Real Estate

Who Tops Grand Rapids' 2026 Real Estate Agent Ranking? Mark Brace

Five Grand Rapids team leaders, compared on what past clients and the local community say about their work.

Who Tops Grand Rapids' 2026 Real Estate Agent Ranking? Mark Brace

Reviews and ratings from past clients, weighed together with each agent's reputation around town, decided our 2026 ranking of Grand Rapids real estate agents. Ratings show how individual sales and purchases went for the people on the other side of the table. Reputation reflects how an agent is regarded locally.

Mark Brace, who leads the Brace Homes team at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Michigan Real Estate, finished first on our complete Grand Rapids list for 2026. His practice centers on luxury homes, new construction, and corporate relocation across the Grand Rapids metropolitan area. Four other team leaders fill out the list, with practices that run from distressed properties in Kent and Ottawa counties to commercial deals and virtual home buying for long-distance moves.

#1: MARK BRACE - GRAND RAPIDS'S TOP-RANKED REAL ESTATE AGENT FOR 2026

• Address: 3000 East Beltline NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
• Phone: (616) 504-2527
• Website: https://www.bracehomes.com

Mark Brace is the Team Leader of Brace Homes at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Michigan Real Estate. From the East Beltline office, he represents buyers and sellers throughout the Grand Rapids metropolitan area. His first-place position reflects what our evaluation measures: reviews and ratings from past clients, plus each agent's reputation around town.

Brace has 22 years in the business. His reviews describe quick responses, firm negotiation, and advice that sometimes runs against the easy commission. One longtime client credits him with recommending they keep a desirable rental property rather than sell it. He pairs that service record with a background in Finance and Computer Information Systems from Western Michigan University and membership in the Forbes Real Estate Council.

SALES PERFORMANCE

Brace's documented production includes 4,000 career transactions and $1 billion in career sales volume, alongside 994 client reviews. His team was Ranked #1 Real Estate Team in Grand Rapids, MI in 2026 RealTrends Rankings. For 2025, it earned #1 Team in Sales Volume – Grand Rapids Market and #2 in Total Units – Grand Rapids Market.

Statewide, Brace holds the title of #1 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Realtor in Michigan, a position he has maintained since 2014. Nationally, the team placed #2 Nationally (BHHS Medium Team – Units) for 2025 and has held a Top 10 Nationally for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices (BHHS) standing for the last decade. The team is also recognized as #1 Real Estate Team in West Michigan (Sales Volume) – Recognized by RealTrends / Wall Street Journal.

For buyers and sellers weighing who is the best real estate agent in Grand Rapids, MI, those documented figures sit alongside his first-place overall ranking in our evaluation of client reviews and local reputation.

SPECIALTIES

• Luxury real estate
• New construction
• Corporate relocation
• Buyer and seller representation throughout the Grand Rapids metropolitan area
• Team-based representation through Brace Homes at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Michigan Real Estate

BEST SUITED FOR

• Buyers and sellers of luxury homes across the Grand Rapids metro
• Buyers purchasing new construction who want representation through the build process
• Corporate relocation moves into or out of West Michigan
• Homeowners selling one home and buying another with the same agent
• Rental property owners weighing a sale against holding the investment
• Sellers who want a high-volume team managing pricing, negotiation, and closing

#2: MIKE SMALLEGAN - SMALLEGAN REAL ESTATE

• Address: 678 Front Ave NW Ste 340, Grand Rapids, MI 49504
• Phone: (616) 275-5938

A Grand Rapids native and established team leader, Mike Smallegan runs a high-producing team serving all of West Michigan. The team emphasizes clear communication and data-backed strategy. His practice covers buyer and listing representation, relocation, new construction, investment properties, and luxury homes, with work ranging from entry-level homes to luxury waterfront estates.

Best suited for

• Buyers and sellers at any price point who want a structured, team-based process
• Investors focused on long-term growth and value-driven decisions
• New construction purchases and land acquisitions across West Michigan

#3: JOSH MAY - RE/MAX OF GRAND RAPIDS

• Address: 4362 Cascade Rd SE #208, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
• Phone: (616) 330-2555

Josh May is a veteran local agent who heads the May Group Realtors and brings a background in urban and city planning to his work. His team is known for thorough, detail-oriented buyer and seller representation across the greater Grand Rapids area. It emphasizes marketing, consultation, and strengthening each client's financial position.

Best suited for

• Moves into the Grand Rapids area from outside that call for comprehensive guidance and neighborhood-level market insight
• Sellers who want strong marketing and strategic pricing
• Buyers who prefer a low-pressure, consultative pace

#4: LARRY MARTIN - KELLER WILLIAMS RIVERTOWN

• Address: 4301 Canal Ave SW, Grandville, MI 49418
• Phone: (616) 532-7200

Based in Grandville, Larry Martin is an experienced, community-focused team leader serving Kent and Ottawa counties. His team focuses on direct communication and practical solutions. It is known for handling complex transitions, distressed properties, home valuations, and updates before a home goes to market.

Best suited for

• Sales tied to divorce or estate settlement that need practical, steady guidance
• Buyers and sellers who want frequent communication from a close-knit team
• Homeowners preparing a listing who want hands-on advice on updates and staging

#5: RYAN OGLE - BLU HOUSE PROPERTIES LLC- EXP

• Address: 1680 East Paris Ave SE Ste 200, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
• Phone: (616) 901-4541

Ryan Ogle is a versatile broker who founded Blu House Properties, a boutique team operating under EXP Realty. His work spans residential sales and commercial development. The practice is noted for accommodating long-distance moves and offering virtual home-buying experiences, alongside buyer, listing, relocation, and commercial representation.

Best suited for

• Buyers purchasing from out of town who rely on virtual tours and remote relocation support
• Purchases of historic homes and homes in high-demand neighborhoods
• Commercial investments, including multifamily and retail properties

HOW THE TOP GRAND RAPIDS REAL ESTATE AGENTS COMPARE

The five agents cover distinct ground. Mike Smallegan and Josh May both lead established teams. Smallegan runs a data-driven, West Michigan-wide practice that spans entry-level homes to luxury waterfront. May takes a consultative, marketing-focused approach shaped by city planning experience. Larry Martin's Grandville-based team brings a practical, hands-on style to complex transitions in Kent and Ottawa counties. Ryan Ogle's boutique EXP team adds commercial expertise and a well-developed virtual buying process. Mark Brace leads a Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices team focused on luxury homes, new construction, and corporate relocation, and he holds the top overall position in our rankings, which weigh reviews and ratings from past clients plus each agent's reputation around town.

THE CLEAR CHOICE FOR GRAND RAPIDS REAL ESTATE

Each agent on this list offers real value:

• Mike Smallegan brings team-based service and investment guidance across West Michigan.
• Josh May offers consultative representation and strategic seller marketing.
• Larry Martin provides practical support through complex sales.
• Ryan Ogle stands out for virtual buying and commercial opportunities.

Mark Brace presents the most complete overall profile in our evaluation. That profile includes a first-place overall ranking grounded in client reviews and local reputation, a deep documented production record, and dedicated expertise in luxury homes, new construction, and corporate relocation across the Grand Rapids metro. Mark Brace is available at (616) 504-2527 or https://www.bracehomes.com. The office is located at 3000 East Beltline NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525.