2026 Agent Guide
By Anne Sostman | The Scottsdale Agent | License SA718853000
Choosing the Right Real Estate Agent in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Arcadia
A 2026 Guide.
Scottsdale · Paradise Valley · Arcadia Real Estate
Scottsdale has over 8,700 licensed real estate agents. Paradise Valley has nearly 400. Arcadia is served by hundreds more across overlapping Phoenix and Scottsdale boundaries. Most of them are perfectly competent. A few of them are genuinely exceptional. This guide is designed to help you identify which agents actually specialize in your specific market, what to look for beyond sales volume, and how to evaluate whether an agent’s approach matches the way you want to buy or sell.
— Anne Sostman, The Scottsdale Agent
Scottsdale Specialist
Paradise Valley Specialist
Arcadia Specialist
Off Market Access Available
Published by Anne Sostman
What This Guide Is
An Editorial Resource. Not a Paid Directory.
No agent on this page paid to be listed. No ranking is implied by the order in which they appear. This is an editorially curated overview of agents who have demonstrated sustained performance, genuine market specialization, and a reputation worth examining in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Arcadia.
The agents listed here were selected based on verifiable criteria: documented sales history in their stated specialty area, depth of local market knowledge, client reputation, and the quality of their marketing and negotiation approach. Volume alone does not earn a place on this list. An agent who closes 200 transactions but treats every property the same way is not necessarily the right fit for a homeowner with a $2M estate in Gainey Ranch or a $6M compound in Paradise Valley.
Before You Hire
Six Criteria That Matter Most.
These apply whether you are buying or selling, and regardless of price point.
| Criteria 01
Neighborhood Depth
Does the agent close consistently in your specific neighborhood, or do they cover the entire metro? An agent who sold 15 homes in McCormick Ranch last year knows that market differently than one who sold 15 homes spread across 12 zip codes.
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Criteria 02
Pricing Accuracy
What is the agent’s list-to-sale ratio? An agent who consistently sells at 98% to 101% of list price is demonstrating pricing precision. An agent whose ratio is 92% is telling you their clients are absorbing meaningful price reductions.
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| Criteria 03
Negotiation Approach
Volume agents often prioritize speed over price. Ask the agent to describe a recent negotiation where they held firm on behalf of their client. How they answer tells you more than their bio ever will.
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Criteria 04
Communication Standard
How often will you hear from your agent? Who is your actual point of contact, the agent whose name is on the sign, or a team member you have never met? Clarify this before signing anything.
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| Criteria 05
Marketing Investment
Professional photography, architectural videography, targeted digital campaigns, print placement, and staging coordination are not optional in the luxury segment. Ask to see the actual materials from a recent comparable listing.
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Criteria 06
Off Market Access
In Scottsdale and Paradise Valley, a meaningful percentage of luxury transactions happen before properties reach the MLS. Does the agent have a genuine private network, or are they simply listing on the same portals as everyone else?
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Scottsdale
Scottsdale Agents Worth Interviewing.
Scottsdale spans 183 square miles and includes radically different submarkets. No single agent dominates all of them. Here are agents who have earned their reputation in specific Scottsdale segments.
| Brokerage · Luxury
RETSY
Ranked #1 in average sales price among Arizona firms closing over $1 billion. RETSY operates as a boutique firm with a data-driven approach, attracting top producers like Lisa Westcott and Jennifer Sheedy. Their strength is in the upper luxury tier, properties above $3M where marketing sophistication and buyer network quality matter most. Best for: Sellers of $3M+ properties seeking sophisticated marketing and national reach.
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Compass · Luxury
The Karas Group
Chris Karas has built his practice around high-net-worth individuals who value discretion and a data-driven approach. His access to off-market properties through Compass’s private exclusive network gives buyers an advantage in competitive luxury segments. Best for: Luxury buyers and sellers who value discretion and a private transaction experience.
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| All Price Points · Elevation Group
Kelly Jones
Kelly Jones has closed hundreds of millions in luxury sales across the Valley and is consistently recognized as one of Arizona’s top luxury agents. Her reputation is built on personal attention at every price point. Client reviews are among the strongest in the market, with particular praise for responsiveness and post-closing support. Best for: Buyers and sellers across all price points who want high-touch personal service.
