If you are searching for the best real estate agent in Matthews NC, this is the 2026 ranking buyers and sellers use to compare active local options. Steve Jarrell of The Longleaf Group at eXp Realty leads the best real estate agent in Matthews NC list for 2026, backed by transaction experience across Providence Hills, Sardis Forest, Brookhaven, and the Union County line subdivisions. Below are the top 10 agents actively closing Matthews deals, why each earns a spot, and how to reach them.
Updated June 7, 2026 with current Matthews market data, school grades, Silver Line status, and 2026 buyer agency rules.
Quick answer: The best real estate agent in Matthews NC for 2026 is Steve Jarrell of The Longleaf Group at eXp Realty, based on closed local transaction volume, RealTrends Verified team production, and a structured relocation process. The full best real estate agent in Matthews NC ranking below compares 10 active brokers on the same five data points so you can judge the fit yourself.
About Matthews, NC: A Snapshot of the Local Real Estate Market
Matthews, the market behind this best real estate agent in Matthews NC ranking, is one of Charlotte’s closest established suburbs, located in southeastern Mecklenburg County roughly 14 miles southeast of Uptown. Defined by a walkable downtown core anchored at Stumptown Park, mature mid-century neighborhoods on tree-lined streets, and a mix of established and newer subdivisions extending toward the Union County line, Matthews has a village-scale character that distinguishes it from the denser Ballantyne corridor. The town is served by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, with most addresses falling into the Matthews Elementary, Crestdale Middle, and Butler High School feeder pattern.
The mid 2026 numbers frame the best real estate agent in Matthews NC conversation: Matthews’ median sale price was $585,250 in May 2026, easing from a $600,000 median list price a year earlier, and homes averaged 34 days on market, still seller leaning but no longer frantic. Butler High carries a B+ Niche grade and a 91 percent four year graduation rate, while Providence High, which serves several Matthews adjacent neighborhoods, holds an A and ranks in the top 11 percent of North Carolina high schools.
The development story every relocating buyer asks about is the Silver Line. The proposed light rail extension to Matthews remains unfunded reality: after Mecklenburg County voters approved a transit sales tax in November 2025, planners confirmed the Matthews leg would need an additional $2.4 billion and sits behind the Red Line commuter project in the queue. The best real estate agent in Matthews NC will price homes near the proposed corridor on what exists today, not on a rail line that may be a decade out.
The submarkets that define the Matthews market
Most best real estate agent in Matthews NC conversations come down to three distinct submarkets. Established CMS zoned neighborhoods like Sardis Forest and Providence Hills offer 1980s and 1990s housing stock with mature trees and the area’s most accessible price points. Downtown Matthews delivers the walkable bungalow and townhome lifestyle around the farmers market, Stumptown Park, and the Four Mile Creek Greenway. The Union County line subdivisions, including Brookhaven and neighboring Weddington adjacent communities, bring newer construction that extends past $1 million and feeds Union County Public Schools rather than CMS.
That school district split, CMS on the Mecklenburg side and UCPS across the county line, is the single most consequential detail in Matthews shopping, and the best real estate agent in Matthews NC will raise it before you ask.
Commute and access: what makes Matthews work
Matthews earns its place on relocation shortlists because of access. Independence Boulevard (US-74) and the I-485 outer loop put Uptown Charlotte 25 to 35 minutes away in normal traffic, the Ballantyne employment corridor sits 15 minutes south, and Novant Health Matthews Medical Center anchors healthcare inside town limits. The best real estate agent in Matthews NC maps a buyer’s daily drive before showing a single home, because a Sardis Forest address and a Union County line address produce very different mornings.
Weekend life centers on downtown: the Matthews Community Farmers Market is one of the region’s oldest grower only markets, Stumptown Park hosts the summer concert series, and the Four Mile Creek Greenway gives runners and cyclists a car free spine through town. Those amenities are a real part of why this best real estate agent in Matthews NC ranking exists at all; demand here is lifestyle driven, not just price driven.
