The Arizona Real Estate Achievement (AREA) Awards — selected by a panel of industry experts — honor the state’s best and brightest real estate companies, real estate agents, real estate brokers, mortgage companies, bankers, home builders, individuals who give back to the community, and those in the real estate business whose careers have left an indelible mark on the community and on the industry.

AREA AWARDS: LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Winner: Walt Danley, Walt Danley Realty

AREA Awards: Walt Danley, Walt Danley RealtyWalt Danley began his career in real estate in 1977 and has single-handedly grown his business into a multi-million dollar luxury boutique firm in Scottsdale. In 2006, Danley was named one of the “35 Most Influential in Luxury Real Estate” by Unique Homes Magazine, a list that included Donald Trump and Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke. That same year, Danley sold more real estate than any other agent in the state of Arizona.

In 2011, The Walt Danley Group — previously affiliated with Coldwell Banker and Realty Executives — established its own brokerage firm and renamed itself Walt Danley Realty. This independence allowed Walt Danley Realty to become an exclusive affiliate with Christie’s International Real Estate, a move that has given Danley’s team of agents unprecedented exposure on a global level. The firm continues to earn some of real estate’s most coveted awards and consistently completes the highest dollar amount of transactions compared with other Phoenix-area realtors.

Walt Danley Realty is considered an industry leader among real estate professionals due to Danley’s longevity and inspired success for more than 30 years in the residential real estate industry. Specializing in finding talented agents with varied backgrounds, Walt Danley Realty has helped former CEOs, businessmen and businesswomen find their passion in the real estate industry by mentoring them. The agents are each involved in professional and charitable organizations where they serve as panel members, board members, event organizers and volunteers. As a leader in the industry, Walt Danley Realty is a go-to source among media members, both on the regional and national level, who want the highest level of knowledge and insight into the local market.

Arizona Business Magazine May/June 2012