When the 2026 RealTrends Verified + The Thousand rankings were published, the Brad Kappel Team at TTR Sotheby's International Realty in Annapolis, Maryland appeared on a list that includes some of the most prominent real estate operations in the country — teams based in Los Angeles, Miami, Malibu, Aspen, and Manhattan.
The Brad Kappel Team ranked #22 nationally among small teams by sales volume and #1 in the state of Maryland.
But the more remarkable story is what the Maryland state data reveals when you look beneath the headline.
What Is RealTrends Verified?
RealTrends Verified + The Thousand is widely regarded as the most authoritative annual ranking of residential real estate performance in the United States. Unlike self-reported rankings or advertising-driven lists, RealTrends Verified requires independent confirmation of every transaction and every dollar of sales volume before a team or agent appears on its rankings.
If you are on the list, the numbers are real.
The 2026 rankings measure verified 2025 residential sales volume and transaction sides across the top 1,000 agents and teams in the country, sorted by team size — small, medium, large, and mega — and published at both the national and state level.
One Number. Every Category.
RealTrends classifies real estate teams by size and publishes independent state rankings for each category. When you look at Maryland across all four categories — small, medium, large, and mega — one number appears above every other: $347 million.
That is the Brad Kappel Team's verified 2025 sales volume.
According to the 2026 RealTrends Verified state rankings for Maryland, the Brad Kappel Team outproduced the #1 ranked medium team in Maryland, the #1 ranked large team in Maryland, and the #1 ranked mega team in Maryland — each verified independently by RealTrends.
A small team from Annapolis, Maryland, working the Chesapeake Bay waterfront and Eastern Shore, posted higher sales volume than the biggest, most heavily staffed real estate operations in the entire state.
The full Maryland state rankings across all team size categories are available at www.realtrends.com/ranking/best-real-estate-agents-maryland.
Why Annapolis? Why the Chesapeake?
The Brad Kappel Team has never tried to be the largest team in Maryland. The goal has always been singular: to be the most knowledgeable, most trusted, and most effective real estate team serving the Chesapeake Bay region.
That means Annapolis and West Annapolis. Anne Arundel County. The creeks, rivers, and coves of the Chesapeake Bay waterfront. The Eastern Shore communities of Queen Anne's and Talbot Counties — from Stevensville and Queenstown to Easton and St. Michaels.
Brad Kappel is a third-generation Annapolitan who has spent more than two decades learning this market from the inside out. The team he has built reflects that same commitment to place: Senior Eastern Shore Specialist Joe Bray, Eastport native and lifelong Chesapeake waterman Christian Schou, and agents Kristin Luca and Alex Clark each bring deep regional knowledge to every transaction they handle.
The result is not just $347 million in sales volume. It is 145 transaction sides in 2025 — representing buyers and sellers across the full spectrum of the Chesapeake real estate market, from first homes in Annapolis to waterfront estates on the Bay.
From Maryland's #1 Waterfront Team to Maryland's #1 Team
For years, the Brad Kappel Team built its reputation as Maryland's #1 Waterfront Team. That identity was earned honestly, property by property, dock by dock, through unmatched expertise in Chesapeake Bay waterfront real estate.
But the team has grown, and so has the scope of what it delivers.
Today, the Brad Kappel Team serves buyers and sellers across all property types and price points — from entry-level homes in Anne Arundel County to ultra-luxury waterfront estates on the Chesapeake Bay. Every transaction, regardless of price point or property type, receives the same customized marketing strategy and white-glove, concierge-level service that built the team's reputation.
The 2026 RealTrends Verified ranking reflects that evolution. The Brad Kappel Team is no longer simply Maryland's #1 Waterfront Team. The verified data says something broader: Maryland's #1 team. Full stop.
Backed by the Global Reach of Sotheby's International Realty
The Brad Kappel Team's results are produced locally — but they are backed by a global platform.
As part of the TTR Sotheby's International Realty network, the Brad Kappel Team operates under the Sotheby's International Realty brand, which spans more than 1,100 offices across 86 countries and territories worldwide. That affiliation brings international marketing reach, a global referral network, and the credibility of one of the world's most recognized luxury brands to every transaction on the Chesapeake Bay.
For buyers relocating from Washington, D.C., New York, or international markets to the Annapolis area or Eastern Shore, the Sotheby's name opens doors that other brokerages cannot.
The Brad Kappel Team, from L-R, Christian Schou, Cassidy Taylor, Kristin Luca, Mistie Schleeper, Brad Kappel,
Joe Bray, Brandi McKeating, and Alex Clark.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Brad Kappel Team's sales volume in 2025? The Brad Kappel Team closed $347 million in verified residential sales volume in 2025, as confirmed by the 2026 RealTrends Verified + The Thousand rankings.
Is the Brad Kappel Team the #1 real estate team in Maryland? Yes. According to the 2026 RealTrends Verified state rankings, the Brad Kappel Team ranked #1 in Maryland among small teams by sales volume, and their $347 million in verified sales volume surpassed the #1 ranked team in every size category in the state — small, medium, large, and mega.
Where does the Brad Kappel Team operate? The Brad Kappel Team specializes in waterfront and luxury real estate across Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, the Chesapeake Bay, and Maryland's Eastern Shore, including Queen Anne's County and Talbot County. The team is headquartered at 103 Annapolis Street in West Annapolis, Maryland.
What is RealTrends Verified? RealTrends Verified + The Thousand is an annual ranking of America's top residential real estate agents and teams, evaluated on independently verified sales volume and transaction sides from the prior calendar year. It is widely regarded as the most credible performance benchmark in the U.S. residential real estate industry.
How do I contact the Brad Kappel Team? You can reach the Brad Kappel Team at 410.279.9476 or visit bradkappel.com. The team's West Annapolis office is located at 103 Annapolis Street, Annapolis, Maryland.
Ready to Make Your Move?
Whether you are searching for a waterfront estate on the Chesapeake Bay, a luxury home in Annapolis, your first home in Anne Arundel County, or a retreat on Maryland's Eastern Shore — the Brad Kappel Team brings verified, nationally recognized expertise to every transaction.
Make Your Move with Maryland's #1 Real Estate Team.
📲 410.279.9476 | bradkappel.com
Brad Kappel Team | TTR Sotheby's International Realty 103 Annapolis Street | West Annapolis, Maryland
Source: RealTrends Verified + The Thousand 2026 Rankings (www.realtrends.com/ranking/best-real-estate-agents-maryland).
