Meet Whitney Potter

Principal Real Estate Professional

A native of Marin, Whitney is a top producing real estate agent specializing in extraordinary Marin and San Francisco properties. He brings a decade of professional experience at Bank of America Securities to the real estate industry, including an extensive background in negotiating. Parlaying his expertise from the business world, one of Whitney's central goals in representing his clients is to ensure his clients are making a sound long term investment.

DRE 01468633  ✆  415.640.8671 ✉  whitney@ownmarin.com

The three critical things that we wanted in a buyer's agent were integrity, market knowledge, and strong relationships. Whitney Potter is strong in all three. Integrity: It sounds obvious, but you want an agent that truly has your best interests in mind before, during, and even after the transaction. Whitney lays it out for you and ultimately lets you make the decision. No pressure. Just honest advice and guidance with your best interests in mind. Market knowledge: Mill Valley is a market made up of lots of sub-markets (Tam Valley, Sycamore Park, etc.). You want an agent that understands what's going on in each of these sub-markets. Whitney knows Mill Valley street by street. Strong relationships: Here's the deal. Sellers' agents want to deal with a straight shooter that's a known entity. Chances are, the sell side agent will have dealt with Own Marin in the past and that's going to work to your advantage to get you the property you want. It did for us! The results speak for themselves. After a two-year journey, we have exactly the right home for us, and we couldn't be happier.

- ELIAS T.

My husband and I started searching for houses in Marin in May 2020.  After following the 'Own Marin' Instagram account for a few months prior, we were matched with one of the founding agents, Whitney Potter.  We figured we would give him a try and after our first meeting with him (a tour of three properties in Mill Valley), we knew we had found our Marin County Realtor 'extraordinaire'. Whitney knew everything there was to know about not only the town, but the schools, traffic patterns, and importantly for us, the running/biking/hiking trails.  As an avid outdoors enthusiast, he could tell us every trailhead near each property, which we loved. Whitney also quickly understood our aesthetic.  As we worked with him, he helped us better understand some of the nuances of Marin County real estate, and encouraged us, based on what he knew about our interests, priorities, and lifestyle, to consider alternatives to Mill Valley.  This eventually led to us finding our absolute dream home in Ross, California.  However, the minor issue was that the property garnered broad interest and was destined for a bidding war.  Thankfully, Whitney had referred us to a dream team early in our search who had helped us get fully approved and ready to structure a strong offer.  On the day offers were submitted, Whitney worked tirelessly throughout the day to ensure we didn't lose the house.  His grit, determination, and strong communication ultimately landed us a home we feel honored to live in, and cannot wait to build our family in.   As a Marin native, Whitney Potter is the full package.  He knows his product, he is extremely well-networked, and he will do everything in his power to get you the perfect home for your unique needs, regardless of what it takes to make it happen.  We highly suggest Whitney as your Marin County real estate agent. As I like to say, while his name is not 'Harry', this Potter knows how to work some serious real estate magic.

- SCOTT G.

My husband and I recently purchased our first home, and we were so fortunate to work with Whitney Potter. We're convinced that Whitney and his team at Own Marin are the best Marin County real estate agents, and we highly recommend them to anyone looking for a home nearby! We first met Whitney over a year ago - I'd read his great reviews online and reached out about a home we wanted to preview. He was incredibly responsive and helpful in getting us connected to see the home. Because it was early in our search, we ended up not moving forward and decided to get to know the area more. Over the next year, Whitney was super helpful (and never pushy!) as we got to know Marin. He was quick to respond to any questions we had about specific homes or areas and put us in touch with a great local lender who was able to get us through the pre-approval process very quickly and at a competitive rate. We planned to start looking more seriously this spring, right when COVID-19 was worsening. The home we ended up buying was listed just before the Shelter in Place order, and Whitney was instrumental in helping us navigate the super complex and rapidly evolving rules to safely see the home during this unique period. His sound advice on the market and offer strategy was a huge help as we decided to put in an offer, and we felt so much more confident in our decision because of his expertise and guidance. From spending an hour on the phone with us answering all our questions on the disclosures to lining up 6 different inspectors within our brief inspection period (all spaced out because of Covid precautions - no easy feat!) Whitney made everything incredibly simple and smooth for us throughout the process. As first time homebuyers it was important to us to trust the advice of our real estate agent and to feel like we were getting sound guidance on such a major financial investment. We are confident we would not have been in such an amazing home, within our budget(!), had we worked with anyone else - the process was so easy for us from start to finish thanks to all of Whitney's work, and he continues to help with fantastic introductions to local contacts for home improvement/repairs as well.

