Business Details
35 Years
experience
Your Trusted Mountain Empire Real Estate Partner
Sonoita Realty is a locally owned and operated full-service real estate firm established in 1991 by Richard and Barbara Barkley. Since 2003, Kathy O'Brien, daughter of the founders, has served as Broker/Owner, continuing the legacy of integrity, honesty, and exceptional service. Our team specializes in residential, commercial, vacant land, and ranch property transactions across the Mountain Empire region of Southern Arizona. With over three decades of local market expertise, we prioritize client needs while maintaining deep community ties. Our commitment to the Realtor Code of Ethics ensures ethical practices grounded in the Golden Rule.As the longest-standing real estate firm in the area, we combine generational knowledge with modern real estate solutions. Our agents possess extensive experience in navigating property transactions, leveraging local insights to avoid potential pitfalls. We are proud members of the National Association of Realtors and Tucson MLS, ensuring industry-standard professionalism. Our mission remains to serve clients with transparency, expertise, and unwavering dedication to their real estate goals. This enduring commitment has solidified our reputation as a trusted partner in the Sonoita community.
Services
Residential Sales
Commercial Properties
Land Transactions
Ranch Management
Property Listings
Details
- Year established: 1991
Highlights and features
- We offer 30+ years of local real estate expertise in the Mountain Empire region
- Our team includes fourth-generation Arizona residents with deep community knowledge
- We maintain membership in National Association of Realtors and Tucson MLS
- Our agents specialize in unique property types including ranches and vacant land
- We provide personalized service with a commitment to ethical business practices
What people say
Exceptional local knowledge
Honest brokers
Successful transactions
Ethical practices
Community commitment
Services
Residential Sales
Our residential sales specialists guide clients through Arizona's unique housing market. We offer expert pricing analysis, marketing strategies, and negotiation skills for traditional homes and custom properties. Our local knowledge ensures smooth transactions in Sonoita's desirable neighborhoods.
Commercial Properties
We specialize in commercial property transactions for investors and business owners. Our services include site selection, lease analysis, and investment property evaluation across Southern Arizona's growing markets. Our team understands zoning regulations and development potential.
Land Transactions
Our land specialists handle vacant and improved land sales throughout the Mountain Empire. We provide accurate property assessments, boundary information, and development potential analysis for agricultural, residential, and commercial parcels.
Ranch Management
We offer comprehensive services for ranch and estate properties, including valuation, marketing, and transaction management. Our team understands the unique requirements of large acreage properties and rural land stewardship.
Property Listings
Our full-service listing package includes professional photography, MLS exposure, and targeted marketing campaigns. We leverage local market knowledge to maximize property visibility and achieve optimal sale prices for all property types.
People
Kathy O'Brien
Broker / Owner
Fourth-generation Arizona native with 20+ years of real estate experience. Specializes in Mountain Empire properties and community development. Maintains active involvement in local business associations.
Rochelle O'Brien
Realtor / Associate
Tucson native with extensive knowledge of Southern Arizona markets. Focuses on residential transactions and first-time homebuyer education. Active participant in local real estate education programs.
Larry DeMun
Associate Broker
Arizona resident since 1977 with expertise in commercial properties and land development. Provides strategic guidance for investment properties and business relocations.
Dee DeMun
Realtor
Community-focused agent with 20 years of local experience. Specializes in residential sales and property management. Active in Sonoita community organizations and events.
Eddie O'Brien
Maintenance Manager
Construction industry veteran with 35+ years of experience. Oversees property maintenance and improvement projects. Provides technical expertise for property evaluations and renovations.
Questions
What areas does Sonoita Realty serve?
We specialize in the Mountain Empire region of Southern Arizona, including Sonoita, Elgin, and Patagonia.
What property types do you handle?
We manage residential homes, commercial properties, vacant land, ranches, and unique estates across Southern Arizona.
Are your agents locally based?
Yes, all our agents are locally based with deep community ties and generational Arizona experience.
What makes Sonoita Realty different?
As the region's longest-standing firm, we combine 30+ years of local expertise with personalized service and ethical practices.
Reviews (7)
Sharon Scofield
Nov 02, 2021
Report
Just around the corner from the fairgrounds. Stop in talk to Larry or Dee, see what's available if you are in the market for a home, ranch, or vacant land. You'll be glad you did.
John Paolucci
Sep 09, 2019
Report
The best place to buy or sell real estate in southeastern Arizona! Knowledgeable and attentive staff are always available without being overly persistent. I've had great experiences with Sonoita Realty - highly recommend!!
Jan Smith
Jun 27, 2019
Report
Kathy OBrien knows the area and it seems, everyone in it! She is extremely knowledgeable, helpful and does what ever it takes to get the job completed. Always looking out for her clients best interest. If you are interested in the beautiful areas near Sonoita, you will be so glad you used Kathy to help you!
Micki
Jun 01, 2019
Report
I highly recommend Sonoita Realty if you are looking for a home here. Sonoita Realty is very professional, knowledgeable and highly motivated. Their knowledge of the area is exceptional. You won't find more helpful Agents anywhere.
Steve Huhtala
Oct 26, 2018
Report
Kathy O'Brien from Sonoita Realty recently sold a house in Sonoita for us. She found creative solutions to sell it which worked for both the buyers and us. She is very knowledgeable about the market in the area and always helpful and nice to work with. If we have any real estate needs in the future we will definitely call Sonoita Realty.
Victoria P.
Jul 21, 2018
Report
Great people! Amazing knowledge of the real estate in the area! Highly recommend Kathy, nancy, Dee Dee, or anyone else in the office! We consider them all friends!
Roland Scarinci
Nov 12, 2017
Report
Kathy O'Brien from Sonoita Realty was referred to us by our agent in the Phoenix Metro area. We were on a hunt for some land in the area and Kathy's knowledge and expertise of the area was incredibly valuable. Kathy always took time out of her day to help to accommodate our challenging schedule due to the time it would take us to drive that far south. If you have the opportunity to scout out the Sonoita/Elgin area for a jewel, you should use Kathy and Sonoita Realty. I am pretty sure Kathy knows everyone and everything about the area!
