Meet John Vourlis, Wickliffe Real Estate Agent

Some agents come to real estate straight out of school. John Vourlis took a longer road, through engineering, film and the college classroom, and that path shows up in how he works with clients. Meet one of the Mike Team's Wickliffe experts.

A Wickliffe native who came back

John grew up in Wickliffe. He left for Los Angeles to work in the film business, but he came back, because, in his words, "Northeast Ohio is the best location in the nation!" Today he focuses on Lake County and Geauga County, and really the whole east side. If you're buying or selling in Wickliffe, you're working with someone who knows the town from the inside, not from a map.

Ask him for local recommendations and you'll get a few. In Wickliffe, he loves Petti's and Vittorio's. When he heads into the city, he likes the Cleveland Cinematheque and the wine bar scene in Ohio City.

From NASA and film to real estate

Before real estate, John taught as an instructor at Cleveland State University. His author profile lists him as an adjunct instructor in Film and Digital Media there, and his education is anything but typical: a bachelor's degree in engineering from Case Western Reserve University, a master's degree in English, and an MFA in film production from USC.

That same profile notes he worked on space propulsion technology at NASA's Glenn Research Center here in Cleveland, spent more than 20 years in the entertainment industry, and was a semi-finalist for the Nicholl Fellowship in screenwriting. If he weren't in real estate, he says, he'd be writing screenplays.

Why he made the move

Real estate was something John always wanted to do. He finally made the commitment in mid-2024 and got his license in the summer of 2025. He's been with the Mike Team for about a year.

What drew him here? In his words, "Mike's go-getter energy." What surprised him most after joining was how much he likes his colleagues, and how hard you have to work to generate a lead. That honesty is one of the things we like about him.

Who he works with

John works with both buyers and sellers. A lot of his clients start as buyers and become sellers once they find the right house, so he helps them through both sides of the move.

His favorite part of the job is simple: finding people the right place. One of the transactions he's proudest of was helping an older couple buy a townhouse for their son and granddaughter. It's the kind of purchase where getting the details right matters to a whole family.

How he takes care of clients

John describes his approach this way: "I'm friendly, love to be helpful, and I always listen to what my clients want and work to help them achieve their goals." His personal motto is shorter: "Work hard, do right."

That combination of listening first and then taking action is what clients get from him. He's not going to push you toward a house that doesn't fit. He's going to find out what you actually need and go get it.

Outside of work

John is single, with a huge extended Greek family. When he's not working, you'll find him practicing yoga, watching the Guardians, hanging out with friends at their Monday night card games, traveling or finding cool new places to eat. A fun fact most people don't know about him: he actually likes yard work.

John at a glance

• Licensed: Summer 2025, about a year with the Mike Team
• Areas: Wickliffe, Lake County, Geauga County and the east side
• Works with: Buyers and sellers, especially buyers who become sellers
• Education: BS in engineering, MA in English, MFA in film production
• Before real estate: Film and digital media instructor at Cleveland State University
• Team: Guardians

Backed by the Mike Team

When you work with John, you also get the Mike Team behind him. Our team has completed more than 3,000 transactions across Northeast Ohio, and our agents train together every week, so the experience of the whole team is there for every client.

"I love meeting new people and finding out how I can help them achieve their home ownership goals," John says. "I will work for you."

If you're buying or selling in Wickliffe, Lake County or Geauga County, call the Mike Team at 216-373-7727 and ask for John, or schedule a time at 21mike.com.

Mike Ferrante
The Mike Team at LPT Realty
www.21mike.com
Google Business Profile: https://g.page/r/CSQoYzel0Z68EAE
+1 (216) 373-7727