By Ben Cox
Photos/Special to The Source
The current real estate industry is defined by shifting markets, evolving technology, and high-stakes decisions, longevity at the top is rare.
For Judy Eoff and Scott Eoff of RE/MAX Results Plus in Jacksonville, however, success has become something of a family tradition—built not on flashy sales tactics, but on something far less tangible and far more enduring: trust.
Fresh off a trip to Las Vegas late February for the nationwide company’s annual awards ceremony and convention, the Eoffs are still reflecting on a milestone moment in their careers. Judy Eoff, a veteran of the business with decades of experience, once again earned RE/MAX’s Platinum Award—an honor she says she has achieved every year since joining the company. But this year, the spotlight shifted in a new and meaningful way.
Her son, Scott Eoff, reached a level few agents ever attain.
“The Chairman’s Club Award is beyond belief,” Judy Eoff shares. “That’s the top one percent. To watch him walk across that stage—it was emotional.”
The Chairman’s Club Award is one of the highest distinctions within RE/MAX, reserved for less than one percent of agents annually. For Scott Eoff, it represents years of steady growth in a competitive field that spans not only local markets, but major metropolitan regions.
“Last year I was number one in the region for closed transactions, and this year I was number two,” Scott Eoff says. “We’ve both been in the top 20 for volume the last couple of years. So yes, we’ve been fortunate.”
The recognition comes amid another notable achievement for the Jacksonville office: producing one of the highest levels of sales volume among small-market RE/MAX offices. While the Eoffs are quick to downplay specific dollar figures, they emphasize the significance of the accomplishment.
“We don’t like to talk about the money side of it,” Judy Eoff says. “We just say our production is huge. And for a small-town office, that’s something we’re really proud of.”
The awards ceremony itself was no small affair. With approximately 1,800 agents recognized that night, honorees were organized by color-coded groups and called to the stage in waves. Judy Eoff and Scott Eoff, however, shared a moment together under the spotlight, joined in spirit by another key member of the family.
Scott Eoff’s sister, Lisa Eoff Watson, who also works with the business in a supporting role, was in the audience capturing photos and cheering them on.
“It was a family moment,” Scott Eoff says. “She’s a big part of what we do.”
While the accolades highlight professional success, the Eoffs are quick to point out that their business has always been rooted in something deeper than numbers.
For Judy Eoff, that foundation traces back to her early influences—particularly a longtime family acquaintance who helped shape her understanding of what it means to serve clients.
“The word I always heard growing up was ‘trust,’” she shares. “People would say, ‘We trust him.’ And now I hear that all the time—‘Judy, I trust you. Scott, I trust you.’ That’s not something you take lightly.”
That philosophy has guided the Eoffs through decades of change in the real estate industry. From the days of printed listings and word-of-mouth referrals to today’s digital landscape dominated by online platforms and instant communication, the tools of the trade have evolved dramatically.
“When I started, the average home price in Jacksonville was around $115,000,” Scott Eoff says. “For years it stayed right there. Then after COVID, it jumped to around $150,000, and I don’t know that it’s ever going back.”
Alongside rising prices has come a fundamental shift in how buyers and sellers connect.
“People don’t pick up the phone as much anymore,” he adds. “They click a button. And a lot of times, when they think they’re contacting the listing agent, they’re actually getting routed to whoever’s paying for leads in that zip code. That’s changed the business a lot.”
Despite those challenges, the Eoffs have maintained a strong presence in the local market—something they attribute to both hard work and long-standing relationships within the community.
“I think we’ve worked so hard for so long that people know us,” Scott Eoff says. “We’ve built a reputation.”
Judy Eoff agrees, but adds that the key lies in consistently putting clients’ interests first—even when it means walking away from a deal.
“We’re not here to make a fast buck,” she says. “We’re here to help people get into the right house. If something’s not priced right, we’ll tell them. If we think they’re overpaying, we’ll say that, too. Because at the end of the day, we’re going to see these people again.”
That long-term perspective is especially important in a small community like Jacksonville, where word-of-mouth can shape reputations quickly.
“In a small town, people talk,” she says. “If you take care of someone, they tell their family. Their friends. Their neighbors. That’s how your business grows.”
It’s also part of what makes Jacksonville an attractive destination for buyers—particularly those coming from outside the area.
“We’re seeing more out-of-town buyers,” Scott Eoff says. “They can get more for their money here than they can in bigger cities.”
But affordability is only part of the appeal. For Judy Eoff, the real draw lies in the character of the community itself.
“You drive around State Street, the square, the neighborhoods—and people fall in love with it,” she says. “We’ve got great local businesses, restaurants, and a real sense of community. When new people come here, they’re welcomed.”
That sense of belonging has had a personal impact on the Eoff family as well. Over the years, Judy Eoff’s children have all returned to Jacksonville, drawn by the same qualities she highlights to clients.
“We love this town,” she shares. “And I think people can feel that.”
Still, success in real estate is not without its challenges. In today’s market, limited inventory often means multiple buyers competing for the same property—a situation that can lead to disappointment and frustration.
“One of the hardest parts right now is when you have more buyers than houses,” she says. “Three or four people might not get the house, and they’re upset. But it’s not about favoritism. It’s about the best offer.”
Scott Eoff echoed that sentiment, noting that much of an agent’s work happens after a contract is signed.
“Walking someone through a house—that’s the easy part,” he says. “The hard part is everything that comes after. Negotiating repairs, keeping both sides happy, dealing with inspections—it’s a lot.”
In recent years, additional factors have further complicated the process. Insurance requirements, for example, have become increasingly stringent.
“If a house has a bad roof, some insurance companies won’t cover it,” Judy Eoff notes. “That’s a big issue. It can change a deal completely.”
The complexity of modern transactions is reflected in the paperwork as well.
“When I started, a purchase agreement was one page,” Scott Eoff says. “Now it can be 20 to 30 pages, depending on inspections and contingencies.”
Despite these hurdles, both Judy Eoff and son Scott Eoff remain deeply committed to their work. For Judy Eoff, retirement is not even a consideration.
“I’m 78, and I have no intention of stopping,” she says. “Why would I? I love what I do.”
Scott Eoff, too, sees no reason to slow down.
“I feel like I’m just getting started,” he says. “A lot of my friends are retiring, but this doesn’t feel like a job. It’s something I enjoy.”
That shared passion continues to drive the Eoffs forward, even as they reach new heights in their careers. And while awards and recognition are meaningful, they remain secondary to the relationships that have sustained their business for decades.
“At the end of the day, it’s about helping people,” Judy Eoff reveals. “If you do that, everything else takes care of itself.”
In a profession where success can hinge on timing, negotiation and market forces beyond one’s control, the Eoffs have found a steady compass in a simple principle: earn trust, keep it and let it guide every decision.
It’s a philosophy that has carried them from a small-town office to the top ranks of a national organization—and one they show no signs of abandoning anytime soon.
