In the competitive real estate market of Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, thousands of agents help clients buy and sell homes each year. Among the various recognitions available, one stands out for its unique method: it is not based on sales volume but on the votes of the public. Washingtonian magazine’s annual “100 Best Agents” list, published each July, is decided by a survey of its readership and the broader real estate community. This year, Daryl Judy of Washington Fine Properties has been named to the 2026 list, an honor he views as a reflection of trust built steadily over time.
The list is compiled from a survey sent to roughly 50,000 subscribers and agents who appeared on previous lists. Respondents are asked whom they have most enjoyed working with, weighing qualities such as market knowledge, integrity, communication, and preparation through closing. Washingtonian then vets the results with other industry professionals, including fellow agents, mortgage brokers, and inspectors. This process differs from production-based honors, which recognize sales volume. The public vote captures how clients and peers experience working with an agent—a quality that accumulates over time.
For buyers and sellers, the significance of this recognition is clear: out of thousands of agents, being named among roughly 100, chosen by those who have worked alongside them, is a meaningful marker of trust. It cannot be bought with advertising or earned through a single strong year. “It’s not based on an ad, pay per play,” Judy said. “It’s based on reputation, based on what the public perceives you to be as one of the 100 best agents out of 25,000.” He emphasizes that the award rewards consistency: “This is not an award you can win by having one lucky sale or one good year. It’s reputation, year after year after year. It takes a long time to build.”
Reputation in real estate operates on two tracks: how clients see an agent and how peers do. A public vote captures both. When multiple offers arrive on a listing, the listing agent’s read on each buyer’s agent can shape how a seller weighs competing bids. A track record of clear, reliable communication makes every transaction smoother. For buyers and sellers comparing agents, a recognition built on the experiences of clients and peers over many years offers something a single year’s figures cannot: a sense of how an agent is likely to handle pricing, negotiation, and judgment calls that matter most.
