Robert Donahue

1/18/24Sehin Belew

Google Review

I am a San Francisco Bay Area resident I was in San Diego for a meeting a few years ago. Though the only places I went to were the airport, hotel and convention center, I fell in love with the city. Just on that short experience, I decided to make San Diego the place where I would retire.

Though I have a real estate broker license myself, I decided to hire a local Realtor who knows the market. I reached out to Compass Real Estate and met Rob Donahue on the phone in early December. At the time, I was interested in a particular complex. I told him where I want to buy a place and for how much. About a week later, he reached out to me and told me that there was a unit on the market. He also went there and videotaped the unit and its surrounding though I told him he did not have to. He went beyond the call of duty.

He also recommended that I see another complex, that was coming on the market. I flew to San Diego that weekend. On Sunday, we saw both properties and I found out the new property he showed me was a much better fit for me. Though I was searching online, I would not have found that property in time to catch it before it got sold.

We were the first to see this property and we put an offer right away. The seller had a couple of confirmed appointments for the next day, but they cancelled them and accepted my offer. I was even able to negotiate for a better price. Throughout the process, Rob had been on top of everything. Whether it was daytime, nighttime or even while he was on vacation, he reached out to me to make sure that things were going smoothly.

Even though I purchased the unit AS IS, he asked the seller to fix an item for me. Because he has been in the business for many years, he also has a network of people whom I can call on to remodel the place or fix when things break.

Lastly, he is a man of ethics. This is huge for me. To work with someone who has ethics and integrity when you are dealing with your biggest transaction, is crucial. Rob is simply the best and a great pleasure to work with. He made a transaction that can be stressful, very enjoyable.

4/30/23Jordan Flanzer

Google Review

Rob is the most incredible real estate agent ON THE PLANET. I met him when I first moved to San Diego and he never stopped helping me find the perfect place, even throughout the covid 19 epidemic. He has been the most fantastic real estate agent to work with and goes above and beyond. Highly, highly recommend using him if you are looking for the perfect home.

3/7/23Ashley Allott

Google Review

Rob is the best! As a first time home buyer, Rob made the process as stress free as possible. He was always available for questions through out the buying process and after purchase. Highly recommend!

3/4/23Gary Letchinger

Google Review

Rob helped us with the purchase of a property a few months ago.. He was very helpful in negotiating the purchase price of the property and helped us negotiate a fair deal. He was also very helpful when we requested some repairs from the sellers. His good relationship with the selling agent resulted in success. Rob is very personable, professional and listened to our needs as buyers. Highly recommended.

10/4/22Catherine Bauer

Google Review

Rob is an exceptional realtor, and we highly recommend him to anyone. My husband and I met Rob in the Spring of 2021 when we started to search for a property in the San Diego area. It was a joy to work with Rob and he made a potentially chaotic purchase process a lot easier.

Finding the right property in the challenging CA market was not small feast and it took us a year, four rejected offers, competing with 10-12 offers on the same property and multiple open houses to find our dream home. During that time, Rob was there every step of the way, answering our questions quickly even though we live in a different time zone. He was arranging tours when we were in town and giving us great feedback at every step of the process. His incredible knowledge of the market allowed us to get a realistic view of what we could purchase and in which area. He was kind and a great listener with a ton of energy.

His help didn’t stop once the purchase agreement was signed, and Rob kept going above and beyond after we secured the home. He has helped us numerous times ever since, helping us identifying contractors and other various professionals and even lending a hand when we needed. We are truly grateful!!

8/30/22James Tapper

Google Review

Rob is the best, he helped us to sell our condo and buy a house all at the same time (generally not recommended)! He kept track of all the different dates for both sales and we were always on top of things due to his help. I would, and have, recommended Rob to my friends and family for any of their real estate needs. Thanks again Rob!

8/30/22Michael Couverley

Google Review

Rob is the best! Couldn't of been more helpful and knowledgeable with the home buying process. Even with this crazy market, I couldn't recommend him enough!

4/20/22M.C. Broker

Google Review

Professional, honest, great communication skills, looking forward to do more business with Rob in the future.

