Just spend a day with Stephen O’Hara and you will see a perfect example of the power of attitude. This upbeat, Southern Californian approaches everything in life with an enthusiasm that is quite infectious.

When it comes to Stephen’s passions in life, one only needs to look at his family to see what matters most, his family.  And when it comes to where he would want to raise his family, Stephen would be the first to tell you that there’s no place like Orange County.

“Orange County is the BEST part of Southern California,” Stephen explains. “In addition to our nearly perfect climate, there are more things to do here than anywhere else in the World.”

A Passion for His Work

Stephen’s enthusiasm for his family can only be matched by the passion he has in his work as one of California’s top real estate professionals. But excelling in his work has always been a trait of his. In 1963, at the age of 12, Stephen was name one of America’s youngest entrepreneurs.

It’s his love for helping his clients with one of their most important investments, however, and the relationships he develops with them that drives him to do the best job possible. “I do enjoy helping people and I do negotiate fiercely for my clients.” Stephen says. “I\'ve had consistent success in selling expired listings and difficult-to-sell properties. I understand the "art" of putting together the impossible deals.”

Unparalleled Expertise

With a background in law, accounting and marketing, Stephen has extensive experience in all aspects of management, executive planning, budget preparation and analysis, administration, general and franchise legal compliance, quality control, communications, sales and marketing.

Stephen was chosen by PRC (Professional Realty Council, Inc.) to offer Southern California residence a higher level of service along with various PRC Programs to help buyers and sellers buy and sell real estate/  As a PRC Council Member, Stephen took his real estate career to the next level.  In order to be a PRC Council Member, Stephen had to undergo the scrutiny of a Background Check as well as having all of his credentials VERIFIED.  Consumers now have an unprecedented choice.  They can hire any real estate agent and take their chances or they can hire a PRC Council Member and buy and sell with confidence.

Combine that with his professional designations of CSCA (Certified School & Community Advisor), CRB (Certified Real Estate Broker), CRS (Certified Real Estate Specialists), GRI (Graduate Real Estate Institute) and ABR (Accredited Buyers Representative), as well as his in-depth experience as Broker and CEO to several Multi-office franchise real estate companies, it’s no wonder Stephen has achieved the status of being in the top 1% of all real estate professionals nationwide.

With a love for ‘all things American’ and a passion for the quintessential Southern California 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’.

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’. His life story includes bankruptcy, the heart-wrenching, wrongful, loss of life of two close family members, wrong partners, and yes...yearly sales in excess of $55 million! 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.

Here’s an excerpt from an interview with Stephen:

I have three major passions in my life – God, then my family, and then my career.  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.

If you are thinking about buying or selling a home, remember, if you hire any REALTOR® you might be taking a risk that you don’t need to take. When you hire me, a PRC Council Member, it’s my personal goal to see that you enjoy a stress-free move along with peace of mind.

Giving Back

Apart from helping his clients achieve their real estate goals, Stephen is always looking for ways to give back to the community. That’s why he has continuously been involved with several organizations, including the American Diabetic Association and The PRC Scholarship and Quiet Hero’s™ Program.

Both of these programs Recognize and Reward Students, Teachers and other citizens of each community for their relentless effort to serve their community.

When you need to buy or sell your home, you want to be as successful as you can possibly be. That’s why you should work with Stephen. Spend a few moments talking with Stephen and see for yourself just how much he loves his work, and more importantly, how much of a difference his enthusiasm and experience can make in the success of your home sale or purchase.