MIAMI – (June 26, 2015) The National Association of Real Estate Editors (NAREE) proudly unveiled the winners of its 65th Annual Journalism Awards today. These awards celebrate excellence in reporting, writing, and editing across both residential and commercial real estate sectors.

Sarah Kleiner Varble from The Virginian-Pilot was honored with NAREE’s prestigious Platinum Award for Best Individual Entry, recognizing her exceptional overall contribution to real estate journalism.

The Ruth Ryon Award for Best Young Journalist, designated for reporters aged 30 and younger, saw Andrea Brambila of Inman News receive the Gold Award. Ashley Gurbal Kritzer from the Tampa Bay Business Journal earned the Silver Award, while Cory Weinberg of the San Francisco Business Times was awarded the Bronze.

The President’s Gold Award for Best Freelance Collection was presented to Julie Satow, whose impactful work appeared in The New York Times. Ken Harney, a prominent freelancer for Washington Post Writers Group and Inman News, secured the Silver Award, and Camilla McLaughlin, contributing to Unique Homes and New Home Source, received the Bronze.

The awards ceremony was held on June 26, 2015, during NAREE’s 49th Annual Real Estate Journalism Conference at the Intercontinental Miami hotel.

A distinguished panel of expert judges from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University meticulously selected all award winners. The panel was chaired by Professor Emeritus Patrick S. Washburn, a seasoned news reporter and editor.

Below is a comprehensive list of the 2015 NAREE award winners, along with insightful comments from the judging panel:

Platinum Award for Best Overall Individual Entry

Platinum Award Winner – Sarah Kleiner Varble, The Virginian-Pilot

Judge’s Comment: “This reporter’s series, which meticulously covered the critical problems homeowners faced due to Chinese drywall, was a clear overall winner. It exemplifies true global, social, and personal journalism by reporting on a genuine problem rather than just a standard trend. The writing was detailed and compelling, interviews captured the human element, and the story delivered a significant public service.”

Ruth Ryon Award for Best Young Journalist (30 years old and younger)

Gold Award – Andrea Brambila, Inman News

Judge’s Comment: “Her story expertly detailed a conflict of interest between Zillow.com’s ‘preferred lenders’ and real estate agents, presenting complex information in an exceptionally readable format.”

Silver Award – Ashley Gurbal Kritzer, Tampa Bay Business Journal

Judge’s Comment: “This reporter particularly excelled with a breaking news story that unveiled Bill Gates’ backing of a billion-dollar real estate development in downtown Tampa. She secured an interview with the developer, providing crucial context and background to the story.”

Bronze Award – Cory Weinberg, San Francisco Business Times

Judge’s Comment: “This individual’s blog demonstrates a strong ability to cover diverse topics, including driverless cars and Bay Area traffic, as well as the Oakland condominium market. His writing is characterized by its humor and first-person voice.”

President’s Award for Best Freelance Collection

Gold Award – Julie Satow, Freelance Writer, The New York Times

Judge’s Comment: “This reporter distinguished herself with a story on the trend of wealthy Chinese residents moving from New York City to Long Island. Utilizing strong interviews and real estate records, the story was exceptionally well-written and detailed.”

Silver Award – Ken Harney, Washington Post Writers Group and Inman News

Judge’s Comment: “This columnist is a true professional, nationally recognized for his topical range, journalistic thoroughness, and clarity. He addresses complex governmental issues of broad interest to a non-specialist audience, making them easily understandable – a commendable public service.”

Bronze Award – Camilla McLaughlin, Freelance Writer, Unique Homes and NewHomeSource

Judge’s Comment: “This reporter is clearly adept at writing about a variety of subjects, from people sharing homes with pets to the luxury home market’s recovery post-recession, and homes with ‘smart’ technology. Her writing is lively, informative, and engaging.”

Category 1: Best Collection of Work by an Individual

Gold Award – David Migoya, The Denver Post

Judge’s Comment: “This writer’s three stories covering real estate, banking, and cannabis in the Rockies were all robust examples of enterprise reporting on timely topics. He effectively used diverse reporting techniques, including interviews and data analysis, to illustrate their impact on Colorado real estate.”

