Local Experience. Direct Representation. A Client-First Approach.
Primacy Realty is a locally owned and operated real estate brokerage serving buyers, sellers, investors, and property owners throughout Lee and Collier Counties. The company is led by broker and owner Shawn O’Brien, who has served clients in Southwest Florida as a Realtor since 2005 and as a broker since 2008.
Over more than two decades, Shawn has worked through hurricanes, periods of rapid appreciation, the 2008 financial crisis, extended market recoveries, historically low interest rates, sharp increases in borrowing costs, and continually changing market conditions. That experience helps him guide clients toward informed decisions based on facts, careful preparation, and sound strategy—not speculation.
Shawn holds several professional real estate designations, including Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR), Graduate, REALTOR® Institute (GRI), Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS), Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES), and Resort and Second-Home Property Specialist (RSPS). Unlike many Realtors, more than half of his represented real estate clients have been buyers, giving him extensive experience evaluating properties, preparing offers, negotiating terms, and protecting clients throughout the purchase process.
Experience That Extends Beyond Real Estate
Every brokerage reflects the values, judgment, and experience of its leadership. Before entering real estate, Shawn proudly served as a noncommissioned officer in the United States Marine Corps from 1984 to 1988 and was recalled to active duty during Desert Storm in 1991. His military experience reinforced the importance of discipline, preparation, accountability, and completing the mission entrusted to him.
Shawn later owned an Allstate agency and later an independent insurance agency. Self-employed since 1995, he understands that owning a business and properly serving clients requires a commitment that extends far beyond a traditional 40-hour work week. It requires being available, accepting responsibility, anticipating problems, and following through when others are depending on you.
Those lessons continue to shape how Primacy Realty operates today.
A Team Built on Service, Responsibility, and Faith
Shawn works alongside his wife, Ruth, and friend Johnathan Bigelow to support the brokerage’s clients. Ruth brings decades of experience from the insurance and financial industries. Her organizational, accounting, and administrative experience helps keep the brokerage’s operations and client transactions moving forward with accuracy and attention to detail.
Johnathan brings a background in law enforcement, personal protection, and business ownership. He previously served as a uniformed police officer in California before becoming a private business owner and later relocating to Fort Myers. His experience has strengthened his understanding of responsibility, communication, situational awareness, and the importance of protecting the interests of those who place their trust in him.
Together, the Primacy Realty team brings experience from real estate, military service, law enforcement, insurance, finance, business ownership, and a strong Christian faith. These backgrounds have shaped a client-first approach built on integrity, discipline, accountability, confidentiality, and a strong sense of duty.
We understand the trust clients place in professionals who are responsible for representing their financial interests.
Representation Is a Serious Responsibility
At Primacy Realty, representation means more than helping someone find a property, place a listing in the MLS, or completing a contract.
A real estate transaction may be one of the largest financial decisions of a client’s life. The outcome can affect a client’s finances, family, business plans, retirement, or long-term investment goals. We recognize what is at stake and approach every transaction with the preparation, care, and attention it deserves.
Primacy Realty offers the brokerage relationships permitted under Florida law, including Single Agent representation, Transaction Broker relationships, and No Brokerage Relationship arrangements. We prefer Single Agent representation when appropriate because it provides fiduciary duties that include loyalty, confidentiality, obedience, and full disclosure.
However, the choice belongs to the client. We take the time to explain the available relationships so each person can make an informed decision about the type of representation that best fits the transaction. These important conversations will not be part of a remote relationship with a web based company.
Direct Access and Personal Attention
Primacy Realty is not a high-volume brokerage built around collecting as many listings and leads as possible. We intentionally limit the number of clients we serve so that each client receives direct attention.
Shawn remains personally involved throughout the process with every seller engaged with our Flat Fee programs as he does with our full represented clients. Clients are not passed from one department to another or left wondering who is responsible for their transaction. They have direct access to our team of local professionals who understand their property, goals, concerns, and circumstances.
