Best Real Estate Agents and Teams in Tampa (2026): Award Winners and 8 Questions to Ask
The best Tampa agent has recent sales in your area, clear pricing data, and fees in writing. Our pick is The Rothfuss Team Realty, alongside Tampa Magazine’s four 2026 reader-voted winners. Verify every finalist’s license, results and reviews yourself.
This guide covers our pick, the 2026 award winners, what “best” lists measure, agent fees, and 8 questions to ask.
TL;DR
- “Best” lists measure different things. Reader polls measure popularity, production rankings measure sales volume, and matching sites use their own formulas.
- Our #1 pick is Rothfuss Team Realty.
- Four teams won Tampa Magazine’s 2026 Best of South Tampa award for Best Real Estate Team, chosen by readers.
- Florida agents work as transaction brokers by default. Full fiduciary representation requires a written single-agent agreement.
- Commissions are negotiable. The national average total commission was about 5.70% in early 2026.
- Pricing skill matters more now. Tampa homes took a median 60 days to sell in September 2026, up from 45.
- Anyone can check a license in minutes on the Florida DBPR website.
Top real estate teams in Tampa for 2026
Our #1 pick is Rothfuss Team Realty, followed by Tampa Magazine’s 2026 reader-voted winners. We list our own team first as our pick. The award winners appear in the magazine’s order; we haven’t ranked them.
#1. Rothfuss Team Realty (our pick)
Rothfuss Team Realty is a Tampa Bay real estate team led by Realtor James Rothfuss II. It is part of Florida Luxury Realty and serves Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties.
Rothfuss Team Realty | |
Team | James Rothfuss II (team lead), Christopher Rothfuss |
Brokerage | Florida Luxury Realty |
Service areas | Tampa, Lutz, Pebble Creek, and Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties |
Sales recorded on Zillow | 21 team sales across Florida, up to a $2.05 million Bayshore Boulevard condo |
Roles | Buyer’s agent and listing agent |
Source: the Rothfuss Team’s Zillow profile, October 2026.
Why it’s our pick:
- Local research you can check. We publish our own Tampa data, including our 2027 price forecast and Tampa housing market statistics.
- Incentive math for new builds. We show buyers how to turn builder incentives into real savings, as in our new construction vs. resale guide.
- Direct access. As a small family team, you work with James himself, not a rotating cast.
Tampa Magazine’s 2026 reader-voted winners
Tampa Magazine readers chose four winners and two runners-up for Best Real Estate Team in 2026. The awards are part of the magazine’s Best of South Tampa contest, published March 17, 2026 (Tampa Magazine).
Result | Team | Brokerage |
Winner | Gay Glaser Gunning Group | Smith & Associates |
Winner | Poe Homes Team | Frank Albert Realty |
Winner | The Aldrich Agency | — |
Winner | The Jodi Avery Team | — |
Runner-up | Devan Weisser & Adam Kutchmire | Century 21 LIST with Beggins |
Runner-up | R.H. Collective | — |
Voters also loved | KVA Group | Keller Williams Tampa Central |
Source: Tampa Magazine, 2026 Best of South Tampa: Best Real Estate Team. Listed in the magazine’s order, with brokerages as the magazine named them.
Reader awards are a good sign of local reputation and client loyalty. They don’t measure sales volume, pricing accuracy or results in your neighborhood. Use any list, including ours, as a starting point.
What do "best real estate agent" lists actually measure?
Each type of list measures something different, so check how a list was made before you trust it. Here are the three main kinds you’ll find for Tampa.
Type of list | Example | What it measures | What it misses |
Reader-voted awards | Tampa Magazine Best of South Tampa | Popularity and client loyalty | Sales results and pricing skill |
Production rankings | RealTrends rankings by volume | Sales volume and transaction count | Service quality and fit for smaller sales |
Agent-matching sites | HomeLight, Agent Pronto | Each site’s own mix of sales and reviews | Agents outside their network |
Reader-voted awards
Reader polls reward agents with strong local followings. A team with many loyal past clients often does well. Ask how many of their recent sales were in your neighborhood and price range.
Production rankings
Production rankings sort agents by dollar volume or number of sales. High volume shows experience, but big teams split work across several people. Ask who will actually handle your sale day to day.
Agent-matching sites
Matching sites compare agents using their own formulas. HomeLight says it analyzed more than 13,000 Tampa agents for its 2026 rankings (via Ark7). Many matching sites earn a referral fee from the agent, so ask how the site makes money.
How do you choose the best real estate agent in Tampa?
Choose the agent with the strongest recent results in your area, then confirm fit in an interview. Awards and reviews narrow the list. Data and a face-to-face conversation make the decision.
We suggest weighting local results 30%, pricing and negotiation 25%, reviews 15%, communication 15%, fees 10% and awards 5%.
1. Recent sales in your neighborhood
Look for several sales in your area and price range in the past 12 months. Tampa markets vary block by block, from South Tampa condos to Wesley Chapel new builds.
2. Pricing and negotiation results
Ask for their average sale-to-list price ratio and days on market. Compare them with the Tampa average: homes sold for about 96.7% of list in September 2026 (Redfin).
