Meet Sarah Marrinan
Twin Cities Real Estate Advisor | Keller Williams Premier Realty North Suburban
I help Minnesota home buyers and sellers make smart real estate decisions with clear information, thoughtful planning and experienced guidance.
Real estate is rarely only about a house. A move may involve a growing family, retirement, health needs, divorce, probate, relocation, investment decisions or simply realizing that the home that once worked no longer fits the life you are living now.
My role is to help clients understand their options, anticipate problems and create a strategy that fits both the property and the people involved.
I currently serve clients through Keller Williams Premier Realty North Suburban while operating my independent real estate business and personal brand, Call Sarah First, Inc.
Local Experience Matters
I work throughout the Twin Cities metro, with particular experience in the northern and eastern suburbs, including communities in Anoka, Washington, Ramsey, Chisago and Hennepin counties.
I have lived and worked in several Twin Cities communities and spent part of my earlier career working in commercial real estate in downtown Minneapolis. That combination of local knowledge, market research and transaction experience shapes how I advise clients today.
Every neighborhood and every property behaves a little differently. Online estimates, national headlines and general real estate advice can be useful starting points, but they cannot replace understanding the specific home, location, competition and goals involved.
Strategy Before Sales
Knowing the market requires more than watching recent sales.
I continually study market trends, inventory, buyer behavior, financing conditions and comparable properties so I can help clients make decisions based on the full picture.
For sellers, that may mean determining which improvements are worth making, how to position the property, how to price against current competition and how to adjust when the market gives us new information.
For buyers, it means understanding value, identifying potential risks, evaluating neighborhoods and creating an offer strategy that makes sense beyond simply “winning” the house.
For clients who are both buying and selling, the timing and financial strategy can be even more important than either transaction by itself.
Specialized Real Estate Guidance
My education and experience include additional training in areas that often require more planning than a typical transaction, including:
Probate real estate
Divorce-related real estate
Right-sizing and later-life moves
Medical-necessity and accessibility-related moves
Luxury home marketing
Relocation
New construction
Investment real estate
Pricing strategy
Negotiation
Seller representation
These specialties do not replace legal, financial, tax or medical professionals. Instead, they help me work effectively alongside the other professionals my clients may need while managing the real estate portion of the transition.
Professional Education and Designations
My professional designations and certifications include:
(National Association of Realtors (NAR) recognized Designations and Certifications)
- Graduate of the Realtor Institute® (GRI)
- Certified Residential Specialist® (CRS)
- Seller Seller Representative Specialist® (SRS)
- Real Estate Negotiation Expert® (RENE)
- Pricing Strategy Advisor® (PSA)
- Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist® (CLHMS)
- Luxury Homes Real Estate Certification
- Probate Specialist Real Estate Certification
- Residential Real Estate Divorce Specialist Certification
- Real Estate Investing Certification
- Smart Home Certification
- New-Home Construction Buyer Representation Certificate
- Successful Relocation Representation
- e-PRO® certification
Leadership, Recognition and Industry Experience
I have had the opportunity to serve and learn from other highly experienced real estate professionals through industry leadership, education and professional organizations.
My experience and recognition include:
2023 and 2024 Engel & Völkers Minneapolis Top Five Advisor
Engel & Völkers Diamond Elite national recognition
Super Real Estate Agent / Super Agent
2022 Residential Real Estate Council Minnesota State President
2020–2021 Residential Real Estate Council Minnesota Education Leader
Service on a NorthstarMLS advisory committee
Minnesota REALTORS® Strategic Issues Forum participation
Keller Williams Agent Leadership Council experience
Keller Williams technology leadership and training roles
Institute for Luxury Home Marketing membership
Residential Real Estate Council involvement
Local, state and national REALTOR® association involvement
My Engel & Völkers History
Before returning to Keller Williams Premier Realty, I was affiliated with Engel & Völkers Minneapolis, where I built meaningful relationships, served clients throughout the Twin Cities and received both local and national production recognition.
That experience remains an important part of my professional history and helped strengthen my luxury marketing expertise, international network awareness and approach to high-touch client service.
Today, my real estate license is affiliated with Keller Williams Premier Realty North Suburban, and Call Sarah First remains my independent personal brand and the way many longtime clients know me.
What Clients Can Expect
My philosophy is simple: clients come first.
That does not mean telling someone what they want to hear. It means providing useful information, candid advice and a clear recommendation when one is needed.
I ask a lot of questions before recommending a strategy because the best solution for one client may be completely wrong for another.
My goal is to make the process easier to understand, reduce unnecessary surprises and help clients feel confident that the decisions they make are informed ones.
A Little More About Sarah
Real estate is a big part of my life, but it is not my whole life.
The words that probably describe me best are family, horses, music, food, love, growth, lake life, dancing and loyalty.
I live in Centerville in a small home on the lake, and it is a daily reminder that luxury is not always about price. To me, luxury is being able to live the lifestyle that feels right for you.
Motherhood is one of the most important parts of my life. My kids are in that almost-empty-nest stage, with one finishing high school and one in college, and that season has made me even more aware of how much our housing needs change as our lives change.
Horses have also been part of our family for years. My daughter still owns our horses and keeps them in Hugo. I do not ride nearly as much as I used to, but I still understand the lifestyle, the work and the special kind of property horse people are looking for.
