Ivan & Mike Team Earns National Recognition in 2026 RealTrends Verified Rankings
The ultra-luxury real estate market in South Florida has long been a proving ground for some of the country's most ambitious agents. Among those who have risen to the top of that competitive landscape is the Ivan & Mike Team, a Compass-affiliated group that has spent the better part of a decade quietly building one of Miami's most formidable high-end real estate businesses. Their latest milestone — a No. 19 ranking among medium-sized teams by sales volume in the 2026 RealTrends Verified rankings — reflects not just impressive numbers, but a deliberate, long-term strategy rooted in relationships, market expertise, and resilience.
The team recorded $298.32 million in transaction volume during 2025, a figure that places them firmly among the elite performers in the national real estate landscape. While the number represents a slight decline from their previous year, co-founder Ivan Chorney isn't worried. In fact, he's more optimistic than ever about what lies ahead.
A Decade of Building in Miami's High-End Market
The Ivan & Mike Team was founded roughly 10 years ago when Ivan Chorney and Michael Martirena began working together in Miami Beach. At the time, both agents were working under the Sotheby's International Realty banner — Chorney with approximately six years at the firm, and Martirena with about two. Their partnership, while rooted in shared values and complementary skills, took on new direction when a persistent Compass recruiter came calling.
"A recruiter from Compass had been very persistent, as I'm sure you can imagine, and just kept following up with us," Chorney recalled. "Then, COVID happened, and we had all this time to evaluate our business and see what would actually move the dial."
That period of reflection proved to be a pivotal turning point. The duo made the move to Compass, and in doing so, repositioned themselves with access to the platform, tools, and network they needed to scale their already-thriving luxury practice. Over the years since, they have expanded their footprint from Miami Beach northward, now serving affluent buyers and sellers from Miami all the way to Palm Beach.
What $298 Million in Volume Really Means
For most real estate teams, closing nearly $300 million in annual sales would be cause for celebration and nothing else. For Chorney and Martirena, it's a benchmark — and one they're already working to surpass. The 2025 figure, while impressive by any standard, came in approximately $50 million below their prior year's performance, a shift Chorney attributes largely to macroeconomic headwinds rather than any weakness in their core business model.
"I would say all in all, it was a transitional year," Chorney told HousingWire. "It was just a little more difficult to get deals done. You had all this tariff stuff going on and there were just many headwinds on various fronts."
The challenges Chorney references are ones that reverberated across the broader U.S. housing market in 2025. Rising economic uncertainty, shifting buyer sentiment, and a more complex transaction environment made it harder for even seasoned luxury agents to move deals from contract to close. Despite this, the Ivan & Mike Team continued to operate at a level that earned them national recognition — a testament to the trust they've cultivated with their high-net-worth clientele over many years.
South Florida's Ultra-Luxury Market: Still a Global Magnet
Miami's luxury real estate market has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past several years. Once viewed primarily as a seasonal or vacation destination for wealthy buyers, South Florida has evolved into a full-time residence of choice for ultra-high-net-worth individuals from across the United States, Latin America, and Europe. Demand for trophy properties — penthouse condos, waterfront estates, and architecturally significant homes — has remained robust even as other segments of the housing market have cooled.
The Ivan & Mike Team has been exceptionally well-positioned to capitalize on this shift. Their deep local knowledge, combined with an extensive network of international buyer contacts, has allowed them to serve clients at the very top of the market. From sun-soaked Miami Beach listings to sprawling Palm Beach compounds, their portfolio reflects the full breadth of what South Florida's luxury tier has to offer.
Looking Ahead: "Our Best Year Ever"
If Ivan Chorney's confidence is any indication, 2026 may be the year the team truly breaks through to a new level. Despite not yet having the official numbers to report, Chorney was unambiguous in his forecast when speaking with HousingWire.
"Obviously, you don't have those numbers to report on yet," he said, "but I can tell you, come back next year at this time, and we'll be significantly higher than we've ever been."
For a team that has already logged nearly $300 million in a single year, that's a bold claim — and one that signals both pipeline strength and buyer demand heading into the new year. Their transition through a challenging 2025 appears to have sharpened rather than discouraged them, and the groundwork they've laid over the past decade is clearly paying dividends.
Why the RealTrends Verified Ranking Matters
The RealTrends Verified rankings are widely regarded as the gold standard for measuring real estate team performance across the United States. Unlike self-reported figures, these rankings are based on verified transaction data, giving consumers, industry peers, and media outlets a reliable benchmark for identifying top-performing agents and teams. Earning a place on the 2026 list — particularly at No. 19 among medium-sized teams nationally — is a meaningful indicator of the Ivan & Mike Team's sustained excellence and market impact.
- Ranked No. 19 among medium-sized teams by sales volume in the 2026 RealTrends Verified list
- $298.32 million in verified 2025 transaction volume
- Compass-affiliated team operating across South Florida's luxury corridor
- 10+ years of combined experience serving Miami's ultra-high-net-worth clientele
- Coverage area spanning Miami Beach to Palm Beach
The Blueprint for Luxury Real Estate Success
The story of the Ivan & Mike Team is ultimately a story about patience, positioning, and partnership. Chorney and Martirena didn't build a $298 million business overnight. They did it by consistently showing up for their clients, making strategic decisions about where and with whom to work, and refusing to let difficult market conditions define their ceiling. As 2026 unfolds, South Florida's luxury real estate market — and the broader industry — will be watching closely to see whether their best year ever lives up to the billing.
For buyers and sellers navigating Miami's ultra-luxury landscape, the team's national ranking is more than a vanity metric. It's a signal that when it comes to high-stakes real estate transactions in South Florida, Ivan & Mike Team has earned its place at the very top of the market.