Realtor Reviews from 2011 - 2012

Seeking highly experienced realtor for North Berkeley house

We need a realtor who specializes in selling houses in the Berkeley Hills. Any recommendations or information on realtors to stay away from would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Curious

Looking for an LGBT friendly realtor for Oakland

My partner and I are looking to buy our first home and are hoping to get some recommendations for Realtors/Real Estate Agents as we have no idea how to find a good one on our own. We are looking for an agent who is:
-Great with first time buyers on a tight budget (350k max).
-Knowledgeable about Maxwell Park, lower Oakland Hills, North Oakland and Berkeley (on the off chance we could find a place that is within our budget).
-LGBTQ friendly with an emphasis on the 'T'.
-Experienced with bank owned homes (since they might be the only options in our price range in our ideal neighborhoods).

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Aspiring Homeowner

Realtor specializing in East Bay Rentals

Looking for referrals or recommendations for any realtor or leasing agents that specialize in rental properties in areas of the East Bay, specifically, El Cerrito/Albany, Walnut Creek or Alameda. Looking to find a rental apartment/condo/townhome for my parents who will be relocating here from North Carolina by mid April or early May. Appreciate any leads or referrals. jen

Realtor for selling/renting small business

Does anyone know who to contact to put house and/or small business for rent/sale? I need to retire after 20 some years in business. Any referral would be very much appreciated. Thanks ready to retire

Selling your business is different. Depending on the size of your business, you need a business broker or a business consultant. These individuals use a term called EBITA (earnings before the deduction of interest, tax and amortization expenses) You should know that number before talking to these professionals. You should also talk to your tax preparer/CPA. You should also come up with a list of your competitors or vendors, these are individuals that might be interested in buying your business. Very truly yours, Joe

Looking for realtor for Berkeley Hills

We are thinking about moving to the Berkeley Hills and so I am looking for a realtor who is patient and wise with lots of experience. We have alot of things to consider and will be fussy so this may not be a quick purchase. Recommendations would be helpful. Thank you. kg

She was warm and friendly throughout the whole process. We really got the feeling that Holly has deep roots in Berkeley.

We found Holly through several reviews on Berkeley Parents Network and Yelp. It is true that she is super-savvy at helping place the bid at just the right number, without overpaying. She helped us prepare the entire bid package and ensured our bid looked as attractive as possible. She definitely exceeded our high expectations -- even crawling under the house to do an impromptu inspection with us.

Also, Holly fluently uses various means of communication -- texts, phone, email, and digital signature services. She has an incredibly useful website with locally relevant information about the buying process, and an extensive list of local referrals for everything from mortgage brokers to locksmiths. We can't recommend her enough! Jamie

Realtor in Lodi/Gold Country?

We're thinking about buying a weekend place out around/past Lodi, towards gold country. We're not sure how to go about finding a real estate agent out that way. We're looking for a modest home with acreage. Has anyone bought in that vicinity and had a good experience with a realtor they can recommend? Thank you. Need space to run

Oakland-Berkeley Realtor of multi-unit properties

Can anyone recommend a great realtor who specializes in multi-unit rental properties? I'm looking to buy a 2 - 6 unit building in Oakland or Berkeley and I'd like to have a hard-working, knowledgeable realtor who is an expert in multi- unit properties. Denise

Realtor with a TON of patience

We need a very patient realtor with lots of good ideas to help my very frustrated, somewhat picky and older in-laws find a new home. They had lost their house in the San Bruno explosion and have spent the last year in somewhat of a hell of decisions. They're tired, they're frustrated, but they need a place to live and we'd like to help them do that. Anyone have a person they're recommend. They're not sure where they'd like to relocate, so someone with overall Bay Area experience is a plus. Thanks! Ideas please

Nancy has been an agent for more than twenty years and knows the Bay Area, and particularly the East Bay, extremely well. This was our first house and we went in not knowing a thing about the process. Her patience and generous, good-natured spirit brought us to a close that was both quick and easy. She explained everything along the way in great detail, and really had our back when the seller wasn't holding up their end of the agreement. She was always present at our various inspections and helped to secure the necessary workers for some repairs. She also took the time to get to know us and understand what we were looking for.

