Romney O’Connell

Romney came to real estate as a natural outgrowth of her background in the arts and architecture. She has a Master of Fine Arts from Columbia University, where she studied painting, sculpture and architecture. She received a Fulbright fellowship to study painting in Assisi in 1990. Her focus was the frescoes of Giotto as well as her own studio work. A Pollock-Krasner award followed in 1992.

Romney’s lifelong interest in architecture has informed her renovation of older homes, with a concentration on opening smaller spaces to light while retaining period detail and enhancing indoor/outdoor flow. 

She is a member of the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association, whereshe often researches the histories of particular homes, fascinated by the richness of character and sense of place that a home acquires over time.

Clients tend to describe Romney as warm and diplomatic yet tenacious and assertive, a skilled negotiator who never loses sight of the big picture. She is driven by relationships that are clear, open-hearted and energetic. Buying or selling a house is a high-stakes transaction comprised of countless important details and emotional decisions. It takes calm perspective and real integrity to navigate both the business and personal aspects of finding or selling a home. Romney has found creative solutions for countless buyers who ended up with their dream home despite the odds. She has advised sellers as to how to efficiently prepare their home for market to show it’s best advantage. Her marketing materials are beautifully rendered and her clients are consistently happy. 

The resulting trust that has developed over the years has been both a source of great business and of great satisfaction.

Romney lives in Berkeley with her husband and three children. The O’Connells received the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association’s Preservation Award (2007) for the renovation of their 1904 home. 

Soren O’Connell

Soren joined Berkeley Hills Realty in March of 2021. He is a graduate of Dominican University of California, where he earned a BA in communication.

Born and raised in Berkeley, Soren grew up attending open houses with his mother, Berkeley Hills agent Romney O’Connell, absorbing knowledge of Bay Area real estate from an early age. He is proud to join Berkeley Hills under her mentorship.

Before real estate, Soren was a radio broadcaster, calling play-by-play for college soccer, basketball, and softball games. In addition, to live coverage, he hosted a talk show interviewing student-athletes. In 2019, Soren became the broadcaster and baseball operations assistant for the San Rafael Pacifics, an independent baseball team.

Soren’s natural interest in analytics, honed in his sports media background, allows him to advise clients with precision and discernment. His easygoing, friendly demeanor makes him a favorite with clients, who find that he is a responsive, thoughtful, and invested guide throughout the buying and selling process. He is able to size up the real estate game with the speed and accuracy of a trained eye and communicate his insights to clients with the clarity of a born teacher. He is looking forward to building relationships with new clients.