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Meet John B. McKernan II of Two Brown Dogs Realty in Fulton

Today we’d like to introduce you to John B. McKernan II.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
After staying home with my son the first few years of his life, I wanted to find something that gave me the flexibility to work while he was in preschool and still be the dad I wanted to be.

At the time, the real estate market was at its bottom. Always up for a challenge, I chose real estate as my path forward. I never saw real estate as a market, rather, I saw – and still see it – as being all about relationships.

After earning my license, I interviewed with several brokerages and chose Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Atlanta because of Mary McPherson, the broker of the Alpharetta office. Mary immediately understood and accepted my approach: I didn’t want to sell the most properties of all the agents in the office. I wanted to have the best relationships with my clients.

While other brokers I interviewed with wanted to mold me into their vision of me, Mary’s commitment to me created a relationship that I value to this day. She was more than a mentor; she was (and is) a genuine friend.

Mary encouraged me to pursue my broker’s license because of the options having that license presents. I’m not sure who was happier the day I earned my license – Mary, or my beautiful bride, Tracy.

A couple of years ago, Mary retired and I found that, while I’d enjoyed success at Coldwell Banker, I was ready for something more. After careful thought and consideration, my wife and I, partners in everything we do, decided to open our own brokerage.

But what would we call it? How could we set ourselves apart from all of the big name, established brokerages? Then, one night, it came to us. Or, rather, they came to us. As Tracy and I were talking, our two rescued chocolate labs, Wrigley and Fenway, walked into the room and sprawled across the rug. Tracy and I looked at each other and we knew: Two Brown Dogs Realty was born.

As Two Brown Dogs Realty evolved, we realized John there was a piece missing. Real estate is about more than just relationships. It’s also about community and giving back to that community in time, effort and service. We donate at least $500 from every commission to a non-profit organization of our client’s choice. In the event a client doesn’t have a preference, we donate to Life is Labs Rescue in memory of our founding member, Fenway.

When we do our jobs right, we get to see families grow, small businesses thrive and, best of all, we share in that excitement with clients who have become friends.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Outwardly, founding and running Two Brown Dogs Realty has been a smooth road. Inwardly, at least initially, owning our business was no small leap of faith, but it’s a leap we would take again and again.

Our current struggle is whether to remain small or to go the traditional route and invite agents to join Two Brown Dogs. A huge part of John loves to coach, but that would require giving up his day-to-day interactions with clients. For now, we’re going to stay small but, as they say, there’s no telling what the future will hold.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Two Brown Dogs Realty specializes in residential sales for buyers and sellers along the GA-400 corridor from Buckhead to Lake Lanier, including Sandy Springs, Roswell, East Cobb, Alpharetta, Cumming and Gainesville.

We do selective commercial engagements when client goals and broker experience align.

We’re known for having the client’s best interest at heart no matter what. There’s no pressure for buyers working with Two Brown Dogs. We move at our clients’ pace, period. This approach allows us to remove a great deal of angst and pressure that can often be felt during the buying and selling process.

Community involvement, in addition to our client focus, sets us apart. Whether sponsoring a charity golf outing for Soaring Hawks Foundation, donating a virtual reality system to the STEM lab at Hembree Springs Elementary School or leading a fourth grade book club discussion, being engaged in our community is key.

What were you like growing up?
Born and raised in the South, I spent summers in Texas with my grandparents and the rest of my youth in Alabama before moving to the Atlanta area when I was 12 years old. I spent my considerable energy cheering on Alabama football, playing with my black lab, and doing any and every outdoor activity involving the woods or a lake. Like many young men, I spent my spare time keeping my parents on their toes.

I attended high school at Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, Georgia and currently Vice Chairman of their alumni council. After high school, I earned a business degree from Shorter College.

Contact Info:

McKernan – Two Brown Dogs Shoot


Image Credit:
Michael Boatright Photography

Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

1 Comment

  1. Mary McPherson

    November 11, 2017 at 1:14 am

    Thank you for the kind words, John. I hope you know how proud of you I am!

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