We also always avoid situations that could create unnecessary competition among our own clients. An example would be listing multiple units in a condo association or two houses on the same street. This does not align with our client centered philosophy. Our purpose is to represent each client thoughtfully, protect confidential information, and provide advice based on that client’s individual interests.
Clear Conversations Build Strong Relationships
We welcome the opportunity to explain how our brokerage operates, discuss the available forms of representation, review compensation, and describe how we work to protect our clients’ interests.
These conversations allow prospective clients to understand:
Who will be responsible for their transaction
What type of brokerage relationship they will receive
Which services are included
How compensation will be structured
What responsibilities belong to the client
How potential conflicts will be handled
What they can expect throughout the process
Providing this information at the beginning creates clarity and helps establish realistic expectations. These conversations often become the foundation for lasting personal and professional relationships built on confidence, trust, and mutual respect. Many clients over the years are good friends today.
Empowering Clients and Maximizing Returns
Our mission is straightforward: empower our clients and maximize their returns.
This philosophy guides everything we do. We represent each client thoughtfully, communicate honestly, act with purpose, and never lose sight of what is at stake. We believe clients make better decisions when they understand their options, receive complete information, and have experienced professionals available to help them evaluate the risks and opportunities. Which is why we have offered this website, with it’s extensive information, to inform sellers of what we offer and how it compares with other choices.
We also believe that not every property owner needs the same level of service. There are too many variables to expect a one size fits all approach.
Our Flat Fee SWFL programs expand on that commitment by giving property owners additional ways to access the local MLS and professional support. Sellers can choose from three service levels, ranging from $1,250 to $5,000, based on how much assistance they want and how much of the selling process they prefer to manage themselves.
If a seller’s needs change, the seller may upgrade to a higher service level or move to full brokerage representation while receiving credit for the program fees already paid.
Whether a seller chooses one of our Flat Fee SWFL programs or a full representation, our objective remains the same: provide clear information, practical options, local experience, and a level of service appropriate for the client’s goals.
Local experience. Direct relationships. Thoughtful representation.
Our Team
Capt. Mark “Shawn” O’Brien
ABR GRI CIPS SRES RSPS
Broker / Owner
A Career Built on Service, Responsibility, and Experience
Shawn’s professional background reflects a career shaped by discipline, personal responsibility, and a long-term perspective. Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, he served in the United States Marine Corps from 1984 to 1988 and was recalled to active duty during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. The values strengthened during his military service—including preparation, accountability, loyalty, and commitment to others—continue to influence his approach to leadership, business ownership, and client representation.
Following his military service, Shawn developed a successful career across several client-focused industries, including retail sales, insurance, and financial services. Each position required him to listen carefully, understand individual needs, evaluate risk, and help clients make important financial decisions.
In 1995, Shawn was recruited by Allstate Insurance and returned to Louisville, where he owned and operated a neighborhood Allstate agency. He later established and operated an independent insurance agency. These years gave him valuable experience in risk management, contract review, business operations, professional responsibility, and advising clients whose financial interests depended on accurate information and sound judgment.
They also taught him an important lesson that continues to guide his work today: clients deserve more than a transaction. They deserve a professional who understands what is at stake, accepts responsibility for the advice being provided, and remains committed from the beginning of the relationship through its conclusion.
In 2004, Shawn returned to Southwest Florida and began the next phase of his career. He became a licensed real estate sales associate in 2005 and later advanced to broker associate with RE/MAX in Cape Coral. Working directly with buyers, sellers, and investors gave him firsthand experience with the opportunities and risks involved in Southwest Florida real estate.
In 2008, during one of the most difficult real estate markets in recent history, Shawn founded his own brokerage. Establishing an independent company during the financial crisis required persistence, careful decision-making, and a clear understanding of rapidly changing market conditions. That experience reinforced his belief that clients need honest information and disciplined guidance—especially when the market is uncertain.
Since then, Shawn has represented clients through hurricanes, rapid appreciation, market corrections, extended recoveries, historically low interest rates, rising borrowing costs, and shifting buyer and seller expectations. These experiences have given him a broad understanding of how market conditions can affect property values, negotiations, financing, and a client’s long-term financial goals.
