The Top 200

2006 was the first down year in residential real estate sales in the past 15
years or so. For the nation's top sales professionals, however, it remained a very good year. While sales units closed were down nearly 20 percent, the nation's top 200 real estate professionals were within 5 percent of the record they achieved in 2005.

"We have always thought that when times get tough, real professionals shine. That is true for many businesses, and now we can say with certainty it is true for real estate professionals," says Steve Murray, founder of Denver-based REAL Trends, which compiled the list along with magazine and The Wall Street Journal. "The best people do their best work when markets are down."

How? The best sales professionals in real estate focus even more on staying in touch with customers. They price their inventory to the market and increase their marketing on behalf of clients who want to sell their homes. There is evidence that they communicate more frequently, and they are not prepared to have their business decline because the market is down.

"If they have to work harder, if they have to make more transactions to make that income, these leaders know how to do it," says Murray.

For the second year in a row, Murray and REAL Trends ranked the industry's top producers in four categories: Top Team/Sides, Top Team/Volume, Top Agent/Sides and Top Agent/Volume.

Some names may sound familiar – it is tough to break into this club.

"There's no doubt," Murray says. "These are the best professionals out there."

Read about Top Agent (Sides) Ralph Oliva

For complete Top 200 navigation for the features and lists, please see the index to the left.

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