John Williams and Dot Hammer are experienced real estate brokers who have been working together for over 15 years. They prioritize client satisfaction above all else and strive to develop lasting relationships. Through careful listening and guidance, they help clients navigate real estate transactions. With over 1,000 transactions between them, John and Dot leverage their extensive market knowledge and industry connections to find the best solutions for buyers and sellers. Their commitment to exceptional client service has resulted in 95% of their business coming from referrals and repeat clients.

1. ExecutiveAgent Magazine
J
ohn Williams and Dot Hammer are both Brokers,
together with more than four decades of experi-
ence in the real estate industry. The dynamic duo
has been working together for more than 15 years and
are recipients of numerous local and national sales and
service awards. Yet despite all of the accolades they’ve
received, the one thing that matters most to them and is
their ultimate measure of success is client satisfaction.
Their knowledge of finance, the local market and vast
transaction history may be why clients call them the first
time, but they keep coming back because of the level
of service they provide and the lasting friendships they
develop.
John has a master’s degree from
The Wharton School of Finance and
spent four years in the Air Force
as a Contract Officer while also
working as a White House Aide. He
later started his own management
consulting practice and managed the
business for 13 years before deciding
to follow his parents’ decision to
move to California. John caught
a glimpse of the shortcomings of
the real estate industry through the
process of his parents buying a
home in Orange County. “I wasn’t
impressed with the whole process so
it motivated me to get a real estate
license,” says John. “I wasn’t sure
how long I would practice real estate
but it seemed like a good way to get
to know the business and Orange
County.”
Dot received a degree in marketing
from the University of Connecticut
and was in training to become a
department store buyer when she
decided to move across country. Her
sister moved to California and Dot
went with her thinking it would be a
fun place to live. She worked as an
executive assistant before deciding
she wanted a career that offered more
flexibility. She earned her real estate
Broker’s license and went to work
for a few years before taking time
off to raise her three children. When
her kids got older, Dot returned to
the real estate industry.
John and Dot met 15 years ago at an industry event and
decided to join forces to work for a company that evolved
into Harcourts® Prime Properties where they still are
today. The two have built a successful business around
the motto “clients first.” If you take care of the client,
then everything else will take care of itself, according to
John. It’s the small details like previewing every property
before you show them to a client that make a difference
for the duo. “We really listen to our clients needs,” shares
Dot. “We’re not in the business to just make a sale, we do
what’s right.”
EXECUTIVEAGENTTM
MAGAZINE
By Julie Brown

2. JOHN WILLIAMS & DOT HAMMER
CLIENTS FIRST
EA
ExecutiveAgent Magazine
The team also works hard to maintain relationships
with other agents. “We received 21 offers on one property
and I called the 20 agents who didn’t get the deal to tell
them why,” explains John. “They were shocked that we
even followed up with them, but that’s
the way we choose to do business.”
Having close relationships in place with
other agents also enable the duo to
maintain a competitive edge by getting
early notifications on properties for sale.
By the way, John was elected twice to
be President of the Laguna Board of
Realtors® and was voted Realtor® of
the Year by his real estate peers.
John and Dot’s commitment to client
service is the reason why 95% of their
business is generated from referrals and
repeat business. They’ve had clients that
have stayed with them for their real estate
needs over the course of their lives and
many big events. “As people’s situations
and finances change, so do their needs
and we are there for them,” shares John.
“Buyers and Sellers can pick any agent
and they choose us. There’s no higher
compliment than that.” Their extensive
knowledge of the Orange County market
is also a big factor in their success.
With experience gained in more than
1,000 transactions under their belts, John
and Dot are transaction experts who
understand the complexities both of being a buyer and
a seller. “We bring a vast knowledge that not many
other agents have and guide clients through the entire
transaction,” says Dot. Despite his tenure in the industry,
John believes that you can never stop learning or know
too much. “I learn something new from every single
transaction,” adds John. “Having that base of knowledge
and experience helps us to anticipate any challenges
before they arise.” They also work closely with Rob
Gillon at NewAmerican Funding® to ensure that their
buyers understand not only loan options, but also the
lending process. “Having that financial expertise on our
team has helped many buyers to get into a home they
didn’t think they ever could,” says John. “We also work
aggressively to lock in competitive interest rates. We’ve
seen rates rise a point overnight which can disqualify
buyers and kill the deal.”
The duo, who were recently ranked fifth nationally in
sales for Harcourts, hopes to keep growing their business
but don’t ever plan to lose sight of what’s most important
to them. They don’t aspire to have assistants or big
teams because they don’t want to give up the personal
relationships they have with clients according to John.
“We don’t have to be number one,” adds Dot. “The way
we work just works and we have fun doing it.”
John L. Williams, Broker
Dot Hammer, Broker
Harcourts® Prime Properties
27372 Aliso Creek Rd.
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
John Tel: (949) 510-1400
Dot Tel: (949) 295-9611
Fax: (949) 272-4076
JohnLWilliams@fea.net
www.johnlwilliams.com
BRE # 00917563 - BRE # 00419396
John and Dot work closely with Rob Gillon at NewAmerican Funding®