Silver Award – Willoughby Mariano, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Judge’s Comment: “These stories about Atlanta’s ‘Bluff’ area offer compelling insights into how a poor urban neighborhood transformed. The reporter demonstrated relentless pursuit of this story, leaving no stone unturned in her extensive investigation.”

Bronze Award – Amy Gamerman, The Wall Street Journal – Mansion

Judge’s Comment: “The reporter’s three stories explored diverse topics, including ‘over-the-top’ winter fishing houses equipped with big-screen TVs and king-size beds. In each instance, the topics were original and the writing was highly engaging.”

Honorable Mention – Sanjay Bhatt, The Seattle Times

Judge’s Comment: “These enterprise stories effectively demonstrated how money often dictates the real estate business, often to the detriment of the ‘little guy.’ The reporter infused a human element into all stories, using hard data to illustrate complex topics.”

Honorable Mention – Katherine Clarke, The New York Daily News

Judge’s Comment: “These stories provided a fresh, enterprising perspective on the vast array of real estate investments and developments across New York City, including Harlem coffee shops, the repurposing of horse stables, and the Midtown Manhattan residential boom.”

Category 2: Best Column

Gold Award – Mary Beth Breckenridge, The Akron Beacon Journal

Judge’s Comment: “This off-beat and entertaining column reflects a writer who doesn’t take herself or her beat too seriously. It is topically creative, and her audience benefits from her obvious enjoyment in playing with words.”

Silver Award – Ken Harney, Washington Post Writers Group and New Home Source

Judge’s Comment: “These columns present thought-provoking discussions on various topics of interest to consumers and investors. He adeptly handles complex subjects, frequently concerning the federal government, making them easily understandable. He also consults experts and conducts valuable legwork.”

Bronze Award – Lew Sichelman, New Home Source

Judge’s Comment: “His columns are clearly written and effectively target their audience—those buying or building homes. They provide no-frills advice and suggestions, with jargon-free explanations on topics of widespread interest.”

Honorable Mention – Michele Lerner, Freelance Writer, Bankrate.com

Judge’s Comment: “The columns cater to renters, as well as both new and established homeowners. Whether dealing with specific topics or Q&A formats, she writes in a practical and concise manner.”

Category 3: Best Home & Design Story

Gold Award – Katy McLaughlin, The Wall Street Journal – Mansion

Judge’s Comment: “This reporter explored several families who chose to live ‘off the grid,’ without relying on public utilities. She utilized powerful interviews, featuring stories from individuals both within and outside the U.S., to craft a compelling, lengthy report that might inspire others to consider this lifestyle.”

Silver Award – Camilla McLaughlin, Freelance Writer, New Home Source

Judge’s Comment: “As the reporter noted, some people are truly ‘going to the dogs.’ This story detailed the growing trend of individuals sharing their homes with animal companions, leading builders and sellers to offer multiple pet-friendly features in new constructions. The impressive detail included mentions of dog houses designed to match the main home’s architecture.”

Bronze Award – Francis Storrs, The Boston Globe

Judge’s Comment: “If readers imagined tree houses were exclusively for children, this story proved otherwise. It demonstrated that modern ‘houses in the air’ can be built for today’s adults and are highly appealing. The story also included a brief ‘how-to’ section for those interested in building their own tree home.”

Honorable Mention – Stefanos Chen, The Wall Street Journal – Mansion

Judge’s Comment: “This engaging, quirky story described a potential emerging trend: luxury homeowners taking on tenants to save money, care for pets, or for other purposes. The reporter thoughtfully explored the advantages and disadvantages of what some might consider an unconventional living arrangement.”

Category 4: Best Residential Real Estate Story in a Daily Newspaper

Gold Award – Julie Satow, Freelance Writer, The New York Times

Judge’s Comment: “This reporter covered the trend of wealthy Chinese residents relocating from New York City to Long Island. Through effective interviews and real estate records, the story was well-written and comprehensive.”

Silver Award – Audrey Hoffer, Freelance Writer, The Washington Post

Judge’s Comment: “With vibrant photographs, this story transported readers into the world of high-tech bathrooms. The reporter excelled at describing the latest technological innovations available for one of a home’s most crucial rooms.”

