Oliver Realty

 Meet Michael Oliver

From raising my family to real estate, I've found that the best approach is to be open and straightforward. I always value candor, both in myself and in others. When you work with me, you'll get exactly what I promise—honest professional negotiations where your priorities are my priorities. Although I oversee every transaction, the whole team is involved in the day-to-day needs of the business, from showing homes to communicating with you on our progress. You are always welcome to request that I handle everything, but you are also free to work with one of our other agents who might be more compatible. My sales partner and wife, Heather, is very warm and empathetic, and she is very passionate about helping buyers find new homes that fit their lifestyles. Courtney is excellent at working within a budget or tight schedule. No matter who you choose, I guarantee that you'll still have the full expertise and ability of the team working towards closing the best possible deal for you.

For more information about our team's values and the services we offer, read our About page, or discover more about Heather's background.

My Background

Since 2002, I've been selling Tucson real estate. I specialize in Oro Valley, Catalina Foothills, and Northwest Tucson. My journey began as a sales representative for KB Home, one of the largest homebuilders in the nation. There, I ended up achieving sales awards and was nationally ranked for four consecutive years. In that time, I was routinely sent to their highest-end flagship neighborhoods to drive sales of homes. Through my experience with KB Home, I learned everything about building a home—what techniques are best, what to look out for, and which layouts and designs sell. Eventually, however, I decided that it was time for a challenge, so I began representing individual buyers and sellers in late 2006.

Search new construction in Tucson, or learn more about how we can guide you through the process of building your own home.


I would highly recommend Michael for any residential real estate need. I listed my home to test the market and received a contract on day 5 for just $2,400 less than my asking price. I was not prepared for such a quick sale! —Falena Reed

My values

It's an industry stereotype that real estate agents tell you whatever you want to hear and push for quick sales and easy deals. But because of my ethics, experience, and expertise, I have never and will never do that to my clients. I tell clients all of the time: "Here is what I recommend, but it is your decision." When you hire me, I will provide you with the most accurate and comprehensive information possible. My relationships with my clients always prioritize what my clients want. When you work with me, you have the freedom to make your own decisions or have me handle things for you entirely. Whichever you decide, I will always do my best to provide an in-depth education about your purchase or sale.

As a broker, my job is not to do your paperwork—it's to make sure that you get the best possible deal. Where other agents may not push to make (or save) you another few thousand dollars, I believe that this is what I am hired to do. I value efficiency and candor, and I've found that the best way to approach real estate is to be open and direct. You'll find that I'm brisk, assertive, and business-savvy in all my negotiations, and most importantly of all, that I'm dedicated to representing your best interests.

We can help with you with more than just finding a top-notch Tucson home for sale. Try our mortgage calculator to get a better sense for home much you can afford, or learn more about the relocation services we offer to out-of-state buyers.

My Expertise

As a Tucson REALTOR®, I pride myself on knowing the Tucson real estate market better than anyone. I've spent an enormous amount of time learning how homes in the area are built and the history of the neighborhoods. As such, I'm an expert on helping buyers invest in new Tucson homes for sale and aiding families find the perfect community where they'll fit right in. Work is one of the primary passions in my life, so I read a lot about real estate, behavioral finance, marketing, negotiation, and general business/economics to be more effective at my job.

I like to share my insights on my blog, and not to brag, but my blog has been ranked as one of the best in the real estate industry, and media channels such as the Arizona Daily Star and the makers of HGTV have consulted with me for information on the local real estate market. I'm also very active on social media. My Facebook page has thousands of fans, and I routinely sell listings that have been languishing on the market for years.

On the financial side, I constantly study and monitor the Tucson real estate marketplace, so that I know everything about market fluctuations, unfolding trends, and financing options. Should issues arise, I have a great deal of experience in problem solving so that both parties are satisfied. Real estate is constantly evolving, and I am dedicated to actively seeking information that will benefit my clients.

If you have a Tucson home for sale on the market, discover more about our signature Marketing Plan we use to help those selling their home. If you want to invest in a brand new home, or even build your own, learn more about how a licensed Tucson REALTOR® can be an invaluable resource.


Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

My Family

I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and moved to Tucson as a teenager. I've lived in Oro Valley ever since and am now raising three kids (Dylan, Maddie, and Brianna) with Heather. When we're not working, we're at home spending time with them. Dylan and Maddie enjoy baseball and softball, and play year-round in the Oro Valley youth leagues. (It's worth noting that if you have kids and they like to play sports, our sports leagues are simply excellent, from the people involved to the organization itself.) Brianna likes dance and gymnastics and takes lessons at "Heart and Soul," also in Oro Valley. When we're not pursuing their hobbies, we like to go to Diamondbacks games in Phoenix, watch movies, or spent a quiet afternoon at the local library.

As a family, we love to take advantage of Tucson's outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, and fishing. Tucson has some absolutely gorgeous trails. We also love fishing at Rosemont Lake in Tucson, as well as the lakes and ponds of the White Mountains in the wider Arizona area. For longer vacations, we tend to go out-of-state and travel to National Parks like Yellowstone and Sequoia, but we also do routine day-trips to local spots like Sabino Canyon, Catalina State Park, and Saguaro National Park.

We're proud to count two dogs as part of our family, a Golden Retriever rescue named Ollie and a Siberian Husky named King. I've also had saltwater aquariums in the past and look forward to getting into them once more—after the kids have grown up, anyway!

Oro Valley is our home, and we love it here. Explore Oro Valley and the surrounding Northwest Tucson neighborhoods like ours. We're confident you'll enjoy it as much as we do.

My Hobbies

Since the time I could walk, I've loved sports. My brother and I played baseball growing up and even now I love to watch sports when in season. I follow the usual U of A teams, and I still favor the Cleveland Browns in NFL. In addition to running and working out, I enjoy playing golf throughout the Tucson area. Currently, I have a scratch handicap and just enjoy being able to be outside in the amazing weather this city offers daily. The new Dove Mountain course opened a few years ago, and I promise that regardless of your handicap, it will be a test of your golf skill. Even if you are not a hardcore golf enthusiast, the beauty of the surrounding desert and canyon landscapes is unbeatable.

When I have a few hours to myself, I love to read everything nonfiction, from periodicals to magazines to blogs. I love biographies, thought-provoking history books (such as how capitalism came about, or the history of nation and cities) and science books. Here's a few of the books I've found most interesting.

Michael's Reading Recommendations

  • Debt The First 5,000 Years by David Graeber
  • Capital In The 21st Century by Thomas Piketty
  • The Black Swan by Nassim Taleb
  • All of Malcolm Gladwell's works

I also have a huge interest in astronomy and cosmology, which is another reason I love living in Tucson—the University of Arizona has a world-renowned research program in astronomy, and Kitt Peak National Observatory is only an hour's drive away.

But ultimately, I'm a father at heart. As passionate and dedicated I am about my work, the best part of my day, as clichéd as it is, is coming home and seeing the kids, even on the days that they're squabbling over who gets the TV.

For more information about working we me and my team, contact us today. We're eager to help you find a home that you'll love as much as we love ours. Or if you've worked with Michael before, write us a review on Facebook or Google.