2/10/22Andrew Lineback

Google Review

I can’t say enough about what a pleasure it was to work with Rob. Throughout the process, he provided the perfect balance of great advice while also staying highly-attuned to our individual preferences to make sure we got exactly what we were looking for. We did our home-search in an incredibly challenging market (Q4 2021) and were at times competing with 20+ offers on the same house. While this could have easily led to a daunting and unpleasant experience, Rob’s immense knowledge of the market and infectious positivity actually made it a fun experience. He blends the perfect combination of being friendly and flexible in his approach while also exhibiting a great capacity for keeping track of every little detail and making sure no stone is left unturned. His passion for the real estate profession shines through in his impeccable knowledge of the market and ability to provide on-point advice. While I was very happy with my previous realtor from another home purchase in another city, I can say without question that Rob has completely altered my perception of the value that a realtor can bring to your home-buying experience. Working with Rob also means that you’ll have access to his deep and capable network of lenders, home inspectors, etc. He stayed heavily-involved in every step of the process, resulting in a seamless experience that left us feeling very secure the entire time.

1/27/22Matthew Downey

Google Review

Rob was amazing to work with. He shared his knowledge and took the time to explain the various neighborhoods we were looking at. Once he helped find the perfect property, he was diligent and timely in pushing everything to close. He took time to come back to the property and go over things, and has wonderful recommendations of people to work with. Highly highly recommended.

12/14/21Courtney Blake

Google Review

Rob is the third and by far the best realtor my husband and I have worked with. Rob is a wealth of knowledge and has a steady pulse on the San Diego market and nuances of all the different areas - something we really needed as we narrowed our search. It's easy to get discouraged, but Rob's attitude makes that hard to do! He approaches things pragmatically and is very empathetic which is an important trait as it's an emotional decision searching for your home and not knowing what exactly you want.

Rob created custom neighborhood tours and helped us explore places on our own, and he even checked out some properties on our behalf when things were getting overwhelming.

Once we found our home, we didn't have to worry about a thing. Rob has contracts buttoned up, manages timelines, and all you have to do is show up and trust him!

Rest assured he won't abandon you once the sale is complete. He has checked in and has been there for us with any questions we've had. We feel he genuinely cares about us and our new home.

Finding someone who listens and truly understands what you want is rare. Don't hesitate to work with Rob, he is the best of the best.

8/17/21Meghan McMahon

Google Review

Rob was SO great to work with! As first time home buyers, Rob made sure to explain things thoroughly and make sure we were comfortable throughout the whole process. It would have been easy to get discouraged in this competitive market, but Rob made it such a positive experience and helped us beat out many competitive offers.

8/12/21Leeor Nehardea

Google Review

Hands down, simply the best realtor you can work with.

We started looking for a house and contacted a few realtors. Rob also helped our friends, so we decided to continue with him. Since then, Rob became almost like a family to us. He helped us understanding all the difficult terminology, fight for every house we wanted, give us realistic expectations for what we should pay or not for a house.

The process was very fast with Rob, very professional, and super comforting. We knew we had the best guy on our side. He helped us negotiate deals and give us any possible tip to gain an advantage in such a competitive market. And it worked!

At the end of the day, I'm sure there are plenty of great realtors out there, but if you want the best person for the task on your side, fighting for you, going the extra TWO miles(!) I promise you, Rob Donahue is your guy! Rob even helped us two months after we moved in it with issues, completely unrelated to him, we had and didn't know whom to contact. He didn't even ask for anything in return.

8/11/21Lily Ann Gloria

Google Review

I met Rob Donahue at an open house he was holding in San Diego. When it came time for me to sell a Trust property, I contacted Rob to handle the sale. He immediately formulated a plan to get my home on the market as soon as possible. He arranged for an aerial video of my property and on May 30, 2021, he had a fully executed listing agreement. On June 1, 2021 at 7:00AM, the listing went live! Rob scheduled private showings for June 4th and 5th. On June 4th, there were many serious offers and Rob secured a buyer for well over the listing price—an offer we could not refuse! Closing was efficient and painless. Rob’s work ethic is superior, and he is a genuinely kind and caring person. Rob takes great pride in providing excellent service and results. Rob truly went above and beyond! Thanks Rob, I will always remember you as a top notch realtor with a kind heart.

