When it comes to earning national media attention, Brown Harris Stevens is punching well above its weight.
A new analysis from Everything-PR ranks Brown Harris Stevens among the top 10 U.S. luxury real estate brokerages for brand authority, coming in at No. 9 in its Q1 2026 Luxury Real Estate Brand Authority Index. The ranking is particularly meaningful given the company’s size: BHS is a privately held brokerage with more than 2,300 agents, competing for media attention against significantly larger organizations—including several public companies whose corporate news cycles can generate substantial coverage through earnings reports, stock movements, acquisitions and other Wall Street activity. Yet BHS is holding its own in the national conversation based on something far more valuable: earned media driven by expertise, relevance and a strong point of view. From luxury properties and record-breaking sales to industry insights and commentary, Brown Harris Stevens is a leader by every metric when it comes to maximizing exposure.
The Bess Freedman Factor
There is no question that Bess Freedman plays an important role in BHS’s media presence. As CEO, she is not simply the face of the company; she is an active participant in the conversations shaping real estate. Whether discussing transparency in the industry, private listing networks, commissions, market conditions or the future of brokerage, Bess brings a distinct perspective and is willing to say what she believes.
That visibility is reflected in the Everything-PR analysis, which identifies Freedman as the No. 1 most-quoted female CEO in tier-one luxury real estate coverage. Her willingness to engage with reporters, offer an informed point of view and speak candidly about issues affecting consumers and the industry has helped make BHS a reliable source for national media.
But BHS’s media strategy extends beyond traditional earned media. Through its MORE (Mastery of Real Estate) Network, the company has effectively built its own media platform, producing podcasts and video series from Studio 1873 featuring BHS agents, economists, executives and industry leaders. The network now spans dozens of shows and hundreds of episodes covering everything from market analysis and economics to architecture, negotiation, development and industry trends.
That matters because BHS doesn’t need a stock ticker to create a news cycle—or even to wait for someone else to create one. It has built a platform capable of turning its own expertise into content and putting its people directly in front of consumers and the industry.
In an industry where size is often treated as synonymous with influence, the ranking offers a compelling counterpoint: you don’t have to be the biggest brokerage in the room to have one of the loudest voices. You just have to have something worthy to say!
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