In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re sharing the story behind Dwell Real Estate — because it’s ours, and we’re proud of it!
Rita Doria and Nell Donnelly-O’Boyle had been actively working as Realtors and Associate Brokers in the Northeast Pennsylvania region, collectively bringing nearly 40 years of experience helping clients achieve their real estate dreams.
In an industry where women outnumber men and build the majority of careers, it’s still surprising how few brokerages are actually owned by women — a disparity that didn’t sit right with either of them.
On a lovely spring evening over a glass of wine, Rita and Nell started asking the hard questions. Why couldn’t they start their own company, making decisions they knew were best for their clients? Why couldn’t they offer an approach that was truly equitable and fair? Why couldn’t they reward agent’s hard work with better income splits?
With seven daughters between them, Rita and Nell decided that 2018 was the perfect year to build something of their own. Built on a foundation of no extra fees, fair and negotiable broker percentages, and decades of hard-won experience, Dwell Real Estate was born. They knew that clients who felt genuinely cared for would recommend them to friends and family — and that word-of-mouth trust has always been the heart of how they grow.
Eight years later, they couldn’t be prouder. Dwell has grown to a team of 15 Realtors, all united by the same values that started it all: care, integrity, dedication, honesty, and exceptional communication — for every client, every time.