- KALILA M.

We worked with Whitney Potter at Own Marin on our purchase of a home in Mill Valley.  Whitney and team were great!  We are first time homebuyers, so he walked us through the process and always had time for us  - even in a really busy market.  His negotiation skills saved us at least $50,000 and he was great with pricing out potential repairs.  He knows the area like the back of his hand and was able to provide local knowledge that allowed us make an informed decision on the biggest purchase of our lives.  I highly recommend working with Whitney and Own Marin!

- CHUCK D.

Whitney helped us find our dream home in Marin! We worked with him over a long period of time -- we weren't ready to commit initially, but he was always patient with us and always willing to be helpful as we explored houses and neighborhoods in the area. When we were ready to make the move, Whitney helped us find and quickly get into contact on a property we loved. He and his team were seamless to work with throughout the entire process, and everything went very smoothly from start through to move in. We are so happy in our new home, and are thankful we worked with Whitney to purchase it. We would highly recommend him if you're looking for a world class Marin Country realtor!

- CHRIS A.

Whitney, Barr and their Own Marin team have just sold our home in Larkspur.  We were very pleased with our experience. From our first discussion the team answered our questions, sought to understand our goals, and helped us think through the approach for selling our home. They explained their recommendations, and laid out their vision of what we could do to strategically prepare and launch our listing in order to generate a high level of interest in our property. The team has very good taste, and their recommended upgrades proved to be great choices. Based on their extensive experience in the market, and their knowledge of the area, the team provided us with spot-on advice and insights. Their organization and execution in helping us get to market quickly was phenomenal.  Beyond cleaning up, painting (all their color choices and painter), new carpet, etc we used one of their incredible designer/stagers to bring a completely new look and feel to the home that would appeal to the largest portion of the buyers pool.  Allie, one of their team members, organized all of the improvement recommendations, bids, calendar items and work into incredibly detailed, organized easy to follow emails. Allie and the team were very easy to work with - professional and proactive!  The response to the listing was exciting to see; the team put in a lot of sweat equity to get the word out. This team is comprised of true professionals, able to negotiate well on our behalf while maintaining strong and trusting relationships with other agents.  Everything happened smoothly and with low stress. We completely recommend the Own Marin team for your Marin real estate needs.

- PHILLIP W.

Whitney is a pro. We hired him to find a new home in Mill Valley after a frustrating 3 year search in a low inventory environment. Consequently, we also hired him to sell our existing MV home.  We based the decision on his reputation locally, the strong, diverse team dynamic, and his thoughtful presentation on marketing our home. The number of off market transactions that the team handles is second to none, and I don't know of another Marin realtor with more Instagram followers for digital marketing reach, particularly to SF buyers. They found our new home (off market) within weeks. We asked Whitney to do an informal showing of our existing home, to test the waters.  In under a week, Whitney put together a group of 5 potential buyers to see the the home privately, and 2 of them made offers. The transaction was seamless, off market, and closed during the onset of the COVID pandemic. He was always candid and professional, and always on our side. We are happy to have Whitney in our lives, and would recommend him to anyone buying or selling in Marin.

- HILL J.

