Robert Purnell

Robert Purnell

DRE# 01351519
robert.purnell@compass.com
M: 415-272-1498

Social Media

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Awards

Top 1.5% Nationwide - RealTrends Verified, 2024, 2026

Specialties

Trust and Probate Specialist
Residential Listings & Purchases
Investment Property
1031 Exchanges

Education

MBA, Wharton 1992
MA, University of Pennsylvania 1992
BS Biology, University of Michigan 1986
About Robert


When financial, legal, and emotional stakes are high, clients deserve more than someone who just facilitates a transaction. They deserve advice, sound strategy, and an advocate they can trust to navigate complex decisions with confidence.

Over the past 30-plus years, I've negotiated more than $500 million in real estate transactions, helping clients navigate everything from first homes to complex trust and estate sales and investment properties.

Experience isn't just what you've done. It's what you've learned along the way. That's what enables me to recognize patterns, anticipate challenges, adapt when circumstances change, and help clients make informed decisions that reflect both their financial objectives and personal priorities.

In addition to my brokerage career, I've held executive leadership roles in strategy, sales, and marketing for Fortune 500 companies and real estate technology startups. I earned my undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the Wharton School. Those experiences continue to shape how I approach every client relationship: analytically, strategically, with empathy, practical judgment, and a long-term perspective.

Sound decisions begin with asking the right questions and listening. Every recommendation, negotiation strategy, and marketing plan should reflect the unique circumstances of each client, not a predetermined formula.

My job isn't to convince people to buy or sell. It's to help them make the right decisions.



TESTIMONIALS

“As a property owner selling my single most valuable asset in a highly volatile real estate environment, Rob has been a delight to work with. He's knowledgeable, responsive, strategic, courteous, and well-informed. Throughout the process, I've admired his grace, and would recommend him to anyone who seeks a steady, savvy hand as they navigate tempestuous times in the housing market."
- Havi H.

"Rob was an absolute delight to work with on the sale of my home. He is professional, incredibly responsive, proactive, and clear in his communication. My situation was unique in that I had tenants in the property with whom he needed to coordinate to facilitate the move-out and sale readiness, and Rob took care of all of this without any hassle. Furthermore, I was out of state and despite this, Rob was able to do everything while I was remote. I highly recommend Rob and Compass for all of your real estate needs."
- Varun A.

"Rob was our ally for over a year as we looked for our perfect home. We could not have done it without him. He was consistent and persistent, unfazed and uplifting, caring, and beyond competent. His depth of knowledge was reassuring, as well as his honesty. His advice was flawless and he always let us make our own decisions. He went above and beyond and our trust in him was complete and well-placed.

Now, after a prolonged search, we have found our true home. The transaction came off without a hitch. We are in love with our new place and full of gratitude for his generous help."
- Robert E. & Michèle T.

Robert Purnell’s Listings

$1,546,000 | 165 Forest Avenue, Unit 4B, Palo Alto, CA 94301
$1,546,000 | 165 Forest Avenue, Unit 4B, Palo Alto, CA 94301
$1,546,000 | 165 Forest Avenue, Unit 4B, Palo Alto, CA 94301
$1,546,000 | 165 Forest Avenue, Unit 4B, Palo Alto, CA 94301
$1,546,000 | 165 Forest Avenue, Unit 4B, Palo Alto, CA 94301
$1,546,000 | 165 Forest Avenue, Unit 4B, Palo Alto, CA 94301
$1,546,000 | 165 Forest Avenue, Unit 4B, Palo Alto, CA 94301
$1,546,000 | 165 Forest Avenue, Unit 4B, Palo Alto, CA 94301
$1,546,000 | 165 Forest Avenue, Unit 4B, Palo Alto, CA 94301
$1,546,000 | 165 Forest Avenue, Unit 4B, Palo Alto, CA 94301
$1,546,000 | 165 Forest Avenue, Unit 4B, Palo Alto, CA 94301
$1,546,000 | 165 Forest Avenue, Unit 4B, Palo Alto, CA 94301
$1,546,000 | 165 Forest Avenue, Unit 4B, Palo Alto, CA 94301
$1,546,000 | 165 Forest Avenue, Unit 4B, Palo Alto, CA 94301
$1,546,000 | 165 Forest Avenue, Unit 4B, Palo Alto, CA 94301
$1,546,000 | 165 Forest Avenue, Unit 4B, Palo Alto, CA 94301
$1,546,000 | 165 Forest Avenue, Unit 4B, Palo Alto, CA 94301
$1,546,000 | 165 Forest Avenue, Unit 4B, Palo Alto, CA 94301
$1,546,000 | 165 Forest Avenue, Unit 4B, Palo Alto, CA 94301
$1,546,000 | 165 Forest Avenue, Unit 4B, Palo Alto, CA 94301
1/20
Listed By CompassVirtual Tour

$1,546,000

2
Bedrooms
1,334
Square Feet

165 Forest Avenue, Unit 4B, Palo Alto, CA 94301

$1,399,000 | 1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
$1,399,000 | 1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
$1,399,000 | 1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
$1,399,000 | 1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
$1,399,000 | 1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
$1,399,000 | 1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
$1,399,000 | 1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
$1,399,000 | 1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
$1,399,000 | 1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
$1,399,000 | 1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
$1,399,000 | 1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
$1,399,000 | 1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
$1,399,000 | 1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
$1,399,000 | 1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
$1,399,000 | 1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
$1,399,000 | 1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
$1,399,000 | 1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
$1,399,000 | 1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
$1,399,000 | 1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
$1,399,000 | 1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
$1,399,000 | 1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
$1,399,000 | 1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
$1,399,000 | 1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
$1,399,000 | 1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
$1,399,000 | 1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
$1,399,000 | 1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
$1,399,000 | 1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
$1,399,000 | 1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
$1,399,000 | 1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
$1,399,000 | 1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
$1,399,000 | 1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
$1,399,000 | 1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
$1,399,000 | 1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
$1,399,000 | 1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
$1,399,000 | 1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
1/35
Listed By CompassVirtual Tour

