Special offer
Wayne Posey, Broker on Florida's Space Coast, "Nobody knows the Space Coast like a Native" (Posey & Co., REALTORS)

Spam prevention
Ambassador
2,061,803
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

According to NAR there are 1.39 million Realtors in the U.S. as of 2019. 

That means 13,900 Realtors can lay claim to the top 1%.

Dec 03, 2019 06:53 PM
Ambassador
5,230,068
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Depends upon what category you are searching in BrokerMetrics. If you are in the top 1% in all of the categories, you can claim "Top 1%" without differentiating, I suppose!

Dec 03, 2019 08:24 PM
Ambassador
6,393,404
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Lots of stats out there, easy to make the claim, tough to prove.

Dec 03, 2019 05:25 PM
Rainmaker
4,572,183
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Good question.  A true BFD moment with a heavy dose of PHD. Likely created by that first Million Dollar Agent.  Waaaay back when.

Dec 03, 2019 05:27 PM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

This is a HIGHLY subjective term and often more "puffery" than anything else.  For example, I am in the top 1% of all agents in the "Greater Los Angeles Metro" area, which covers two or three counties.  How do I know this?  Because some company offered to put me on their website saying I was for $300/yr.

 

Heck, my first year in business some company told me I was in the "Top 5%" of all agents NATIONWIDE.  Of course, I had to pay them money to see just where I was on their list.  I've also been nominated for two industry awards this year... I just have to pay money to claim the award...  (you can see a trend here, right?)

 

Now for what is the "top 1%", well ActiveRain Member Support nailed it in their response to Alan May's question.  I'm also the top 1% of all agents in my company.  I'm also the only practicing one.  You can slice the pie as thin as you need to be in the top 1%.  I'm sure you're in the top 1% of all Brokers named Wayne Posey.  :-)   In Canada, you are required to identify your source, from what I've seen.  In the states, there is no such law that I'm aware of.

Dec 03, 2019 09:11 PM
Rainmaker
1,153,794
Kevin J. May
Florida Supreme Realty - Hobe Sound, FL
Serving the Treasure & Paradise Coasts of Florida

Top 1% can be in dollar volume, listings, units sold, SP/LP differential, any given niche, any given township, any county, in any state, type of property, condos, singles. investment, waterfront, golf course and so on. Nailing this one down will be a full time job in itself Wayne. I ain't got the time!

Dec 03, 2019 06:59 PM
Rainmaker
2,390,620
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

It's what ever you want it to be Wayne Posey, Broker Posey & Co., REALTORS I was unanimously voted Realtor God... in my family.

Dec 03, 2019 06:52 PM
Ambassador
5,049,183
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Good question. The answer likely depends on who you talk with, so it's pretty meaningless.

Dec 03, 2019 05:43 PM
Rainmaker
1,311,397
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

There are as many measuring sticks as there are activities to measure.

Or

More than 1% or Realtors likely claim to be in the Top 1%. 

Dec 03, 2019 08:11 PM
Rainmaker
2,220,323
Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTAcondos.com
Harry Norman, REALTORS® - Atlanta, GA
Associate Broker

Seems like you have many answers 

Dec 03, 2019 07:52 PM
Rainmaker
711,852
Lynnea Miller
Bend Premier Real Estate - Bend, OR
Premier Real Estate Service in Central Oregon

Data can be used to manipulate any definition.

Dec 03, 2019 07:19 PM
Rainmaker
629,608
Tom Bailey
Margaret Rudd & Associates Inc. - Oak Island, NC

Depends on what criteria you use. Sides, volume, gross commission income etc 

Dec 03, 2019 07:18 PM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

A question for the ages!

Dec 04, 2019 05:03 AM
Rainmaker
4,882,355
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

I wish we knew.

Dec 04, 2019 04:48 AM
Rainmaker
1,090,637
Diana Zaccaro Broker Associate
ZOOM Realty Group - Cocoa Beach, FL
"The Accidental Blogger" Cocoa Beach, Florida

There is no "official" definition that I know of...it is different things to different people depending on how they want to promote themselves. It can be whatever one wants it to be.

 

Dec 03, 2019 10:23 PM
Rainmaker
1,196,798
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

I've not much concern for such things. 

Dec 03, 2019 09:00 PM
Rainmaker
536,943
Rose Mary Justice
Synergy Realty Pros - Dandridge, TN
Synergy Realty Pros

Alan May has your answer along with AR member Support.

Dec 03, 2019 07:02 PM
Rainmaker
7,836,134
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Check your local MLS statistics.

Dec 03, 2019 05:47 PM
Ambassador
3,345,091
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

This just might be the best question asked ever!  

 

Dec 04, 2019 10:42 AM
Rainmaker
5,216,398
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Alan May with an assist from AR Support has this one covered. AR Support should get  star for there last listed category.

