Congratulations to Jeffrey Kist of EXP Realty, Montclair, on being selected to receive the prestigious NCJAR REALTOR® of the Year Award for 2026.
Jeffrey has served as Broker of Record for eXp Realty in New Jersey since 2017, overseeing more than 2,500 agents across 40 offices statewide. During his tenure, eXp Realty’s New Jersey presence has grown from 29 agents to more than 2,500. Jeffrey has implemented many of the systems, policies, and processes supporting the company’s statewide operations and regularly addresses its New Jersey agents on brokerage, regulatory, and industry matters.
A REALTOR® since 2013 and broker since 2016, Jeffrey was named eXp Realty’s Broker of the Year in 2018, and New Jersey was recognized as eXp Realty’s State Team of the Year in 2025. Prior to becoming a broker, he received the NJ REALTORS® Circle of Excellence Sales Award®. He holds the ABR®, SFR®, and PSA designations and certifications.
Jeffrey’s service to NCJAR has focused primarily on education and professional standards. He has served on the Professional Standards Committee for approximately ten years and currently serves as Chair, participating in numerous hearings as both a panel member and chairperson. For several years, he taught NCJAR’s orientation class and until recently he taught their salesperson and broker pre-licensing courses through NCJSB.
At the state level, Jeffrey serves on the NJ REALTORS® Professional Standards Committee. Nationally, he served as a Director of the National Association of REALTORS® from 2023 through 2024 and regularly attends NAR’s annual legislative meetings in Washington, D.C. He is also a supporter of RPAC.
In 2024, Jeffrey worked with NCJAR and several other REALTOR® associations as a resource to brokers navigating the NAR settlement and New Jersey’s Consumer Protection Enhancement Act, helping them understand the new requirements and their practical application.
A licensed real estate instructor since 2020, Jeffrey founded Skills Key in 2023 and serves as its Director and Head Instructor. He develops curriculum, teaches pre-licensing education, and is a Certified Distance Education Instructor (CDEI™). Drawing on his background in technology and web development, Jeffrey also personally designed and programmed the technology platform supporting the school.
Outside of real estate, Jeffrey has a longstanding commitment to his local church, where he has held numerous leadership roles and continues to serve in leadership and youth ministry. He has also served in ordained Christian ministry since 2021.
Throughout his career, Jeffrey’s focus has been on education, professional standards, and helping agents and brokers practice real estate the right way from the start. Whether through teaching, brokerage leadership, or service to the REALTOR® organization, he has sought to provide real estate professionals with the knowledge and resources they need to serve their clients and the profession well.
Jeffrey truly embodies the REALTOR® “Spirit,” and we are proud to call him a member of the NCJAR REALTOR® family.
