The Santa Barbara Association of REALTORS® members are invited to enter the contest for the Howard C. Gates achievement award for a sale. This award is given in memory of an outstanding member of the Santa Barbara Association of REALTORS®.

The purpose is to give recognition to agents who demonstrate the ability to bring a transaction to completion by meeting the challenges inherent in a sale or exchange and who, by their proficiency, skill, ingenuity, thoroughness, and persistence, bringing the process to fruition.

 

Criteria for Entry

  1. Eligibility: Any REALTOR® member of the Santa Barbara Association is eligible to enter.
  2. Nominations: SBAOR members may nominate a fellow SBAOR member. Nominees must agree to participate and submit an entry by the deadline.
  3. Qualifying Period: Entry must be for a transaction closed between October 1, 2025 and September 30, 2026.
  4. Judging Guidelines:
    • Primary emphasis: The agent’s role in bringing about a closing in a transaction that might not have closed without the agent’s effort.
    • Considerations include the agent’s proficiency, skill, ingenuity, determination, originality, thoroughness, and ability to bring the transaction to fruition.
    • Not considered: Price range, property type, location, or client identity.
    • Professionalism: Emphasis on the agent’s ethics and understanding/practice of real estate.
    • Exclusions: No one is eligible who had an interest as a principal in the transaction.

The Entry

  • Submit a written explanation (typically 1–2 pages) detailing the sale, including information that helps judges understand the course of the transaction and the agent’s role in developing solutions to escrow challenges.
  • You may (if helpful) include copies of Deposit Receipts, Escrow Instructions, and other documents that may assist the Committee. Alternatively, your Broker/Manager can assist in verifying details of the transaction.
  • Confidentiality: All entries become the property of the Association and will be held in the strictest confidence.

Awards & Presentation

  • The Awards Committee reserves the right to require a minimum number of submissions (to be determined) for the Howard Gates Award to be presented.
  • The trophy will be presented at the Annual Awards and Installation Ceremony in December.
  • All entrants are encouraged to attend. Trophies remain the property of the Association, but winners may retain possession until the next year’s winners are selected. Winners’ names will be engraved on the base plate of these beautiful perpetual awards.

Key Deadlines

  • Nominations due: October 30, 2026
  • Submissions due: November 13, 2026

2026 Award and Presentation will be Friday, December 4th at El Paseo Restaurant 

Submissions must be sent to Stephanie Nelson at snelson@sbaor.com | 805-884-8604

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