O'Brien Brothers

What O'Brien Brothers does

O'Brien Brothers is a family-owned real estate development and property management company headquartered in South Burlington, Vermont, founded in 1958 by brothers Leo O'Brien Jr. and Daniel J. O'Brien. Operating across Chittenden County, the company runs three integrated product lines: (1) apartment rentals spanning market-rate properties (Hayes, Rye, Chatham Green) and federally subsidized affordable housing (Country Park Apartments for seniors/disabled, McKenzie House Apartments for seniors/disabled, and McKenzie House Families); (2) for-sale homes and townhomes built within the Hillside at O'Brien Farm master-planned community, including Hillside East — Vermont's first 100% fossil-fuel-free, climate-resilient microgrid community featuring rooftop solar arrays, backup battery storage, and smart electrical panels on every home, with HERS scores under 43.0; and (3) commercial office, light-industrial, warehouse, R&D, and retail properties, anchored by the 50,000-square-foot Meadowlands Business Park in South Burlington and additional assets in Williston.

The company's revenue mechanics combine subscription/recurring rental income from its apartment and commercial portfolios with one-time home and townhome sales, supplemented by commercial leasing arrangements that are typically multi-year. Pricing varies by asset type: carriage-house rentals at Hillside East list at $3,500/month with EV chargers and all-electric construction; market-rate apartments are priced on application; HUD-subsidized units are income-restricted; and commercial leases are individually negotiated. Distribution runs primarily through a single in-house sales office at 1855 Williston Road, with residential resales brokered through a partnership with Coldwell Banker Hickok & Boardman and a property-management team handling apartment leasing directly.

The business is currently led by CEO Evan Langfeldt (joined 2016) and governed by a seven-person Board of Directors that includes three O'Brien family members (Katie O'Brien as Chair, Maureen O'Brien, Kerry O'Brien) and four independent directors. With a workforce of approximately 18 employees, O'Brien Brothers manages a stabilized portfolio of existing residential and commercial assets while executing against a significant development pipeline that includes the 375-home Shelburne project (approved January 2025), the 85-home Parkside joint venture with Element Real Estate in Milton (construction Summer 2026), O'Brien Farm Phase II multifamily (~300 planned units), O'Brien Farm Phase III mixed-use (90+ acres), and the untapped ~200-acre Colchester Lands near Exit 17. The company's strategic emphasis on carbon-free, energy-resilient construction — recognized with Efficiency Vermont's 2024 Partner of the Year award — and legally binding perpetual affordability covenants on Shelburne position it as a differentiated developer in the Vermont market.

Name

O'Brien Brothers

Legal name

O'Brien Brothers Agency Inc.

Website

https://obrienbrothersvt.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

O'Brien Brothers is a Vermont-based, family-owned real estate developer and property manager founded in 1958, operating apartment rentals, for-sale homes, and commercial properties across Chittenden County. The company is notable for its carbon-free microgrid communities and perpetual affordable housing covenants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Real Estate Development and Property Management

NAICS

Real Estate Property Managers (53131), Lessors of Residential Buildings and Dwellings (53111), Rental and Leasing Services (532)

SIC

Real Estate Operators (No Developers) & Lessors (6510), Operators Of Nonresidential Buildings (6512), Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513)

akta.pro primary industry

Independent Living Real Estate Owners/Operators (REITs & Management Companies) (HLADAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Residential real estate development
• Commercial property leasing
• Affordable housing management
• Energy-efficient home building
• Property management services

Headquarters

HQ city

South Burlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Apartment Rental Income: O'Brien Brothers generates recurring revenue through the leasing of multifamily residential properties across Chittenden County, including market-rate apartments (Hayes, Rye, Chatham Green) and federally subsidized affordable housing (Country Park, McKenzie House). Rental income is collected monthly with billing cadences varying by unit.
2. Home and Townhome Sales: Revenue from the sale of single-family homes and townhomes in planned residential communities such as Hillside at O'Brien Farm and the Shelburne development. Sales are one-time transactions with individual buyers.
3. Commercial Property Leasing: O'Brien Brothers leases commercial and light-industrial spaces throughout Chittenden County to businesses. Properties include office spaces, warehouse facilities, R&D buildings, and retail/commercial storefronts. Tenants sign commercial leases, typically multi-year agreements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

