10 Best Real Estate Agents in Chicago – 2026

Finding the right real estate agent in Chicago can be the difference between landing a home in a bidding war and losing it, or between selling in weeks versus months. The city’s market moved fast in 2026: the average home sale price climbed 6.2% year-over-year to $408,789, and for-sale inventory fell 11.57% over the same period, leaving buyers and sellers alike with less margin for error. In that environment, the agent you hire matters more than it does in a slower market.

This list covers ten of the most active and well-documented agents and agent teams working across Chicago in 2026. Rankings draw on transaction volume data published by Chicago Agent Magazine, Cook County production figures compiled by The Real Deal, and independent agent directories including RealTrends and FastExpert. Each entry is built from sourced, verifiable data, no guessed figures, no invented credentials.

Key Takeaways

• Chicago’s top 20 agents closed a combined $3.2 billion in deals in 2025, up more than 14% from the $2.8 billion recorded by the prior year’s top 20.
• According to Realtor.com, the median Chicago listing price sits at $375,000 as of June 2026 (asking price), with homes selling at a median sold price of $410,000 and a median of 36 days on market.
• The average real estate commission in Chicago varies by agent and transaction type. Following the NAR settlement, buyers may need to negotiate their agent’s fee directly.
• In 2025, Chicago’s luxury market recorded 105 sales over $4 million, reflecting continued demand at the high end.
• Neighborhood knowledge is a genuine differentiator, an agent unfamiliar with the exact neighborhood may struggle to price a property accurately or find the right buyers.
• FastExpert limits its top-agent designation to the top 5% of home sales producers in a given region, a useful filter when evaluating directories.
• For investors who want exposure to Chicago real estate without buying a property outright, Ark7 offers fractional rental home shares starting at $20.00, with no management work required and monthly cash distributions.

1. Emily Sachs Wong: @properties Christie’s International Real Estate

Brokerage: @properties Christie’s International Real Estate, Chicago 2025 Total Transactions: 205 2025 Total Volume: $348,122,965 Primary Markets: Cook County; Lincoln Park, Gold Coast, North Side

Emily Sachs Wong ranked second in the 2025 full-year Chicagoland Top 20 Agents list compiled by Chicago Agent Magazine, recording 205 total transactions and substantial volume. Separately, The Real Deal named her the top-producing agent in Cook County for the 12 months ending in October 2025, based on their independently compiled data — a distinct ranking from the Chicago Agent Magazine list where she placed second. “I’m talking to everyone all the time,” she told The Real Deal. Her transaction record covers both list-side and sell-side activity across the city’s higher-demand neighborhoods.

2. Daynae Gaudio: D.R. Horton

Brokerage: D.R. Horton, Schaumburg 2025 Total Transactions: 891 2025 Total Volume: $373,944,947 Primary Markets: Chicagoland / Suburban Cook, DuPage, and Will counties

According to Chicago Agent Magazine’s 2025 full-year Chicagoland Top 20 Agents data, Daynae Gaudio ranked first by total transaction count with 891 closed deals. Her activity is concentrated on new-construction production for D.R. Horton in the broader Chicagoland suburban market, which accounts for the high transaction volume relative to city-specific agents.

3. Tim Schiller: @properties Christie’s International Real Estate

Brokerage: @properties Christie’s International Real Estate, Chicago Recent Sales: 340 transactions Sale-to-List Ratio: 100% Primary Neighborhoods: Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, River North

Tim Schiller’s tracked record includes 340 recent sales and a 100% sale-to-list ratio, placing him among the more active agents in Chicago’s high-demand North Side corridor. His documented specializations cover luxury condos and new construction in the Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, and River North neighborhoods, three of the city’s most transacted submarkets.

4. Matt Laricy: Americorp

Brokerage: Americorp, Chicago All-Time Closed Transactions: Among the highest verified in Chicago

All-Time Sales Volume: Among the highest verified in Chicago

Among agents ranked by EffectiveAgents’ verified MLS transaction data, Matt Laricy at Americorp leads Chicago in all-time closed transactions, a record built across multiple property types and price bands throughout the city. EffectiveAgents ranks agents on verified transaction history, review depth, and outcomes, not advertising spend. That makes this figure data-driven rather than self-reported. His volume spans multiple property types and price bands across the city.

5. The Crystal Tran Team: @properties Christie’s International Real Estate / Compass

Brokerage: @properties Christie’s International Real Estate (now backed by Compass), Chicago Focus: Luxury residential; concierge-level transaction management Primary Markets: Chicago luxury segments

The Crystal Tran Team operates within @properties Christie’s International Real Estate’s Chicago network and focuses on luxury residential transactions and full-service transaction management. Specific transaction volume and pricing data for this team are not published on their listing, so buyers and sellers should request current figures directly. Teams at this tier typically sit within the segment that averages $25–60 million in annual sales volume per Chicago luxury market benchmarks.

