The slowdown in the economy and the downturn in the real estate market have already been well documented, so the reports from this year’s residential real estate brokers list aren’t a surprise. Out of the top 5 brokerage companies only Pinnacle Estate Properties has expanded its number of agents from 480 last year to 521 this year. The total number of agents for the other four brokerages dropped by 20 agents at the minimum, and up to 173 in Coldwell Banker’s case. None of the top 5 opened new offices, with Coldwell Banker actually cutting their Valley presence from 38 Valley locations to 28. The difference between agents from this year to last year isn’t nearly as large in companies below the Top 5, although on average brokerages have been cutting their staff by 24 agents. Only one other company managed to boost its figures. Keller Williams Realty in Northridge jumping from 99 agents last year to 168 this year. -Brian DeWolf Rodeo Realty, No. 1 on the Business Journal’s list of residential real estate brokerage companies for the second year running, employs 565 brokers at 10 offices. While the firm has retained their position at the top of the list, its numbers are down from last year (644 agents at 11 offices). Servicing “prominent” communities throughout the L.A. area from Newport Beach to Montecito, Rodeo Realty has dubbed itself the “Elite Real Estate Firm” with annual sales above $2 billion. A major player in the Valley area, Rodeo says it differs from other big brokers with a hands-on approach that is custom tailored to client needs from promotional and marketing material down to personally handling clients’ questions and specific needs – Brian DeWolf