Six Qualities You Didn’t Know You Needed in a Great Real Estate Agent
(And a few you absolutely don’t)
October 2025
When it comes to real estate, everyone seems to have a cousin, coworker, or Pilates instructor who “just got their license.” And suddenly your $3 million transaction is in the hands of someone who makes spreadsheets in Canva and won’t return your call because they’re filming a Reel in front of someone else’s listing.
The truth? Most people hire agents based on the wrong things. That’s not your fault. The industry rewards flash over substance and yes-men over truth-tellers. But if you’re buying, selling, or investing in real estate, especially in a high-stakes market, you need a pro, not a cheerleader.
Here’s what actually matters:
1. Someone Who Can Deliver Bad News Without Flinching
A great agent is not just a marketer or a negotiator; they’re your reality check. If something’s overpriced, underwhelming, or about to fall apart in an attorney review, you need someone who will tell you the truth, not just what you want to hear. A yes-person feels great in the moment and costs you hundreds of thousands later.
A great agent will say, “We need to walk away” when it’s time, even if that means starting over or risking a lost deal. They protect your long-term interest, not their short-term commission.
What doesn’t matter: The agent who always says “Love this for you!” might be great on TikTok. But you want someone who says, “This is a terrible deal, and here’s why.”
2. Emotional Intelligence With a Backbone
Real estate is emotional. Whether you’re buying your dream home or unloading your ex’s penthouse, it gets personal. Your agent should be able to read the room, manage tension, and keep things moving, all while absorbing your 11 PM anxiety texts like a licensed therapist who also knows about FAR allowances.
But emotional intelligence is not the same as being passive. A great agent can hold the space and hold the line; on pricing, on terms, on your sanity.
What doesn’t matter: Agents who treat every decision like it’s a vibe. This is not a vision board. It’s a transaction with tax consequences.
3. A Rolodex That’s More Than Just Models and Mortgage Bros
An elite agent has access. Not just to inventory, but to resources: lawyers, lenders, staging pros, architects, you name it. Need an engineer to inspect the roof, a decorator to redo the primary, or a guy who can “make the DOB paperwork disappear”? Your agent should know someone. And if they don’t, they should know someone who knows someone.
What doesn’t matter: The number of brokers they follow on Instagram or their ability to name-drop their way through a cocktail party.
4. Data Fluency Without a PowerPoint Lecture
Your agent should be able to interpret data like a Wall Street analyst but deliver it like a human. What’s trending in your building? What’s going stale in your zip code? Can they tell you whether your apartment should be listed at $4.2M or $3.9M and back it up with real numbers, not “my gut tells me this feels right”?
They should be able to talk in PPSF, rental yield, and inventory ratios without making you feel like you’re stuck in a finance final.
What doesn’t matter: Anyone who describes the market as “hot,” “cooling,” or “a little cray right now” with zero stats to support it.
5. A Strategic Brain With a Calm Demeanor
The best agents are strategic. They know when to push, when to wait, and when to call your bluff. They’re calm when things fall apart, surgical in negotiations, and clear when you’re panicking. They’ve done this before, and it shows.
They’re not chasing every deal. They’re curating outcomes.
What doesn’t matter: How many “just sold” posts they have, how many networking brunches they attend, or how much they talk about being a “closer.”
6. They’re Not on Season 7 of a Reality Show
Yes, that reality TV agent might have flawless contour and a 3-million follower skincare routine, but guess what? That 8-hour filming day isn’t exactly leaving time to review comps.
Most reality shows are scripted, heavily edited, and legally protected by NDAs. These drama-heavy shows require good acting, not great agents.
Your agent should be managing your timeline, not waiting for their call time.
What doesn’t matter: Your listing on a reality show. If you have the right agent, it should sell long before the air date.
Final Sip: Real Advice Beats Empty Hype
If your agent can’t tell you hard truths, interpret data, stay calm under pressure, and bring real solutions to the table, they’re just another pretty face with a lockbox key.
Look for the one who makes you smarter. The one who pushes back when it matters. The one who reminds you that buying or selling property is one of the biggest moves you’ll ever make, and treats it accordingly.
Because in real estate, the truth hurts way less than a bad investment.
