Can you define what you mean with best agents? My experience from NY is that they are all mostly using Street Easy and getting a fee for something I have already found myself.
And I don't live cheap.
And I don't live cheap.
The best agents are really "only" good because they know of the good apartments it's not that the actual broker part itself requires some sort of special skills.
There is a reason why everyone who has the funds turn to buying real-estate.