Sam Morreale Recognized as one of America's "Top 50 Agents"

Sam Morreale, salesperson with Nothnagle Realtors’ Irondequoit branch, is ranked #14 in America based on transaction sides (274) in a recent nationwide survey announced in The Wall Street Journal. Out of the 3,000 members of the Greater Rochester Association of REALTORS®, Sam is the only local real estate professional to make the list.

Licensed since 1982, Sam was named #1 Nothnagle agent in January 2007 and January 2008 and has been the Irondequoit branch’s #1 agent since 1998. He has been a consistent “Top 30” agent and Nothnagle “Gold Club” member since 1998. Sam has appeared on the Nothnagle Newsletter for 133 consecutive weeks.

REALTrends and Lore magazine, partnering with the Wall Street Journal, surveyed more than 7,000 real estate brokerage firms, state and local associations of REALTORS®, national training organizations, MLS system operators and respondents to past annual surveys, in search of “America’s Top 200 Real Estate Professionals.” To be considered, agents had to have a minimum of 75 closed transaction sides or $30 million in sales volume during the calendar year ending December 31, 2007. The results of the Top 50 agents were published in The Wall Street Journal on November 8, 2008.

“With 274 transaction sides last year, Sam certainly has earned the title of ‘Iron Man,’ a nickname given to him several years ago by his colleagues,” stated Armand D’Alfonso, President and CEO of Nothnagle Realtors.

Nothnagle Realtors Gives Consumers More Choice

Nothnagle Realtors, Rochester’s #1 real estate company, and Premium Mortgage, Rochester’s #1 mortgage banker, are partnering in an effort to give Nothnagle customers and agents more choices in home financing options.

In today’s Real Estate market the #1 reason for a purchase offer cancellation is the buyer’s inability to obtain financing. Now, Nothnagle Realtors will have two mortgage companies to serve our clients and agents better.

Nothnagle Realtors has been offering its customers and agents in-house mortgages since 1969 through Nothnagle Home Securities Corp. and will continue that practice of working side-by-side. Nothnagle President and CEO Armand D’Alfonso said, “By adding Premium Mortgage our customers will have a choice of lenders and it gives our agents the ability to close more transactions. We have total trust in our relationship with NHSC. Both Home Securities and Premium Mortgage have a proven record of offering innovative programs and services.”

Each lender offers a wide variety of loan programs and competitive interest rates. Premium Mortgage also serves additional areas in New York State, Connecticut, California and Florida. Customers relocating or purchasing investment or vacation homes in other states can continue to benefit from Premium’s locations. This partnership will also assist Nothnagle as we expand our footprint in New York State.

“Both organizations have great reputations in our community. We can offer more choice, more extensive product offerings and the ability to locate a loan that will best suit our customers’ own personal financial needs. This is just another example of how our agents and customers Get More through Nothnagle,” stated Armand D’Alfonso, President and CEO of Nothnagle Realtors.

“With Nothnagle being the #1 Real Estate Brokerage Firm and Premium Mortgage being the #1 Mortgage Banking firm we really see this affiliation as the proverbial “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts”,” stated Mike Donoghue, President of Premium Mortgage.


Nothnagle REALTORS® was founded in 1948 and is a full-service real estate brokerage boasting 23 offices and more than $1.2 billion in annual sales.

Nothnagle Home Securities Corp. was the first licensed Mortgage Banker in New York State and is ranked as the Best Rochester Lender by SONYMA. NHSC was founded in 1969 by Philip and Raymond Nothnagle. Philip Nothnagle continues today as CEO and Chairman of the Board.

Premium Mortgage Corporation was established in 1999 by life-long Rochester resident Mike Donoghue. Premium Mortgage recently achieved the “Top 100” designation from the Rochester Business Alliance.

Nothnagle Realtors Offering Franchises

Once again Nothnagle REALTORS® is looking to grow and expand. For five decades Nothnagle REALTORS® has held the #1 spot in the Rochester market.

Although growth has been steady over its 60 year history, much of Nothnagle’s growth over the years has occurred in more challenging markets. During the slight slowdown in 2008, Nothnagle has increased market penetration in Rochester by two percentage points.

As the market becomes more challenging, many companies are seeking affiliations that will allow them to remain independent and competitive.
Nothnagle REALTORS® remains locally owned and operated and nothing will change with the Rochester-based operations, nor will the local branches become independent franchises. Rather, franchises will now be available outside our current market area that will not compete with agents affiliated with the company-owned branches.

“The benefits to Rochester are plentiful. Nothnagle REALTORS® is planning to create more jobs in Rochester as the local corporate headquarters will be expanded and renamed ‘National Headquarters,’” stated Armand D’Alfonso, President and CEO of Nothnagle REALTORS®.

Brokers who affiliate with Nothnagle REALTORS® will enjoy the recognition, experience, brand and support that come with the Nothnagle name and 60-year heritage. In 1948, John T. Nothnagle started the company using photography as the principal sales medium, displaying photos of homes for sale in his “Gallery of Homes.”

Today Nothnagle REALTORS® is ranked the 36th largest broker in the country by REALTOR® Magazine. Nothnagle REALTORS® is now positioned to leverage our successful infrastructure to form strategic alliances with other real estate entrepreneurs. By leveraging relationships and proven technologies, our system adds value to brokers, agents and consumers alike.

The Nothnagle system will provide a real estate platform designed to give independent brokers a competitive advantage in their marketplace. The system offers high-powered technology; agent recruitment and retention strategies; lead generation tools; agent training; and, a complete broker business system.

Nothnagle REALTORS® has come full circle. After being approached by brokers from the country interested in harnessing our technology, John T. Nothnagle launched the “Gallery of Homes” franchise system in 1950 – the first Real Estate Franchise in the nation.

At its peak in the 1970’s, there were over 650 companies operating 1,200 Gallery of Homes offices in nearly every state as well as Canada and the Virgin Islands. The franchise business was sold to Empire of America in 1983 and Nothnagle remained a member until 1991.

“Since 1948, Nothnagle REALTORS® continues to operate on the basic principle of using innovative technologies coupled with highly trained professionals to deliver top notch service to our clients. We are excited about the opportunity to partner with other growth-oriented entrepreneurs who seek to provide an enhanced experience for their agents and clients,” said Armand D’Alfonso, President and CEO of Nothnagle REALTORS®.