Find Your Home

"As a first time buyer, John helped me find exactly what I was looking for. He is super knowledgeable, helped guide me through the process, and is very responsive. He is someone you can trust who really knows the market. Also, he is fun to work with and made the process exciting! I would absolutely recommend!"

"John is an experienced realtor who knows his market, knows how to prep a house for sale, understands how to price the property and has an unbelievable team of subcontractors to support him. We would highly recommend him to anyone who has property to either buy or sell.
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"John is a fantastic realtor and I highly recommend him, especially if you’re a first-time home buyer like I was (and, in fact, I’ve already recommended him to a few friends looking to purchase homes in Seattle)! There were so many things he did well, but 3 things mattered most to me: (1) He truly listened, which allowed him to thread that difficult needle of showing me homes I genuinely loved while also helping me broaden my perspective. (2) He is so knowledgeable about Seattle, home-buying and the housing market, so I felt well-positioned as a homebuyer and now feel confident as a homeowner and future seller. (3) He works fast and is organized and proactive; there are so many forms, do-or-die deadlines, appointments and contingencies to manage, and John never missed a beat, which was really reassuring."

"We chose John because he has over 20 years of local experience, and it showed. As expected, John pointed out structural and design features of the homes we toured, all of which were practical. But what surprised me was his local knowledge aquired through thousands of tours. His local knowledge helped frame what we were seeing and understand the why, as well as where it fit into what’s typically availble in the local market. Choosing someone whose sole career is realty was absolutely the right decision, and I can’t imagine recommending anyone else higher."

"We could not be happier with our decision to work with John as first-time homebuyers and cannot recommend him enough!

Why? He is honest, knowledgeable, responsive, encouraging, and helped us learn so much throughout the process.

Honest: John will not try to “sell you” a house. Instead he will let the house sell itself and help you think through that. Before you start working with him he will ask what you are looking for in a house and what matters, then as you walk through homes he will ask questions to make sure you are considering those things as you think think through the property.

Knowledgeable: John is very experienced and knows a lot about what to look for “under the hood” of a house and will make sure to point things out that might require replacement / repair should you choose to purchase a house, and will take the time to educate you as a homeowner on all things electrical, plumbing, HVAC, siding, roofing etc.

Responsive and flexible: John was ready to go whenever we were. If a house came on the market in the morning and we wanted to tour it he would have something scheduled and we’d go take a look that day. If our plans changed or we needed to adjust our touring schedule he was more than happy to work around our schedules.

Encouraging: With any long process where you might get disappointed or discouraged along the way it is important to have someone in your corner who can keep you from getting too discouraged. John was there ready to keep us going and encouraged until we found the right house for us!"

"I had the pleasure of working with John on our latest home purchase. We initially didn’t have a clear timeline because we weren’t sure exactly what we needed or what would come up on the market — but John was enthusiastic and eager to work with us from the start. During the initial search, he helped us define our parameters and sent notifications for properties that might be of interest to us.

The touring phase was really where the “fun” began. John has a keen eye for small details and would walk us through the pros and cons of each property — particularly valuable in the Seattle area, where many older buildings have been updated over time with a mix of materials that can mask underlying issues.

Eventually, we identified a house we loved. The timing was tight — John was about to leave for a trip that week — but he made himself available for us to tour right away. We moved quickly, going through inspections and moving forward with an offer in short order. John clearly laid out our position, ran thorough analyses to help us understand the comps, and crafted an offer that ultimately won us the house.

Overall, I would highly recommend John if you value someone with a detail-oriented mind who understands the market, offers balanced and honest advice when you ask for it, and knows how to write a competitive offer."

"Update 11 years later, yes, 11! We just used John to sell my mom’s condo in Bellevue and once again, best of the best! Seriously, how can I give a million stars. Responsive, wicked smart and knows everything about everything related to homes and real estate!!

John is the best realtor in Seattle hands down. I have already referred people to him and they all are having a great experience. He helped us purchase our first home and he could not have helped us more nor gave us more information. He simply knows everything about the process of buying a home. And is just a simply great friendly fun gut to be around!"

