Dean O'Brien knows a thing or two about community, having grown up in a regional town where his family ran one of the local pubs for decades.
Mr O'Brien was raised in Alexandra in northeast Victoria and moved away to the bright lights of Melbourne as an adult to kickstart a career in real estate, but to this day, he still draws on the values he learned growing up in the country.
“It’s a very small country town, but it’s an amazing place where people try to look after each other,” he said.
“I soon learned that real estate wasn’t actually about property, it was more about people and relationships.”
Helping people buy or sell a home is about more than a contract and a set of keys, it’s guiding them through one of the most stressful and expensive decisions they will ever make.
For Mr O’Brien, the role of a real estate agent is to make that journey as smooth as possible, providing both market expertise and support.
OBrien Real Estate co-founder Dean O'Brien. Picture: Supplied
Today, he's is the co-founder and co-director of OBrien Real Estate, a network of more than 40 offices stretching across Melbourne and regional Victoria, including one in his hometown.
Mr O’Brien’s family ran the Mount Pleasant Hotel for decades, but his father shifted away from hospitality and into the property development business in regional Victoria.
It was through this experience that he got a taste for property and real estate, although Mr O’Brien would venture down to Melbourne on his own to make his big break.
Since starting in 2010 with business partner Darren Hutchins, the business has grown from a single Berwick office to a brand known for its people-first culture, strong training platforms and deep community involvement.
Building the OBrien brand
When Mr O’Brien moved to Berwick in Melbourne’s southeast in 2001, he knew only two people, which were his new boss and an uncle.
But he worked quickly to get to know the area and the locals, building relationships with people who were chasing a slice of the Australian dream.
Nine years later, he and Mr Hutchins opened the first OBrien Real Estate office in Berwick.
Mr O'Brien grew up in the Victorian town of Alexandra. Picture: Getty
From the start, they wanted to build a culture that focused on things like training and performance, so they started working with real estate coach Josh Phegan.
But they also wanted their team to understand the weight of each transaction, knowing that buying or selling a home was one of life’s big moments for the average person.
He encouraged a culture where agents genuinely cared about their clients, guiding them with empathy, professionalism and a focus on long-term relationships.
The first five years saw steady growth to five offices, and then the expansion accelerated to more than 40 locations over the next decade, spanning from Melbourne’s bayside to Wodonga and Wangaratta.
“It's all about people, we understood the need for a people-first culture, so we held onto good people around us to grow rapidly,” he said.
For Mr O’Brien, the most rewarding part of his job is watching people grow, whether it’s a trainee who becomes a director, or a young couple building a thriving business together.
“Success is not always about the numbers, sometimes it’s about seeing someone you’ve supported go on to do the same for others,” he said.
Giving back
Mr O’Brien has been big on giving back to the community as well, having established the OBrien Foundation as a way to support their local communities.
Since its inception, the foundation has donated more than $250,000 directly and indirectly to over 20 community groups and organisations.
The causes range from disability support programs and local sports clubs to domestic violence services and emergency relief for families.
“I think I’m a very lucky human being,” he said. “I’m privileged to have this industry… the ability to give back is probably, apart from seeing people’s success, the most rewarding part of my career.”
OBrien Real Estate has expanded throughout Melbourne and regional Victoria. Picture: Getty
Mr O’Brien sponsors the Alexandra Football Club, giving back to the community where it all started for him.
The town’s close-knit spirit remains unchanged, and it’s a humbling experience to go back and catch up with old friends and footy mates.
“The best thing about a town like Alexandra is it doesn’t matter where you are in life, you go back there, and no one cares.
“You’re just a mate, and that’s what’s great, everyone looks after each other.”
Away from the office, Mr O’Brien is a family man with three daughters, including twins in high school, with a firm belief in trying to be present.
“My main goal is just to be where my feet are at any given point in time,” he said.
He also has a love of golf, racehorses and travel – the latter being a shared passion with his wife Tarelle.
Looking ahead, Mr O’Brien said the network’s focus was on elevating together and helping the OBrien team reach their goals.
Fifteen years on from that first office in Berwick, Mr O’Brien has achieved what many founders only hope for: scaling a brand without losing the culture that made it successful in the first place.
And no matter how big the network becomes, Mr O’Brien remains focused on putting people and the communities they serve first.
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