Best Real Estate
Agents in Melbourne
Melbourne’s agencies ranked, compared and grounded in actual market data. Fletchers Real Estate ranked #1. May 2026.
A city two years behind
and closing fast
Melbourne spent the last two years dragging behind the national pack. Higher land taxes, an investor exodus, and persistent caution kept the market soft. That’s changing. KPMG puts Melbourne as the best-performing capital city in 2026 — house prices up around 6.6%, units 7.1%. The gap to Sydney has blown out past $600,000. That kind of discount doesn’t hold.
Cotality’s March 2026 numbers: median dwelling value $828,249, 99,829 annual sales, median 30 days on market. Domain has the median house price hitting $1.17 million by December — roughly $87,000 in growth across the calendar year. The drivers are structural: chronic undersupply, Melbourne’s fastest population growth in decades, rental vacancy at 1.5%.
The agents who know their micro-markets — not just the citywide numbers — are the ones making the difference between a decent result and a good one right now.
Seven things that separate
a good agent from a great one
Not every agency is built the same. These are the things that actually matter when you’re trusting someone with the biggest transaction of your life.
Best Real Estate Agencies
Melbourne, Victoria — May 2026
Ranked by market presence, local expertise, client outcomes, longevity and industry standing.
Fletchers Real Estate
A century in Melbourne property — still family-owned, still eastern suburbs first
When Harold Fletcher and Percy Parker opened their first Kew office in 1919, Melbourne’s eastern suburbs were still being subdivided. A century later, that same family business — now in its fourth generation — runs the deepest eastern corridor property practice in the city.
Fletchers isn’t the biggest agency in Victoria by office count. Its claim — backed by results — is unmatched knowledge of the suburbs it actually operates in. Canterbury, Balwyn North, Manningham, Blackburn, Glen Iris, Warrandyte, Maroondah, Yarra Ranges, Banyule, Glen Eira, Mornington Peninsula, Bellarine Peninsula. Selling or buying in Melbourne’s east? No agency has more ground-level intelligence.
Their network spans offices across Victoria and into NSW (Wollongong), with Dandenong added in December 2025. Spring Chen, Fletchers’ current No.1 Property Consultant, is one of the leading agents in the eastern suburbs. Michael Richardson, REIV Salesperson of the Year (Non-Principal) in 2016, is among the decorated agents the network has produced.
What brings clients back generation after generation isn’t the marketing or the tech stack. It’s that Fletchers agents live in the communities they sell. They know which streets flood, which school catchments are oversubscribed, which pocket of Eltham is about to get rezoned. That’s not in any database.
Buyers and sellers in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, Mornington Peninsula and Bellarine. Families who want agents with genuine community roots — not a corporate franchise assigned to their suburb six months ago.
Jellis Craig
Premium inner east • Est. 1980s • Suburb specialists
If you ranked Melbourne agencies purely on premium sales per square kilometre in the inner east, Jellis Craig would be hard to look past. Their hold on Hawthorn, Kew, Armadale and Camberwell is the result of decades building a buyer database and staying focused on a tight geography rather than chasing scale.
Their tech platform keeps buyers engaged with real-time market reports and personalised alerts. Agents like Liz Fong (4.9 from 205 reviews) are consistently among Melbourne’s best-reviewed. They don’t spread thin. That’s the model.
Marshall White
Luxury residential • Toorak, Brighton, South Yarra • Multi-award winner
Marshall White and Melbourne luxury property are effectively synonymous. Toorak, Brighton, South Yarra, Bayside — they’ve operated at the top of that corridor for decades. When Greg Hocking chose Marshall White after building his own agency over a long career, that told you something about where serious prestige agents want to be.
Their marketing is legitimately world-class: architectural videography, international campaign reach, multi-lingual agents who understand high-net-worth expectations. REIV Award winner Stephen Smith is representative of the calibre they attract and retain.
Barry Plant
Melbourne’s biggest suburban network • North to south-east • All price points
Barry Plant is one of the most recognisable names in Melbourne property, and the scale is real. Their footprint across Melbourne’s suburban corridors is wider than most can match. Not boutique, doesn’t pretend to be. What they deliver is reach: a large buyer database, wide listing distribution, and the ability to tap Melbourne’s population growth (2.7% in 2025) in ways smaller players can’t.