Dec 04, 2019 04:14 AM
Rainmaker
758,035
Peter Testa
Nationwide Homes - Danbury, CT
PETER TESTA

That 1% is Subject to Interpretation. I see what kind of #'s Agents claiming the Top Spot do. I think some very well could be the Top 1% in one or more categories.

Others, not so much. 

Dec 04, 2019 10:51 AM
Rainmaker
613,494
Eve Alexander
Buyers Broker of Florida - Tampa, FL
Exclusively Representing ONLY Tampa Home Buyers

That is total BS along with the label "top agent"...

Don't bother trying to figure it out.

Eve

Dec 04, 2019 10:26 AM
Ambassador
3,587,960
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Who cares?  That would be just about everyone! Only those that need to claim being #1 do so.  I once was part of a brokerage that 'made' us use We're #One  ryders on all our signs. Most of us thought....what a bunch of hoey.

Dec 04, 2019 09:58 AM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

Here is the thing with numbers. Like in my area there is one guy in the top, but he has 20 people on a team that list and sell under his name. He is not #1, his team may be 1 in volume, but first in complaints when i talk to expireds. Teams should be rated different then actual agents. In the end, referrals matter, listings and sales given for great service bu buyers and sellers who could care about who is the biggest, they want the best

Dec 04, 2019 05:44 AM
Rainmaker
1,844,301
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

There are national stats & I forget in what publication. That includes all companies across the U.S. 

My company is like 170 in listings, 190 in sales in the U.S. 

Dec 04, 2019 05:35 AM
Rainer
337,854
Adam Feinberg
Elegran - Manhattan, NY
NYC Condo, Co-op, and Townhouse Advisor

"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."- Mark Twain.

Jan 02, 2020 08:46 PM
Rainmaker
5,868,544
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

I believe many brokers use this term incorrectly.

Dec 10, 2019 04:53 PM
Rainer
16,946
Lisa Weiler
PM LLC - Los Angeles, CA
Interior Design Expert & Home Stager

Good question. It seems to me like just a marketing tactic!

Dec 09, 2019 08:20 AM
Rainmaker
2,071,025
Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
SIB Realty - Sunny Isles Beach, FL

I am with Alan May and ActiveRain Member Support 

Thank you.

Dec 05, 2019 12:23 PM
Rainmaker
1,598,452
Valeria Mola
SIB Realty - Miami, Sunny Isles Beach - Sunny Isles Beach, FL
305-607-0709 SIB Realty Condos for Sale and Rent

Thank you, AR support and Alan. 

Dec 05, 2019 11:17 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

I'll stay within my own little area and keep branding..

Dec 04, 2019 10:20 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Wayne,

This is usually calculated in $$$ volume.  A

Dec 04, 2019 08:44 AM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

Not something I pay attention to. Any claim an agent makes is about themselves and not benefits for the client.

Dec 04, 2019 07:19 AM
Rainmaker
2,182,552
Michael J. Perry
KW Elite - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

Good work Alan

Dec 04, 2019 06:39 AM
Rainmaker
2,781,173
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

In my world of results there is only relevant focus. What I do or don't do...

Dec 04, 2019 06:19 AM
Rainmaker
1,239,901
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

All but the bottom 1% is called top agents. 1%, 2%, non-name realtor.

Dec 04, 2019 06:02 AM
Rainmaker
901,535
Carla Freund
Keller Williams Preferred Realty - Raleigh, NC
NC Real Estate Transition & Relocation 919-602-848

It depends on the criteria. My coach recently told me nationally only the top 1% of Real Estate agents list more than 5 homes per year. WOW! I'd say the majority of the regulars here are in the top 1%, right? Just like any sales, you have to know the criteria. 

Dec 04, 2019 05:58 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

Welcome to the common currency of the real estate agent.

1. Success Theater
2. Vanity Metrics
3. Surrogate Endpoints

Now, here in the Tampa Bay area of Florida the largest brokerage has over 3,000 agents. If each agent does 1 transaction a year, each agent could claim to be in the top 1% of something. The reality is the agents in this brokerage average 0.03 transactions a year. With such a population of agents who do nothing, the survivor doing 10 transactions a year can appear 'top dog' with a select group.

Success Theater, Vanity Metrics, Surrogate endpoints, the common currency of the real estate agent. Of course the association and NAR has made it very difficult to delineate services. Their intent is to reduce agents to order takers. Puffery is what REALTOR overseers approve and the public voice of real estate surrendered to Zdevil.

Who is the top 1%?

These are the ones who actually do NO real estate work. This deception inherent in real estate is advanced by the acceptance of the illegal practice observed though teams. The top 1% in real estate are selling services to agents, not being agents working for tips.

 

Dec 04, 2019 05:14 AM