I love good food, whether that means finding a great local restaurant, cooking something healthy at home or bringing sushi down to the lake for a picnic. Music is good for the soul, and dancing is one of my favorite ways to reset my mind and body.
I also genuinely love learning. I am happiest when I am growing, improving or understanding something new. Several of my real estate specialties grew out of life experiences that made me want to understand those transitions better, including divorce, probate, right-sizing and major life changes.
Relationships, loyalty and communication matter deeply to me. I know firsthand that families change, parents age, estates need to be handled and life does not always follow the plan we expected.
I also know I function best with balance. I love a great event or party, but I am equally happy with yoga, a sound bath, a quiet afternoon in a hammock by the lake and enough time to recharge.
My business is welcoming and LGBTQ+ friendly, and I want every client to know they will be treated with professionalism, respect and care.
Why “Call Sarah First”?
Because many real estate decisions happen before someone is ready to buy or sell.
You may be wondering whether to remodel or move, whether an aging parent should sell, how to coordinate a purchase with a sale, whether an online home value is realistic, or whether now is even the right time.
Those are exactly the conversations I want clients to have with me early.
You do not need to have everything figured out before calling.
Call Sarah First — then we can figure out the next step together.
Get to know Sarah...
Hassle-Free Peace of Mind:
Knowing the market is a combination of constantly researching trends, analyzing data and predicting shifts. It requires the ability to compare an individual situation to a big picture and determine the most appropriate course of action. This demands a combination of training and natural ability. This is my specialty. I take continuing education,analyze, research and organize so you don't have to spend hours trying to do it yourself - or taking the wrong advice online. Information provides exceptional leverage when planning a move - both functionally and financially.
Mission Statement:
My philosophy is simple: clients come first in business. If you’re not left with the best possible experience, I haven't done my job. While sales volume and achievements/awards are important milestones, the satisfaction of our clients is the focus of my team. For many of my clients, knowing that they can trust me to just get things done and update them with candid advice when necessary is exceptional value when it comes to time well spent.
Check out the reviews page and see how my associates and I have put this mission into action!
It's More:
My affiliates and I understand that buying or selling a home is more than just a transaction: it’s a life-changing experience. My team and I are dedicated to providing exceptional, personalized service for all of our clients. We ask a lot of questions and we take great pride in the relationships we build. We always work relentlessly on the client’s behalf to help them achieve their real estate goals.
Today’s buyers and sellers need a trusted professional that can guide them through the complex world of real estate on online noise.
Our team of experts (from mortgage professionals to home repair) represents the best in the industry, and we’re always striving to lead the field in research, innovation, and consumer education. With our extensive knowledge and commitment to providing only the best and most timely information to our clients, we are your go-to source for real estate industry insight and advice.
Sarah Marrinan's Experience, Education and Affiliations
Local and National Affiliations:
- Super Agent
- 2023 Engel & Völkers Minneapolis Top Five Advisor
- 2022 Residential Real Estate Council State President
- Engel & Völkers Diamond Elite (National Award)
- 2020-2021 Residential Real Estate Council State Education Leader (for Certified Residential Specialists)
- Minnesota Realtors 2021 Strategic Issues Forum Member
- 2019 State Finance Leader Residential Real Estate Council
- RPAC Contributor
- C2EX Endorsed Agent
- Served on the MLS advisory committee.
- Member of the Institute for LUXURY HOME Marketing
- Member of the Minneapolis and St Paul Area Associations of REALTORS/Minnesota and the National Association of Realtors®.
- Featured in the Tech Savvy Agent: Tips, Dialogues and Techniques Handbook
- Featured in the Residential Specialist magazine
All of these experiences, achievements and affiliations grant me the privilege to be surrounded by the top agents in the area - passing those top services, knowledge and network connections on to you!
Past Keller Williams recognized Achievements:
- Taught classes in the Keller Williams Ignite program to help agents hone their real estate skills.
- BOLD graduate in addition to the completion of a number of personal and business growth courses. (On-going education is critical!)
- Served on the exclusive Agent Leadership Council (ALC) for Keller Williams.
- Served as Chair of our KWPR Tech Committee and Tech Ambassador.
- Member of the KWPR Cappers Club (for top producing agents) and Cappers Mastermind (Top 20% of agents).
Read more about Listing your home with me or Buying a new home with me.
Sarah's Recent Additional Awards:
- Super Real Estate Agent 2016/2017/2018/2019
- Top 3% of KW agents nationally
- KW TRIPLE GOLD Award Winner
- Top 10% of producing agents under the age of 40
- 2015 Best of St. Paul Award
- Bold 100
Let's Connect Socially:
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Balance:
Research shows that people are the most productive, and successful when they are focused at work and have time to recharge outside of work. To ensure that I operate at the highest level for my clients, I am committed to keeping balance. My office hours are 9-4, Monday through Friday and I meet my clients evenings and weekends by appointment or when urgent negotiations are on the table.
Giving Back:
My success allows me to support charities and organizations doing good! See more: Charities
Write A Review about Sarah Marrinan and Call Sarah First, Inc
Continuing Education and Growth:
Real estate in is a constant state of change. Now more than ever with constantly evolving technology and the speed of information around the globe over the web. Continually educating myself and building out tools in my business allows me to be prepared to move quickly and efficiently when the time is right for my clients.
The reviews on this page consist of 100% real, public feedback from previous clients of Sarah Marrinan.
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