1/13/21Sarah Bauer

Google Review

My husband and I loved working with Rob to find our first home in the San Diego area. He helped us get a feel for different neighborhoods and was patient and supportive, taking the time to explain everything in full detail since it was our first time around.

Rob is a great listener and was able to quickly pick up on what we were looking for and zero in on target neighborhoods and properties. We can't recommend Rob enough and plan to use him for all our real estate needs moving forward.

12/7/20Mike Berl

Google Review

Rob was fantastic! My wife and I were selling our house in San Diego, while living in DC, during COVID - the makings of a disaster. But was Rob came to our rescue and took care of everything. He was always responsive to us, despite a time change, and exceeded our expectations. His vision and due diligence led our house to be the first to sell over $500k in the neighborhood. Can't recommend him enough!

11/19/20ana kuznecova

Google Review

Rob was highly recommended to me by a family friend. As I was a first time home buyer, Rob went above and beyond his job duties to help me with the process. Even in this tough Covid market Rob genuinely had my best interest in mind, he was patient with all the offers we sent out along with numerous properties we viewed. I am extremely grateful to have gotten to know Rob during this process and would strongly advise everyone to use him!

11/6/20Jack Samuels

Google Review

Rob Donahue is the best read estate broker in San Diego. Rob worked with us until we found the perfect investment. He was professional, smart, patient, conscientious, diligent and tenacious. Rob is a delight to work with and he goes way beyond the call of duty to make the process of buying real estate as easy and stress free as possible. Rob takes care of his clients. Now that we have worked with Rob, I wouldn't consider working with anyone else. Rob is the BEST!!

11/6/20Howard Samuels

Google Review

Rob is a first class professional that knows his markets very well; spends time to understand his clients (buyers and sellers); and is a great person!
Couldn't recommend any broker higher!! Pleasure to work with!!

9/26/19Tim Conroy

Google Review

Rob is the best realtor in San Diego! Always took time to explain the process, was readily available whenever we needed to discuss something about closing or repairs, and kept us informed whenever he heard from the seller. Definitely hire Rob if you're looking to buy in the area.

9/19/19Maya Golan

Google Review

We were first time home buyers and had a amazing experience with Rob as our realtor. He was always happy to see more houses with us, even after dragging him to the 294,755th home we wanted to see. He was super helpful in helping us navigate all of the legal and paperwork involved in the process and gave us all the information we needed in order to make educated decisions without being pushy at any point in time. I would definitely recommend him to anyone who is looking for an honest and hard-working realtor to help them find the right home! He will always be fighting to get you the best possible home at the best price.

9/19/19Yair Zaharovich

Google Review

SUPER RECOMMENDED ! !
Rob was our realtor for a house we bought in Santee, CA and was really great at explaining the local game rules, fighting our fights when needed, and always looking out for the best solution from a BUYER'S POINT OF VIEW.
I would highly recommend using Rob's services for anyone who is looking for an honest, energetic and professional realtor in the San Diego county area!

9/4/19derek major

Google Review

Robs great and got me settled in my place very quickly. Would highly recommend him again!

9/4/19Mike Gentry

Google Review

Rob is an amazing real estate agent! Rob has represented us in three complicated transactions last year involving family partnerships, 1031 exchanges, as well as facilitated overseas signatures. He has the perfect personality for an agent with unlimited energy, persistence, and seems to work out the inventible complications calmly and with humor. Very willing to accompany us to meetings with escrow, 1031 exchange specialist, and personal accountant. I unconditionally recommend Rob as he works very well with Buyers and Sellers. Rob is ultimately fair and honest but firm in what he believes.

1/7/19Helen Elhard

Google Review

Rob was recommended to me by a general contractor I was interviewing for a remodel of a family house I planned to sell. From the moment I met him I was impressed by his knowledge and easy manner. He showed a level of integrity and transparency in all areas that inspired my trust and helped ease the anxiety from what could have been a stressful experience. His enthusiasm and sense of humor made the process fun.

Rob was always accessible to answer my questions and would take the initiative to message me to ask how I was doing and to keep me up to date. When the first sale fell through, he found a new buyer within 48 hours and we were able to close escrow quickly. If and when I sell my current home, I will definitely be contacting Rob and he gets my highest recommendation for anyone needing a realtor.

