ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — And the 2010 “Realtor of the Year“ is … Rance Reehl.

Chosen for his service to the local, state and national real estate community, Reehl was given a standing ovation by 125 of his fellow agents as he came forward to accept a plaque from Lacie Maynard, 2009’s Realtor of the Year, at the membership meeting of the Baldwin County Association of Realtors on Thursday morning in Robertsdale.

Caught off guard and visibly suprised by the announcement, Reehl said “if I’d known I was getting this, I’d dressed up a little more instead of wearing jeans.” He went on to say what an “incredible honor it is for me and I am so humbled to accept this. There are people here that deserve this much more than me.”

Broker and owner of Coldwell Banker Reehl Properties Inc. in Fairhope, Reehl has been in the real estate business for 27 years, 10 of which were spent in Mobile, but this is first time he has received this award.

“This was a complete suprise to me and I am so fortunate and blessed to be surrounded by such a a great team of people. They have been so good to me over the years,” Reehl said.

The highest honor a real estate agent can achieve, Reehl was selected by the 25 past recipients of the award, said Martha Taylor, Executive Vice President of the BCAR, and he comes with a long list of accolades.

Specializing in commercial and residential new construction and new home development as well as relocation, Reehl is a certified new home specialist and attended the Graduate Realtors Institute, (GRI). He is also a member of the Baldwin and Mobile County Home Builders Associations and Mobile Association of Realtors.

Reehl was also the 2009 President of the BCAR and the number one Coldwell Banker sales agent for Alabama in 2006-08. The top selling agent on the Eastern Shore and Chairman of the committee that oversaw the construction of new BCAR building.

Because of his sales over the years, Reehl is also a member of the Coldwell Banker International President’s Premier, Lifetime member of the Million Dollar Club and Lifetime member of the Best of Baldwin.

“Reehl has served the realtors of Baldwin County with great leadership, a wonderful sense of humor and a true team spirit,” Maynard said.

Having their grand opening on July 15, this was the first breakfast meeting held in the new Robertsdale office, located on the corner of Highway 59 and County Road 65.

Other business discussed during the meeting included Sylvia Stewart explaining the CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) program. This is the highest professional designation an agent can receive and less than four percent of agents achieve this.

Requirements for this honor include 75 transactions or $25 million in sales in five years. There is no time limit to complete the requirements, Stewart said.

Amanda Holder also talked about the WCR (Women’s Council of Realtors) and encourages all women to participate in this 16,000 member organization established in 1938.

Jay Jennings, chairman of the YPN (Young Professionals Network) talked about the new Baldwin County chapter formed a few weeks ago for the 40 and under agents who want to take on more of a leadership role in their communities. There are currently about 36 members, Jennings said.