Recognition honors real estate professionals shaping the industry’s future
Morgan Willemsen, a leading Realtor with Long & Foster Real Estate in Old Town Alexandria, has been named to Inman’s 2026 Future Leaders in Real Estate list. This annual recognition honors the most promising real estate professionals under 40 and highlights individuals driving innovation and making an impact on the industry.
As a military spouse, Willemsen traveled the world before settling in the Washington, D.C., metro area more than a decade ago. Her own relocation from Okinawa to D.C. (and the difficulty she experienced finding a responsive real estate professional) inspired her to build a business rooted in trust, responsiveness and client care.
Starting from the ground up, Willemsen worked 42 open houses in her first year and helped 16 buyers purchase homes. Those efforts laid the foundation for Willemsen’s referral-based business that now averages about $14 million in annual sales volume. Even more notable, Willemsen manages that sales business while also working with her husband to grow their own real estate investment portfolio and raise their two young sons.
“This recognition means so much because my business was never built through chasing transactions: it was built through relationships, strategy and the trust of more than 250 families who allowed me to guide them through some of life’s biggest decisions,” said Willemsen. “To be recognized by Inman as a 2026 Future Leader is deeply humbling and a reminder that consistency, service and doing right by people still matter. Behind every closing has been years of late nights, hard conversations, constant growth and my incredible family who believed in me from the very beginning.”
“Morgan has built her business the right way: through genuine relationships and authenticity,” said Athena Petersen, senior vice president and regional manager at Long & Foster Real Estate. “She’s thoughtful, hardworking and incredibly genuine, and clients feel that immediately. We’re so proud to see her recognized nationally for the impact she’s making, not only for her clients, but also on the industry.”
“Morgan represents the future of real estate leadership,” added Patrick Bain, CEO and president of The Long & Foster Companies, parent company of Long & Foster Real Estate. “Her commitment to building meaningful relationships and helping others achieve long-term success reflects the people-first culture and values that define Long & Foster.”
Long & Foster is one of the nation’s top real estate companies as part of HomeServices of America. For more information, visit LongandFoster.com.