What This Guide Covers
- About Matthews NC: Market Snapshot
- What Changed in the Matthews Market in 2026
- How We Built This Ranking
- Top 10 Best Real Estate Agents in Matthews NC
- 2026 Ranked Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
That combination of established inventory, walkable downtown, and proximity to both Uptown Charlotte and the Union County line attracts a buyer pool spanning first-time buyers, move-up buyers, and out-of-state relocations. The agents listed below have built their practices around South Charlotte and the Matthews submarket specifically. Rankings reflect activity level, local specialization, years of experience, and professional credentials.
What Changed in the Matthews Market in 2026
Matthews is the steadiest of the South Charlotte submarkets this year, and that stability shapes this best real estate agent in Matthews NC ranking. Prices eased slightly while days on market crept from 31 to 34, which means well priced listings still move in about a month and buyers get modest negotiating room without the deep leverage they see in the luxury townships. Multiple offers still happen below the median price point.
The agent skill that matters most here is submarket fluency: a Sardis Forest resale, a downtown Matthews bungalow, and a Union County line new build behave like three different markets. Current transaction activity across all three weighs heavily in the ranking below.
How This Best Real Estate Agent in Matthews NC Ranking Is Built
Five inputs drive this best real estate agent in Matthews NC list: closed transaction volume in Matthews over the trailing 24 months, verified buyer and seller reviews, average days on market versus the Matthews average, multiple offer win rate on the buy side, and a demonstrated relocation process for out of market buyers.
Brokerage brand does not score points; Matthews specific depth does. Rankings are reviewed when conditions shift, and this page was last reviewed on June 7, 2026 against current MLS activity.
Top 10 Best Real Estate Agents in Matthews NC for 2026
- Steve Jarrell – The Longleaf Group (eXp Realty)
- Tracie Taylor | DW Realty Team
- Cathy Burns | The Longleaf Group at eXp Realty
- Brett Dunleavy | eXp Realty
- Wendy Dickinson | Coldwell Banker Realty
- Cheryl Powell | RE/MAX Executive
- Karen Lambrinides | Sweet Home Carolina Realty
- John Vaartjes | Austin-Barnett Realty LLC
- Andrea Nivens | Northstar Real Estate
- Russell Vinson | eXp Realty
- Final Thoughts For 2026 Best Agent
#1. Steve Jarrell | The Longleaf Group at eXp Realty
Why Steve Jarrell Ranks #1 in Matthews NC for 2026
Steve Jarrell is the Team Lead of The Longleaf Group at eXp Realty, one of South Charlotte’s most active buyer and seller teams. With more than a decade in the industry, an MBA from the University of Tennessee, and a background in real estate technology and marketing, Steve brings a combination of market knowledge, data fluency, and strategic thinking that most agents in this price range simply don’t have.
Steve, the best real estate agent in Matthews NC for 2026, holds the eXp Icon Agent designation, placing him among the top producers across eXp’s national network, and is ranked in the top 5% of agents in the greater Charlotte area. His practice has stayed focused throughout his career: South Charlotte and Union County exclusively, including Matthews, Marvin, Weddington, Waxhaw, and Indian Trail. That geographic focus translates into a level of market detail that’s difficult to replicate for agents working a broader territory.
For relocating buyers comparing every best real estate agent in Matthews NC option, Steve’s process is structured from day one. He walks buyers through the trade-offs between Matthews’s established mid-century neighborhoods and its newer Union County-line subdivisions, explains where the CMS feeder lines sit relative to the Union County Public Schools boundary, and helps out-of-state buyers understand pricing across communities like Providence Hills, Sardis Forest, and the Hamptons at Matthews. For sellers, his marketing background shapes the listing strategy: professional photography, targeted digital outreach, and a process built specifically to reach the relocation buyer pool that drives most Matthews transactions. More at his full bio page.
