Gold Winner Rob Scanlan, Chalet Realty

Silver Winner Rosemary Porter, Royal LePage Atlantic

Bronze Winner Meghan Laing, Domus Realty

One of the big surprises in this year’s readers’ survey is the Best Real Estate Agent category. Rosemary Porter, who’s owned the top spot for several years running, has to settle for a second-place finish, because 2010’s silver-winning agent Robert Scanlan took the gold. “I had a good run,” says Porter, with her trademark professional-but-not-dull demeanour. “I remember when I first got this award, I was so excited. I was beside myself.” For his part, Scanlan says winning gold is “a little surreal. It feels good.” While he would like to thank the voting public---“I have a lot of supportive friends and business partners”---it’s clear Scanlan has game. “He could sell a house to a dog if given the chance,” comments one voter. And bronze-placing Meghan Laing is no slouch either. The race for Best Agent might even be hotter than the Halifax real estate market itself. As Porter says, “look out next year.”