O'Brien Brothers is a Vermont-based real estate developer, builder, and property manager operating across Chittenden County. The company develops and leases market-rate and affordable multifamily apartments, builds and sells single-family homes and townhomes, and operates commercial office, light-industrial, and warehouse properties. It also provides full-service property management for its residential and commercial portfolio.

Product overview

O'Brien Brothers is a Vermont-based real estate development and property management company founded in 1958. The company operates as a diversified real estate firm offering three interconnected service lines: (1) Apartment Rentals - market-rate and federally-subsidized multifamily properties including Hayes Apartments, Rye Apartments, Chatham Green, Country Park Apartments, McKenzie House Apartments, and McKenzie House Families; (2) Homes and Townhomes - residential development for sale including the Hillside at O'Brien Farm master-planned community featuring Vermont's first 100% fossil fuel-free microgrid neighborhood (Hillside East); and (3) Commercial Properties - light industrial, warehouse, R&D, and office spaces including Meadowlands Business Park and various properties in the Production Park area of Williston. The company also manages a portfolio of future developments including the Shelburne Development (375-unit project), Parkside (85-home project), O'Brien Farm Phase II multifamily, Phase III mixed-use, and Colchester Lands. The product portfolio is unified under the O'Brien Brothers brand, with a focus on sustainable development, energy efficiency, and community building throughout Chittenden County.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Apartment Rentals Multifamily residential rental properties offering market-rate and federally subsidized affordable housing options for individuals, families, seniors, and people with disabilities throughout Chittenden County, Vermont.
• Hillside at O'Brien Farm Master-planned residential community in South Burlington featuring single-family homes, townhomes, and multifamily units, including Hillside East as Vermont's first 100% fossil fuel-free, climate-resilient microgrid neighborhood with rooftop solar arrays and energy storage.
• Commercial Properties Commercial office, light-industrial, warehouse, R&D, and retail spaces for lease in Chittenden County, including Meadowlands Business Park and Properties in Williston for startups, manufacturing tenants, and government agencies.
• Property Management Services Full-service property management including maintenance, tenant relations, leasing, and community amenities for residential and commercial properties owned by O'Brien Brothers and select managed properties.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hillside neighborhood homes achieve HERS score of less than 43.0 and Annual Energy Cost of approximately $2,185 for 2,000+ sq. ft. homes
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Element Real EstatecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 July 2026O'Brien Brothers Homebuilding and Element Real Estate have announced a collaboration to develop Parkside, a new 85-home residential neighborhood in Milton, Vermont. Construction is scheduled to begin in Summer 2026. The project features six flexible floor plans with energy-efficient construction and personalized finishes, targeting first-time buyers, families, and downsizers in Chittenden County.
• Coldwell Banker Hickok & BoardmancoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 December 2023Coldwell Banker Hickok & Boardman agents joined O'Brien Brothers for a first look at the 100% carbon-free model home at HillsideVT.com. The real estate firm serves as the sales agent for the new home community, providing buyer representation for prospective homeowners.
• Northfield Savings Bank VTminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 December 2023Northfield Savings Bank VT team joined O'Brien Brothers for the first look at the HillsideVT.com model home. Partnership appears focused on cross-promotional engagement and community involvement around the new home community.
• Green Mountain PowercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 August 2023Green Mountain Power announced a partnership with Green Mountain Solar for a Resilient Neighborhood Program in South Burlington at O'Brien Brothers' HillsideVT.com development. Green Mountain Power's leadership, including Josh Castonguay and Madeline Murray-Clasen, presented alongside O'Brien Brothers team members at ASCE events. Green Mountain Power provides the grid infrastructure and microgrid support for the all-electric, fossil fuel-free community.