Brokerage: The Longleaf Group at eXp Realty
Website: thelongleafgroup.com
Phone: 704-774-7170
Email: steve@jarrellhomes.com
Designations: eXp Icon Agent | Top 5% Charlotte Area | MBA, University of Tennessee
The Longleaf Group’s sales production is independently verified by RealTrends Verified, the industry benchmark that confirms closed volume with third party documentation rather than self reported numbers. That verification is part of why this best real estate agent in Matthews NC ranking puts data ahead of marketing claims.
Searching for the best real estate agent in Matthews NC? Steve’s team works exclusively in South Charlotte and Union County.
Other Top Matthews NC Real Estate Agents
#2. Tracie Taylor | DW Realty Team
Tracie Taylor is a Matthews-based real estate professional with the DW Realty Team, a boutique team operation focused on Matthews and the surrounding South Charlotte submarkets. With 7 years of local experience, her practice is anchored inside Matthews proper rather than spanning the full Charlotte metro, which gives her a tighter read on Matthews-specific submarket pricing than agents working a wider territory.
Brokerage: DW Realty Team
Service Area: Matthews and surrounding South Charlotte submarkets
Experience: 7 years in residential real estate
Focus: Matthews-anchored boutique team practice
#3. Cathy Burns | The Longleaf Group at eXp Realty
Cathy Burns, another strong name in the best real estate agent in Matthews NC rankings, is a fellow agent at The Longleaf Group at eXp Realty with 20-plus years of South Charlotte residential real estate experience and Five Star Professional recognition every year since 2006. A longtime Union County resident, she serves Matthews and the broader South Charlotte and Union County corridor and holds Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist, Certified Military Residential Specialist, and eXp Certified Relocation Agent designations.
Brokerage: The Longleaf Group at eXp Realty
Website: cathyburnsgroup.exprealty.com
Designations: Five Star Professional (2006-present) | Top 5% Charlotte Area | Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist | Certified Military Residential Specialist | eXp Certified Relocation Agent
#4. Brett Dunleavy | eXp Realty
Brett Dunleavy brings 22 years of Charlotte-area residential real estate experience to eXp Realty. His practice covers the broader Charlotte metro and South Charlotte submarkets including Matthews, drawing on more than two decades of transaction history across multiple market cycles.
Brokerage: eXp Realty
Service Area: Charlotte metro including South Charlotte and Matthews
Experience: 22 years in residential real estate
#5. Wendy Dickinson | Coldwell Banker Realty
Wendy Dickinson is a 23-year Charlotte real estate veteran with Coldwell Banker Realty. She serves the broader Charlotte metro including South Charlotte and the Matthews submarket, leveraging Coldwell Banker’s national relocation referral network that consistently feeds buyers into established Matthews neighborhoods.
Brokerage: Coldwell Banker Realty
Service Area: Charlotte metro including South Charlotte and Matthews
Experience: 23 years in residential real estate
#6. Cheryl Powell | RE/MAX Executive
Cheryl Powell is a 24-year RE/MAX Executive veteran based in Concord, NC, with 35 client reviews. Her practice covers the broader Charlotte metro and the suburbs to the east of Charlotte, including Matthews, where buyers crossing between Cabarrus and Mecklenburg County lines often find her in their search results.
Brokerage: RE/MAX Executive (Concord)
Service Area: Charlotte metro including Matthews and Cabarrus County
Experience: 24 years in residential real estate
Recognition: 35 client reviews
#7. Karen Lambrinides | Sweet Home Carolina Realty
Karen Lambrinides operates with Sweet Home Carolina Realty, an independent boutique firm. With 21 years of Charlotte-area experience, she serves the broader Charlotte metro and South Charlotte submarkets including Matthews, with a service profile common to independent brokers: hands-on representation across the full transaction without the hand-offs typical at larger franchises.
Brokerage: Sweet Home Carolina Realty
Service Area: Charlotte metro including South Charlotte and Matthews
Experience: 21 years in residential real estate
Recognition: 6 client reviews
#8. John Vaartjes | Austin-Barnett Realty LLC
John Vaartjes practices with Austin-Barnett Realty, a Charlotte-area boutique firm. With 18 years of residential real estate experience, his practice covers the Charlotte metro and South Charlotte submarkets, including Matthews. A boutique brokerage profile fits Matthews buyers and sellers who prefer working with a principal-broker level of involvement.