Bronze Award – Sue Doerfler, The Arizona Republic

Judge’s Comment: “The reporter detailed a unique caretaking service for luxury homes, where individuals are hired to live in properties until they sell, then move to another, sometimes for weeks or months. This article showcased an often-overlooked area of real estate journalism that yields highly valuable stories.”

Honorable Mention – Candace Jackson, The Wall Street Journal – Mansion

Judge’s Comment: “The story examined the increasing importance of bicycles and bike paths for renters and home buyers, highlighting their crucial role in making properties rentable and/or marketable. Photographs from various cities and engaging interviews enhanced the narrative.”

Category 5: Best Mortgage or Financial Real Estate Story – Daily Newspaper

Gold Award – Joe Light, The Wall Street Journal

Judge’s Comment: “This reporter uncovered a loophole enabling Nevada real estate investors to acquire properties from homeowners’ associations for pennies on the dollar. A complex story was presented with excellent writing, in a highly readable and engaging fashion.”

Silver Award – David Migoya, The Denver Post

Judge’s Comment: “Although a Colorado bank was specifically established to serve the Hispanic community, this reporter revealed that it made few real estate loans to Hispanics and provided minimal services. The story was the product of painstaking research into home loan and banking data, offering strong evidence that the bank fell short of its stated mission.”

Bronze Award – Chris Fleisher, The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Judge’s Comment: “As this story demonstrated, the Home Affordable Modification Program’s complexity rendered it ineffective in assisting its intended beneficiaries. This detailed program description utilized strong graphics, data, and interviews to clearly illustrate the problem for readers.”

Honorable Mention – Sanjay Bhatt, The Seattle Times

Judge’s Comment: “The Blackstone Group, an institutional investor, acquired many affordable homes in the Seattle area. Through interviews and public records, this reporter highlighted neighbors’ concerns about the new owners and the subsequent rise in costs for previously affordable homes. The excellent writing illuminated a nationwide trend.”

Category 6: Best Commercial Real Estate Story – Daily Newspaper

Gold Award – Michelle Jarboe McFee, The Plain Dealer

Judge’s Comment: “Randall Park Mall, once a regional shopping destination in suburban Cleveland, deteriorated alongside its neighborhood. As it faced demolition, this reporter toured the blighted, trashed property, delivering a compelling story about its promise after demolition. Strong photographs enriched the narrative.”

Silver Award – Katherine Feser, Houston Chronicle

Judge’s Comment: “This story explored how a shifting sociological landscape has fueled demand for self-storage facilities. The reporter illustrated how some developers capitalized on this trend within a blue-collar market segment, successfully profiting from it.”

Bronze Award – Steve Raabe, The Denver Post

Judge’s Comment: “The legalization of marijuana in Colorado has significantly impacted many aspects of life, including the commercial real estate market. This story investigated how the previously struggling warehouse market boomed due to the enormous demand for related products. The piece was expertly written.”

Honorable Mention – Nancy Sarnoff, Houston Chronicle

Judge’s Comment: “When Exxon Mobil, the world’s wealthiest oil company, constructs a three-million-square-foot office complex, its impact on Houston is inevitable. In a comprehensive account, the reporter explored the ramifications of this development on housing, traffic, schools, and local businesses. Company photographs and other graphics significantly enhanced the story.”

Category 7: Best Small Daily Newspaper Story

Gold Award – Josh Salman, Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Judge’s Comment: “This reporter investigated ‘zombie foreclosures,’ a phenomenon where financial lenders take years to complete the process, often leaving neighborhoods in distress and making home sales difficult. These foreclosures, gaining increasing attention, were described compellingly, showing readers their relevance. The story ultimately led to a new city ordinance.”

Silver Award – June Fletcher, Naples Daily News

Judge’s Comment: “This important story addressed a real estate purchasing trend: home prices in certain areas becoming unaffordable for working-class individuals who fuel the economy. Focusing on Collier County, Florida, the writing style was accessible and engaging.”

Bronze Award – Harold Bubil, Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Judge’s Comment: “Can the rumor of a friendly ghost help sell a house? A family in Punta Gorda, Fla., believed so, asking $1.59 million for their home. The reporter guided readers through various ghost ‘sightings’ in a highly interesting and lively story, embodying the reporter’s mantra: ‘Keep the reader turning the page.'”

