NAGLREP PARTNERS WITH REAL TRENDS TO UNVEIL INDUSTRY’S FIRST TOP LGBT+ AGENT AND TEAM RANKINGS

The National Association of Gay and Lesbian Real Estate Professionals has come a long way in its 11 years. It has grown to more than 2,000 members with 25 chapters and is one of the largest LGBT trade organizations in the U.S.

Known industry-wide for its continued advocacy work to eliminate housing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, NAGLREP also plays a major role in welcoming LGBTs to homeownership.

NAGLREP founder Jeff Berger wanted a way to honor the organization’s members and approached REAL Trends President Steve Murray last winter about working together to establish the real estate industry’s first ranking of LGBT and allied sales professionals.

That meeting led to the creation of NAGLREP’s Top LGBT+ Agent List which recognizes NAGLREP members who appeared on REAL Trends America’s Best Real Estate Professionals, sponsored by Adwerx.  Those included are ranked in the top one-half of 1 percent of the more than 1.3 million Realtors nationwide.

“NAGLREP is a bridge between the real estate and LGBT communities and we take great pride in our advocacy work and also showcasing the emotional and financial benefits of home ownership to LGBTs,” said Berger.  “We are thrilled to work so closely with REAL Trends and Sotheby’s International Realty, which sponsored the program, to bring the NAGLREP Top LGBT+ Agent List to life and honor these incredible real estate professionals.”

Shirley Gary of Engel & Vӧlkers Buckhead Atlanta and Blair Myers of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Success in Warner Robins, Georgia, headed NAGLREP’s individual agent list.

According to REAL Trends The Thousand as advertised by Adwerx, Myers generated 272 transactions sides in 2017 and finished 19 industry wide on the list. Gary generated more than $70.1 million in sales volume last year as one of the top 300 agents nationwide.

The EZ Sales Team, headed by Michael Zinicola, of Keller Williams in Bay Village, Ohio, led all teams on the REAL Trends The Thousand with 968.75 transaction sides, the 19 highest of teams industry-wide, and $185.1 million in 2017 sales volume (#102).

 

“With today’s release of the Top LGBT+ Agent List, an elite group of real estate agents across the country are receiving well-deserved recognition,” said Steve Murray, CEO of REAL Trends. “These sales associates have built enormously successful small businesses in an extremely competitive field.”

REAL Trends identified all NAGLREP members who met 2017 individual agent production minimums of 50 sides or $20 million in sales volume.  Teams, whose lead is a NAGLREP member, were recognized with at least 75 sides or $30 million in sales volume last year.

“Real estate is known as one of the most competitive industries in the world, where inspiration, drive, and a deep consumer understanding are vital to succeed,” said Kevin Thompson, Chief Marketing Officer of Sotheby’s International Realty. “Our success is directly connected to our ability to attract the best talent in the world, which needs to be as diverse and inclusive as the clients we serve. The first Top LGBT+ Agent List gives us an opportunity to showcase real estate’s top professionals who combine outstanding service and unmatched market knowledge with an impeccable work ethic and insatiable desire to succeed.”

Below follows the NAGLREP Top LGBT+ Agent List:

 

 

REAL Trends America’s Best Real Estate Professionals sponsored by Adwerx and honors America’s finest real estate agents and their companies and is compiled and analyzed by REAL Trends.

The rankings are compiled based on surveys from virtually every national branded network, many state and local associations of Realtors®, multiple listing services, all applicants from past years’ rankings, and the 1,752 largest brokerage firms in the United States. Verification from an independent source is required for all submissions. Also, REAL Trends senior staff reviews every submission for completeness and accuracy.

All NAGLREP members who appeared on the REAL Trends America’s Best Professionals sponsored by Adwerx were included on the NAGLREP Top LGBT+ Agent List if they opted in.  Teams were included if the team lead was a NAGLREP member and opted in.