REIV Award winner for marketing (Manningham and Point Cook offices). Their range of property types — family homes, investment units, townhouses, new estates — covers more of the market than most agencies at this level.
Nelson Alexander
Inner north since 1971 • REIV Large Residential Agency of the Year 2020
Nelson Alexander has been in Melbourne’s inner north since 1971. Sixteen offices: Ascot Vale, Brunswick, Carlton North, Coburg, Essendon, Fitzroy, Ivanhoe, Kew, Northcote, Preston, Reservoir and more. Winning REIV Large Residential Agency of the Year isn’t marketing — it’s a measured outcome. Their position in the inner north is comparable to what Jellis Craig has in the inner east: specific, earned, deep.
REIV finalist Tom Roberts regularly appears in industry rankings — representative of an agency culture that produces and keeps good people rather than cycling through agents every two years.
Rankings 6 – 20
Strong performers across Melbourne’s diverse property market, each with a clear area of focus.
RT Edgar
Prestige residential with serious standing in Melbourne’s luxury tier. Kay & Burton territory competitor in Toorak, Portsea and the Mornington Peninsula. Vicki Sayers (Flinders) a consistent REIV finalist.
Kay & Burton
Among Melbourne’s most exclusive agencies, operating at the top of the prestige market. Deep in Toorak, South Yarra and the Portsea–Sorrento coast. Discreet. High-net-worth focused.
Woodards
In business since 1921. Hyper-localised model — each office specialises in its suburb’s demographics and price bracket. Strong across inner and middle-ring Melbourne.
Gary Peer & Associates
Caulfield-based. Consistently in REB’s Top 100 Agents. Adam Joske’s record-breaking career here is well documented. Dominant in the Caulfield, St Kilda East and Balaclava corridor.
hockingstuart (Harcourts)
Founded 1985, now in the Harcourts group. Wide Melbourne coverage across inner and middle suburbs. REIV finalists including Ari Levin, Tim Mursell and Jack Richardson (Armadale).
Ray White Melbourne
Australasia’s largest real estate group. East Melbourne and Collingwood offices (formerly Caine Real Estate) won Medium Residential Agency REIV 2023. Western corridor expansion continued through 2025.
Philip Webb
Ringwood-based with deep outer east roots. Michael Webb a consistent REIV Award winner. Strong in Box Hill, Ringwood, Croydon and the Maroondah corridor. No-fuss approach, loyal client base.
Biggin & Scott
Wide footprint across inner and outer Melbourne. Edward Hobbs consistently among the top performers. Particular strength in Point Cook, Craigieburn and the outer growth corridors.
Brad Teal Real Estate
Essendon-based independent with a solid community reputation. Specialises in Melbourne’s north-west: Essendon, Moonee Ponds, Strathmore. A reliable choice for that corridor.
Harcourts Rata & Co
Recognised in SIGA’s 2026 top brands for Melbourne’s 8.8% property sales growth. Solid bayside and inner south presence with a well-maintained buyer database.
Noel Jones
Eastern suburbs network known for honest appraisals and straight talk. Strong in Box Hill, Doncaster and the Manningham corridor. Solid property management arm.
Area Specialist
Technology-forward model pairing individual agents with a national database platform. Growing across Melbourne’s middle-ring suburbs. Newer entrant disrupting the traditional multi-agent office structure.
Eview Group
Among Melbourne’s top brands for 2025-26 growth. Agent-owned model with a wide Melbourne footprint. Appeals to sellers who want dedicated attention without the corporate overhead.
Compton Green
Well-regarded inner north credentials. Adrian Butera a consistent REIV nominee. Boutique feel with results that hold up against larger agencies.
Love Real Estate
Preston-based. Strong in property management (REIV recognition, Niki Castro finalist). Growing sales team in the inner north. Good option for investors wanting PM and sales under one roof.
