Top 250 Latino real estate agents named

A real estate trade group has produced what it says is the industry's first comprehensive list of top-producing Latino residential real estate agents in the U.S.

An analysis conducted by an an independent consultant on behalf of the San Diego-based National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) identified the 250 Latino real estate agents with the highest number of closed transactions in 2011 based on multiple listing service data.

The list was compiled through broker-affirmed self-nominations and through a search of MLS records in markets with a concentration of Hispanics, NAHREP said. The analysis confirmed agents' ethnic background through independent research and self-identification.

The analysis considered more than 10,000 agents nationwide. Annual transactions for agents on the list ranged from 33 to 584.

The 10 Latino real estate agents in the U.S. completed a total of 4,400 transactions in 2011, or an average of 440 each. The top 10 Latino real estate agents were:

1. Juan Martinez, Century 21 Martinez & Associates, Las Vegas. (584 transactions)

2. Gail Buck, Gail Buck Realty, Scottsdale, Ariz. (516)

3. David Acosta, ERA Sellers Buyers & Associates, El Paso, Texas (487)

4. Leo Pareja, Keller Williams Realty, Reston, Va. (469)

5. Nathan Martinez, Re/Max Professionals, Glendale, Ariz. (452)

6. Ben Caballero, Homesusa.com, Dallas (420)

7. Marty Rodriguez, Century 21 Marty Rodriguez, Glendora, Calif. (406)

8. Jason Laos, JK Realty, Gilbert, Ariz. (391)

9. Chris and Natascha Tello, Keller Williams Realty, Hollywood, Fla. (348)

10. Art Acosta, ERA Regency Realtors, Chino, Calif. (327)

"This is the first ever recorded list of the nation's top-producing Latino real estate agents and a sign of what's to come," said NAHREP President Gerardo "Jerry" Ascencio in a statement.

"With Latinos emerging as a homebuyer force in the nation's housing market, the significance of this list of performers is going to grow exponentially."

In NAHREP's annual State of Hispanic Homeownership report released earlier this year, the trade group said one of every six persons in the U.S. is Hispanic and Hispanics will account for 40 percent of an estimated 12 million net new households in the next decade.

"The era of the Hispanic homebuyer is upon us. Thanks to youth, rapid population growth, rate of household formation, income and education gains, and high desire, Latinos are poised to have an exponential impact on housing and the U.S. marketplace," the report said.

NAHREP is a nonprofit 501(c)(6) trade association with more than 20,000 members in 48 states.