Whitney Potter and the Own Marin team made our dreams come true and just last week we closed on a house in Marin! My husband and I are regular people who dreamed of Marin schools for our daughter. We were in the most competitive price bracket (read: lowest) and thought it was going to be a bloodbath to get into a house before the start of the 2020 school year. Whitney was patient, thorough and kind when preparing us for the Marin real estate market. He took us on tours peppered with details about the best school districts, down to the streets where we may be able to afford homes. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of Marin and is able to pull out stats of when a house was sold and for what price. I doubt there is anyone who knows Marin like Whitney. When I had a question about a school district on a Friday at 4, he got me an answer from the school district in 15 minutes. Seriously. With him to guide us, we were able to put together an accepted offer that was LOWER than asking. Unheard of in the school district we were after. He was strategic and diligent (sacrificing his Thanksgiving holiday!) to give our offer a competitive edge. The man does not stop working - EVER. If you want to own a home in Marin, I cannot think of anyone better than Whitney.

- MONICA L.

We were introduced to Whitney and Barr through friends of friends after searching in the Kentfield/Larkspur/Ross area for over two years and within a week of our initial call with Barr, we were in contract to purchase our home. Whitney met us twice over a holiday weekend, showed us an off-market  home that hit everything on our "wish" list, advised us in offering a price we were more than comfortable with, and negotiated a credit for us on his own initiative. Whitney had a keen sense of what we were looking for, was very cognizant of what we did and did not need to be educated on in the process, and was highly responsive and easy to work with, and appeared to have a great working relationship with the seller's agent. We could not have had a better experience. Months after our purchase, Whitney continues to be a solid resource and someone we can rely on for providing insight and referrals for our home remodel and responding to our various inquiries.

- ROBIA C.

Finding a home in Marin County can be a daunting process, especially if your search radius is small and your timeframe is tight. When we'd tell people where we wanted our home to be, they'd warn us to get prepared for a very long, competitive search. Well, Whitney, Barr and the Own Marin team made what seemed impossible, possible. I can say, without a doubt, that we would not have found our beautiful home in our most ideal location had it not been for the Own Marin team. We are so grateful that a friend referred us to Whitney, saying "You have to work with them to find your next home!" and that is now what I say to anyone I know who is looking to purchase or sell a home in Marin. Buying a new home can be stressful, but from start to finish, our experience was positive, and we always had confidence that we were in good hands this time. We could not be happier! Thank you, Own Marin!

- NICOLE B.

Marin County Realtors Barr Haney, Whitney Potter and Allie Fornesi did a great job of tag teaming together as we went through the process of some renovations per their recommendations of simple bathroom fixtures, paint and floor refinishes. The Concierge program they have was a big help when they fronted the costs for some of the upgrades that eventually came out of the closing costs --no fees, no interest! They also put us in touch with a great stager that filled the house with a continuous style and flavor of decor that tied the house together. They were on top of the inspections that were required which were immediately followed by the open houses on Sat and Sun, then 4 offers by the following Tuesday--all over the asking price. Their follow-up guiding us through the very short negotiation stages led to a quick acceptance by all parties. I would of course use them again!

- DOUG O.

We were looking for real estate in Marin County, checking open houses on our own when we ran into Whitney. We weren't sure about real estate agents in Marin County as we were coming from the city. We could not have been happier we found Whitney. The entire team at Own Marin were absolutely fantastic. We found an amazing home in our price range. The transaction was smooth and easy.  He is honest, hard working, transparent, and extremely knowledgable about the area. We felt comfortable and well taken care of through out the entire process. I didn't think good deals exist in Marin County prior to meeting Whitney but they made it happen for us. I honestly believe he was only agent in Marin who could have made this deal work. If you are looking for an agent, look no forward. I would trust NO ONE more than Whitney. We would happily work with him and again and would refer him without hesitation.

- CHESTER G.

My husband and I worked with Whitney to buy our home in Tiburon. He's extremely knowledgeable of the area and worked with us as first time buyers to make sure we got the home of our dreams! We highly recommend him if you are looking for a place in Marin!  In addition we always felt comfortable with Whitney.  He never pushed us to make a decision.  Finally, he always responded in a timely fashion and also made time to show us houses outside the weekend. Thanks so much Whitney!

- LAUREN K.