"We confidently recommend John O’Brien. He is an excellent real estate agent—knowledgeable, responsive, trustworthy, and highly effective. He knows how to position and sell a home successfully, and his expertise, communication, and hands-on approach made our selling experience smooth and far less stressful than we expected.

From the start, John demonstrated a deep understanding of the local market. His analysis of comparable homes and pricing strategy generated strong interest, multiple offers, and got our home under contract in just five days.

John also came to the process with a clear plan. He provided a detailed timeline to get our home ready for sale and recommended high-quality contractors for quick fixes and preparation work. His organization and network made the entire process efficient and manageable, especially while we were relocating.

What really sets John apart is how much he goes above and beyond for his clients. He coordinated contractors, helped manage listing preparations, and ensured everything stayed on track from start to finish. Knowing he was managing these details gave us tremendous peace of mind.

His marketing approach was also excellent. We especially appreciated his “Top 10 Things About Our Home” flyer, which highlighted the unique features of the property and helped tell the story of the home to potential buyers.

John is also a great communicator. He kept us informed at every stage of the process, responded quickly to questions, and always followed through on what he said he would do. Throughout the entire process he worked tirelessly on our behalf and maintained a positive, “can-do” attitude.

Equally important, John is someone you can trust. He consistently followed through on everything he said he would do and made it clear that he genuinely had our best interests in mind throughout the entire process. Selling a home during a relocation can be overwhelming, but John’s professionalism, organization, and dedication made the experience seamless. I wish I could work with John in every transaction I am involved in. Thanks again, John!"

"John is an incredible real estate broker. Courteous, quick, responsive, kind, knowledgeable, personable, and passionate. If you are thinking of buying a home in the Seattle area I highly recommend you reach out to him."

"We couldn’t be happier with our experience working with John. He was our buyer’s agent 8 years ago, and this fall he was our seller’s agent, so we have experienced both sides of a house transaction with him. Selling a home in today’s market isn’t easy, but he made the process very smooth. Our home was on the market for just 10 days and sold for 97.5% of our list price. We were happy with this outcome, especially given the tough seller’s market in 2025. We truly felt like we were in great hands throughout the entire process.

We highly recommend John to anyone in the PNW looking to sell (or buy!) a home. He is professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely committed to his clients’ success."

"My husband and I had an exceptionally positive experience working with John to buy our first home. He prioritized educating us both on the process (market knowledge, neighborhood insights, home improvement costs, and strategic non-negotiables), and empowered us to make the right decisions for ourselves. He is enthusiastic, and willing to move at whatever pace you choose. Coming out of the process, I’m confident we’ll be happy in our new home, and so much of that is thanks to him. I absolutely recommend working with John if you’re looking to buy in the greater Seattle area!"

"My husband and I were new to home buying and it could not have been any easier doing so with John O’Brien. He is professional and personable; patient and diligent; thorough and concise. With John, we always felt comfortable asking him questions, no matter how “dumb” we thought they were, and he made sure to guide us each step of the way if anything was new. His experience and sharp eyes will catch more than you thought possible, offering honest and informative feedback. He’s exceptional at finding information about a potential home, whether it be sifting through info online or directly asking other homeowners within that neighborhood. You will never feel pressured into buying a home, no matter how long it takes - John wants to ensure that you’ll love your new home. You will be in great hands!"

"John O’Brien is by far one of the best realtors I’ve had the pleasure of working with. His excellent communication, deep knowledge of the Seattle market, and positive, can-do attitude made all the difference in my home-buying experience. In a fast-paced and competitive market, John helped me find a great home—and, more importantly, he was one of the first realtors who truly prioritized my long-term interests, even talking me out of making the wrong purchase. I highly recommend him and look forward to working with him again in the future."

