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John Mentis has completed more than 500 sales during nearly 20 years as a full-time real estate agent, building a business in the Washington, D.C., region with a reported referral rate above 90%.
His approach centers on guiding clients through major life transitions rather than treating a home purchase or sale as a single transaction. Mentis works with first-time and move-up buyers, downsizers, investors, luxury clients, diplomats and families relocating over long distances or internationally.
Before entering real estate, Mentis worked at the American Hellenic Institute, American Forest & Paper Association and U.S. Grains Council. He also served as interim CEO of USA Rice. A University of Delaware graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree, he brought experience in advocacy, negotiations and executive leadership to his real estate career.
In 2025, Mentis ranked No. 24 among more than 6,000 agents in Long & Foster Real Estate’s Top Elite 100. He was also the top-producing agent in the company’s Arlington office, which has more than 100 agents, for six consecutive years.
His other distinctions include 10 years in the Long & Foster Luxury Alliance and more than a decade as a Northern Virginia Association of Realtors Multi-Million Dollar Producer. He has repeatedly appeared on top-agent lists from Northern Virginia Magazine, Virginia Living, Washingtonian and the Five Star Real Estate Agent awards. In 2022, RealTrends and Tom Ferry named him among America’s Best Real Estate Professionals.
Mentis serves clients across McLean, Fairfax, Falls Church, Alexandria, Arlington, Vienna, Springfield, Reston, Herndon and Burke, as well as Washington, D.C., and Bethesda, Maryland. He is licensed in Virginia, the District and Maryland.
Through Long & Foster, his clients can also access mortgage, title, inspection, insurance, moving and property-management services. Mentis remains their primary contact while specialists handle other parts of the transaction.
Reviews describe an agent willing to point out a property’s shortcomings and give buyers time to make a decision. One buyer said Mentis remained patient during a search lasting almost a year and highlighted problems she had overlooked. A couple managing the sale of an Arlington home from Montana credited him and his team with making the long-distance process manageable despite the time difference.
Another client, returning to the United States after 20 years abroad, said Mentis clearly explained both the strengths and drawbacks of prospective homes while helping the family navigate an unfamiliar buying process.
Mentis has built his career around the message, “Your Life is Changing. I Can Help!” His sales record, industry recognition and volume of referral business reflect an emphasis on relationships designed to continue beyond closing day.