The Orlando’s Family Tradition of Orange County Real Estate

Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest decisions a family will make in its lifetime. The list of concerns and priorities for the family can be endless. Where do you want the kids to go to school? How long will the commute be for the working parents? Do we have enough room(s) for the kids? Is there a decent yard for them to play in? Sometimes it’s enough to make you want your Mom!

For some families though, the love of real estate is practically genetically encoded. At Windermere, we have several agents who work alongside or from the same office as their mother or child, but in Laguna Niguel, we have a family where Mom has inspired both son and daughter to carry on a tradition of excellent service and professional behavior. (And we’re pretty sure there was some work discipline taught too!)

The Orlandos are a unique family real estate team. For over 25 years, Maryann Orlando has been representing buyers and sellers in Orange County where she has earned a reputation for her integrity and vast understanding of the local real estate market. An expert in the purchase and sale of residential properties in South Orange County, Maryann’s knowledge and experience allows her to quickly determine the physical condition, market value and renovation potential for specific homes. Her personal associations with local schools, service providers and neighborhood amenities further extends her ability to assist her clients in finding or selling their homes. Maryann’s skills and abilities have been passed down to her children, Greg Orlando and Sari Ward.

In 2004, Maryann’s son, Greg, joined her in real estate sales. In 2010, daughter Sari Ward joined. “Having Greg and Sari join me in real estate has truly been a dream come true for me,” shared Maryann.

Greg is a lifelong resident of South Orange County, born and raised in Laguna Hills. After graduating from Santa Margarita High School, he attended California State Northridge where he earned his degree in Communication Studies. An obvious asset to working in sales and interacting with his clients, Greg conveyed his education into a career as a Realtor® and returned to coach football at his alma mater, Santa Margarita. His work in coaching and communications goes a long way to enabling his clients to refine, set and achieve their real estate goals. Greg, his wife and daughter now live in Mission Viejo.

Sari returned to the South Orange County area after living in San Francisco for over a decade with her husband while she worked as the

Director of Operations for Salesforce.com. As Director, Sari negotiated multimillion dollar contracts, handled numerous vendor relations, and ensured that the company got top value for their purchases – all skills that she easily transitioned into assisting her real estate clients. Sari, her husband, and their two sons now live in Beacon Hill.

At a recent marketing meeting with the Orlandos, the trade talk was fast and furious. From developing client’s searching parameters to a discussion of the record low inventory, you would not have gotten the impression that this was a family meeting. Each member brings their unique set of skills, knowledge and experience to the table. When asked if this was how the holiday meal conversations usually went, the answer was a resounding and unanimous, “No!”

“It would drive our spouses and other family members crazy,” said Sari. “We could talk ‘shop’ all day if we were allowed, but you have to make quality time for your family.