Awards of Excellence

The Awards of Excellence Gala will take place on February 28, 2025 at the Grand Hyatt in Downtown Nashville. 

ELIGIBILITY 

The Awards of Excellence is an Awards Program provided by the Greater Nashville REALTORS® to its members designed to heighten their professional and personal success. It is the Association’s opportunity to recognize those members who have Excellence in Sales and Association involvement. It is not a contest with winners and losers but rather an opportunity for recognition for those who have qualified and places them in the top percentage of the Association’s REALTORS®.

2025 Awards of Excellence Rules PDF

INDIVIDUAL ELIGIBILITY

• Any REALTOR® licensed as an affiliate broker, or broker is eligible. A person is only eligible during the time while such a person and such person’s company are in good standing as a member of the Greater Nashville REALTORS® as defined by the By-Laws of the Association. Any Member who has been subject to disciplinary action by the Tennessee Real Estate Commission shall be ineligible for the applicable calendar year. Any applicant who has been found in violation of the Code of Ethics during the 2025 calendar year will be determined ineligible during that applicable year.
• All sales/leases must be submitted on the proper forms.
• Minimum of 8 involvement credits

TEAM ELIGIBILITY

• Any REALTOR® licensed as an affiliate broker, or broker is eligible. A person is only eligible during the time while such a person and such person’s company are in good standing as a member of the Greater Nashville REALTORS® as defined by the By-Laws of the Association. Any Member who has been subject to disciplinary action by the Tennessee Real Estate Commission shall be ineligible for the applicable calendar year. Any applicant who has been found in violation of the Code of Ethics during the 2024 calendar year will be determined ineligible during that applicable year.
• All sales/leases must be submitted on the proper forms.
• A Team is composed of two or more licensed agents working together in any capacity and/or market themselves as a team during the current awards cycle, January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025. 
• Team members who are applying as a team, and would also like to receive an individual award for the status to which they qualify on their own, must have a minimum of eight involvement credits. However, duplicate transactions as team members will not count towards their award, only individual sales. Calculations will be totaled from individual actual productivity reports.
• A team eligible for an award must also have eight involvement credits per team award rules. The team lead must have at least eight credits. Team members can still receive the team award but will not be individually named unless they too have eight credits.

AWARDS LEVEL BREAKDOWN

• SILVER AWARD
  Minimum of $3,000,000 - $4,999,999 in qualified gross volume of sales and/or leases AND a minimum of 10 transactions.
• GOLD AWARD
  Minimum of $5,000,000 - $9,999,999 in qualified gross volume of sales and/or leases AND a minimum of 20 transactions.
• PLATINUM AWARD
  Minimum of $10,000,000 - $19,999,999 in qualified gross volume of sales and/or leases AND a minimum of 25 transactions.
• DIAMOND AWARD
  Minimum of $20,000,000 in qualified sales/leases volume or 100 transactions.
• DIAMOND ELITE AWARD
  Minimum of $40,000,000 in qualified sales/leases volume or 150 transactions.
• SAPPHIRE AWARD
  Previously achieved Life Member status, minimum $5,000,000 in qualified sales/leases volume.

LIFE MEMBER AWARD STATUS
This status is to recognize members of long-standing participation. In order to qualify for this Award, you must meet the following prerequisites:  
1. Available to an eligible applicant who has received the Greater Nashville REALTORS® Award of Excellence for five consecutive or seven cumulative years. 
2. At least 8 Greater Nashville REALTORS® Involvement Credits.

TOP PRODUCING AWARDS 

• TOP INDIVIDUAL LISTING AWARD 
  The award is presented to the Greater Nashville REALTORS® member who had the most listing transactions during the calendar year. This award applies to solo agents who have not had anyone else directly contributing to their production.
• TOP INDIVIDUAL SELLING AWARD 
  The award is presented to the Greater Nashville REALTORS® member who had the most selling transactions during the calendar year.
• TOP TEAM LISTING AWARD 
  The award is presented to the Greater Nashville REALTORS® member team (Greater Nashville REALTORS® member with two or more licensed agents working together in any capacity at any time during the applicable year) who had the most listing transactions during the calendar year.
• TOP TEAM SELLING AWARD 
  The award is presented to the Greater Nashville REALTORS® member team (Greater Nashville REALTORS® member with two or more licensed agents working together in any capacity at any time during the applicable year) who had the most selling transactions during the calendar year.
• TOP INDIVIDUAL LEASE AWARD
  The award is presented to the Greater Nashville REALTORS® member who had the most lease transactions during the calendar year. This award applies to solo agents who have not had anyone else directly contributing to their production.
• TOP TEAM LEASE  AWARD
  The award is presented to the Greater Nashville REALTORS® member team (Greater Nashville REALTORS® member of two or more licensed agents working for or with them in any capacity and/or market themselves as a team at any time during the applicable year, who had the most lease transactions during the calendar year.)
• ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD 
  The award is presented to the Greater Nashville REALTORS® member for whom 2024 was their first full year in real estate and had more transactions than all other like members.

