Serial entrepreneur Mark O'Brien — builder, advisor, real estate developer, and co-founder of Broken Shed Vodka — has spent a lifetime straddling the coasts, balancing opportunities between the East and West. His reflections on California investment opportunities, lifestyle choices, and personal adventures capture the dynamic tension between roots and reinvention.
West Coast Investment Opportunities: Fire, Flood, and Fortune
When it comes to West Coast real estate, O'Brien sees both challenge and opportunity. With the tragic increase in wildfires across Los Angeles, San Francisco, and surrounding regions, a sensitive but undeniable opportunity has emerged for developers and investors willing to innovate.
California has always faced a housing shortage — a problem partly fueled by the state's Homestead Act, which, while protecting aging homeowners from steep property tax hikes, has also created neighborhoods where brand-new builds sit beside decaying properties unlikely to be redeveloped for decades.
Yet, following the devastation of wildfires, entire towns often need rebuilding — offering a unique chance to create safer, more resilient communities built to the latest fire-resistant standards. Much like the flood zone regulations that reshaped construction along the East Coast after hurricanes, California's evolving fire codes demand new engineering solutions and materials.
"There’s something to be said for when an entire town has to rebuild to a higher standard," O'Brien notes. "It raises the bar for everyone—to follow stricter fire codes, innovate thoughtfully, and ultimately create a more peaceful way of living... not to mention lower insurance rates."
Even with risk factors like fires, floods, and earthquakes, people continue to invest — and live — in California’s most scenic and dynamic regions. For O'Brien, the risks are part of the thrill:
"When I built on the water in Old Greenwich, buyers would ask, ‘What do you do if there’s a hurricane?’ I told them — pour a Broken Shed martini and enjoy the show from your bulletproof, flood-proof home. That's why you live by the water: to experience nature, not hide from it."
East vs. West: A Lifestyle Choice
The allure of California has tugged at O'Brien’s heart since his twenties — acting, boating, snowboarding. At one point, he nearly bought a home in Ross, a Northern California town he describes as "Greenwich with better weather," before deciding to embark on a grander adventure: he moved to New Zealand.
“California had it all — world-class mountains just two hours away, sailing, Napa Valley — it seemed ideal,” he says. “We explored relocating abroad and considered Peru, Italy, and New Zealand. New Zealand felt like California on steroids. I like extremes. It was more exhilarating and presented a much greater challenge. While living in Greenwich, I became friends with many expats transferred by their banks to work in global markets. I envied that kind of cultural exposure, so I made the decision to relocate my family — and myself.”
That adventurous spirit led him to Lake Wanaka on New Zealand’s South Island, far from the typical North Island expat hubs like Auckland.
Broken Shed: Health is Wealth
O'Brien's commitment to clean living is reflected in his passion projects. Broken Shed Vodka, crafted in New Zealand, champions purity — “no additives, no gimmicks, just clean, whey-distilled spirit and mountain water from one of the purest places on Earth.” He adds with a smile, “Okay, okay — yes, it’s still alcohol. No one’s perfect.”
The concept mirrors the West Coast ethos: hikes, surfing, fresh air, and plenty of Vitamin D. "Health is wealth," O'Brien states — a philosophy as clear as Broken Shed’s ingredients list.
Almost California: Three Strikes
O'Brien almost made the leap to California more than once. In his twenties, after living aboard a 1969 wooden sailboat on the Hudson River, he dreamed of relocating to Marina del Rey. Later, post-divorce, Los Angeles beckoned again, promising a lifestyle of sun, fun, and proximity to his children in New Zealand.
But each time, the pull of family — the real kind, rooted in New York — was stronger.
“I thought about the Hollywood stigma, and the absence of grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles. It felt selfish to move to L.A., especially since I’ve always held onto the hope that my kids will one day come back to New York.”
California Dreamin' — or California Screamin'?
Today, O'Brien embraces his identity as a Native New Yorker who still dreams of the West Coast on winter days. The freedom, the nature, the lifestyle — it’s all still there, just beyond the horizon.
"California Dreamin’ on a winter's day?" he muses. "Maybe. But sometimes it feels more like California Screamin’."
Either way, for Mark O'Brien, the dream — and the adventure — is never over.
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