NAREB Names Edward Sanford Volunteer Of The Year

The Nantucket Association of Real Estate Brokers announced this week that Edward J. Sanford, of Great Point Properties, is the NAREB Volunteer of the Year for 2025.

This recognition is made annually by NAREB to honor a member who has given of their time and talent to the greater community in a meaningful way.

"Edward’s real estate career has spanned all facets of the industry," NAREB stated in its announcement. "He learned carpentry and owned and managed commercial real estate and the beautiful cottages on Old North Wharf. After receiving a Graduate Degree in Business Administration from Columbia University, he received his real estate license in 1986. He worked for Island Properties, along with Greg McKechnie, until 2003, when he opened Sanford Real Estate. In 2008, he merged Sanford Real Estate with Great Point Properties."

"Edward has also been involved in several island non-profits, including the Nantucket Conservation Foundation, the Boys and Girls Club of Nantucket, and the Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce," the association stated. "Edward has served on the Nantucket Zoning Board of Appeals, served as Chair of the Nantucket Community Plan Steering Committee, and also Chaired the Mid-Island Area Plan Work Group."

"Most recently, Edward worked with a broad group of Nantucket citizens to help educate the community about the Nantucket Special Town Meeting articles. He helped to bring forward the facts about vacation rentals and advocated for passage of Article 1, protecting the right to rent one’s home for less than 32 days, subject to local regulations. The article passed overwhelmingly with the support of 71 percent of Nantucket voters in attendance. Mr. Sanford said that he was only one of a large group of citizens who worked to put an end to the long debate and lawsuits surrounding short-term vacation rentals. He has donated his honorarium to the Harvey Foundation."