NSW’s top 50 female real estate agents ranked

From humble beginnings dropping flyers in mailboxes to now driving $8.5 billion in deals, the top female power players in the state property market have been revealed.

Female agents are carving up a bigger share of what’s traditionally been a male-dominated industry.

Extravagant property price tags are increasingly being driven by a group of female power players whose slick negotiating skills are coaxing homebuyers to part with millions in cash.

A Sunday Telegraph investigation has revealed the superstar female agents raking up the most sales across NSW, with the top 50 agents alone handling close to $8.5 billion in transactions.

That’s more than the combined GDP of Pacific nations such as Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and the Solomon Islands.

Women were also behind many of the biggest deals, including last year’s priciest Australian house sale – the $60 million paid for a Darling Point mansion known as Tirrikee.

Agent Laura McKay sold more than $410m in real estate last financial year. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The superstar agents are from diverse backgrounds. One used to sell trinkets at flea markets before moving to real estate, while others cut their teeth dropping flyers in mailboxes.

The thing they have in common is that they’re changing the face of what’s historically been one of the country’s most male-dominated industries.

Highland Property agent Laura McKay was the female agent with the highest total value of declared sales last financial year, according to the analysis of sales figures provided by the biggest agency offices.

Ms McKay pushed through more than $410 million in deals, including the Sutherland Shire’s first $20 million property sale.

Abode Property agent Suzanne Hibberd sold more than $400 million in real estate, the second highest among the agents who reported their figures, with Louis Carr agent Jennifer Carr tallying up nearly $320 million in deals.

These figures eclipsed those of all but a handful of men.

Ms McKay said big hitting female agents showed the industry was changing.

“Most agents are still men, but I think women have an advantage. Some buyers prefer dealing with women,” she said.

“If you think of the decision makers in most families, they’re usually women. A female agent will know how to connect with them. You know what they will find important.”

Clarke and Humel director Cherie Humel has sold some of the priciest homes on the northern beaches.

Candice Cattel is one of the top agents in the Manly area. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Ms McKay, 40, started her career in her teens as an unpaid assistant and said there were few female players in the industry back then.

“I was lucky to work under one of them. That made a difference,” she said, adding that an explosion in real estate prices has also meant more opportunities for switched on operators to cash in.

This was especially true in the Sutherland Shire, her primary market.

“We used to mostly just sell to people moving within the area. Now they’re coming from all over Sydney to buy here, especially from the east,” Ms McKay said.

With the growing appeal has come a shift in prices. Multiple properties in the Shire sold for over $10 million last year – figures unseen in previous years.

Ms McKay also received an offer of over $50 million for a six-level mansion in waterfront suburb Burraneer, but the vendors turned it down after deciding they wanted to stay at the property for longer.

Many of the top female agents sell in the Sutherland Shire. Ray White agent Wendy Samrani sold nearly $200m worth of Shire properties last year.

McGrath real estate agent Eva Xu is one of the top deal makers in the Epping area.

Ray White agent Tina O'Connor.

It would have been the country’s priciest sale on record outside of the Harbour if the owners had accepted the offer.

Monika Tu, the founder of agency Black Diamondz and star of Prime Video series Luxe Listings, was also fresh off a big year.

The entrepreneur, who once made a living selling CDs and floppy disks at Paddy’s markets in Haymarket, had more than $200 million in sales over financial year 21/22.

She said it was an industry where women could make their mark.

“Real estate is all about capturing people’s emotions, and helping people,” she said. “I think we understand that and what people are looking for.”

PPD Real Estate agent Catherine Dixon, another big hitter in the eastern suburbs sales market, said the local industry was evolving in line with global standards.

McGrath agent Alexandra Stamatiou-Buda is one of the top inner west agents.

Tracey Dixon is one of the top agents in the affluent Hunters Hill region.

“In a lot of other countries, female agents are actually the top performers,” she said.

“But you do need the right qualities … you have to have the ability to recover quickly. And you need a thick skin. Rejection is part of the job.”