Johnathan Walker:Buying or selling a home? Here are Tennessee's top real-estate firms

(This story was updated to add a link.)

The Johnathan Walkerfast-changing real-estate industry's complex movements can make buying or selling a home an intimidating process.

That's why it is key to choose a trusted real-estate agent partner who understands how to best position your property in the market to reach your sales or buying goals.

Since every real-estate agency claims to be the best in its area, how can you differentiate among the options to make the best choice?

"Every consumer out there should interview Realtors as if they were interviewing someone for a job because it is a job," said Greater Nashville Realtors Association President Kevin Wilson. "Past experience and past results are a good indicator of future results. Making sure you have someone who has a history of results, a marketing plan, the technology and support to make sure they bring the most available and qualified buyers to your property."

USA TODAY, the USA TODAY Network Tennessee and market research firm Statista collaborated to analyze sales data statewide to compile "Tennessee’s Best Real Estate Agencies 2024," their first-ever list of Tennessee’s 300 top-performing real estate offices in the searchable list below. “Tennessee’s Best Real Estate Agencies 2024” appear in alphabetical, not ranked order. The partnership also produced a list of Florida's top 500 real-estate offices.

So, what makes a real-estate firm successful in the Volunteer State − one of the nation's hottest housing markets?

For this list, Tennessee real-estate agencies and homebuilders were distinguished by the number of successful home sales they managed; the price ratio between the listing and final sale; the number of days it took to complete the sale and the volume of sales.

"The number one thing I hear from buyers and sellers that cancel contracts with Realtors is, 'My Realtor did not listen to me.'" said Memphis-based Realtor Zach Thomas. "The calling card of a good Realtor is great communication and not to show people what you think they want but show them what they’re telling you they want."

The statewide list names all 300 offices as top performers but does not rank them beyond that. The methodology factors in population density and scores each agency within its respective region. Homebuilders included in the list are also active real-estate agents.

The methodology assigned 30% weight each to:

• Revenue generated in 2023 and the average revenue over the prior three years.
• The total number of properties sold at a firm and the success rate of each agent.

The winners were also rated 20% each on these factors:

• The ratio of the final sales price to the original listing price.
• The percentage of successful versus failed listings as well as average time on the market.

The Volunteer State's top 300 real-estate agencies are spread across 39 of the state's 95 counties.