In the competitive real estate market of the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region, thousands of agents help clients buy and sell homes each year. While many accolades are based on sales volume, one distinction stands out: Washingtonian magazine’s annual “100 Best Agents” list, which is not determined by production numbers but by a public vote. This year, Daryl Judy of Washington Fine Properties has been named to the 2026 list, a recognition he attributes to the trust he has built with clients and peers over time.
Washingtonian has long been a leading guide to the nation’s capital, covering dining, culture, neighborhoods, and influential residents. Its “Best of Washington” features are highly anticipated, and the real estate list, published each July, is among the most closely watched. For buyers and sellers, appearing on this list serves as a trusted signal when choosing an agent.
The selection process for the “100 Best Agents” list is unique. Washingtonian sends surveys to roughly 50,000 subscribers and to agents who made the previous year’s list, asking respondents to name the agents they have most enjoyed working with. The magazine evaluates qualities such as market knowledge, integrity, communication, and preparation through closing. The results are then vetted with other industry professionals, including fellow agents, mortgage brokers, and inspectors.
This process differs from Washingtonian’s production-based honors, which recognize sales volume. While volume reflects how much an agent sold in a year, the public vote reflects the experience of working with that agent, a quality that accumulates over time. As Judy notes, “It’s not based on an ad, pay per play. 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.”
For consumers, the significance of this recognition is clear: out of thousands of agents in the region, being named among roughly 100, chosen by those who have worked with them, is a meaningful marker of trust. It cannot be bought through advertising, and it is difficult to earn on the strength of a single good year. “This is not an award you can win by having one lucky sale or one good year,” Judy said. “It’s reputation, year after year after year. It takes a long time to build.”
Reputation in real estate operates on two levels: how clients perceive an agent and how peers do. A public vote captures both. In a competitive market, the listing agent’s assessment of a buyer’s agent can influence how offers are weighed. A track record of clear, reliable communication makes transactions smoother for all parties involved. 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.
Daryl Judy is an Associate Broker with Washington Fine Properties, specializing in luxury residential real estate across Washington, DC, McLean, Arlington, Alexandria, Chevy Chase, and Bethesda. He is consistently ranked among the top individual agents in the DC market by volume. His inclusion in the 2026 list highlights the value of a reputation built on trust and consistency, rather than mere sales numbers.
