Darren Shepherd Real Estate Agent at CØMPASS

Darren Shepherd

Real Estate Agent at
CMPASS

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Specialties

  • First Time Home Buyers
  • Foreclosures
  • Investment Properties
  • Relocations
  • Waterfront Specialist
  • New Construction
  • Luxury Specialist
  • Retirement Specialist
  • Land Specialist

Darren's Transactions

More about Darren Shepherd

Darren Shepherd is a real estate agent with Compass serving Mission Viejo, California and South Orange County. He leads the Shepherd Real Estate Team and has worked these neighborhoods full time for over a decade, with 450+ transactions and more than $450 million in closed sales. In Mission Viejo, Darren works throughout Barcelona North, Aegean Hills, Pacific Hills, Deane Homes, Madrid del Lago, Casta del Sol, Painted Trails, and the lake-rights neighborhoods around Lake Mission Viejo. He also serves Lake Forest, Rancho Santa Margarita, Ladera Ranch, Aliso Viejo, and Laguna Hills. Most of his business comes from repeat clients and referrals. He holds a 5.0 rating across 196 reviews and is RamseyTrusted. He works mainly with move-up families, downsizing sellers, and first-time buyers, and handles pricing strategy, prep, and negotiation himself rather than passing clients to a junior agent.
Awards

Re/Max Hall of Fame, Re/Max Diamond and Platinum Club, 40 Under 40 honor

License Number

02000042

Darren Shepherd's Reviews & Ratings

Tell us about your experience with
Darren Shepherd

    • Finding a home in Orange County we considered Mission Viejo and other areas in South Orange County right now feels nearly impossible, but Darren Shepherd made it happen in a way I didn't even think was possible. He found us an off-market home in Costa Mesa, meaning we never had to compete with other buyers, never had to waive anything, and never had to stress about losing out in a bidding war. The appraisal actually came in above the purchase price, which told us we got a great deal from the start. Darren knows this market on a level most agents don't. He has connections, he's proactive, and he works hard for his clients. If you're buying a home in Orange County and want someone in your corner who can actually deliver, call Darren. We're proof it works.

      - Mark McCrory
    • We spoke with several realtors before selecting Darren Shepherd and his team. We selected him because from the start he was professional, friendly, and very importantly listened to our concerns and answered all our questions. After selecting to work with him we met his team who were equally professional and friendly. They offered thoughtful advice and helpful suggestions, while always allowing us the space to make our own decisions without any pressure. Their attention to detail was outstanding. They provided a clear and effective plan to position our home competitively. Their pricing on our home was very accurate along with their recommendations for improvements and staging. The photographs displayed for the sale were great, I believe our home showed very well. Throughout the process, the team was always there for us, answering questions and keeping us informed, they were very transparent with everything that was taking place. Ultimately, we secured an offer that was beyond our expectations, the entire process was handled smoothly and efficiently. They showed they can be trusted and they knew what they were doing. Most importantly above everything, although we knew they had other clients, they made us feel as if we were the only one. Best Realtor in Mission Viejo

      - Sal
    • Darren helped us to both buy our property 3 years ago in Mission Viejo and to now sell it - the experience with him and his curated team of experienced professionals made the process easy. Darren speaks honestly, gives you options and lets you make decisions based on data. He is super friendly, clear, patient and clearly has tremendous experience. We loved him both as buyers - he got us a house in the bubble or 2021 when we were chasing rising rates and as sellers - Darren sorts so much himself and only brought us decisions/ questions/ concerns where we needed to input = no drama, low intensity for us and an amazing outcome which we couldnt have achieved without him. He was there on all questions and went beyond what Id expect to be realtor responsibilities. Photos attached are of the video his team made - excellent high quality work. He got 110 people through the door for our weekend open house and we had chosen an offer within the week. Would not go to anyone else and would recommend to everyone! Darren is the best realtor in Mission Viejo

      - Viktoria Girdenyte (Mission Viejo)
    • My husband and I worked with Darren and his team both when we relocated to California in 2024 to find a rental home in Mission Viejo and again this year when we were ready to buy a home In Mission Viejo, and we truly cant recommend them enough. Since we were moving from out of state and didnt know the area well, Darren spent a lot of time helping us understand the different neighborhoods and what might be the best fit for our family. He even drove to rental properties and did virtual walkthroughs for us while we were still living out of state, which made a huge difference during such a stressful transition. When it came time to buy, we were entering a very competitive market, and Darren was incredible at helping us navigate every step of the process. He and his team were consistently professional, patient, responsive, and incredibly organized. Someone was always available for showings, and Darren took the time to walk us through offer strategies, negotiations, contingencies, and the cost-benefit of different decisions so we felt informed and confident throughout. They coordinated inspections and appraisals seamlessly, stayed on top of every detail and piece of paperwork, and made what could have been a stressful process feel manageable and smooth. A special thank you to Dakoda as well his background renovating homes was so valuable during showings. He helped us look at potential repairs and upgrades objectively, which gave us a lot more confidence in our decisions. We always felt like Darren genuinely had our best interests in mind, and that level of trust is hard to find. If we ever buy another home in the future, Darren and his team will absolutely be our first call.

      - Amber
    • We worked with Darren Shepherd to buy our home in Coto de Caza after relocating from out of state, and he made the entire process easy from start to finish. Moving to California from another state comes with many unknowns, and Darren took the time to walk us through everything we needed to know about the area and the market. He is clearly a South Orange County expert and his knowledge gave us confidence throughout the process. We found the right home and never felt lost or overwhelmed. We compared Mission Viejo and other locations. We highly recommend Darren to anyone buying in South OC!