Category 8: Best Weekly Newspaper Story

Gold Award – Sam Black, Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal

Judge’s Comment: “This reporter revealed the St. Paul Port Authority’s enormous influence in local real estate development, despite the public’s general unawareness of its processes. The reporter interviewed developers and others concerned about the transparency and fairness of real estate deals, delivering a detailed and well-explained account.”

Silver Award – Candace Carlisle, The Dallas Business Journal

Judge’s Comment: “The reporter illustrated how a local developer was acquiring substantial land around the I-345 freeway through downtown Dallas. This in-depth analysis examined the real estate opportunities sparked by the interstate’s demolition, providing highly informative insights.”

Category 9: Best Residential, Mortgage or Financial Real Estate Magazine Story, General Circulation

Gold Award – Al Barbarino, Real Estate Capital

Judge’s Comment: “This report delves into an emerging and intriguing trend: U.S. developers tapping the Israeli bond market to finance American real estate investments and projects. While others had reported on this, this piece offered a more in-depth look at the history and implications of this trend.”

Silver Award – Camilla McLaughlin, Freelance Writer, Unique Homes

Judge’s Comment: “This informative service article focused on the luxury home market’s recovery after the recent recession. The reporter interviewed economists and housing experts to gauge market direction, clearly showing a strong rebound.”

Category 10: Best Trade Magazine Story

Gold Award – Ben Lane, HousingWire

Judge’s Comment: “Fracking, a major ongoing news topic in the U.S., has a significant impact on residential real estate. This reporter investigated its effects on neighborhoods and mortgages, providing an exhaustive look at a subject drawing considerable consumer attention in many states.”

Silver Award – Al Barbarino, Commercial Observer

Judge’s Comment: “This offered a unique perspective on a real estate story, examining how juice bars are increasingly occupying New York City blocks. Despite their consumer popularity, the reporter found that the product might not always live up to its hype.”

Bronze Award – Marcie Geffner, Freelance Writer, New Home Source

Judge’s Comment: “This consumer story provided practical advice on optimizing home space. The reporter consulted various experts, offering practical and concise suggestions.”

Category 11: Best Commercial Trade Magazine Story

Gold Award – Rich Bockmann, The Real Deal Magazine

Judge’s Comment: “Examining the disappearance of parking lots in Manhattan’s west side, replaced by new buildings, the reporter interviewed owners and scrutinized property records. Photographs enhanced the interesting and eye-catching story.”

Silver Award – Anna Spiewak, Commercial Property Executive

Judge’s Comment: “The story reported on crowdfunding as an emerging and expanding real estate financing method, allowing small investors stakes in commercial property. The reporter interviewed financing experts and real estate investors, detailing how non-wealthy individuals could engage in this trend, creating a very reader-friendly story.”

Bronze Award – Elaine Misonzhnik, National Real Estate Investor

Judge’s Comment: “This comprehensive and lively consumer article examined the phenomenon of bulk buying single-family homes for rental purposes, offering detailed and exhaustive insights.”

Honorable Mention – Mike Ratliff, Commercial Property Executive

Judge’s Comment: “This story investigated the emergence of a new institutionalized asset class for single-family rentals, born from the national foreclosure crisis, and identified the most affected markets.”

Category 12: Best Online Residential, Mortgage or Financial Real Estate Story

Co-Gold Award – Deborah Nelson, Ryan McNeill and Duff Wilson, Reuters

Judge’s Comment: “This report examined how home buyers flock to America’s disappearing seashores. One of the contest’s strongest entries, the story stood out for the sheer volume of information supporting the trends. As the article noted, the irony is that demand for ocean-front property rises concurrently with sea levels. Excellent accompanying visuals bolstered this entry.”

Co-Gold Award – Michelle Conlin, Reuters

Judge’s Comment: “This story, detailing financial institutions imposing gag orders on mortgage borrowers, prompted an investigation by New York State, leading to an order to cease the practice. The reporting exposed the paradox of consumers sacrificing free speech rights to secure financial well-being.”

Silver Award – Andrea Brambila, Inman News

Judge’s Comment: “The story outlined a conflict of interest between Zillow.com’s ‘preferred lenders’ and real estate agents, presenting complex information in a highly readable form.”

