SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – June 15, 2009 – Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, the Bay Area’s leading real estate services company, announced today that venerable  San Francisco Realtor Nina Hatvany ranked among the top 400 real estate professionals nationwide last year. The results were from the fourth annual “Real Estate Top 400,” a national sales ranking sponsored by The Wall Street Journal, lore magazine, and REAL Trends.

 Nina Hatvany ranked 37th for individual agents with $94.8 million in sales.

"We are extremely proud of Nina for receiving this well-deserved national recognition," said Rick Turley, president of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in the San Francisco Bay Area. "She is the best of the best in the real estate industry, especially when it comes to the luxury market. She has a long track record of delivering outstanding results for the Bay Area's most discriminating home buyers and sellers. We couldn’t be more proud to have her on our team."

In its announcement, The Wall Street Journal noted that the housing professionals succeeded in one of the most difficult markets the nation has ever faced. Sales of existing homes fell 13 percent last year while new-home sales dropped 38 percent. In addition, credit was extremely hard to come by as banks dealt with loan defaults and foreclosures. "Yet amid those wheezing numbers, many agents and brokers have found a way not just to breathe easier but thrive," the Journal reported.

"The best individual agents and teams found a way to keep business steady or keep growing," said Steve Murray, founder of REAL Trends, the Denver-based publishing company that compiled the list. "They cranked it up, understanding it’s about communications to past customers and prospects, marketing, and staying face to face with clients."