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Luxury · International
Williams Luxury Homes
Williams Luxury Homes specializes in luxury estates, international buyers, and foreign national transactions. Their portfolio spans custom homes, vacant lots, and investment properties across Scottsdale’s most exclusive communities. Best for: International buyers, investors, and clients navigating foreign national financing.
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| Team · High Volume
The Holm Group
The Holm Group operates at high volume with over 2,100 Google reviews and a partnership with 72SOLD. Their model is built for speed and broad market exposure, including national advertising spend and rapid listing-to-contract timelines. This is a team that performs well for sellers who want maximum market exposure and are comfortable with a high-volume team structure rather than a single dedicated agent. Best for: Sellers prioritizing speed and broad exposure in the $400K to $1.5M range.
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Paradise Valley
Paradise Valley Agents Worth Interviewing.
Paradise Valley is a town of roughly 14,000 residents, one-acre minimum lot sizes, and a median home price that routinely exceeds $3 million. The agent pool here is smaller and more specialized. Reputation, privacy standards, and relationships with other PV agents matter significantly.
| Sotheby’s · Ultra Luxury
Joan Levinson
Joan Levinson has lived in Paradise Valley for over 35 years and has served multiple terms on the Board of Trustees of the Paradise Valley Mountain Preserve Trust. Ranked as Arizona’s #1 agent by Real Trends, her client list includes Fortune 500 CEOs, professional athletes, and public figures who require absolute discretion. Best for: Ultra-luxury sellers ($5M+) who require discretion and an established PV network.
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Christie’s · Global Reach
Katrina Barrett
Ranked #1 Real Estate Agent in Arizona and #17 in the nation by Real Trends. Featured in The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, and numerous luxury publications. She co-founded Local Luxury | Christie’s International Real Estate, giving her clients access to Christie’s global buyer network. Best for: Sellers of architecturally significant estates seeking global buyer reach.
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| 72SOLD Luxury · High Volume
Hague Luxury Network
Arizona’s #1 luxury team by volume with over $4 billion in career sales. Powered by the 72SOLD luxury division, Hague Luxury Network offers an “Invisible Seller” program designed for clients who want to test the market without public exposure. Their volume gives them market data advantages. Best for: PV sellers who want high-volume team infrastructure and off-market testing capability.
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Top 1% · Collaborative
ROCO Luxury Homes
ROCO operates in the top 1% of Arizona agents by sales volume with over $3 billion in combined career sales. They maintain a strong client referral network and an off-market property directory. Their team includes specialists in Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and Scottsdale. Best for: Buyers and sellers who want a collaborative team with deep local knowledge across multiple luxury markets.
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Arcadia
Arcadia Agents Worth Interviewing.
Arcadia straddles the Phoenix-Scottsdale border. The neighborhood’s character, citrus trees, mid-century ranches, aggressive new construction, and some of the Valley’s most significant architectural homes, requires an agent who understands both the emotional attachment buyers have to Arcadia’s charm and the pricing dynamics created by teardowns and rebuilds.
| eXp Realty · Practical
John Gluch / The Gluch Group
John Gluch and his team have established a significant footprint in Arcadia. Their team includes agents who actively invest in Arcadia properties themselves, giving them firsthand knowledge of construction quality and renovation costs. Best for: Arcadia buyers and sellers who value practical, ground-level market knowledge.
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Wexler Realty · Fast Moving
James Wexler
Wexler Realty tracks Arcadia at the micro level, by block, by permitting activity, and by HOA nuance. Clients consistently praise their responsiveness and negotiation skills. Best for: Buyers competing in Arcadia’s fast-moving market who need quick, decisive representation.
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Sotheby’s · Luxury
Johnathon de Young
Specializes in luxury homes across Arcadia, Paradise Valley, and Scottsdale through Sotheby’s International Realty. His approach emphasizes personalized attention and long-term client relationships over transaction volume. Best for: Luxury Arcadia sellers who want Sotheby’s global exposure with a single dedicated agent.
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Interview Guide
Seven Questions to Ask Every Agent.
These questions are designed to surface the information that actually matters, not the information agents volunteer.
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How many transactions have you personally closed in my specific neighborhood in the last 12 months?
Not the team. Not the brokerage. The agent who will be handling your listing or representing you as a buyer. “I sold 200 homes in metro Phoenix” is not the same as “I closed 8 homes in Gainey Ranch last year.”