$1,399,000

3
Bedrooms
1,743
Square Feet
0.02
Acres

1091 El Capitan Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94085

Robert Purnell’s Transactions

Past Sales
a view of a outdoor space

$4,650,000

5
Bedrooms
2,539
Square Feet
0.38
Acres

1015 Los Robles Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94306

a front view of a house with a yard and porch

$3,907,000

4
Bedrooms
3,101
Square Feet
1.01
Acres

10915 Mora Drive, Los Altos Hills, CA 94024

a view of a house with a backyard and sitting area

$3,800,000

4
Bedrooms
3,025
Square Feet
0.51
Acres

10 Panorama Court, Hillsborough, CA 94010

a front view of a house with a garden

$3,745,000

4
Bedrooms
2,197
Square Feet
0.19
Acres

3520 Greer Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303

$3,738,000 | 621 Wellsbury Way, Palo Alto, CA 94306

$3,738,000

4
Bedrooms
1,710
Square Feet
0.17
Acres

621 Wellsbury Way, Palo Alto, CA 94306

$3,250,000 | 3 Clarence Place, San Francisco, CA 94107

$3,250,000

4
Bedrooms
2,590
Square Feet

3 Clarence Place, San Francisco, CA 94107

a front view of a house with garden

$2,955,000

4
Bedrooms
1,749
Square Feet
0.21
Acres

2004 Edgewood Drive, Palo Alto, CA 94303

front view of a house

$2,910,000

4
Bedrooms
2,200
Square Feet
0.17
Acres

71 Club Drive, San Carlos, CA 94070

a front view of a house with garden

$2,850,000

3
Bedrooms
1,450
Square Feet
0.17
Acres

2053 Park Boulevard, Palo Alto, CA 94306

$2,770,000 | 186 Espinosa Lane, Mountain View, CA 94043

$2,770,000

4
Bedrooms
1,944
Square Feet
0.09
Acres

186 Espinosa Lane, Mountain View, CA 94043

a front view of a house with a garden and yard

$2,700,000

3
Bedrooms
2,160
Square Feet
0.11
Acres

185 Lyndhurst Avenue, San Carlos, CA 94070

front view of a house with a garden

$2,630,000

3
Bedrooms
1,463
Square Feet
0.20
Acres

2330 Heather Court, Mountain View, CA 94043

aerial view of a house with a yard and lake

$2,590,000

4
Bedrooms
1,741
Square Feet
0.16
Acres

1139 Crespi Drive, Sunnyvale, CA 94086

a front view of a house with a yard and garage

$2,500,000

3
Bedrooms
1,660
Square Feet
0.13
Acres

513 Castilian Way, San Mateo, CA 94402

a view of a house with potted plants

$2,420,000

4
Bedrooms
2,484
Square Feet
0.16
Acres

621-623 South Grant Street, San Mateo, CA 94402

front view of a house with a yard

$2,400,000

0.16
Acres

124 Plymouth Avenue, San Carlos, CA 94070

a front view of a house with a yard and potted plants

$2,300,000

3
Bedrooms
1,809
Square Feet
0.13
Acres

840 Orange Avenue, San Carlos, CA 94070

$2,260,000 | 2716 Sequoia Way, Belmont, CA 94002

$2,260,000

3
Bedrooms
2,150
Square Feet
0.11
Acres

2716 Sequoia Way, Belmont, CA 94002

Past Rentals
$8,250 | 1036 Harker Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301

$8,250

4
Bedrooms
2,540
Square Feet
0.19
Acres

1036 Harker Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301

$7,950 | 1036 Harker Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301

$7,950

4
Bedrooms
2,540
Square Feet
0.19
Acres

1036 Harker Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301

a front view of a house with a garden and yard

$7,550

4
Bedrooms
2,540
Square Feet
0.19
Acres

1036 Harker Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301

a front view of a house with a yard

$6,500

4
Bedrooms
1,904
Square Feet

141 Orbit Way, Mountain View, CA 94043

a view of a house with a tree in the background

$4,900

3
Bedrooms
1,262
Square Feet

425 Grant Avenue, Unit 22, Palo Alto, CA 94306

a view of a house with a tree in the background

$4,600

3
Bedrooms
1,262
Square Feet

425 Grant Avenue, Unit 22, Palo Alto, CA 94306

a living room with furniture and wooden floor

$4,400

2
Bedrooms
1,503
Square Feet

101 Alma Street, Unit 607, Palo Alto, CA 94301

a view of a house with a yard

$4,100

2
Bedrooms
1,000
Square Feet
0.17
Acres

1164 Marcussen Drive, Menlo Park, CA 94025

a view of a door and a window

$3,950

2
Bedrooms
1,000
Square Feet
0.17
Acres

1164 Marcussen Drive, Menlo Park, CA 94025

a view of outdoor space and garden

$3,170

2
Bedrooms
906
Square Feet

2462 West Bayshore Road, Unit 3, Palo Alto, CA 94303