About

James Rowbotham is a lifelong San Francisco Bay Area local who grew up in Alamo and knows the region’s communities inside and out. He has guided clients through every stage of real estate, from first-time homeownership to working alongside prestigious developers and negotiating complex luxury transactions in some of San Francisco’s most sought after residences. James also specializes in properties that require a strategic, creative approach, including homes that are unique, challenging, or difficult to sell.

James works with a wide range of clients, first-time buyers, growing families, seasoned investors, and veterans utilizing VA benefits. Regardless of price point, he brings a high-energy, hands-on commitment, personally investing himself in every deal to ensure the strongest possible outcome.

Before real estate, James spent over 20 years in public service as a U.S. Army soldier and later as a law enforcement supervisor with the Oakland Police Department. That background shaped his calm, disciplined approach to high-pressure situations, skills that now translate directly into decisive negotiations and confident client representation.

Alongside his sister and business partner, Zara Rowbotham, James has co-hosted on HGTV and CNBC, sharing their expertise and passion for real estate with a national audience. Together, they are known for their high-energy approach, deep personal investment in each property, and the use of elevated, media-driven marketing, leveraging professional video, strategic storytelling, and premium exposure to position homes at the highest level.

Their negotiation results speak for themselves. An example during a luxury transaction, James worked diligently with the buyer’s agent to successfully negotiate a buyer $675,000 above their original offer. In another, during an off-market strategy brought in the right buyer and negotiated $352,000 above the initial offer. In a third example, James and Zara stepped in on a luxury property that had previously struggled to sell; within three weeks of taking over the listing, they sourced an off-market buyer and successfully negotiated $300,000 above the buyer’s initial position above the listing price. These outcomes reflect what clients receive when working with James and Zara Rowbotham: focus, persistence, and proven leverage in competitive luxury markets.

As a veteran and former law enforcement professional, James is proud to give back to veterans, first responders, teachers, and healthcare workers. Outside of real estate, he is active in the aviation community, often flying his own plane and enjoys traveling with his wife and two young sons.

For James, real estate is about more than transactions, it’s about energy, commitment, trusted relationships, and helping clients make confident, well-executed moves toward their next chapter.