6. Sohail Salahuddin: North Shore Specialists

Brokerage: Independent Chicago and North Shore practice Primary Markets: Chicago city proper and North Shore suburbs Contact: Via sohailrealestate.com

Sohail Salahuddin’s practice covers both Chicago city transactions and the North Shore suburban corridor, including communities along the lakefront north of the city. Published transaction volume is not available on the listed page; confirm current figures directly with the agent.

7. RealTrends Verified Chicago Agents: Volume-Ranked Field

Source: RealTrends Verified 2026 Program (released June 5, 2026) Ranking Basis: Individual sales volume Coverage: Chicago, Illinois

RealTrends publishes a 2026 verified ranking of individual Chicago agents by volume, updated annually and drawn from independently verified transaction data. This program covers Illinois broadly, the state entered 2025 with 12,185 single-family homes on the market, a median home price of $280,000, and an average price per square foot of $177.44. The Chicago-specific ranking is a useful cross-reference for buyers or sellers who want a volume-based filter beyond any single directory.

8. FastExpert Verified Chicago Agents: Top 5% Designation

Source: FastExpert 2026 Verified List Ranking Basis: Recent sales activity (30%), verified client reviews (25%), and additional weighted factors Coverage: Chicago, IL

FastExpert restricts its top-agent designation to the top 5% of home sales producers in the Chicago region, using a weighted methodology that includes recent sales activity over the past three years, verified client reviews by both volume and rating, and additional performance criteria.

The weighting toward recent activity (30% of the score) means the list skews toward currently active agents over those with older track records, a practical filter when the market is moving as quickly as Chicago’s has in 2026.

9. @properties Christie’s International Real Estate: Chicago Brokerage Network

Brokerage Type: Independently owned Chicago brokerage, Christie’s International Real Estate affiliate

International Network: Christie’s International Real Estate operates in 48 countries Local Context: Home to multiple agents appearing on Chicago’s top transaction lists

@properties Christie’s International Real Estate is the Chicago-headquartered brokerage behind several of the city’s highest-volume individual agents, including Emily Sachs Wong and Tim Schiller. Its Christie’s affiliation extends its reach to the international luxury buyer pool, relevant context for sellers in the $1 million-plus segment.

10. Chicago REALTORS: Professional Standards and Market Data

Organization: Chicago Association of REALTORS Members: Covers specialties including commercial sales, development, property management, appraisal, auctions, and residential sales Standards: Publishes a Professional Standards page with conduct rules and a dedicated Code of Ethics resource

Any licensed Chicago Realtor who is a member of the Chicago Association of REALTORS operates under a published code of conduct, a practical baseline to verify when evaluating an agent. The Association’s statistics tools cover average sales price, median sales price, market time, units sold, and percent changes across Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods and 293 suburbs, updated quarterly and annually. Buyers and sellers can use the Association’s data to cross-check what an agent tells them about current pricing in a specific neighborhood before signing a listing agreement or making an offer.

How to Choose a Real Estate Agent in Chicago

By Transaction Volume and Recency

A Chicago agent’s transaction count alone is not a sufficient filter, a high all-time number built over 20 years says less than a high count in the past three years. Ask any agent for their closed transaction count over the past one to three years in the specific neighborhoods you care about. The top 20 Chicago agents closed a combined $3.2 billion in 2025, up 14% from the prior year, that pace reflects a market where active agents are pulling away from part-timers.

By Neighborhood Fit

Chicago’s neighborhoods trade at materially different price points and pace. The Gold Coast, according to Redfin data via SoFi, saw homes rise significantly year-over-year as of early 2025, a very different dynamic from a South Side neighborhood. An agent unfamiliar with the exact neighborhood may struggle to price a property accurately or find the right buyers. Match the agent’s documented neighborhood focus to where you are buying or selling, not just their overall city volume.

By Transaction Type

Agents at the luxury end, specifically those working the segment that averaged $25–60 million in annual sales volume, operate differently from agents whose volume sits in the $200,000–$500,000 range. Luxury standard commissions in Chicago run 5–6% total, split 2.5–3% per side, while mid-market commissions average closer to 5.47%. Verify whether the agent’s documented price range matches your transaction.

By Review Volume and Depth

Review count and recency matter as much as star rating. An agent with 1,900+ verified client reviews across their career has a different accountability track record than one with 12 reviews. Real estate agents spend most of their time behind the scenes on contracts, negotiations, market analyses, and follow-ups, the review record is one of the few windows into how that work plays out for past clients.