Bronze Award – Camilla McLaughlin, Freelance Writer, NewHomeSource

Judge’s Comment: “This reporter showcased how homes are increasingly becoming an ‘internet of things,’ capable of self-maintenance through ‘smart’ technology. It was a lively and informative consumer report.”

Category 13: Best Online Commercial Real Estate Story

Gold Award – Heather Perlberg, Bloomberg News

Judge’s Comment: “This story, exploring the effects of legalized marijuana in the Denver area, exemplifies how recent developments can transform real estate market operations. It was a detailed and well-reported examination of the demand for marijuana-related properties.”

Silver Award – Randyl Drummer, CoStar News

Judge’s Comment: “This story highlighted a national trend: the conversion of vacant mall spaces into medical offices. The reporter utilized numerous interviews to complement details and data, effectively bringing the issue to life for readers.”

Bronze Award – Nadja Brandt, Bloomberg News

Judge’s Comment: “The reporter described dramatic real estate shifts on Southern California’s iconic Sunset Strip. Through numerous interviews with investors, city officials, and business owners, the story illustrated how luxury hotels, stores, and restaurants are replacing existing landmarks like erotica shops and blues clubs.”

Honorable Mention – David M. Levitt, Bloomberg News

Judge’s Comment: “This engaging, in-depth look at New York City dealmaker David Werner, known for shunning the press, was brought to life through interviews with associates and background data on his purchases, including the highest price for a single city building in four years.”

Category 14: Best Blog

Gold Award – Polyana da Costa, Bankrate.com

Judge’s Comment: “This is an excellent explanatory blog addressing issues of interest to homeowners and investors. It effectively conveys a significant amount of mortgage information, often not widely known, to homeowners. The variety of its stories is outstanding.”

Silver Award – Candace Evans, Candy’s Dirt

Judge’s Comment: “This blog, featuring candid information about the real estate business and its personalities, is highly readable. A particularly notable piece focused on former football star Deion Sanders, whose mansion north of Dallas boasts many ‘over-the-top’ features.”

Bronze Award – Cory Weinberg, San Francisco Business Times

Judge’s Comment: “The blog contains diverse stories on topics like driverless cars and Bay Area traffic, as well as the Oakland condominium market. It is written in a humorous, first-person style.”

Category 15: Best Audio or Video Report—Broadcast or Online, Radio or Television

Gold Award – Daren Blomquist, RealtyTrac Report

Judge’s Comment: “This broadcast report meticulously examined the phenomenon of house flipping. Interviews with individuals actively engaged in this practice made it particularly strong. It comprehensively covered all angles and was highly engaging.”

Silver Award – Kiel Hauck, Angie’s List Magazine

Judge’s Comment: “This podcast offered practical information on budgeting and managing home repairs. It used simple language to clarify an otherwise intimidating topic.”

Category 16: Best Breaking News Story

Gold Award – Heather Perlberg, Nadja Brandt, and David M. Levitt, Bloomberg News

Judge’s Comment: “The sale of New York City’s legendary Waldorf Astoria hotel to a Chinese insurance company generated international news. This story covered nearly all aspects of the sale, providing context and history that many readers would have been unaware of. An otherwise formal business story was enriched with nuggets of the property’s heritage.”

Silver Award – Kimberly Miller, The Palm Beach Post

Judge’s Comment: “This brisk, deadline-driven story reported on the potential impact of an addiction recovery center on a West Palm Beach neighborhood, located near a historic district. Its clear writing on a complex topic made it a strong entry.”

Bronze Award– Ashley Gurbal Kritzer, Tampa Bay Business Journal

Judge’s Comment: “This story revealed Bill Gates’ backing of a billion-dollar real estate development plan in downtown Tampa. The reporter secured an interview with the developer, uncovering the story and providing crucial context.”

Honorable Mention – Susan Lundine, Meg Ribbens, Abraham Aboraya and Richard Bilbao, Orlando Business Journal

Judge’s Comment: “This story broke the news that the block housing The Orlando Sentinel was slated for commercial real estate development. The business journal outscooped The Sentinel on its own building, prompting Sentinel reporters to seek details from the journalist. The story provided crucial project details and its city impact.”