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What is your average list-to-sale ratio?
This single number tells you how accurately an agent prices properties. An agent who consistently sells at 98% to 101% of list price is demonstrating pricing precision. An agent whose ratio is 92% is telling you their clients are absorbing meaningful price reductions.
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Walk me through your marketing plan for a property at my price point.
Listen for specifics: photographer name, videographer, staging company, digital ad spend, print placement, and timeline. Vague answers like “we do everything” are not a marketing plan.
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Will I be working with you directly, or will I be handed to a team member?
The problem is when you hire the name on the billboard and your primary contact becomes a junior agent you have never met. Clarify who answers your calls, who attends your showings, and who negotiates your offers.
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How do you handle pricing disagreements with your clients?
A great agent will give you a number and defend it with data. If they simply agree with whatever price you suggest, they are not protecting your interests. They are protecting their listing.
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Do you have access to off-market properties or private listing networks?
In Scottsdale and Paradise Valley, off-market transactions represent a meaningful share of luxury sales. Ask for specifics: what network, how many current private listings, and how those opportunities are shared with buyers.
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Can you provide three references from clients in my price range?
Not testimonials on a website. Actual phone numbers or emails from recent clients at a similar price point. Any agent worth hiring will provide this without hesitation.
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What I Bring to the Table
Anne Sostman. The Scottsdale Agent.
I wrote this guide because I believe homeowners deserve clarity before they make one of the most significant financial decisions of their lives. I also believe in being transparent about what I do, how I do it, and who I do it best for.
I did not start in real estate. I spent 14 years in executive-level sales working with high-net-worth decision makers in environments where precision, discretion, and follow-through were non-negotiable. That experience shapes every aspect of how I represent clients today. I understand the cadence of executive life. I understand the standard. I understand what it means to handle something properly, without requiring oversight or reminders.
I work best with homeowners and buyers who have operated at a high level professionally and expect the same standard from their real estate representation. Clients who value precision over promises. Strategy over salesmanship. Results that are handled quietly and competently, without requiring you to manage your agent.
| Concierge
Executive Sellers Concierge
A structured selling process built for professionals on demanding schedules. Preparation, pricing, marketing, and negotiation, handled with precision and minimal disruption to your life.
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Pricing
Neighborhood Level CMAs
Detailed comparative market analyses at the neighborhood level, not the zip code level. I will tell you what your property is worth and why, and I will defend that number with data. The conversation is honest. The data is transparent.
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Marketing
Custom Marketing Standard
Professional architectural photography, cinematic video, targeted digital campaigns, strategic print placement, and staging coordination are baseline, not premium add-ons. Every listing receives a custom marketing plan built for its specific buyer profile.
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SA718853000
Arizona License
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The Brokery
Brokerage
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Frequently Asked Questions
Choosing an Agent FAQ.
The questions buyers and sellers ask most about choosing the right agent, answered directly.
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How many real estate agents are in Scottsdale?
There are over 8,700 licensed real estate agents in Scottsdale as of 2026. The number who actively close transactions in specific luxury neighborhoods is significantly smaller. Focus on recent transaction history in your target area.
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What is the average commission in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley?
Total commission typically ranges from 5% to 6%, split between listing agent and buyer’s agent. Properties above $5 million frequently negotiate to 4% to 5% total. The lowest rate is not always the best value.
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Should I hire a team or an individual agent?
Both models can work well. Teams offer depth of coverage. Individual agents offer consistency. The key question is not team versus individual, but rather: who is my primary point of contact, and how accessible are they?
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How important is off-market access?
Significant, particularly above $2 million. Many luxury sellers prefer to test the market privately before committing to a public listing. Ask any agent about their specific off-market inventory and how they source it.
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What makes a luxury agent different?
Marketing investment, buyer network quality, negotiation sophistication, and discretion. A luxury agent should be investing $10,000 to $50,000 or more per listing in professional photography, video, staging, digital campaigns, and print placement.
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When is the best time to sell in Scottsdale?
The traditional peak runs January through April when seasonal residents and out-of-state buyers are most active. However, well-priced luxury properties in desirable neighborhoods sell throughout the year.
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Work With Anne
Ready to Have a Straightforward Conversation?
When you are ready to talk about your property, your market, and your options, on your timeline, without pressure, I am here.
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