      - Colette
    • We worked with Darren Shepherd to sell our home in Mission Viejo and buy in and he handled both sides seamlessly. Darren kept us informed throughout the entire process, negotiated hard on our behalf, and made what could have been a stressful experience feel manageable. Him and his team are the perfect combination of strategic, kind, and professional. He knows the Southern California market well, especially Mission Viejo, and genuinely cared about getting us the right outcome. We would not hesitate to work with him and his team again or send anyone we know his way. Thank you for selling our home in Mission Viejo

      - Andrew and Sam
    • Working with Darren Shepherd and Dakoda Baca has been an incredible experience from start to finish. We first worked with Darren back in 2021 to buy our first home, and when our growing family was ready for a larger property with a bigger yard in early 2026 in Mission Viejo, reaching back out to him was an easy choice. He came over to our house, walked us through exactly what to work on to get it ready to list, and immediately helped kick off the search for our next chapter. Both Darren and Dakoda poured countless hours into our journeysending listings, setting up private showings, and touring properties with us over several months. In a highly competitive price range where we were constantly up against multiple offers, their dedication never wavered. They actually got our very first offer accepted, but when we realized it wasnt the right fit and decided to back out, they supported us completely. We kept searching until we found "the one" that checked every single box, and Darren and Dakoda went to bat for us to secure the winning offer. Beyond helping us buy, they also worked tirelessly to get our first home sold, and we just closed escrow! Throughout the entire process of buying and selling simultaneously, they were insanely responsive via text, call, and email, keeping us updated on every detail. We cannot thank Darren and Dakoda enough for their hustle, patience, and commitment to getting our family into a home we truly love. We love Mission Viejo

      - Shelby Ringler
    • Darren is the best. Very professional, knowledgeable and genuinely interested in helping his clients. I have the upmost respect and appreciation for the service he provided when we purchased and sold our home. I highly recommend him and look forward to his help in my next home purchase.

      - Raymond L Wright (San Clemente)
    • Darren is the best of the best! Although this wasnt our first time buying a home it definitely felt like it but Darren was extremely helpful and guided us the whole way through. We had spoken to a few agents before choosing Darren and we are extremely happy we chose him. The three main reasons we really liked working for him were, 1) top notch communication (always keeping us updated and answering our million questions), 2) honesty (we appreciated when we would ask a question and if he didnt know the answer he always made sure to find out), 3) availability (whether it was a weekday or weekend or night or day, he always made time for us). Apart from everything mentioned, he helped us get the best deal on our house (negotiation skills should be 6 stars). We would 100% recommend him to anyone!

      - Malin Hatha (Rancho Santa Margarita)
    • Darren and his team were great - so responsive and helpful. They made the often stressful process of buying and later selling a home (we used Darren for both) so seamless. He made the time to communicate frequently and answer all of my many questions. I would definitely recommend them to anyone interesting in buying or selling!

      - Caitlin Faulk (San Clemente)
    • We had a great experience working with Darren Shepherd. We decided to sell our home off-market to avoid the hassle of public listings, and thanks to his skills we were able to sell for a price that exceeded our expectations. He also helped us find our new home in Talega. He was patient with us through the slow process of figuring out what we wanted, and then once we found our dream home, he was able to help us jump in and get it for a good price. Darrens knowledge and skills were great, and we would definitely recommend him!

      - Matt Arias (San Clemente)
    • I have done multiple transactions with Darren. He is great at what he does, and his expertise makes a real difference when buying or selling a home. I would absolutely recommend working with Darren.

      - Eric Stoffel (Mission Viejo)
    • Darren & his team are fantastic to work with & I would definitely work with them again. I have bought & sold multiple properties with Darren & recently Jerry helped me list my rental property & found great tenants quickly at a solid rental price. This team is very professional & excellent communicators. I can trust & rely on Darren & his team to get the job done!

      - Scott Panaro (Mission Viejo)
    • Darren and Dakoda made the process very smooth in leasing our Laguna Hills home. They were reliable, detailed, and professional in every aspect of the process. We highly recommend them!

      - Morgan Morgenlander (Laguna Hills)
    • Working with Darren Shepherd and The Shepherd Real Estate Team was an absolute game-changer for us! As first-time home buyers, we began our search in Irvine before expanding to Aliso Viejo, and Darrens expertise and the teams dedication made the entire process seamless. Their deep knowledge and network helped us find our dream home in Aliso Viejo, guiding us with patience to discover a property that perfectly matched our families needs. Opening escrow was effortless, thanks to the Team's meticulous coordination and the trusted vendors the team connected us with, who made us feel confident and supported throughout. Their clear, consistent communication kept us informed and at ease every step of the way. Darren and the team even went the extra mile by linking us with a professional organization company, ensuring our move-in process was smooth and stress-free. Darren Shepherd and The Shepherd Real Estate Teams commitment and professionalism turned our first home-buying experience into a joyful milestone. We couldnt have asked for a better group to guide us to our perfect home. If youre seeking realtors who truly go above and beyond, Darren and The Shepherd Real Estate Team are the ones to trust!

      - Sonya Shaikh (Aliso Viejo)
    • Darren knows everything about real estate! He was very insightful in all aspects of buying and selling our homes. He does a lot of research to help figure out proper pricing and selling/buying strategies. Motivated agent, helpful, and communicative.

      - Lorinda Lisabeth (Dana Point)