The Real Estate Almanac: Residential Real Estate’s Definitive Reference Guide

In the highly competitive and rapidly evolving world of residential real estate brokerage, few tools provide the clarity, accuracy, and comprehensiveness that industry leaders require to make informed, high-stakes decisions. Since its debut in 2020, the Real Estate Almanac, produced by T3 Sixty, has become the industry’s definitive benchmarking resource, recognized for identifying which companies and organizations are truly the largest and most influential. It has earned a reputation as the most trusted, data-driven reference in the residential real estate sector.

Many executives keep this expansive, 300-plus-page compendium within arm’s reach, using it regularly as a reference guide to verify statistics and evaluate claims. Since its inception, the Almanac has become an indispensable strategic tool—often referred to as the “bible of real estate executives.”

A Structured, Five-Part Annual Release

The Real Estate Almanac is released annually in five distinct installments between January and May:

1. SP 200 (Swanepoel Power 200)– The definitive ranking of the most powerful and influential leaders in residential real estate.
2. Corporate Rankings– A comprehensive breakdown of the largest brokerage companies, brands, and enterprises based on annual sales volume, transaction sides, and agent count.
3. MLS Rankings– In-depth analysis of the largest and most influential MLS organizations, focused on size, regional coverage, governance, and data services.
4. Association Rankings– Objective evaluations of REALTOR® associations at the national, state, and local levels.
5. Technology Providers– A categorized directory and performance assessment of the major technology firms serving residential real estate, including CRMs, IDX platforms, transaction management systems, and back-office solutions.

This structured approach enables users to digest large volumes of critical industry data in a format that is both accessible and actionable.

Accurate Rankings Deliver Strategic Intelligence

What sets the Real Estate Almanac apart from other industry publications is not just its scope, but its methodological rigor and unwavering commitment to accuracy. In an environment crowded with promotional content and subjective rankings, the Almanac stands out as a fact-based, independently compiled resource. Its data is sourced from direct submissions, audited reports, verified public disclosures, and extensive cross-checking.

Data from the Almanac is widely used by:

• Brokerage executivesevaluating growth opportunities and market positioning
• MLS leadersconsidering partnerships and governance reform
• REALTOR® associationsassessing resource allocation and member value
• Investors and analyststracking consolidation trends and market dynamics
• Technology companiesbenchmarking product adoption and the competitive landscape

The Driving Force Behind the Almanac

The architect behind the Real Estate Almanac is Stefan Swanepoel, executive chairman of T3 Sixty and one of the industry’s most respected strategic thinkers. With nearly five decades of experience, Swanepoel has built what is arguably the most comprehensive body of residential real estate intelligence available today.

He has served as CEO of more than a dozen organizations, including brokerages, global franchise networks, MLSs, technology firms, and consulting companies. He has authored over 55 books and reports, and his work has fundamentally shaped how leaders across brokerages, associations, MLSs, and proptech companies understand and respond to industry change.

Despite his many roles and contributions, Swanepoel is known as a quiet, behind-the-scenes strategist whose influence is rooted in objectivity and precision. His data-first approach, grounded in deep industry knowledge and years of firsthand analysis, has made him the leading authority on benchmarking in residential real estate. His insights are not based on opinion or trend, but on disciplined research, structural analysis, and perhaps interviewed more real estate CEOs than anyone else in the field.

As Swanepoel often notes, data is only valuable when it is accurate, well-interpreted, and placed in the proper strategic context. “Observe the big picture, understand the facts, and make a difference” remains a guiding principle behind his work.

In an industry where scale, strategy, and influence increasingly shape outcomes, the Real Estate Almanac delivers the intelligence needed to navigate complexity with confidence. Its combination of factual accuracy, structured insight, and independent methodology makes it an essential resource for anyone leading or analyzing the business of real estate.