3. Verified reviews
Read reviews on Google, Zillow and Realtor.com, not just the agent’s website. Look for detail about communication and problem-solving.
4. Communication and availability
Ask how often they’ll update you and how quickly they reply. Confirm who answers when the lead agent is busy.
5. Fees and contract terms
Get the commission, contract length and cancellation terms in writing. Every term is negotiable.
6. Awards and recognition
Awards add confidence, but they’re the smallest factor. Weigh them after results, reviews and fit.
Why does agent choice matter more in Tampa right now?
Tampa’s market has slowed, so pricing mistakes cost more. Tampa homes took a median 60 days to sell by September 2026, up from 45 a year earlier (Redfin). 42.3% of homes for sale had a price drop.
Tampa also has local issues a strong agent should know well. These include flood zones, insurance quotes, CDD fees in newer communities, and condo inspection rules. Ask each agent how they’ve handled these for recent clients.
How much do realtors charge in Florida?
Florida has no set commission; every fee is negotiable. Nationally, the average total commission was about 5.70% in early 2026 (Clever Real Estate survey, via Top10REAgents). That breaks down to about 2.88% for the listing side and 2.82% for the buyer side.
On a $450,000 home, close to Tampa’s median sale price, 5.70% equals about $25,650. Closed-deal data shows lower buyer-side rates, about 2.42% in Redfin’s third-quarter 2025 data.
Who pays the buyer’s agent?
Who pays the buyer’s agent is negotiated deal by deal. Sellers and builders often still pay it. Buyers now sign a written agreement with their agent before touring homes with a Realtor®.
Can you negotiate a realtor’s commission?
Yes, commissions are always negotiable. Compare what’s included at each price, such as staging, photography, marketing and negotiation support.
What is a transaction broker in Florida?
In Florida, agents are presumed to be transaction brokers unless you agree in writing to another relationship. A transaction broker gives limited representation and doesn’t act as your fiduciary (Florida Statutes §475.278).
A single agent represents only you, as a fiduciary, and owes you loyalty and confidentiality. If full representation matters to you, ask for a single-agent relationship in writing.
Is it better to use a real estate team or an individual agent?
A team is better for fast response and coverage. A solo agent is better if you want one person throughout. Many winners on Tampa Magazine’s 2026 list are teams.
Team | Individual agent | |
Availability | Several people can respond | One point of contact |
Specialists | Often has listing, buyer and transaction specialists | One person handles everything |
Consistency | You may work with different people | Same person start to finish |
Ask any team who your main contact will be, and who negotiates your offer.
8 questions to ask a Tampa real estate agent
- How many homes have you sold in my neighborhood and price range in the past year?
- What were your average sale-to-list ratio and days on market?
- Who will I work with day to day?
- Will you act as my single agent or as a transaction broker?
- What is your commission, and what does it include?
- How long is the agreement, and how can I cancel?
- How have you handled flood zones, insurance or CDD fees for recent clients?
- Can I speak with two recent clients?
Red flags when hiring an agent
- No license record on the Florida DBPR site.
- A guaranteed sale price. No agent can promise what buyers will pay.
- Pressure to sign a long agreement before you’ve compared options.
- No recent sales in your area or price range.
How do you check a Florida real estate license?
Search the agent’s name on the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) website. Use the license search at myfloridalicense.com. It shows license status and any public disciplinary actions.
Put us to the test
“Don’t hire the agent with the biggest sign. Hire the one who can show you the numbers for your street.”
— James Rothfuss II, Broker at The Rothfuss Team Realty
Key Summary
The best real estate agent in Tampa is the one with proven results in your area and price range. Award lists like Tampa Magazine’s 2026 winners are a strong starting point.
Verify every finalist yourself. Check the license, ask for sale-to-list and days-on-market numbers, and get fees in writing. In Florida, ask for single-agent representation if you want full loyalty.
Interviewing agents? Talk to James and put us through the same 8 questions.
Frequently asked questions
Our pick is Rothfuss Team Realty. Tampa Magazine readers named four 2026 winners: Gay Glaser Gunning Group, Poe Homes Team, The Aldrich Agency and The Jodi Avery Team. The best fit has strong results in your area.
Compare recent sales in your neighborhood, sale-to-list ratio, days on market, verified reviews and fees. Interview at least three agents. Check each license on the Florida DBPR website.
Florida has no set rate, and every commission is negotiable. Nationally, the average total commission was about 5.70% in early 2026: roughly 2.88% for the listing side and 2.82% for the buyer side.
A team offers faster response and specialists. An individual agent offers one consistent contact. Ask any team who will handle your sale and negotiate your offer.
A transaction broker gives limited representation and isn't your fiduciary. A single agent represents only you, with full loyalty. Florida presumes a transaction broker relationship unless you agree otherwise in writing.
Search the agent's name on the Florida DBPR license search at myfloridalicense.com. It shows license status and any public disciplinary actions.
If you work with a Realtor®, you'll sign a written buyer agreement before touring homes. It should state the agent's compensation, which is negotiable.
Broker and owner of The Rothfuss Team Realty. 30+ years in business and 60+ properties bought and sold across Tampa Bay.
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