About
John L. Scott Real Estate

At John L. Scott Real Estate, our business is transactional excellence but our higher purpose is
Living Life as a Contribution®.”

J. Lennox Scott, Chairman and CEO
The John L. Scott Story
The vision of John L. Scott Real Estate started 90 years ago when a young Scottish immigrant named John L. Scott set out on a long journey to San Diego, California with his bride and infant son. The trip included a stop in the burgeoning city of Seattle, Washington where John L. later recalled, “It was like reaching City Beautiful in Pilgrim’s Progress.” Seattle, not San Diego, would become the Scott family’s new home.

Once the family was settled, John L. began working as a sales associate for a local real estate company. In 1931, he established John L. Scott Real Estate, which has become one of the largest and most successful regional real estate companies in the nation. It now operates over 100 offices with over 3,000 agents throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and now California.

John L. Scott Real Estate is currently led by Chairman and CEO, J. Lennox Scott, John L.’s Grandson, who started working with the company as a sign painter when he was just ten years old. Thirteen years later, Lennox assumed leadership of the company.
Find an Agent/Office
The Right Representation
At John L. Scott Real Estate, our full-time, full-service residential specialists are your trusted advisors and have your best interests at heart because we focus on relationships rather than transactions. That's why we've been in the business for over 85 years, with over 100 offices and 3,000 agents ready to represent you in your next real estate transaction.
Expertise
Although online and mobile access to information on homes for sale, home value estimates, and research tools have become the norm, understanding the market and navigating the process of buying or selling a home is still complex. It's more important than ever to work with a real estate professional who has a level of expertise that goes beyond what a mobile app, online video, or website can do.

At John L. Scott Real Estate we take pride in offering areas of expertise that most clients don't even consider. For example, most buyers search for a home without taking into consideration the various market conditions that can affect the entire purchase process. Market seasonality, the backlog of buyers (also known as the competition), and an analysis of recent comparable sales all factor into an offer and acceptance strategy.
Negotiations
One of the top three things that clients want most from their Realtor® is help with negotiations. Many people think they're good at negotiating but oftentimes their experience is in haggling or bargaining, which is different than the art of negotiating. Keep in mind that typically, both buyers and sellers are emotionally invested. When it comes to something so deeply personal as a home, the importance of having a professional negotiation expert working for you is invaluable.

John L. Scott Real Estate Specialists understand that negotiation is both a skill-set as well as a mindset that helps a conversation transform into an agreement that’s a win for all parties. You definitely don't want to enlist the services of any real estate licensee whose only tactic is to split the difference and settle in the middle every time. So be sure to contact your John L. Scott Residential Specialist for your next transaction.
Transactional Excellence
At John L. Scott Real Estate, we aim for transactional excellence with every home sale. What this means for our clients is that our professionals coordinate every detail of the real estate transaction. From the moment an offer has been mutually accepted by the buyer and the seller, our residential real estate specialists monitor the various inspections, appraisals, title, escrow, and loan processes. They communicate and collaborate with all the partners and parties involved with the transaction to ensure a smooth closing.

These are the types of details that often separate those who simply have a real estate license and John L. Scott Residential Specialists who are committed to the process of transactional excellence. We know you have plenty of personal matters to consider during a real estate transaction, and we want to make your journey to closing day as stress-free as possible.
Leadership Team
J. Lennox Scott
Chairman and Company Executive Officer
Monty D. Smith
Company Operating Officer
Bobbie Jo Foster
Company Information and Technology Officer
Erin J. Varriano
General Counsel
Jeff Currier
Company Financial Officer
Dina Charlton
Real Estate Career Counselor
Howard Chung
Vice President of Brand Marketing and Affiliates
Jeff Cohen
Vice President of Leadership Development
Jacqui Forehand-Haist
Director of JLS Foundation and Events
Tina Goedde
Vice President of Human Resources
Scott Halligan
Vice President of Oregon/SW Washington
Jon Hunter
Vice President of Residential Success
Corinne Mossman
VP of Business Development & Client Services
Savannah Scott
VP of Broker Experience
Over 3,000 Residential Specialists
100+
OFFICES
WA, OR, ID & CA
20,000+
CLOSED
TRANSACTIONS
$13.1
BILLION
SALES VOLUME
$20
MILLION
RAISED FOR CHILDREN'S HEALTHCARE
THROUGH SPONSORED EVENTS
*2025 Annual Numbers

About John L. Scott: Frequently Asked Questions

Our story, leadership, values, and the purpose behind John L. Scott Real Estate.

John L. Scott Real Estate traces its roots to John L. Scott, a Scottish immigrant who settled in Seattle in the early 1900s and began working in local real estate. He founded the company in 1931, and it has grown from a single Seattle office into one of the largest regional real estate firms in the nation, while remaining family-led across four generations.

John L. Scott is led by Chairman and CEO J. Lennox Scott, grandson of founder John L. Scott and the third generation of family leadership. He began with the company as a sign painter at age ten and stepped into leadership thirteen years later. He is supported by a senior leadership team spanning operations, technology, finance, legal, marketing, human resources, and broker development.

Yes. John L. Scott has been family-led since it was founded in 1931 and is now guided by third-generation leadership under Chairman and CEO J. Lennox Scott. That continuity shapes the company's long-term, relationship-first approach to serving clients and the communities where its offices operate.

Beyond transactional excellence, John L. Scott's higher purpose is Living Life as a Contribution® — making a positive difference for clients, colleagues, and the community. In practice, that means focusing on relationships rather than transactions and giving back to the neighborhoods the company serves.

Transactional excellence is the company's commitment to coordinating every detail of a sale once an offer is mutually accepted — monitoring inspections, appraisals, title, escrow, and the loan process, and collaborating with everyone involved to keep things on track for a smooth closing. It is one of the ways John L. Scott Residential Specialists go beyond simply holding a real estate license.

The John L. Scott Foundation is the philanthropic arm of John L. Scott Real Estate and is at the heart of our mission of Living Life as a Contribution®. Together with our broker associates and support team members we help support children's healthcare in the communities we serve.