A note from brokerage CEO Robbie Briggs:

Of all the industry awards our agents earn in any given year — and I am proud to say that it is a lot — one honor comes with a little extra excitement.

Each year, a firm called RealTrends ranks the top individuals, teams and brokerages in the United States. The company, launched in 1987, bases its various rankings on sales data that is independently verified, which is why folks in the real estate world anxiously await the results.