Best Alternatives to Jim Dropps

Ben Ganje

9.5/10

$800K+ · 181 reviews

Ben Ganje leads one of Minnesota's top-producing teams — the Ben Ganje Group at Lakes Sotheby's International Realty in Edina — with more than $1.5B in career sales, 1,500-plus homes closed, and 181 reviews at a perfect 5.0. Across roughly 24 years he's ranked among the top three agents in the state by volume. He's the choice for luxury and new-construction buyers and sellers who want a proven, high-powered team.

Joe Houghton

9.4/10

$350K–$3M · 183 reviews

Joe Houghton runs Minnesota Property Group under RE/MAX Results out of Plymouth, and the numbers are the headline: 1,600-plus homes sold since 2002 and 183 Zillow reviews at a perfect 5.0. He's the high-volume, broad-coverage choice across the west metro — from Lake Minnetonka waterfront to first-time and move-up buyers — backed by a full team rather than a solo practice.

Chad Schwendeman

9.2/10

$11K–$3.2M · 1077 reviews

The highest-volume, most-reviewed real estate team in the Brainerd Lakes market — a safe default pick for exposure and track record, though you'll likely work with a team member rather than Chad personally.

Bryce Caldwell

9.1/10

$500K–$2.5M · 27 reviews

Bryce Caldwell is the most content-rich independent agent operating in the Lake Minnetonka west metro corridor. Four years focused on Wayzata, Orono, Minnetonka, Eden Prairie, and Deephaven has produced genuine hyperlocal expertise that shows up in how he talks about bays, school district boundaries, and dock rights — not just listing counts. The best fit for buyers and sellers in the $600K–$2.5M range who want a knowledgeable local specialist, not a large team machine.

Graham Smith

9.1/10

$150K–$2.8M · 100 reviews

Graham Smith has run The Graham Smith Team at Keller Williams Integrity Lakes since 2002, building $125M+ in career volume and 100 Zillow reviews at 5.0 (172 across platforms). He's the deeply-reviewed choice for Minneapolis city neighborhoods — from first-time buyers to investment — backed by a full team and two decades in the market.

Brian Scates

9.0/10

$300K–$1.2M · 155 reviews

Brian Scates runs his own brokerage, Scates Real Estate, out of the Plymouth / northwest-metro area — a GRI-designated broker with 20-plus years, 800-plus career transactions, and 155 Redfin reviews at 4.9. He's the high-volume, independent-brokerage choice across the west and northwest metro, comfortable from first-time buyers to the upper-mid market.