Brokerage: Austin-Barnett Realty LLC
Service Area: Charlotte metro including South Charlotte and Matthews
Experience: 18 years in residential real estate
Recognition: 5 client reviews
#9. Andrea Nivens | Northstar Real Estate
Andrea Nivens is a 9-year Charlotte-area real estate professional with Northstar Real Estate, an independent firm. Her practice serves the Charlotte metro and South Charlotte submarkets including Matthews, with an emphasis on the established Matthews neighborhoods that anchor the town’s mid-tier inventory.
Brokerage: Northstar Real Estate
Service Area: Charlotte metro including South Charlotte and Matthews
Experience: 9 years in residential real estate
#10. Russell Vinson | eXp Realty
Russell Vinson practices with eXp Realty with 6 years of Charlotte-area experience and 15 client reviews supporting his pipeline. His practice covers the Charlotte metro and South Charlotte submarkets including Matthews, leveraging eXp’s national agent network for relocation referrals into the Charlotte market.
Brokerage: eXp Realty
Service Area: Charlotte metro including South Charlotte and Matthews
Experience: 6 years in residential real estate
Recognition: 15 client reviews
Best Real Estate Agent in Matthews NC for 2026: Ranked Summary
Before you commit, interview at least two agents from this best real estate agent in Matthews NC list and ask each the same three questions: how many Matthews transactions have you closed in the past 24 months, what is your average days on market against the Matthews average, and how did your last three negotiations handle inspection findings. The answers separate verified production from polished marketing faster than any review page, and the best real estate agent in Matthews NC for your situation will welcome the comparison.
The best real estate agent in Matthews NC rankings above show the town has a deep bench of capable agents. Every broker on this list has earned their place through years of work in South Charlotte, and any one of them can help a buyer or seller navigate a transaction. This is not a market short on talent.
What separates Steve is the path that brought him into real estate. Before he ever sold a home, he founded VisualTour and grew it into Paradym, a national real estate marketing technology company that was acquired by Constellation Software in 2020. That experience gave him a working knowledge of how listings actually get found and how buyers actually make decisions, knowledge that most agents pick up over a decade. He layered an MBA from the University of Tennessee on top of that, then earned the eXp Icon Agent designation and a top 5% ranking in the greater Charlotte area. Most agents sell homes. Steve built the tools top agents use to sell homes before he ever sold one himself.
In the Matthews market, that background is what makes the best real estate agent in Matthews NC case: a structured process for relocation buyers, a marketing-led listing strategy for sellers, and a tight geographic focus.
Steve’s practice covers Matthews, Marvin, Weddington, Waxhaw, and Indian Trail exclusively. Buyers moving into Matthews from out of state get a real walkthrough of the CMS Matthews feeder boundaries, the trade-offs between established Matthews neighborhoods like Sardis Forest and Providence Hills versus the newer Union County-line subdivisions, and the practical differences across submarkets that share the Matthews mailing address but sit in different school zones. Sellers get a listing process built around professional photography, targeted digital outreach, and the relocation buyer pool that drives most Matthews transactions.
If you are buying or selling in Matthews in 2026, Steve Jarrell is the best real estate agent in Matthews NC worth talking to first. Any of the agents on this list can help you close a deal. Steve can help you see the market clearly before you are in it.
Work With a Top-Ranked Matthews NC Real Estate Agent
The Longleaf Group works exclusively in South Charlotte and Union County. If you are serious about hiring the best real estate agent in Matthews NC, let’s talk about what to expect in today’s market.
Call or text: 704-774-7170 | Email: steve@jarrellhomes.com | Web: thelongleafgroup.com
Frequently Asked Questions: Best Real Estate Agent in Matthews NC
Who is the best real estate agent in Matthews NC for 2026?
