New awards recognize top land brokers in region

A handful of Florida real estate agents who specialize in land transactions have been recognized by the Realtors Land Institute’s (RLI) inaugural Apex Awards.

Ryan Sampson, principal at Tampa’s Eshenbaugh Land Co., received the 2017 “Broker of the Year” national award for highest volume of Commercial Land Sales, one of seven specialties the Apex designations honor.

Sampson, a 12-year veteran of Eshenbaugh Land, also was named one of the nation’s Top 20 Producers by RLI during a national conference held earlier this month in Nashville, Tenn.

He cited “hard work, a positive attitude” and “a great mentor” in brokerage firm founder and managing broker Bill Eshenbaugh as the keys to his success last year.

Eshenbaugh also was recognized as being an Apex Top Twenty Producer from among the more than 50 agents nationally who met criteria to be considered.

Since its creation more than a quarter century ago, Eshenbaugh Land has completed land deals valued in excess of $1 billion.

Wildwood, Fla.-based Smith & Smith Realty Inc. agent Danny Smith received the “Broker of the Year” award for Residential Land Sales for his top volume of transactions.

Billy Rollins, of Fort Myers-based Land Solutions Inc., and Dean Saunders, founder of Lakeland-based Coldwell Banker Commercial Saunders Real Estate, rounded out the list of Florida brokers named to the list of Top Twenty Producers for 2017.

Rollins, currently the vice president of RLI’s Florida chapter, noted the “exceptional team” at Land Solutions that helped him win the RLI award.

The awards from RLI, an affiliate of the National Association of Realtors, were sponsored this year by The Land Report, a leading real estate trade publication.