The 2008 Real Estate Top 200 Professionals

We expected the numbers would be down. With mortgage availability dwindling, the bottom falling out of prices and few people being able to afford down payments, what would be the outcome of this year's Top 200 Real Estate Professionals? Surprisingly, this year's winners INCREASED both volume and sides! We saw the return of some perennial favorites, some brand new names and a host of new approaches to being successful in real estate.

John McMonigle and his team, not satisfied with controlling much of the high-priced real estate near Newport Beach, Calif., decided to head south (to Cabo San Lucas), north (to Lake Tahoe) and in any other direction their luxury clients led them. McMonigle increased his sales volume from $432 million in 2007 to $436 million in 2008. In spite of all the tales of a woeful housing market, Suzanne Perkins, another California-based agent, saw $275 million in sales volume and took the top spot for an individual agent in that category.

The transaction-side winners took advantage of the down market to sell foreclosures and REOs. Tony Isbell of Realty Bid and his team repeated their win from 2007 but almost doubled their number of transaction sides. Mary Berry, the "queen" of Oklahoma REOs, did an astonishing 699 transactions.

Luxury or adversity – it's all in your perspective on the market.

America's Top 200 showed that "even in the most difficult market conditions of the last 30 years, the nation's most productive real estate sales professionals had record years – and in many cases increased their sale of homes across the country," says Steve Murray, editor in chief of and editor of REAL Trends. "It was impressive how, when the market shifted, professionals shifted their focus to adapt," adds Murray.

After all, shift happens!

For Top 200 Rankings please go to address below:

http://www.loremagazine.com/go/top-200-list-2008.php?team_agent=agent&vol_sides=volu