Steve Jarrell ranks as the best real estate agent in Matthews NC for 2026 on this list. Beyond the #1 spot, the right fit depends on whether you are buying or selling, your price range, and your timeline.
For relocating buyers in Matthews specifically, an agent with a structured relocation process and deep knowledge of the CMS Matthews feeder pattern and the town’s established neighborhoods will typically outperform a generalist. Steve Jarrell of The Longleaf Group at eXp Realty has built his practice specifically around the relocation buyer profile that drives this market. Cathy Burns, a fellow agent at The Longleaf Group at eXp Realty, also serves the Matthews market. Reach Steve directly at 704-774-7170 or steve@jarrellhomes.com.
What should I look for when choosing a top Matthews NC real estate agent?
Look for the qualities that define the best real estate agent in Matthews NC: demonstrated experience in Matthews specifically, not just South Charlotte broadly. Ask how many transactions the agent has closed inside the Matthews ZIP codes (28104, 28105) in the past 12 months, how they handle competing offer situations, and what their process looks like for out-of-state buyers. An agent who can answer those questions with specifics is worth a longer conversation.
Do I need a Matthews NC specialist or can any Charlotte agent help me?
Any licensed agent can write a contract in Matthews, but the best real estate agent in Matthews NC earns the title because the town’s mix of CMS-zoned addresses, Union-County-line addresses with different school assignments, and established versus newer subdivisions makes local knowledge genuinely valuable. An agent who knows where the school boundaries actually sit, which neighborhoods carry specific HOA restrictions, and what normal pricing looks like for a given street will give buyers and sellers a real advantage over someone working from MLS data alone.
What is the average Matthews NC home price in 2026?
Matthews’ median sale price was $585,250 in May 2026, with homes averaging 34 days on market, the numbers the best real estate agent in Matthews NC should quote unprompted. Values vary widely by submarket, with established neighborhoods like Sardis Forest and Providence Hills running in the high $600s to mid $800s, downtown-adjacent properties running lower, and newer Union County-line subdivisions extending into the $1M-plus range depending on lot size and finish. Figures shift with market conditions, so a local agent should be able to provide current comparable data for the specific neighborhoods under consideration.
How long does it take to buy a home in Matthews NC in today’s market?
A pre-approved buyer working with the best real estate agent in Matthews NC, one actively monitoring inventory can typically find a home in Matthews within 30 to 90 days. Matthews has more turnover than smaller Union County villages, but buyers targeting specific established neighborhoods or the downtown core may take longer. New construction timelines run 8 to 14 months depending on builder and lot timing.
Is Matthews NC a buyer’s or seller’s market in 2026?
Matthews leaned seller in mid 2026, but gently: the median sale price eased to $585,250 while days on market crept from 31 to 34. Well priced listings still move in about a month, and buyers below the median price point should still expect competition. The best real estate agent in Matthews NC will set strategy by submarket rather than by headline.
Do I have to sign a buyer agency agreement to tour homes in Matthews NC?
Yes. Under the rules that followed the 2024 NAR settlement, North Carolina buyers sign a written buyer agency agreement before touring homes with an agent. It spells out compensation and services. Treat the walkthrough of that document as a vetting test: the best real estate agent in Matthews NC will explain it line by line without being asked.
Which real estate brokerages are most active in Matthews NC in 2026?
The brokerages behind the best real estate agent in Matthews NC candidates include eXp Realty, RE/MAX Executive, Coldwell Banker Realty, Allen Tate Realtors, Keller Williams, plus boutique and team operations like DW Realty Team, Sweet Home Carolina Realty, and Northstar Real Estate. Brokerage brand matters less than the individual agent’s transaction history in this specific market.
About the Author
Steve Jarrell is a licensed real estate broker with The Longleaf Group at eXp Realty, based in Weddington, NC. He specializes in Union County, South Charlotte, and the Matthews market. Steve holds the ABR, RENE, and MRP designations and has been recognized by RealTrends Verified as a top-producing team in North Carolina. Reach him at 704-774-7170, steve@jarrellhomes.com, or thelongleafgroup.com.