By Commission Structure: With Caution

Choosing based only on the lowest commission is a documented risk in the Chicago market. An agent who negotiates poorly or prices incorrectly can cost you more in final sale price than you saved on their fee. Commission is one input, not the only one.

Investing in Chicago Real Estate Without an Agent

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the top real estate agent in Chicago in 2026?

The answer depends on the ranking source and time frame. By all-time closed transaction count, Matt Laricy at Americorp leads EffectiveAgents’ verified Chicago rankings. Per Chicago Agent Magazine’s 2025 full-year data, Daynae Gaudio ranked first by total transaction count with 891 deals, while Emily Sachs Wong ranked first in Cook County by volume as tracked by The Real Deal. Different methodologies produce different results; verify what metric the ranking uses before drawing conclusions.

How are the best Chicago real estate agents ranked?

Rankings vary by source. Chicago Agent Magazine uses total transaction count and total dollar volume with separate list-side and sell-side columns. FastExpert weights recent sales activity at 30% and verified client reviews at 25%, limiting its list to the top 5% of producers. RealTrends Verified uses independently verified volume data through its annual program. Each methodology captures a different slice of performance, no single ranking is definitive.

What should I look for when choosing a real estate agent in Chicago?

Prioritize neighborhood-specific transaction history over general city volume, recent deals over all-time totals, and a verified review record that reflects actual client experience. Commission rate is a factor but should not be the sole selection criterion. Negotiation skill and pricing accuracy typically have a larger impact on your net outcome than a fraction of a percentage point on the commission.

Are Chicago home prices dropping in 2026?

No, based on available mid-2026 data. The average home sale price in Chicago increased 6.2% year-over-year to $408,789 as of June 2026, while for-sale inventory fell 11.57% over the same period. The market remains in the seller’s favor. Realtor.com’s June 2026 summary shows a median sold price of $410,000, above the $375,000 median listing price, consistent with a price environment that has trended upward over the past three years.

Is Chicago a buyer’s market or a seller’s market in 2026?

Chicago is a seller’s market in 2026. For-sale inventory fell 11.57% year-over-year and the average sale price rose 6.2% to $408,789 as of June 2026, with homes selling at a median of 36 days. Reduced inventory and rising prices favor sellers, making experienced buyer-side representation more important than in a balanced market. For readers who want Chicago real estate exposure without navigating the seller’s market directly, Ark7 offers fractional rental home shares starting at $20.00, with no management work required and monthly cash distributions.

What is the average real estate commission in Chicago?

The average total commission in Chicago varies by agent and transaction type. This can be slightly below the national average. Following the NAR settlement, buyers may need to negotiate their agent’s fee directly rather than relying on it being covered by the seller’s side of the transaction.

Do buyers have to pay their own agent in Chicago after the NAR settlement?

Following the NAR settlement, buyers may need to negotiate their agent’s compensation directly rather than assuming the seller will cover it through the listing-side commission split. Buyer-side commission rates in Chicago vary; buyers should clarify the fee structure in writing before signing a buyer representation agreement.

What neighborhoods do the top Chicago agents specialize in?

The agents with the highest tracked city-specific volumes tend to concentrate in Lincoln Park, Gold Coast, River North, Lakeview, Bucktown, and the South Loop. Agents like Tim Schiller and Emily Sachs Wong document Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, and River North as primary markets. The Chicago REALTORS statistics tools cover all 77 Chicago neighborhoods and 293 suburbs, a useful cross-reference when verifying whether a candidate agent has documented activity in your specific area.

What is the difference between a Realtor and a real estate agent in Chicago?

A real estate agent is anyone licensed to facilitate property transactions under Illinois law, governed by compensation and conduct rules under the Illinois Real Estate License Act. A Realtor is a licensed agent who is also a member of the National Association of Realtors and, at the local level, the Chicago Association of REALTORS, which means they have agreed to its published Code of Ethics and Professional Standards.

In practice, both can represent you in a transaction, but the Realtor designation signals membership in an organization with enforceable conduct standards and a formal dispute-resolution mechanism.

How long does it take to buy a home in Chicago in 2026?

Based on mid-2026 market data, the median Chicago listing sells in approximately 36 days from list date. In high-demand neighborhoods such as the Gold Coast, that pace can be faster given the strong year-over-year price growth recorded there. An experienced local agent familiar with the target neighborhood can meaningfully affect how quickly an offer is accepted.

Investing in real estate involves risk. Neither Ark7 nor Ark7 Properties is a broker-dealer or investment advisor. Offerings are facilitated through Dalmore Group LLC, a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA/SIPC. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Shares may be illiquid and investors should be prepared to hold shares indefinitely.