Today, Shawn brings more than two decades of Southwest Florida real estate experience to every client relationship. His approach is based on preparation, clear communication, discretion, and steady judgment. Rather than relying on speculation or short-term market excitement, he helps clients evaluate their options, understand the risks, and make informed decisions supported by current market information and practical experience.
Shawn and his wife, Ruth, work closely together in the operation of Primacy Realty. Ruth’s background in the insurance and financial industries, combined with her organizational and administrative experience, provides valuable support to the brokerage and its clients. Their professional partnership reflects the same principles that guide their personal lives: faith, responsibility, service, and commitment to others.
Both Shawn and Ruth are active in their church and community. They believe that strong relationships are built through trust, consistency, and a willingness to serve—values that remain at the heart of Primacy Realty.
Johnathan Bigelow
Sales / Client Relations
Realtor Agent
A Commitment to Service, Protection, and Community
Johnathan brings care, discipline, and close attention to detail to every client relationship. With more than a decade of experience in law enforcement and personal protection, he understands the importance of preparation, clear communication, confidentiality, and remaining calm under pressure.
These qualities now guide his work in real estate. Johnathan is committed to helping clients understand their options, evaluate potential risks, and protect their interests as they navigate some of the most important financial decisions of their lives.
Following his law-enforcement career, Johnathan successfully owned and operated a retail business in California. That experience gave him practical knowledge of business operations, customer service, financial responsibility, and the importance of earning and maintaining a client’s trust.
In 2022, Johnathan relocated with his family to Fort Myers, Florida. After settling in Southwest Florida, he earned his Florida real estate license and began serving buyers, sellers, and investors throughout the community. His background in public service and business ownership allows him to approach each transaction with patience, accountability, and a strong sense of personal responsibility.
At Primacy Realty, Johnathan works closely with broker Shawn O’Brien and the rest of the team to provide clients with attentive, locally based service. He takes the time to understand each client’s goals and concerns, explain the process clearly, and help clients remain informed from the initial conversation through closing.
Real estate is also part of Johnathan’s family history. His father worked as a real estate agent, and his grandmother was a respected real estate broker in Kansas City, Missouri. Their example helped shape his interest in the profession and his appreciation for the role real estate can play in homeownership, financial security, and long-term investment.
Johnathan understands that every client’s circumstances are different. Whether someone is purchasing a first home, selling an existing property, relocating to Southwest Florida, or evaluating an investment opportunity, he believes clients deserve honest communication, thoughtful guidance, and a professional who takes their objectives seriously.
Today, Johnathan, his wife, and their children proudly call Fort Myers home. They are actively involved in their church and local community, where they continue to build relationships and support other families throughout Southwest Florida.
For Johnathan, real estate is more than a transaction. It is another opportunity to serve, accept responsibility, and help people move forward with greater knowledge and confidence.
Ruth A. O’Brien
Administration / Accounting
Precision, Organization, and Dependable Support
Ruth brings to Primacy Realty a professional background grounded in precision, organization, and responsible financial management. Originally from South Bend, Indiana, she later lived in Missouri and Texas before establishing her roots in Southwest Florida in 2003.
Her professional experience spans both the insurance and financial industries—fields in which accuracy, confidentiality, accountability, and attention to detail are essential. Through this work, Ruth developed a strong understanding of financial records, administrative procedures, client service, and the importance of carefully managing information that can directly affect a person’s financial interests.
These skills have made Ruth an essential part of Primacy Realty’s operations. Her responsibilities include accounting, administrative coordination, process management, record organization, and general operational oversight. Much of her work takes place behind the scenes, but it plays an important role in keeping the brokerage organized and responsive.
Real estate transactions involve numerous documents, deadlines, communications, and responsibilities. Ruth’s structured approach helps ensure that important details are carefully tracked, information is properly organized, and administrative matters are addressed promptly. Her support allows Shawn and Johnathan to remain focused on representation, market analysis, negotiations, and direct communication with clients.
