John Chen Hillsborough
Owner, Value Growth Properties - Real Estate Development
John Chen Hillsborough has built a career that reflects steady progress across real estate, finance, technology, hospitality, and private investing. His professional path has been shaped by patience, consistency, and a focus on long-term value rather than quick outcomes. Raised in the Bay Area, he is deeply connected to Hillsborough, where his personal and professional roots remain closely tied to Northern California and the community that shaped his early years.
John Chen currently owns Value Growth Properties in Hillsborough, where he develops and provides consulting services for real estate projects and capital financing across the Bay Area. This work reflects more than two decades of hands-on experience building and operating platforms, leading sizable teams, and navigating multiple market cycles with discipline and care. His approach emphasizes preparation, sound judgment, and measured decision-making.
Early Foundations in Hillsborough and Berkeley
He attended Menlo School in Atherton, graduating in 1990, and earned a degree in Economics from UC Berkeley in 1994. During his academic years, his analytical skills were sharpened through a strong focus on economic reasoning, capital flows, and risk evaluation. These foundations later became central to how he approached real estate investment and entrepreneurship with clarity and restraint.
John chose not to pursue a traditional corporate path immediately after college. Instead, he gravitated toward environments where accountability was visible and results were earned daily. This early preference for responsibility and proximity to leadership helped shape his professional mindset and influenced many of the decisions that followed throughout his career.
Building One of the Early Online Mortgage Platforms
In 1999, he entered real estate brokerage and founded Infoloan, also known as the Mortgage Superstore, along with Infohome, a mortgage and real estate services firm. At a time when online financial services were still developing, the goal was to create systems that blended technology with disciplined sales execution. This period required adaptability and a willingness to operate in an evolving digital landscape.
John Chen went on to hire and train well over 300 licensed agents and facilitated more than $7 billion in closed transactions from 1999 through the present through Infoloan. The company operated offices in both Silicon Valley and Taiwan, which required consistent standards, careful oversight, and an understanding of diverse market conditions.
During the early dot-com era, Infoloan ranked number 4 on Gomez.com’s list of top online loan agents. This recognition reinforced the idea that organizations could scale responsibly without compromising quality. The lesson remained relevant as his professional focus expanded into real estate development and investment.
Technology, Media Exposure, and Global Trade
John explored technology beyond finance in 2003, when he co-founded ImportNow.com, an international online marketplace designed to connect buyers and suppliers across national borders. As co-founder and chief executive officer, he managed the company through periods of rapid growth while maintaining operational discipline and credibility.
ImportNow.com received coverage from CNNfn, FORTUNE, USA Today, Yahoo! Internet Life Magazine. This exposure highlighted the importance of trust, transparency, and execution in digital businesses. It also reinforced an understanding of how media attention intersects with operational responsibility and long-term sustainability.
Expanding into Hospitality Across Asia
From 2005 through 2013, John Chen of Hillsborough shifted much of his professional focus to Asia, where he opened, managed, and developed food and beverage concepts across Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. He oversaw a diverse portfolio that included quick-service retail, bar operations, and full-service restaurant concepts, requiring daily operational involvement and cultural awareness.
These years provided a valuable perspective on the importance of frontline teams and the systems that support consistent execution. The experience emphasized humility and reinforced the reality that strong operations depend on people, process, and accountability. This period added practical depth to an already broad business background.
Real Estate Development and Value Growth Properties
John Chen leads Value Growth Properties with a view of real estate as a long-term operating business rather than a series of isolated transactions. His work focuses on thoughtful development, responsible consulting, and alignment among all stakeholders involved in a project.
He emphasizes fundamentals such as tenant quality, capital structure, and the end user's lived experience. Clients and partners value his ability to communicate effectively with lenders, contractors, and investors. His attention to identifying potential challenges early helps reduce risk and preserve long-term value.
John also continues to invest in early-stage companies in the United States and Asia. In these roles, he often advises founders on go-to-market strategy, capital discipline, and organizational structure while encouraging sustainable growth.
Community Involvement and Giving Back
He has remained committed to giving back to the community throughout the many phases of his career. He regularly volunteers his time and supports organizations that serve underprivileged communities and the arts, including Mercury Soul, Menlo School, the Challenged Athletes Foundation, and CuriOdyssey. These relationships have remained meaningful over many years.
John Chen serves on the Alumni Board at Menlo School, maintaining a strong connection to his alma mater. This role allows him to support future generations while staying engaged with the values that shaped his early education.
Discipline Beyond the Boardroom
His commitment to discipline extends beyond professional pursuits. In May of 2025, he placed third at the Masters Powerlifting Nationals in Reno, competing at a national level in a sport that demands patience, structure, and sustained effort. The achievement reflects a mindset grounded in preparation and incremental improvement.
A Career Built on Range and Responsibility
John Chen’s career in Hillsborough reflects resilience, adaptability, and steady engagement over time. From early involvement in online finance to international marketplaces, hospitality ventures across Asia, and decades of real estate development in the Bay Area, his work demonstrates breadth paired with responsibility. Those who know him recognize a leader who understands both growth and risk, and who remains committed to building with care as circumstances evolve.