• Green Mountain SolarcoreTechnology or Integration · 2 August 2023Partnered with Green Mountain Power in the Resilient Neighborhood Program at HillsideVT.com, providing rooftop solar installations for the all-electric community. Solar arrays are a core component of the development's carbon-free energy strategy.
• Efficiency VermontcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerO'Brien Brothers has enrolled all Hillside neighborhood homes in Efficiency Vermont's certification program. 20 homes have been certified, achieving HERS scores under 43.0. O'Brien Brothers was awarded Efficiency Vermont's Efficiency Excellence Network '2024 Partner of the Year' award and was featured as one of two projects for conference tours at their annual BetterBuildingByDesign event.
• Sd Ireland Brothers CorpminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSd Ireland Brothers Corp serves as a construction subcontractor for O'Brien Brothers' residential development projects, handling on-site construction work at HillsideVT.com and other developments.
• Vermont Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerO'Brien Brothers hosted the Vermont chapter of ASCE at HillsideVT.com for a discussion on how O'Brien Brothers is meeting and exceeding Vermont's stringent energy code at its carbon-free, climate-resilient, microgrid community. Stephanie Wyman, P.E. of VHB organized the event.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Pizzagalli Properties: Vermont's largest commercial real estate developer and manager, with a comparable mixed portfolio of commercial, industrial, and residential assets in Chittenden County; competes directly with O'Brien Brothers for the same regional tenants, land, and municipal relationships.
• E.F. Wall & Associates: Vermont-based residential developer and homebuilder serving Chittenden County; competes with O'Brien Brothers' Hillside at O'Brien Farm and Shelburne for first-time buyers, move-up buyers, and buildable land in the same submarkets.
• Redstone: Burlington, Vermont commercial real estate firm engaged in property management, brokerage, and development in Chittenden County; overlaps with O'Brien Brothers' Meadowlands Business Park and commercial leasing operations for similar office and light-industrial tenants.
• Cathedral Square Corporation: Vermont nonprofit providing affordable and supportive housing, including senior and disabled properties similar to O'Brien Brothers' Country Park and McKenzie House portfolios; competes for the same HUD funding pool and Chittenden County affordable housing sites.
• Champlain Housing Trust: Burlington-based community land trust and affordable housing developer serving Chittenden County; directly comparable to O'Brien Brothers' perpetual-affordability commitment in Shelburne and its HUD-subsidized multifamily operations.
• The Snyder Companies: Vermont-based real estate investment and development company with residential and commercial holdings in Chittenden County; competes with O'Brien Brothers for local tenants, developable land, and capital partners in the same region.

Others

• DEW Construction Corp: Vermont construction and development firm serving as a key subcontractor/builder for regional projects; comparable as a Vermont development ecosystem participant and potential build partner for O'Brien Brothers' Hillside, Shelburne, and Colchester projects.
• Velco (Vermont Electric Power Company): Vermont statewide electric transmission utility that partners with developers on grid and microgrid infrastructure; adjacent/ecosystem participant that enables O'Brien Brothers' Hillside East carbon-free microgrid community and similar Vermont clean-energy developments.

Emerging players

• Heritage Properties: Massachusetts-based multifamily developer where O'Brien Brothers board member Brian Bush is a partner; comparable as a regional multifamily operator with expertise in New England residential development that intersects with O'Brien Brothers' asset class and geography.

Regional players

• Samuels & Associates: Boston-based commercial real estate developer where O'Brien Brothers board member Damien Chaviano serves as Co-President; comparable as a regional commercial/mixed-use developer with similar energy-efficiency and community-focused development approach, though operating in a different (Massachusetts) geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/OBrienBrothersAgencyInc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about O'Brien Brothers