Real estate consulting and communications company REAL Trends released their annual 500 largest brokers in the US research report where they identify the country’s most successful residential firms by ranking the most closed transaction sides and separately closed sales volume.

The report represents the most standard of measuring the performance of the nation’s leading realty service firms.

Ranked first, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage accounted for $8.958 billion in closed sales volume and closed 28,069 transaction sides in 2013.

“We are very proud of our company’s placement on this prestigious real estate industry ranking,” said Fran Broude, president of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. “Home buyers and sellers in our area expect the best from our company, and our independent sales associates continue to exceed their expectations.”

NRT LLC, a parent company of Coldwell ranked as the number one residential real estate brokerage firm in the United States for the 17th consecutive year.

“For 17 years, NRT has achieved this status of being the nation’s number one brokerage company for which we are deeply proud,” said Bruce Zipf, president and CEO of NRT LLC. ” NRT’s success is attributable to the efforts of all the employees and affiliated sales professionals who work tirelessly each day to exceed their goals and clients’ expectations.”

Placed ahead of 13 other Illinois firms, Charles Rutenberg Realty completed 2,230 transactions and accounted for $445.9 million in sales volume.

“Charles Rutenberg Realty was found 10 years ago and created an environment for agents to build their business around a structure that enhances agent success,” said Ray Zabielski, owner and managing broker of Charles Rutenberg Realty Chicago. “Having nearly 2,000 agent join us over the last ten years, and now ranking 310 in overall production nationally, it is apparent the real estate community has recognized the win-win business model we have proudly brought to the industry.”