K price range • 7 years of experience |
• Website •Connect |
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Robbie Harris Beacham & Company |
• Represents buyers in 68% of sales • $209K—410K price range • 5 years of experience |
• Website •Connect |
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Jodi Halpert Berkshire Hathaway |
• Represents buyers in 51% of sales • $360K—721K price range • 19 years of experience |
• Website •Connect |
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Beth Ann Clanin Keller Williams |
• Represents buyers in 32% of sales • $204K—454K price range • 18 years of experience |
• Website •Connect |
We chose the agents in the list above because of their track record for great customer service and glowing reviews from first time home buyer clients.
If you’re looking for an agent to help buy your first home, look for agents who are strong communicators and will take extra time to explain the home-buying process in Georgia.
As you interview agents, ask for their professional opinion on which areas have the best opportunity for appreciation and why. According to Zillow data from September 2020, home values in Atlanta are expected to rise by 3.4% in the next 12 months, but some neighborhoods will see more improvement than others.
Ask your agents about current mortgage rates too and see what mortgage lender they recommend to their clients. According to Bankrate from September 2020, in Georgia, interest rates are 3.03% and 2.51% for a 30-year and 15-year mortgage, respectively.
Best agents for investors
|
Jamie Walzer eXp Realty |
• Glowing customer reviews from investor clients • 9 years of experience |
• Website •Connect |
|
Abbie Shepherd Keller Williams |
• In 2010, 20% of deals were for investors • 14 years of experience |
• Website •Connect |
|
Kyle Embler Ansley Atlanta |
• Equal experience listing and buying • Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource (SFR) • 22 years of experience |
• Website •Connect |
|
Maximillian Corwell PalmerHouse Properties |
• Specializes in off-market properties from wholesalers • 12 years of experience |
• Website •Connect |
As an investor, a great agent can help you find deals — including off-market properties — and move fast when making offers.
Use a rental property calculator to model each property before you make an offer. An agent can help you manage the deal, but it’s up to you to know your numbers when you buy!
How to choose the best Atlanta real estate agent for you
Finding the right agent for you starts with a top agent list like ours. An agent has to meet your needs. Even agents that win awards, close hundreds of sales, and have decades of experience, might not be the right match.
Once you have a shortlist of agents, identify your specific needs, so you can prepare a list of questions to ask realtors when you meet with them.
Advice for sellers in Atlanta
When interviewing agents, make sure the agent has:
- Sufficient experience selling homes in your price range and neighborhood
- Previous clients who will provide references
- Connections with other service providers (appraisers, inspectors, escrow companies, etc.) that you may need during your sale
What to ask realtors
| If you need to... | Ask agents... | And know that... |
| Sell fast | How long do your listings typically stay on market? | In Atlanta, the average number of days on market (DOM) is 47.1 |
| Get the highest sale price possible | What is your pricing strategy to help me make more money? | Atlanta is currently in a seller's market. By the end of the month, 52%1 of listed homes will have accepted offers. |
| Sell as-is | Do you know real estate investors interested in as-is properties? | There are cash buyers in Atlanta that may offer you a faster and more certain sale. |
| Also buy a house | Do you offer listing commission discounts for sellers that also buy with you? | 34%2 of realtors said they'll accept a lower commission rate for repeat customers. |
1.Based on data from Realtor.com
2.Based on data from Clever
Advice for buyers in Atlanta
When interviewing agents, make sure the agent has:
- Sufficient experience selling homes in your price range and neighborhood
- Previous clients who will provide references
- An understanding of your priorities for a house
What to ask realtors
| If you need to... | Ask agents... | And know that... |
| Close by a certain date | How can they help keep the sale on track and ensure you close on time? | The typical closing process takes 30—45 days. |
| Buy in a certain area | What was the last deal they completed in that neighborhood? | Local knowledge matters; just because an agent has experience doesn’t mean they’re the expert in your area. |
| Get a great deal | How do they plan to negotiate for a lower price? | On average, buyers in Atlanta pay 22%1 less than the list price. |
| Get preapproved for a mortgage | Do they have a reputable mortgage lender they recommend? | In Georgia, the average interest rate for a 30-year mortgage is 3.03%.2 |
1.Based on data from Zillow
2.Based on data from Bankrate
Market trends in Atlanta
Aside from finding an agent who meets your needs, you also want one who can succeed in Atlanta's current market.
Here's some information about trends in Atlanta and what they mean for buyers and sellers.
| How this impacts sellers | How this impacts buyers | ||
| Days on market (DOM) | 47 days | This is 9 days faster than the national average. | Homes are selling quickly, so you’ll need to make an offer fast when you find a home you like. |
| Current inventory | 27,333 houses | There are 7% fewer homes on the market compared to last month. That's less competition for sellers. | Inventory is trending down, meaning buyers have fewer choices and more competition. |
| Pending sales ratio | 52% of total listings were pending by the end of the month | Most homes are getting offers, but that doesn't mean you can be too picky. | If you find a great house, don't wait too long to put in an offer. Chances are it won't be on the market for long. |
Based on data from Realtor.com
Methodology
Clever Real Estate’s rankings of the top real estate agents in Atlanta are based on our evaluation of hundreds of local Atlanta agents.
We evaluated agents based on three key areas: customer service, indicated by positive customer reviews and testimonials; track record, based on years of experience and history of successful past sales; and recent performance, based on the agent’s sales performance over the last 12 months.
We relied on publicly available information from the personal websites of agents included in these rankings, along with aggregate data from Zillow and, in some cases, first-party data provided directly by agents. In addition, our team of real estate expertsevaluated a wide variety of qualitative factors about each agent, including marketing claims, awards, and career achievements to create the final rankings.
To ensure consistency, our rankings are reviewed by multiple people on the Clever editorial team and are updated regularly.