After life took her to various locations throughout New England, Paula O’Brien settled in Central Massachusetts 25 years ago. O’Brien and her husband raised their children in the region, and for nine years, she has been serving real estate clients in Worcester, Middlesex and Essex counties from the Century 21 North East office in Leominster.

In addition to specializing in single-family homes, multifamily buildings and condos, O’Brien has experience with commercial properties and land sales. With an MBA and a background in finance thanks to her work for both a contracting company and an investment firm, she has a well-rounded view of the many facets of the real estate business. But for her, real estate is less about the pedigree and more about the people. “This is a people business,” she notes, “and it’s all about the relationships you build with your clients, other Realtors and other real estate professionals. I love talking to and getting to know my clients.”

In return, clients describe O’Brien as patient and professional, and they are impressed by her responsiveness and openness, skills she understands are important to her success. “This can be a very stressful endeavor for buyers or sellers,” she acknowledges. “I always want my clients to be comfortable with talking to me and asking as many questions as they want to make them feel comfortable.”

O’Brien educates her clients with an overview of the process and the current market and then thoroughly explains each step in more detail as they move through it. She also provides booklets with important information to help them understand and manage the demands of buying and selling.

O’Brien unwinds by walking, hiking and spending time near the ocean, especially in the summer. She also loves to explore small towns so she can learn about the lifestyle and culture of each one.