Category 17: Best Investigative Report or Investigative Series

Gold Award – Jason Hidalgo, Reno Gazette-Journal

Judge’s Comment: “This series on real estate short sales led to a government investigation by Nevada and eventual policy changes by the state and a national real estate association. Beyond hard data, the reporter employed a human element that made the story compelling reading, exposing insider deals and demonstrating the value of hardcore journalism.”

Silver Award – Josh Salman, Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Judge’s Comment: “Based on a six-month investigation into foreclosures using two federal databases, this series triggered investigations by the FBI and the Treasury Department. Clearly a national problem, the reporter brought it to public attention clearly and concisely.”

Bronze Award – Kimberly Miller, The Palm Beach Post

Judge’s Comment: “This strong series uncovered mortgage foreclosure issues by heavily relying on public records documents. The stories resulted in an investigation by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.”

Honorable Mention – Dan Freed, TheStreet.com

Judge’s Comment: “Where did the money from fines levied in the financial crisis go? This series showed much of it indirectly returned to banks, not homeowners. The reporter effectively illustrated the discrepancy between how government works and how it should.”

Category 18: Best Series

Gold Award – Willoughby Mariano, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Judge’s Comment: “This story, focusing on a single investor buying homes in a poor Atlanta area and its neighborhood impact, was both a human interest and hard news story. The reporter compiled it through dogged investigation and legwork, making it emblematic of trends across the country.”

Silver Award – Kimberly Miller, The Palm Beach Post

Judge’s Comment: “This briskly presented overview addressed the challenges buyers faced in a rapidly rising Florida real estate market. The graphics beautifully complemented the narrative, explaining a complex story in a very readable fashion.”

Bronze Award – Aldo Svaldi, Steve Raabe and Mark Jaffe, The Denver Post

Judge’s Comment: “This comprehensive overview examined current trends affecting the Colorado real estate market, including purchases by foreign buyers and the impact of legalized marijuana. It was an exhaustive look at current developments in the Denver area.”

Honorable Mention – Teke Wiggin, Inman News

Judge’s Comment: “This entry reported on how quality-of-life data regarding crime can affect property sales and potentially promote segregated residential areas. Leading to an investigation by the National Fair Housing Alliance, the series was compelling, as was the writing.”

Category 19: Best Team Report

Gold Award – John Gittelsohn and Heather Perlberg, Bloomberg News

Judge’s Comment: “This outstanding example of watchdog journalism made effective use of public records. The topic was challenging to uncover, but the reporters showed resourcefulness, bringing the topic home with compelling writing.”

Silver Award – Anthony Effinger and Katherine Burton, Bloomberg News

Judge’s Comment: “Writing on the not-widely-reported topic of extensive trailer park ownership, this report brought to readers a booming segment of real estate news. Particularly interesting was how two Harvard MBA graduates forsook corporate careers to become highly successful in trailer park investment. The story was exceptionally well written.”

Bronze Award – Neil Callanan and Patrick Gower, Bloomberg News

Judge’s Comment: “This report demonstrated how skyrocketing property values in London displaced prostitution, offering a sensitive yet compelling look at an emerging trend in a major real estate market. It was clearly written and easy to read.”

Honorable Mention – Arielle Kass and J. Scott Trubey, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Judge’s Comment: “This examination of a Georgia banker, who disappeared after his bank crashed and investors lost money, was a serious, non-tabloid crime story. Written like a detective story with the suspense of a mystery, the writing compelled readers to continue. Ultimately, there was a resolution, leaving readers satisfied.”

Category 20: Best Design, Home or Shelter Magazine

Gold Award – Gail Ravgiala, Design New England

Judge’s Comment: “This is an elegant publication featuring sumptuous photography and abundant user-friendly information. It makes New England appear attractive year-round, offering useful home information even for those who don’t reside there.”

Silver Award – Dan DiClerico, Consumer Reports

Judge’s Comment: “This respected magazine provides a wealth of information to consumers on home-related topics. Undoubtedly, many readers saved this issue to consult for current and future home projects.”