SPECIAL AWARDS 

Please click on the headers below to submit nominations for special awards. All Greater Nashville REALTORS® Members are eligible for the following awards: 

• THE GOOD NEIGHBOR AWARD 
  • This award is presented to the Greater Nashville REALTORS® member who is deemed to have demonstrated the most commitment to community service (charitable, civic, political, neighborhood, etc.). Nominations will be received from the membership. Greater Nashville REALTORS® president will appoint a Good Neighbor Award selection committee annually to be made up of seven members to include (1) the three most recent recipients who are available to come to the scheduled meeting; (2) the two most recent REALTORS® of the Year; (3) the association’s sitting president during the awards qualification cycle; (4) the association’s sitting president during the awards ceremony year. The president shall choose the best-qualified leader to chair the selection committee, which may include him/herself. 

• EDUCATION ACHIEVEMENT AWARD (apply through the Awards of Excellence Application Portal) 
  • Greater Nashville REALTORS® members who complete at least 45 hours of real estate continuing education (prelicensing courses are not eligible) from January 1, 2025- December 31, 2025, can qualify for the Greater Nashville REALTORS® Education Achievement Award. Members who earn this award will be recognized at an association event and their name and picture will be published in the Nashville Business Journal.

    Requirements:

    • Must be a member of Greater Nashville REALTORS® during the calendar year of 2025.
    • Must submit proof of 45 hours of completed continuing education (CE Broker CE history report and/or course completion certificates).

    Please contact the Professional Development Department with any questions at education@greaternashvillerealtors.org

• REALTOR^® OF THE YEAR AWARD 
  • The REALTOR® of the Year award recognizes and honors the Greater Nashville REALTORS® member who has made outstanding contributions to the organization and the real estate community through leadership, involvement, commitment and service. This REALTOR® has also consistently demonstrated integrity, professionalism, and a true REALTOR® spirit, promoting the principles of the Greater Nashville REALTORS® and the NAR Code of Ethics.  The recipient is selected by the five immediate past REALTORS® of the Year recipients.

• RISING STAR AWARD 
  • This award is presented to the Greater Nashville REALTORS® member who has been in the business for less than five (5) years and is showing great commitment to Greater Nashville REALTORS® and the industry through involvement. Nominations will be received from the membership and the recipient will be chosen by (1) YPN representative who has been in the industry for over three years; (2) the most recent Rising Star recipient who is available to come to the scheduled meeting; (3) three Greater Nashville REALTORS® committee chairs as selected by the president. The president shall choose the best-qualified leader to chair the selection committee.

• AFFILIATE OF THE YEAR AWARD (Affiliates Only Award)
  • This award acknowledges the distinguished involvement of the industry service provider who has held Greater Nashville REALTORS® membership for a minimum of two (2) years at the time of nomination for their active participation in the Greater Nashville REALTORS® programs and activities, and general support of the Association and the REALTOR® membership.

• FAIR HOUSING HERO AWARD
  • The Greater Nashville REALTORS® Fair Housing Hero Award is a prestigious recognition given to REALTOR® members who have demonstrated exceptional commitment and efforts in promoting fair housing and facilitating increased homeownership opportunities for individuals across all communities. This accolade acknowledges the outstanding contributions made by these individuals in advancing fair housing practices and ensuring equal access to housing for everyone.
  • Recipients of the Fair Housing Hero Award have gone above and beyond their professional responsibilities to actively promote fair housing principles and eliminate discriminatory practices in the real estate industry. They have demonstrated a deep understanding of the importance of equal housing opportunities and have worked tirelessly to foster inclusive communities.
  • Nominations will be received from the membership. Greater Nashville REALTORS® president will appoint a Fair Housing Hero Award selection committee annually to be made up of seven members to include (1) The Awards of Excellence Chair and Vice Chair and an Awards Task Force representative selected by the president; (2) the two most recent REALTORS® of the Year; (3) the association’s sitting president during the awards qualification cycle; (4) the association’s sitting president during the awards ceremony year. The president shall choose the best-qualified leader to chair the selection committee, which may include him/herself.

APPLICATION PROCESS

In order to be considered for the award, each application must be approved by his/her broker.  The application must be completed in its entirety in the application portal, this includes all MLS and non-MLS lease transactions and all documentation is uploaded in the proper format provided on the Greater Nashville REALTORS ® Awards of Excellence website, fully completed, and approved by the Applicant’s broker. 

The applicant will be responsible for the payment of a fee in the amount of $200.00 for each application accepted.  The amount of $200.00 MUST accompany each application for the applicant to be considered.  Should the Applicant not be accepted for the award, the money will be refunded. 

Applications will be available online starting mid-to-late December 2025. The deadline to submit the 2025 Awards of Excellence application is 4:30 p.m. on a date selected by Greater Nashville REALTORS® and communicated to members.  The completed application, supporting documentation, and payment MUST be received by a date selected in January 2026. 

