NHAR Communications Committee Chair Anne Marie Appel, a member of the former Sunapee Region Board of Realtors (now the Upper Valley Sunapee Region Board) and an agent with the O’Halloran Group in New London, has been selected by the New Hampshire Association of Realtors as its 67th Realtor of the Year.
Appel, a 19-year Realtor who lives in Wilmot with her husband David, received the award at NHAR’s annual Realtor of the Year ceremony, held Sept. 16 at Arts Alley in downtown Concord.
“Fair-minded, that’s the first word that comes to mind when I think of Anne Marie,” said Josh Greenwald, 2026 New Hampshire Realtors president. “The Realtor ideals are about fairness, honesty, competency and high integrity, and Anne Marie lives and breathes it all. This is a great selection.”
She was selected from a group of 14 local board honorees and presented with a variety of mementos for the occasion, including a Realtor of the Year crystal and pin, a citation from Governor Kelly Ayotte, and a certificate to cover his expenses at the upcoming National Association of Realtors conference and trade show in New Orleans.
“Anne Marie’s ability to pair professional excellence and a heart for service sets a remarkable standard,” Greenwald said. “Her belief in ‘making lives better, one home at a time,’ isn't just a motto; it is evidenced by her actions.”
Appel’s volunteerism in the Realtor organization is widespread. In addition to being a 10-year member of the NHAR Honor Society for her volunteer contributions, she is serving in her second year as NHAR Communications Committee chair, and is a member of the state organization’s Board of Directors and Public Policy Committee and a graduate of the NHAR Diana Dunning Leadership Academy.
She is also a past president of the Sunapee Region Board of Realtors, where she is currently secretary of the Board of Directors, chair of the task force that recently merged the Sunapee Region Board with the Upper Valley Board of Realtors, and chair of the Neighbors Helping Neighbors Committee. In that role, she oversees the annual Autumn Vibes and Jingle Bucks fundraisers.
It’s a volunteer spirit that comes from two powerful influences, Appel says. Her mother continues to live a life of service even at 86 years old, and her father – an Air Force veteran of 20 years, business owner, and longtime volunteer with CASA and other organizations – taught her the importance of hard work and a love of learning.
“These influences continue to guide me every day,” she said. “I am happiest when I’m learning something new.”
And it all comes back to fairness. “I willingly share my knowledge with other agents, both in my office and on the other side of the transactions,” she said. “I constantly try to see things from both sides.”
In her personal life, Appel enjoys hiking, skiing, road biking, baking, and traveling with her husband David, who recently retired and joined his wife’s team at the O’Halloran group.
“I’m grateful for a profession which allows me to be a positive influence in people’s lives,” she said.