Bronze Award – Melissa C. Gillespie, Ocean Home Magazine

Judge’s Comment: “For those who can afford ocean-front property, this is a valuable and appealing magazine. It boasts a creative design and offers prospective homeowners a smorgasbord of architectural and interior design ideas.”

Category 21: Best Residential Trade Magazine

Co-Gold Award – Denise Dersin, Professional Builder

Judge’s Comment: “This magazine contains a wealth of information, attractively packaged. It features excellent presentation and enticing graphics.”

Co-Gold Award – Matt Power, GreenBuilder Magazine

Judge’s Comment: “This magazine boasts a clear, reader-friendly design with strong graphics, presenting data in a useful and accessible format. It also features striking photography and addresses an important audience segment.”

Bronze Award – Rania Efthemes and Will McDermott, Scotsman Guide, Residential

Judge’s Comment: “Scotsman Guide is a well-organized publication with an easy-to-read format. Its stories are informational and concise.”

Category 22: Best Commercial Trade Magazine

Gold Award – Jennifer Molloy, The Institutional Real Estate Letter – Asia Pacific

Judge’s Comment: “This magazine is highly attractive and packed with valuable information. It clearly caters to its audience’s needs and goes beyond press releases to uncover genuine news.”

Silver Award – Matt Valley, Seniors Housing Business

Judge’s Comment: “Addressing a growing niche in real estate, this magazine features a sharp design and solid editorial content. It covers an increasingly important demographic group, making it a timely publication.”

Bronze Award – Elaine Misonzhnik, David Bodamer, Susan Piperato and Kathy McGilvery, National Real Estate Investor

Judge’s Comment: “This publication is clear and visually appealing. It offers a wide range of professionally reported and well-presented topics.”

Category 23: Best Newsletter

Gold Award – Heather Ogilvie and Carol Johnson Perkins, Fair Housing Coach

Judge’s Comment: “This newsletter features a simple yet clear presentation of serious social challenges nationwide, far from being real estate ‘fluff.’ It demonstrates sensitive handling of important topics.”

Silver Award – Daren Blomquist, Housing News Report

Judge’s Comment: “This sophisticated newsletter is rich with good and interesting information, blending news and features. It is a highly professional publication.”

Bronze Award – Patricia Garcia, New Home Source Home of the Week

Judge’s Comment: “The presentation is attractive with practical content. As a comprehensive package, it covers a variety of topics.”

Category 24: Best Newspaper Real Estate or Home Section

Gold Award – Dan Beucke, Samantha Gowen, Jeff Collins, Marilyn Kalfus and Jonathan Lansner, Orange County Register

Judge’s Comment: “This newspaper section boasts attractive front pages with excellent use of color and strong photographs. The articles are well-written on interesting topics and serve readers effectively, making it a very timely section.”

Silver Award – Emily Gitter, Beth DeCarbo, Stephanie Capparell and Suein Hwang, The Wall Street Journal – Mansion

Judge’s Comment: “Outstanding photographs significantly enhance the stories told, and the writing is lively and engaging across a range of topics. This section is particularly notable for its large number of stories each week.”

Bronze Award – Brenda Richardson, The Chicago Tribune

Judge’s Comment: “This section offers a good blend of practical and informational stories, presented attractively. It contains service stories in the best sense of the term.”

Category 25: Best Web Site

Gold Award – Matt Power, Melissa Smith, Mary Kestner, Heather Wallace and Catie O’Keefe, GreenBuilder Magazine

Judge’s Comment: “This website, lively and easy to navigate, features compelling content. Additionally, its design is clear and attractive, making it clearly the best entry in this category.”

Silver Award – Katie Hamilton and Gene Hamilton, DIY Do it Yourself or Not – www.DIYornot.com

Judge’s Comment: “This practical site offers stories that directly address its audience’s questions. The content is clearly written, making it very reader-friendly.”

Bronze Award – Elaine Misonzhnik, David Bodamer, Susan Piperato and Kathy McGilvery, National Real Estate Investor

Judge’s Comment: “This easy-to-use website offers readers a wide variety of topics. Its design is clean and appealing.”

The National Association of Real Estate Editors (NAREE), a non-profit journalism organization, was founded in 1929. More information can be found at www.NAREE.org.

Contact: Maryl Doyble-Kimball
NAREE Executive Director
561-391-1983