The Orso Difference

“I’m not trying to be the number-one Realtor in the state of Maryland; I just want to be the very best right here in Severna Park, Arnold and Annapolis,” said 25-year veteran Realtor David Orso.

“Here” is where he grew up: Orso is an Annapolis native and Severna Park High School graduate. “Here” is where he and wife Dawn have raised their family: all three of their kids went through the Broadneck school system. “Here” is where the Orsos have built a real estate business over two-plus decades. “Here” is where the family gives back as often as they can.

To Orso, being the best “here” means serving the greater Severna Park area with excellence, care and connection.

Orso is the owner of the David Orso Team of Berkshire Hathaway Realty, which is comprised of a team of four dedicated staff, all of whom are licensed professionals.

Though his office has represented more than 1,500 clients and has more than $1 billion in total volume sold, Orso does not aspire to sell the highest volume of homes or have the widest reach in Maryland.

Instead, he desires to do more of exactly what he’s done for 23 years: help customers buy and sell homes in a defined area where he can be a valuable resource to them long after their closing date.

Orso estimates that 95% of his business happens within Severna Park, Arnold, Millersville, Pasadena, Annapolis and Crownsville.

“Our secret sauce is geographic depth,” Orso shared. “I don’t focus on a specific property type. I don’t focus on a particular type of client. I only want to work here. My goal is to go deeper, not wider.

“So, whether it’s a $200,000 condo in Arnold or a $3 million waterfront on the Severn River, it’s the same to me as long as it’s in the same zip code,” he added.

Why limit business to a hyperlocal focus? Pragmatically, Orso said that the less time he spends driving all over the place, the more time he can devote to serving his clients. But an intimate familiarity with the communities in which he lives and works offers customers other advantages, too.

“I want to be a resource for ‘Who’s the best pediatrician?’ ‘What’s the best place for dinner?’ ‘What properties are going to be sold off market?’ I want to be the center of the referral commerce – that’s how I see my value, and I think my clients see that as a value, too – like, here’s a guy who knows everything from the best spot to go fishing to the best podiatrist, and you can only get to that place by going deeper in a market,” Orso said.

More than a market, the greater Severna Park area is also the community his family cherishes and supports. The Orsos have given well over $500,000 to more than 20 charities over the years. They give 10% of every home sale to a charity, often chosen by the client, right off the top. In November, the Orsos hosted a fundraiser that generated over $30,000 for three Anne Arundel County-based nonprofits.

Orso emphasized that his wife, Dawn, is the powerhouse behind their philanthropy, sharing that she has a huge heart for serving and a keen ability to identify needs in the community where they can have an immediate impact.

“We’ve always viewed this business as a vehicle to serve our community,” Orso said. He shared that Dawn not only works as the business’ marketing and community events director but also volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, delivers soup to local shelters, and much more.

“She’s incredibly talented and could be doing other things, but we see that as our contribution of time, talent and treasure to the market – the three T’s,” he said, echoing the familiar refrain that behind every man there’s a great woman.

Their clients are often behind them, too. The Orsos are grateful that many of their customers are quick to jump on board when they rally support for a cause or put out an ask for donations.

An acute understanding of area market trends is a natural byproduct of being committed to keeping business local, as well. Orso shared his belief that the qualities that made Severna Park desirable decades ago are still drawing people to the area today.

Proximity to a major airport as well as Baltimore, Annapolis and Washington, D.C., great schools and youth sports programs, strong families, defined communities, centers of faith, and so much more continue to attract home buyers.

Conversely, Orso observed that the increasing age of homes in Severna Park is a growing obstacle, with many homes that are between 50-80 years old not being updated to the preferences of today’s buyers.

He predicts this will spark a trend of older homes in great neighborhoods being torn down and replaced with new builds.

But for buyers, Orso noted, it’s not all about modern construction or cosmetic upgrades.

“I think the thing that people miss about home values is, it isn’t about your countertops and your appliances. Sometimes it’s the basics like kindness, a feeling of community, being a good neighbor, supporting the small business owner – all those things are where people want to live,” he explained. “They want to live next to somebody that’s kind, they want to live next to someone that cares about the community. So, ‘be a good neighbor’ is what I would say if you want to make more money on your house … as crazy as that is, it all comes back to you economically.”

Thinking about the future of his business, Orso shared he would be thrilled if his children got involved – he’s always thought it would be cute to be able to call it “Orso and Daughters” – but for now, his goals are simple. He wants to build on the strong foundation that has been laid over 23 years, empower his team members to continue the good will that they’ve established, and maybe, “just more of the same.”

“I’m very proud of what we’ve built, I’m proud of the way that we love on our clients, and I’m honored to be a part of their story,” he said.

The David Orso Team of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty can be found at 8 Evergreen Road in the heart of Severna Park. To learn about buying or selling a home with David Orso, call 443-372-7171 or go to www.davidorso.com.