1/2/19Leah Schicker

Google Review

My husband and I were first time home buyers. Rob made the experience so much fun for us and our son. He was very involved in every step of the way and most of all was honest. We appreciated all the work he put into buying a house and most of all made it an easy process for us!

4/24/18Becky Leon

Google Review

My husband and I were first time home buyers, after searching for a home on and off for years, we were referred to Rob in December of 2017 and were closing Escrow in less than 2 months after! Rob and his partner Kara held our hand through every step of the way, providing us with exceptional service and had our best interest along the way. I'd refer them both in a heart beat, I'm confident that it's because of them that we found our forever home.

1/28/18Kevin Hoff

Google Review

Rob and his partner Kara are the perfect combination of professionalism and fun to keep you at ease during the home buying experience. As first time buyers, we were thankful for their ability to find an off-market property in our price range, their attention to detail during inspections and drafting offers and counter offers, and their lightheartedness as we joked our way through what could have been a much more stressful time. We highly recommend them and are happy whenever we bump into them in PB knowing they are part of the community in which they focus their efforts.

1/1/18Anatoliy Moroz

Google Review

I can't say enough good things about Rob. As a first time home buyer, I was told that the process would be very tedious and unpleasant, however this experience was the complete opposite. He is knowledgeable, approachable, personable, endlessly patient, and incredibly generous with his time. He is a one stop shop when it comes to buying a home, starting with the pre market viewing of the property, all the way to having a reliable general contractor. Buying a home in this market is challenging, but I am looking forward to getting my next property with Rob. Not only was I able to purchase a beautiful home, but I also gained a good friend out of this who I still keep in contact with.

12/29/17Mary Durkin

Google Review

As first time home buyers, we consider ourselves lucky to have found Rob. He made the entire home buying process a fun, personalized experience and at the end, we had a home we loved and a new friend! During our search, we encountered dozens of real estate agents in Pacific Beach and none of them understood the beach/bay market as well as Rob. On top of his knowledge and his obvious passion for what he does, he takes a sincere interest in getting to know his clients and he was able to find many properties that fit our specifications. We looked at several places before they even hit the market, and we completely understood the value a real estate agent could provide after our experience working with Rob. He was “no pressure” from the beginning and we genuinely felt he had our best interest in mind the entire time. Though we were looking for several months, not once did we feel like we were getting “sold” on a property. We sincerely felt like we just had an expert on our team that we could consult with on every decision along the way. We can confidently say that we wouldn't be in this house that we love without Rob's help and guidance!

12/27/17David Robrecht

Google Review

We had a great experience working with Rob. We bought and sold within 6 months due to family circumstances and he helped us get the most value out of our resale. He went above and beyond helping us and was available at every step along the process.

12/15/17Meg Burton

Google Review

Rob was a fantastic realtor, and I honestly could not recommend him enough! From the day I decided I wanted to start looking for a place to buy, he was attentive, helpful, and more than willing to go above and beyond in helping me find my dream home. In fact, it was only the third place he showed me that I fell in love, a testament to him identifying properties that he knows meet his client's criteria. Throughout the whole process, he was very knowledgeable, accessible, and incredibly informative and helpful. He was incredibly patient in answering all the questions I had as a first time home buyer, and was very honest when asked for his opinion on the market, the property, and anything else I could think of. His entire goal, each day, was to make sure that I was happy in the home I wanted to buy, and he worked tirelessly to make sure everything was as perfect as it could be, whether that meant answering questions about the inspection report, showing me binders of comparable properties, or putting himself out there as an option of first resort for any questions I had, regardless of the topic. He also worked exceptionally well with my lender, which made the process much smoother.

In every step during this process, I was glad Rob was by my side, lending his knowledge and expertise, and always making the process more enjoyable. It is evident that Rob loves what he does, is passionate about real estate, and enjoys finding the perfect homes for each of his clients. I have recommended him wholeheartedly to my parents, my friends, and recommend him to anyone else who is looking to buy, either for the first time, or not.

6/14/17Kara Kay

Google Review