Selling or buying any type of property is never an easy process. It is often some of the largest investments you will make in your lifetime. It is important to work with someone who knows the area, has product knowledge, a solid reputation, and experience that ensures the best outcome. It has always been our goal to provide our clients with the personal attention and knowledge essential for a successful transaction with a gracious attitude.

We have had the good fortune of meeting and working for hundreds of families since 2005 in the many communities of Lee and Collier County. Shawn and Ruth use their individual strengths to provide solid results. If you give us the opportunity to show what we offer, how we provide our services, and how our representation exceeds most others, the minimum you will come away with is a greater understanding of our industry. But we are confident that you call us your broker.

Meet Shawn and Ruth

Every company is a measure of those who own and operate it. Shawn and Ruth both have decades of providing personal services in both the insurance, financial, and real estate industries. That experience, along with their strong belief in loyal service are the foundation of Fort Myers Realty. They are very aware of the importance and impact of each transaction in the lives of those clients they represent. 

Mark “Shawn” O’Brien ABR GRI CIPS SRES RSPS
Broker/Owner

Shawn is originally from Louisville, Kentucky. He served in the United States Marine Corps and was later called back for Desert Storm in 1991. After the Marines, Shawn was in retail sales in Southwest Florida. In 1995 he was recruited by Allstate Insurance, moved back to Louisville where he operated a neighborhood office. He also owned an independent insurance agency. In 2004, he moved back to Florida and became a Sales Agent and later an Associate Broker with Remax in Cape Coral. In 2008, he chose to start his own company as a Broker/Owner. Since then, he has provided proven, experienced brokerage services throughout Southwest Florida. 

Ruth A. O’Brien
Administrator

Ruth is originally from South Bend, Indiana. She has lived in both Missouri and Texas before finding Southwest Florida in 2003. Her professional career includes both the insurance and financial industries. Her excellent accounting and clerical strengths along with her organizational skills keeps all of the company’s processes efficient and transactions moving.

Here is a question we get all the time. What are those letters by Shawn’s name?

ABR - Accredited Buyer’s Representative

While most Realtors orient their endeavors toward listing properties, Shawn has invested more than 50% of his career representing buyers as a Buyer’s Broker. When weighing the efforts involved in a real estate transaction, the heavy lifting is on the buyer’s side of the equation. Above the normal processes to buying, many new buyers in our market are coming from outside of Florida and some from another country. There are many things to learn when moving here from construction, permitting, engineering, elevation, and even landscaping. Everything is different here in Southwest Florida.

GRI - Graduate Realtor Institute

As a graduate of the Realtor Institute, Shawn has invested the time and effort to understand the legal and professional requirements to stay proficient in providing for his clients. This designation recognizes his in depth market knowledge, increased proficiency in a broad array of subjects to enhance both his professionalism and business success.

CIPS - Certified International Property Specialist

With many buyers and sellers in the Southwest Florida market coming from outside of the United States, having the knowledge and proficiency of the issues with those clients is very important. From FIRPTA (Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act) of 1980, currency exchange rates, international wiring, and even being familiar with different cultural and social standards.

SRES - Senior Real Estate Specialist

Shawn is 60 this year and over the 20 years he has been in real estate here in Southwest Florida, very few clients have been younger than him at any stage in his career. Keeping up with issues impacting retired clients is just another way to facilitate the best for our clients.

RSPS - Resort and Second Home Property Specialist

Southwest Florida is a beautiful place to live but some people choose to have more than one place they call home. With that in mind, this designation is for those Realtors who work with those clients. The laws and market conditions not just here but in those other markets greatly impact our clients. It is important to keep up with those changes from taxes, real estate law, or local rules that can affect how those clients use their property whether for personal or investment purposes.

These designations are not just from past endeavors but a continuing commitment to make the time and effort to keep up with the ever changing legal, professional, and personal requirements in the real estate industry.