Real estate franchising and listing services dominate the top of one of the housing industry's most influential editorial platforms this year.
The top two names on the Swanepoel most powerful people in residential real estate 2014/15 list are both easily recognized to those familiar with the day-to-day operations of the housing and mortgage finance industries.
Perhaps the most recognizable, in second place, is Spencer Rascoff, CEO of real estate website Zillow (Z). Rascoff is a frequent contributor to various print and television media services in addition to running the most popular real estate listing website on the planet.
And in first place, the most influential person in all of real estate went to Richard Smith chairman and and CEO of Realogy Holdings Corp. (RLGY).
There was no fast formula or science equation for how the company complied this list. While they did try to take in account certain data points as well as the financial resources of the company or organization, it left room for things are difficult to quantify like a person’s contribution to the industry and personal influence.
They received hundreds of recommendations and ultimately reviewed nearly 1,000 contenders.
“There is no pay-to-play, no old boys club, and no favors for friends. If you made it to the SP200 you are most certainly deserving of your inclusion and we salute you! So here they are, the 200 most powerful people in residential real estate for 2014/15,” said the editorial executives from Swanepoel in the release.
The list was filled with other famous names like Glenn Kelman, CEO and president of Redfin, and Dale Stinton, CEO of the National Association of Realtors.
Females made up about 20% of the list, with Dorothy Herman, president and CEO,
Douglas Elliman Real Estate, coming in as the top female in the 21st slot.
And coming in at 194, none other than HousingWire’s own CEO and publisher Paul Jackson, making the list for the second year in a row.
