Stephen O'Hara

When Real Estate Broker Stephen O’Hara, CRB®, CRS®, ARB®, SRES®, CSCA® acquired the Domain OrangeCountyRealEstate.Com, he loves to tell the story about how people ridiculed him in 1997 for paying $75 for a “stupid Internet address”. Stephen certainly had the last word. ‘They’ aren’t laughing anymore.

With a love for ‘all things transparent’ and a passion for the quintessential Orange County lifestyle, Stephen has always seen things a little differently than others in the real estate industry. He’s 150% Consumer Centric. He’s always believed that people buy, he never ‘sells’. Stephen is all things Orange County.

At age 12, Stephen O’Hara was named one of America’s youngest entrepreneurs, and in 1980 he was named to the ‘Franchise 500’ list by Entrepreneur magazine. Never content to rest on his laurels, Stephen continues to re-invent himself and the way he does business. When he received the RE/MAX® Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004 he was also stunned to learn that he ranked #14 from amongst the 106,000 RE/MAX agents worldwide.

He is often asked to share his story and he is happy to acquiesce, explaining that his life’s work is one of passion, unconditional love, patience and a history of turning ‘scars into stars’. With a career sales total of over One Billion Dollars, Stephen was propelled into real estate sales history when he became one of only 25 REALTORS® to be featured in the popular book, BILLION DOLLAR AGENT (Kantor).

Stephen has paid his dues. He has started and owned businesses on both a local and national level, including several national brand real estate offices where he recruited and mentored over 500 Associates. Stephen has a strong sense of marketing and communications skills. His academic background includes law and accounting as well as a strong background in franchise/licensing. He has an unwavering belief that success follows when you take care of the consumer. In fact, it’s the cornerstone of his entire business career. And, it’s worked.

Most Brokerages and Agents want to set themselves apart from their competitors. Stephen’s research led him to the renown Harris® Survey & Polling organization. He learned that they conduct a periodic survey reveling what occupations consumers hold in their high regard as well as those they had little confidence in. REALTORS® are in the bottom quartile; in fact, in their most recent survey, Harris® places REALTORS® at the very bottom – Number 23 out of 23.

With these kind of numbers, Stephen quickly figured out in the 1980’s that that most consumers were predisposed in their opinions about REALTORS® - before they even met the REALTOR®. In the consumers mind, all REALTORS® sound the same.

Stephen realized why Agents spend half their time during listing and/or buyer presentations convincing buyers and sellers (they didn’t already know) that they are different. He became angry that people were judging him based on the experience they had with their past REALTORS®. Out of his anger came the remarkable benefit of THIRD PARTY CREDIBILITY offered by Stephen’s other passion CSCA®.

Stephen says, “If you are like many people today, you depend on the reputation of the ‘brand’ or a ‘third party’ to give their stamp-of-approval on products and services. Do you prefer a hotel that has a AAA® one star or five star rating? How about where you eat? Are you impressed to know that a Hotel has a Five Star rating or that Zagat® gives its ‘thumbs up’ to the quality of the hotel’s service and the food and dining experience? Most of us find the ratings given by Consumer Reports® or J.D. Power® very important before we purchase products and services.

There are over 1.2 million REALTORS® in the nation – how can you know for sure which ones have the background and experience you need to do the job? A simple internet search will reveal just how unhappy many consumers are with their buying and/or selling experience while working with their real estate agent. Buyers and Sellers need a dependable, accountable third party to independently ‘grade and rate’ REALTORS®.

In Orange County, that Independent Third Party IS Stephen O’Hara. Stephen says, “I won’t let my name be used by an agent who wants to be my Partner unless I have personally checked the agents background. It’s really that simple.”

“I have three major passions in my life – God, then my family, and then Real Estate. I’m blessed and delighted to have been able to combine all three. I’ve learned that life can only be ‘lived forward’ and understood backwards, which is why I believe we learn more from our adversities, than from our successes. I have faith in God, and in the knowledge that ‘nothing’ is the end of the world, and that I’m better served by moving forward. I learn from my mistakes and move on. I am purpose driven and I’m passionate about what I do.”

Stephen is a visionary who provides a vital link between the administrative and marketing/sales functions. He excels in being able to think and communicate in two very distinct styles: globally and linearly. It's that extraordinary ability to take lofty visions and bring them down to earth that makes him an invaluable resource. Strategic planning wrapped in wisdom and understanding is the talent for which Stephen is best known.

Be passionate about what you do, serve the consumer like they were your own ‘Mom’ and success will follow!