"As first time buyers we were unsure of where to begin and were referred to John by friends who had a great experience working with John during their home search. We didn’t quite know what we were looking for to start and John first began by understanding the wide range of homes/characteristics we might be interested in and then began, quickly and thoughtfully, getting us into tour homes so we could see and feel what different types of homes, models, years, etc. would be like. From there we were able to refine our search and John was amazing with sending new homes and getting us into tour homes (sometimes within a couple hours notice) we were interested in. During tours John was very meticulous in pointing out pros and cons, helping us think about what life would be like at the property, while also giving us some space to get a feel for it in solitude. When we finally found the home that felt right, I was very impressed with John and his ability to strategically prepare and offer and work with the listing agent to come to an agreement. Not only was John able to secure an agreement that was below asking price, but the sellers also replaced the washing machine and serviced the HVAC. Every step of the way John was there to support us and made sure we had clear understanding about what was happening and what would be needed/expected of us so there was never any surprises or confusion. I can’t compliment him enough on his thoughtfulness, flexibility, communication, thoroughness, and genuinely being someone I enjoyed touring homes with on the weekends and afternoons. Long review, but this is a testament to John’s incredible service and capabilites. I can’t recommend him enough to anyone who is looking for a home or is unsure of where to start, like we were! We look forward to continuing to stay in contact with him and use him again for future buying and selling needs. Thanks again, John! You rock!"

"I’ve bought two homes with John. He seems to know everything about every neighborhood in the Seattle area. For the most recent purchase, the search was year-long because I have so many (sometimes conflicting) criteria - and John was unfailingly patient and understanding throughout. He also gave me a lot of tips about home and yard maintenance - I learned a lot from him. Highly recommend."

"I can’t say enough positive things about working with John O’Brien. We chose him due to his educational approach to home buying (extremely valuable during our first home purchase) and due to his extensive knowledge on home systems (helped us make frugal and informed decisions on the work each home would require). John was transparent and communicative during every step of the process and he went above & beyond to ensure we felt informed and comfortable with all decisions. He also has an extensive network and never hesitated to provide us with endless recommendations on lenders, contractors, insurance brokers, and everything in between. We will absolutely choose to work with John again for all future real estate needs, and I would highly recommend John while buying or selling your property!"

"I’m so thankful to have worked with John to find and then purchase my first home ever. He is very knowledgeable, pays attention to understand what you’re looking for, and really cares that you buy the right place for you. I felt so well guided through several years of patient search. John’s got your back and goes way beyond the job description! Whenever I’m back in the market to sell or buy a home again, I will definitely work with John!"

"As first-time homebuyers, we were incredibly fortunate to have John as our agent. He was an invaluable guide throughout the entire process. John’s impressive knowledge of the local market and his unwavering availability to answer our questions, no matter how trivial, made us feel confident and informed.

We appreciate that John never pressured us into making hasty decisions or tried to “sell” us on a house. Instead, he provided us with all the necessary details to make informed choices. His keen eye for detail, akin to an inspector’s, was incredibly helpful during home viewings.

John’s outstanding negotiation skills were instrumental in advocating for our best interests. His expertise enabled us to craft a strong offer and ultimately secure an amazing home that fits all our needs.

Beyond his professional skills, John’s pleasant demeanor made the entire home-buying experience enjoyable and less stressful than we anticipated. We wholeheartedly recommend John to anyone seeking a knowledgeable, patient, and dedicated real estate agent."

"Buying our first home was a huge step, and we’re so glad we had John as our real estate agent. His expertise and guidance were invaluable throughout the entire process.

John’s in-depth knowledge of the market and his patient approach to answering our questions helped us feel confident in our decisions. He never pressured us into making hasty decisions and provided us with all the data we needed to make informed choices. His sharp eye for possible issues saved us from potential headaches down the line. John’s exceptional negotiation skills were instrumental in securing a fantastic home. He advocated for our best interests and helped us craft a strong offer.

In addition to all these skills, John’s friendly attitude made the entire home-buying experience very positive. We highly recommend John and know that we’ll be working with him again."

"I’ve bought two homes with John. He seems to know everything about every neighborhood in the Seattle area. For the most recent purchase, the search was year-long because I have so many (sometimes conflicting) criteria - and John was unfailingly patient and understanding throughout. He also gave me a lot of tips about home and yard maintenance - I learned a lot from him. Highly recommend."