Each application will be subject to review by the Awards of Excellence Task Force for verification.  Any transaction not reported in proper form, or not sufficiently documented..  The task force shall have the right, but not the obligation, to request from an Applicant, or the Applicant's broker, additional information. to verify satisfactorily a sale and/or transaction credit, which is to be considered.  Any additional information requested of the Applicant must be submitted by 4:30 pm on a date selected in January 2026.

To improperly give or receive credit for a transaction or to falsify information is a violation of the Rules.  Those appearing to have done so will be reported to the Professional Standards Committee (according to By-Laws Article VI, Sec. 2).

CALCULATIONS OF APPLICANT’S PORTION OF SALES AND TRANSACTIONS

If the applicant is either the listing agent, selling agent, or facilitator, they may take full credit for the total dollar volume of the sale or lease and shall receive credit for one transaction. If an applicant is either the listing agent, selling agent or facilitator in a transaction where the other party is unrepresented, dollar volume will be doubled; however, an applicant will receive credit for one transaction for the listing side AND one transaction for the selling side (total of two transactions). 

In the event of co-listings and/or co-sales (where there are more than one listing and/or selling agent), the dollar volume AND the transaction volume shall be divided equally between the co-listing and/or co-selling agents. If one agent receives a greater commission split than the other co-listing or co-selling agent(s), their portion in calculating for the award will still be equal to that of all other co-listing or co-selling agents involved.  If co-listing agents would prefer to be rewarded with a TEAM level award then the total volume and one full transaction will be applied.

An Applicant having a qualified sale of a Non-MLS property, including a property owned by HUD or VA, a property "for sale by owner," new construction, auctions, or not otherwise listed, shall receive full credit of the total volume of the sale and one (1) transaction.

REFERRAL FEES:

No portion of a sale for which an Applicant received a referral fee may be counted toward sales volume or transactions.

FORMS/DOCUMENTATION

In order to process the forms with the volunteer committee in the limited time available, it is necessary that documentation is submitted correctly.  Anyone not following instructions assumes the risk that they will not receive the award.  Be sure you understand and comply with the rules.

All applications for sales awards must include the agent’s Productivity Report from RealTracs, which can be found under Reports on the RealTracs website. 

Applicants, after notification of incomplete application, will need to resubmit the application properly by 4:30 pm on January 17, 2024.

Qualified Sales Documentation: Only Closed Sales which have been closed during the applicable calendar year will be considered. Agents must provide a copy of MLS productivity report with their application.

REALTRACS Agent Productivity Report must be submitted with the application to verify all listed/closed transactions.

NON-REALTRACS Documentation: The applicant shall fill out the Non-MLS section on the Greater Nashville REALTORS ® Awards of Excellence application and attach a copy of the fully executed sales contract and closing statement as documentation, in order to be considered for the award.

LEASE Documentation:

All lease transactions must be accompanied by a copy of the lease and any other documentation necessary to substantiate the Applicant’s involvement in the lease (i.e., management agreement). 

All applications for leases must include a copy of the lease on the lease section of the application. Applicant’s portion (1/4, 1/2, 1 or 2) of eligible transactions must be listed with the corresponding lease.

Leases will be considered only in the year in which the lease commences.  It must have been signed by all parties, all contingencies removed and the lease in full force and effect.  “COMMENCE”:  The date the lease actually begins.

Example:  A lease was signed in June of 2025 to commence in November of 2025 and end on the 31st of December 2026.  This lease may be counted in 2025.  The entire term of the lease is counted in the year it commences.

Gross Volume: The gross volume of a lease shall be the total amount of lease payments provided for in the primary term of the lease.

Example:  If a one year lease is signed anytime in 2025 at $2,000 per month for a total volume of $24,000, then the applicant would claim his/her appropriate share of $24,000 in dollar volume ($2,000 x 12 months). (See other rules to determine share.)

Example:  A five year lease signed anytime in 2025 and commencing in 2025 at $2,000 per month would have a gross volume of $120,000 in dollar volume ($2,000 x 60 months) to be claimed by appropriate applicants in the appropriate share.

Lease options are NOT eligible for inclusion until they have been exercised and in full force and effect.  They are counted only in the year that the option was activated as a lease.

Other Lease Purchases  

A lease purchase is not considered a lease for Award purposes and is considered a sale only in the year the sale closes.

LEASE RENEWALS will be eligible to be counted only in the year of the renewal. 

LEASE MINIMUM: A minimum six (6) month term lease is required on all applicable leases.

AWARDS DINNER/ADVERTISING

Be on the look out for more information about the 2025 Awards of Excellence Celebration.

Greater Nashville REALTORS® holds all rights to publication of Awards recipients until after conclusion of the Awards dinner and presentation. Companies and/or agents are not released to advertise their award recipient status prior to official announcement and presentation at the Awards Gala. 

If this rule is violated by a company or individual, all persons implicated or participating in the advertising, broker and/or agent(s), will each be subject to a $300 fine due within 30 days of notification of the violation. Agents implicated in advertising violation will not be eligible for future Awards until their individual fine is rendered to the Greater Nashville REALTORS ® office.

If you have any questions regarding any of the rules, please call the Greater Nashville REALTORS ® office at 615-254-7516.