We found the house of our dreams because of Whitney and Own Marin. The process of buying our first home seemed daunting but everything turned out perfectly. The house we bought was never listed, we found out about it because of Whitney's local network. Our house was also in a neighborhood we hadn't even heard of. Whitney's knowledge of Marin led us to a home in a charming and ideal neighborhood for us. Whitney is super responsive and provided a needed calming presence during what we thought was going to be a hectic process. We highly recommend Whitney.

- MAURA M.

Whitney and the Own Marin Team sold our home just recently at the end of 2018. It was such a great experience from start to finish! My husband and I found ourselves in a tight timeframe where we had to sell our house in Mill Valley, Marin County as quickly as possible. Whitney was referred to us by a friend who said "if I was selling my house in Marin County - this is the Marin County Real Estate Agent I'd use" ...we quickly realized why! Whitney and Allie came over to see our house for the first time and they jumped right in. Their enthusiasm about our property that we had put so much work into set the tone for a very positive, awesome working relationship. They immediately made a plan of action and sent us a detailed timeline for cleaning up the house, staging and going to market. Every effort was communicated clearly, openly and they gave us honest feedback for all their recommendations. They got our house looking absolutely amazing - they truly know how to rock staging and turn a home to a chic, hip, modern house that appeals to all different types of people.  And they had us ready to go on the market within two short weeks. Throughout the open house and prospective buyer phase they were always on top of communications and were very direct about the progress. They were always reassuring us when we needed it and they were very flexible and easy to work with if we had to switch gears. It also meant a lot to us that they never faltered in their belief of what our house was worth and the value they saw in a property we really put a lot of heart into. In the end, while bittersweet to say goodbye, it could not have been a better outcome of finding the right buyer, feeling good about the price we landed on and coming to a positive closure on a chapter that meant a lot to us as a family. We would absolutely recommend the Own Marin team to anyone and everyone and will most definitely call them again in the future if we find ourselves buying or selling again!

- ERIN R.

I can't say enough great things about Marin County Realtor Whitney Potter and his associate Julia Fitzpatrick...they are masters at what they do, great people and it is easy to communicate with them. Whitney and Barr listed and sold my Mill Valley home in 2015 and Whitney and Julia were my agents for my recent purchase of a home in Novato so I have worked with them twice. They have the experience and all of the skills you will need to sell or buy a house. Every detail is handled efficiently and timely by email, text and phone (they are like doctors "on-call"). Particularly strong is their negotiation skills and legalese; I felt like I had an attorney as part of my team. They also have fantastic resources.  The mortgage company they referred me to was able to qualify me for a loan in 7 days and secure it shortly after, which made me a very competitive buyer. Once you are in contract it works like clockwork with their help....in order to place a competitive offer my inspection contingency was only 5 days so they arranged for a top Marin building inspector to come out the next day! Truly they are the best, and really friendly, no pretense.  If you are looking for a Marin County real estate agent, I highly recommend them!

- E.B.

We were lucky enough to find Barr and Whitney at OwnMarin when looking for a Marin County real estate agent.  Barr was patient with us when looking for that first home and helped explain all the many details that are involved in home buying. Then when it was time to sell (and buy another home in the area through him), he was creative in marketing our home and it ended up selling before even hitting the market.  Barr Haney and Whitney Potter have helped us with three home transactions in the past 5 years and if you choose to work with them, you will be forever wiser and happier for it!

- MELISSA R.

Own Marin rocks! This is a team of pros who are at the top of their game. As a single mother and Peninsula native looking to relocate to Marin it was really important for me to understand what Marin had to offer not only in real estate but lifestyle as well. Social media played a significant role in my initial research and when I came across OwnMarin via Instagram I was immediately hooked. Amazing photos, cool properties, featured partners and businesses, outdoor adventures, snippets of the team and their personal lives. All of which made me feel more comfortable and interested in exploring Marin, meeting Whitney and Barr and the marketing genius that is Allie. They did not disappoint and from our first introduction to the close of my new home in Larkspur they hustled, executed, and leveraged their extensive knowledge, network and resources. Whitney and Barr are not just real estate agents but they are natives of Marin and deeply engrained within their respective communities. They are genuine people who care about their clients. Together they bring they bring a level of expertise and trust that is unparalleled and I'm happy to call these guys my friends.