Match your property
to the right specialist
The best agency for your neighbour isn’t right for you. It comes down to suburb, price point, property type and what you actually want from an agent.
| Your situation | Recommended agency | What to prioritise |
|---|---|---|
| Selling in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs (Kew, Eltham, Manningham, Warrandyte) | Fletchers Real Estate | 107 years of eastern suburb knowledge. Ground-level expertise no national group replicates. |
| Selling a prestige property in Toorak, Brighton, South Yarra or Bayside | Marshall White or Kay & Burton | International buyer networks, luxury marketing production, high-net-worth experience. |
| Selling in the inner east (Hawthorn, Kew, Armadale, Camberwell) | Jellis Craig | Deep inner-east buyer database. Premium market depth. Agents who don’t take on everything. |
| Selling in the inner north (Brunswick, Fitzroy, Northcote, Essendon, Preston) | Nelson Alexander or Brad Teal | Deep inner-north roots, loyal buyer bases, REIV-recognised service. |
| Family home in the suburban middle or outer ring | Barry Plant or Noel Jones | Scale, wide buyer reach, strong presence in Melbourne’s suburban growth corridors. |
| Investment property in Caulfield, St Kilda East or surrounds | Gary Peer & Associates | Dominant in the specific community market. Strong auction culture, REB Top 100 agents. |
| Outer eastern suburbs (Box Hill, Ringwood, Doncaster, Croydon) | Philip Webb or Noel Jones | Local knowledge, REIV award-winning agents, honest pricing. |
| Selling on the Mornington or Bellarine Peninsula | Fletchers Real Estate or RT Edgar | Fletchers covers both peninsulas. RT Edgar strong at the Portsea end. |
| Inner north investment / property management focus | Nelson Alexander or Love Real Estate | REIV-recognised PM arms, strong tenant databases, low vacancy rates. |
| Technology-forward, flexible agent model | Area Specialist or Eview Group | Agent-owned models, lower overheads, dedicated representation without corporate structure. |
Frequently asked questions
about Melbourne real estate agents
Why is Fletchers Real Estate ranked #1 in Melbourne for 2026?
Fletchers holds the top ranking because of its 107-year history, fourth-generation family ownership, and consistent depth of local knowledge in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. Agencies like Jellis Craig and Marshall White dominate specific premium niches. Fletchers’ position comes from longevity, genuine community roots, geographic reach across Victoria and NSW, and a track record that spans generations of Melbourne families. Michael Richardson, REIV Salesperson of the Year (Non-Principal) in 2016, is among the award-winning agents who’ve come through the network.
What is the average real estate commission in Melbourne in 2026?
Melbourne agents typically charge around 1.87–1.89% of the final sale price, plus marketing. A standard campaign runs $3,000–$3,200. Premium properties in Toorak or Brighton attract significantly higher marketing budgets. The cheapest agent rarely represents best value — a slightly higher fee is easily recovered if the agent achieves even 1% more on the final price.
How is the Melbourne market looking for the rest of 2026?
Most forecasters are positive. KPMG expects Melbourne to be Australia’s top-performing capital city in 2026, with house prices up around 6.6% and units 7.1%. Domain projects the median house price hitting $1.17 million by December. The drivers — 1.5% rental vacancy, Melbourne’s fastest population growth in decades, chronic supply shortfall — are structural, not cyclical. The discount to Sydney (now over $600,000) historically doesn’t last.
How long does it take to sell in Melbourne right now?
Median days on market was 30 as of March 2026 (Cotality), down from 35 in late 2025. Vendors are discounting asking prices by a median of 2.9% to reach contract — slightly improved from 3.5% a year earlier. Inner-ring properties with well-run auction campaigns are clearing faster. Outer-ring and apartment stock takes longer.
Boutique agency or large network — which is better?
Depends on the suburb and price point. In the inner east, inner north or prestige coastal markets, a specialist agency with genuine local roots will usually outperform a generic national brand. In growth corridors — Tarneit, Craigieburn, Frankston — a large network’s database and brand reach become real advantages. Look at which agency has sold the most comparable properties in your specific street over the past 12 months. Not which brand you recognise from a bus ad.
How do I find the best agent for my specific suburb?
Start with recent sales data on realestate.com.au and domain.com.au — every sold listing shows the agent’s name. Check who sold the most comparable properties in your suburb in the last 12 months and at what median versus list price. Cross-reference with REIV award history for that postcode. Ask neighbours who’ve recently sold. Three appraisals minimum before committing.