Ruth understands that effective client service depends on more than the work clients see. It also requires reliable systems, accurate records, careful coordination, and consistent follow-through. Her attention to these responsibilities provides the operational stability needed to guide clients through complex transactions with greater clarity and confidence.
Her disciplined approach is especially valuable to a brokerage committed to personal attention, confidentiality, and high-level representation. Rather than operating as a high-volume processing business, Primacy Realty takes the time to understand each client’s circumstances and provide a carefully managed experience. Ruth’s organizational skills help make that approach possible.
Ruth also plays an important role in maintaining the personal and professional standards at the heart of Primacy Realty. Her calm, thoughtful manner and commitment to doing things correctly reflect the brokerage’s broader values of integrity, responsibility, discretion, and service.
Outside the brokerage, Ruth and her husband, Shawn, are active in their church and local community. Their shared commitment to faith, service, and personal responsibility influences both their family life and the way they operate Primacy Realty.
For Ruth, supporting a real estate transaction is not simply a matter of completing administrative tasks. It means helping create an organized, dependable process so clients can move forward knowing that the details of their transaction are being handled with care.
What Do the Professional Designations Represent?
Clients often ask about the professional designations associated with Shawn’s name. Each reflects a focused area of expertise and an ongoing commitment to professional mastery—particularly important in complex, high-value real estate decisions.
These credentials are not symbolic. They represent deliberate investment in education, specialization, and continued proficiency.
ABR — Accredited Buyer’s Representative
While many professionals concentrate primarily on listings, Shawn has devoted a substantial portion of his career to buyer representation. At higher price points, the buyer side of a transaction frequently carries greater complexity, risk, and responsibility.
Southwest Florida attracts buyers from across the United States and around the world. Relocation into this market requires an understanding of local construction standards, permitting processes, engineering considerations, flood zones and elevations, insurance implications, and even environmental and landscaping regulations—factors that differ materially from other regions.
The ABR designation reflects advanced training in buyer advocacy, negotiation strategy, and protecting client interests in unfamiliar and highly regulated environments.
GRI — Graduate, Realtor Institute
The Graduate Realtor Institute designation signifies advanced education in real estate law, contracts, ethics, market analysis, and professional standards.
This designation reflects a disciplined approach to staying current with legal requirements, regulatory changes, and best practices—ensuring clients are advised with clarity, accuracy, and foresight throughout every phase of a transaction.
CIPS — Certified International Property Specialist
Southwest Florida continues to attract international buyers and sellers, making cross-border expertise increasingly essential.
The CIPS designation reflects specialized knowledge in international transactions, including FIRPTA compliance, currency exchange considerations, international fund transfers, taxation issues, and cultural business practices. This expertise helps mitigate risk and ensures transactions proceed smoothly for clients navigating unfamiliar regulatory and financial systems.
SRES — Senior Real Estate Specialist
Many clients in this market are navigating real estate decisions tied to retirement planning, estate considerations, or long-term lifestyle transitions.
The SRES designation reflects specialized training in addressing the financial, legal, and personal factors that often accompany these decisions, ensuring representation is thoughtful, respectful, and aligned with long-term objectives.
RSPS — Resort & Second-Home Property Specialist
Southwest Florida is a primary destination for second-home and multi-residence ownership. These transactions often involve layered considerations spanning multiple jurisdictions.
The RSPS designation reflects expertise in managing issues related to second-home ownership, including tax implications, investment use, local regulations, and coordination with advisors in other markets. Understanding how decisions in one location affect another is essential for clients with diversified property portfolios.
A Continuing Commitment
These designations are not simply past accomplishments. They represent an ongoing commitment to remaining current with the evolving legal, financial, and professional requirements of real estate—particularly in transactions where complexity, discretion, and precision matter.
For clients who expect informed counsel rather than assumptions, this commitment provides confidence that representation is grounded in knowledge, preparation, and experience.