- DANA B.

My wife and I hired Whitney Potter as our Marin County real estate agent to purchase our home in Larkspur. He was extremely professional, very knowledgeable about the area, respectful, and decisive in his advice for us during the home buying process. It was due to his expertise that we are now living in our "forever home." I can not recommend Whitney and his entire team at Own Marin strongly enough.

- GUION C.

We recently worked with Barr and Whitney to buy our first home in Marin. As first time homeowners moving from New York, they gave us so much insight into the area and what to expect from the process -- even from our very first call. They ended up introducing us to an area that wasn't even on our radar, and we're so glad they did.  Through them we found our new home super fast, and they made a very complicated process feel manageable.  They're also total experts on everything Marin, and they've gone out of their way to make us feel at home in our new neighborhood, from restaurant recommendations to advice on contractors.

- KATHERINE N.

I cannot say enough good things about Barr, Allie and Whitney. They were simply as good as it gets. We had put our house on the market with another agent and our home did not sell. I contacted Barr and his team and they could not have been more professional from day one. They recommended that we do some work on our home and every recommendation paid off and more. In addition the team was with us side by side every step of the way during the renovation. The house turned out beautiful. We started by having the house listed off market and before you knew it we had a full price offer. Barr then helped my mom purchase a new home and again he was there every step of the way. He NEVER pressured us to make any decisions and instead presented the facts along with his sage advice. The closing process was very streamlined and easy. In addition they connected us with an incredible interior decorator who has helped us decorate our new home out of state. This team is the gift that keeps giving and more.

- ALEXIS G.

The folks at Own Marin did a fantastic job from start to finish at handling the sale of our family home in Mill Valley recently.  Real estate transactions are more complicated than ever, so my wife and I were so glad to have such a skilled team handle the details.  Whitney, Barr, and Allie were a pleasure to work with. They let us know whenever we needed to do something of course, but mostly stayed behind the scenes and let us go on with our lives.  They made so many smart decisions, starting with exactly how to upgrade the house, then moving on to staging the house, and finally, dealing with the many inspections on the house.  Thanks to them, we ultimately received an offer that was way, way beyond expectations.  The entire process was incredibly smooth and free of surprises. Thanks Own Marin!

- STEPHEN K.

Barr and Whitney have represented me as both buyer and seller of homes ranging from fixer-uppers to ready to move in . They helped me sell my family home and buy the next one, helped me with my selection of investment homes for rehabilitation both sale and purchase. I found them to be incredibly knowledgeable about local values and a big resource as to the most effective way to add value. They provide a concierge service in effect and were able to organize the preparation and sale and staging of my rental home while I was out of state. They have consistently put their client’s interest first and are very protective in their representation, I would not hesitate to recommend them and find them extremely professional in their dealings with me.

- SUE T.

The Barr | Whitney team was highly recommended to us by several friends and they did not disappoint. Drawing on their many years of experience and expertise, they meticulously guided us through the entire process of selling our house and finding our new home. With multiple offers, our house sold quickly, and at the highest price per square footage in the area! Simultaneously, they found our new home and were able to negotiate a great price and swift closing. The Own Marin team was amazing to work with, they are a professional and talented team who always puts your needs and concerns first and we will definitely use them again!

- DAVE & SHEILA

Tough Buyer's Market Got You Down? Look No Further! After looking for a new home in Marin for several months, we took our friend's advice and called Whitney for help. Just as our friend had promised, everything went very quickly after that. Whitney has fantastic insider knowledge of the market - upcoming properties, off-market listings, and ways to get us in early. He also gave us honest feedback on homes - real pros and cons of different properties, advice on bidding amounts and strategies, and things we could do to make our offers more attractive. We had pretty particular needs, and Whitney helped us see a wide range of properties and once we found what we were looking for, he helped us get the winning bid on a home we love. Whitney and his team then went the extra mile to help us coordinate much of the closing while we were overseas. We couldn't be happier!

- JAMIE K.