Bratton Realty
John Bratton
In 1999, John felt the need for speed again so he launched himself into the world of real estate. Upon his two year minimum requirement, John launched his own firm and Bratton Realty was established April 1, 2001. Bratton Realty's motto is “The Business of Bringing People Together,” and to that end, John’s focus is to build relationships, one client at a time as a micro-boutique independent brokerage firm. That focus has proven to be incredibly successful, and Bratton Realty now serves the Washington Metropolitan Area.
John instinctively empathizes with those who built the community as well as newcomers moving in a neighborhood rich with history. “I recall being furious that most real estate agents would not use the word Shaw," he says. "They used endless creative descriptions to avoid using the name in their listings. So I create a huge marketing campaign with brochures entitled, SHAW IS THE PLACE! Funny how years later Shaw became one of the hottest words in DC real estate. I don’t believe in hiding the history of a community -- I believe in embracing and celebrating that which came before us!”
John jumped into real estate with both feet in 1999 in search of a career and lifestyle that embodied professional freedom, financial independence, community involvement, and personal creativity. As a former star sprinter and life coach whose personal motto is “know no limits,” John does not know the meaning of a slow start.
By the time he entered real estate, he had completed his bachelor’s degree in Business Management with a minor in Military Science, been Commissioned as an Army Logistics Officer, served our country during Desert Storm, earned an MBA, and completed a successful ten-year career in Higher Education at Strayer and George Washington Universities. In 1993, after leading 156 men and women to war and back, John earned his MBA with a thesis that focused on helping veterans transition from military to civilian life.
For John, "supporting our troops" was more than a bumper sticker. His career took him at lightning speed from Admissions Counselor to Campus Director at Strayer University. At the same time, John designed and directed a special outreach program for Strayer that was showcased in their IPO when Strayer went public. John’s career in education later took him to George Washington University, where he served as the Director of Marketing and Admissions for the Master’s and PhD programs at GWU’s Columbian College of Arts and Sciences.
As John says, “I treat my degrees and military experiences and life lessons as I treated my golden baton in a sprint relay: grip it with confidence, make a smooth and timely transition, and never let up until you are way past the finish line.”
In 1999, John felt the need for speed again so he launched himself into the world of real estate. Upon his two year minimum requirement, John launched his own firm and Bratton Realty was established April 1, 2001. Bratton Realty's motto is “The Business of Bringing People Together,” and to that end, John’s focus is to build relationships, one client at a time. That focus has proven to be incredibly successful, and Bratton Realty grew to 10 agents, with boutique brick and mortar locations in Georgetown, Logan Circle, and Shaw, and serving metropolitan Washington, Virginia, and Maryland.
John instantly seems to emphasize with those who built the community as well as those whom endured the history of their neighborhood. “I recall being furious that most real estate agents would not use the word Shaw," he says. "They used endless creative descriptions to avoid using the name in their listings. So I create a huge marketing campaign with brochures entitled, SHAW IS THE PLACE! Funny how years later Shaw became one of the hottest words in DC real estate. I don’t believe in hiding the history of a community -- I believe in embracing and celebrating that which came before us!”
"The Business of Bringing People Together" is a perfect way to describe John’s capacity to love, educate, and bond -- with his clients and neighbors as much as with family and friends. It has earned him the nickname “The Mayor” as he celebrates Bratton Realty's 20-year anniversary in 2021.