She lives in Berkeley and has an immense understanding of the different neighborhoods and the various school districts, as well as of the East Bay as a whole. She is very savvy about all the issues to look for in a house and that her husband is a local contractor is a major plus. Nancy's contact info: Nancy Reichert Burley Coldwell Banker 1495 Shattuck Avenue Berkeley, CA 94709 nanscape@yahoo.com 510-486-1495 (office) 510-981-3018 (direct) 510-507-9051 (mobile) www.nanscape.com Please feel free to be in touch if you'd like more details. laura

How to choose an out-of-state Realtor??

I inherited my Dad's house when he passed away. He lived in Oregon for 30 years, and I've had a very hard time accepting his absence. The house still has all his things in it and is vacant for the last two years! It's time to let it go and put it on the market. Is there a good resource for finding an excellent realtor out of state? I need someone who is familiar with the outskirts of Eugene, and someone who can help me with an estate sale of things I won't be keeping. I'm not familiar with traditional realtors at all, since I prefer the Redfin business model. But I can't do that with this property. And what are the things you need to look for in a good realtor? What questions to ask? Thanks in advance. Daughter

There are some great ways to choose an out-of-area Realtor, and those ways vary depending on the area. But shopping on the internet is not a great way, because the agents who funnel a lot of money into online advertising are not usually the ones you want. (The ones you want are quietly receiving clients through word-of-mouth recommendations.) I usually start by calling the title companies and loan brokers in the target area for recommendations. They work with the local agents every day and they get to see their true untarnished character. Then I call those agents, interview them, and pass the remaining candidates on to my clients for a phone chat.

Don't settle for somebody who doesn't feel just right, and don't let anybody put the hard sell on you. It may take a little work but I promise there is somebody great for you. Feel free to call me to talk about it, and best of luck! Holly

Buying a Condo - advice and realtor

Would appreciate advice on Buying a Condo. We want it to move in eventually, or have our daughter live in after college, but would rent it immediately. What's a good area (would love a view and good, safe community) and can you recommend a realtor that is knowledgeable about condo purchasing and potentially renting it. Thanks very much.... anon

Top Notch East Bay Realtor needed

Can anyone recommend a great real estate agent in the East Bay (Berk/Oak/Albany) who is truly caring and trustworthy, not just out to make a quick buck? Burned once in Berkeley. rozy

I was probably not the easiest client to work with from an emotional standpoint, so in addition to educating me about all the basic, tangible steps involved in getting a house ready to sell, Holly needed to hand-hold, calm me, and keep me from sliding backwards. I was so emotional about the sale of my house where I had lived for 40 years and was quite scared of moving towards the unknown. But with the calm and ease of a seasoned professional, Holly accomplished all of that and more.

I had already interviewed several very good agents before meeting with Holly, so the bar was set high. Within the first few minutes of meeting with Holly, I knew she was the right choice for me. She knows exactly what needs to be done and is able to explain it to you without being pushy or aggressive. She is very authentic and honest, and it became clear to me very quickly that I could trust her completely. This was a huge relief.

Holly understands how houses are put together and she's not afraid to get her skirt dirty. During our first meeting I mentioned a certain noise I had been hearing under the house. Right away she went to the crawlspace into the depths of the underground with her flashlight (which she carries along with gloves, a mask, tape measure, etc. in the trunk of her car) and found a torn vent screen that had been allowing critters to get in. She found a hunk of concrete to drag into place to seal the opening. The mystery noise stopped. That is a typcial Holly response to any problem presented to her - resourceful and proactive. Her attitude is always 'let me get to the bottom of this right away.'

Everything about the sale of my house turned out far beyond my expectations. Holly's strategy was always clear, strong and logical. I can't believe how quickly my house sold, the amazing offer she negotiated for me, and how she worked hard to make every step as easy as possible for me. My friends, neighbors and family were always interested in hearing the latest Holly stories and were also so amazed at the level of care she took with me and the sale of the my largest asset, my house.

I am so appreciative of Holly's exceptional skills and caring approach. She turned a very emotional and difficult transition into a positive, rewarding and probably life changing experience for me and for this I will remain ever grateful. You can contact Holly Rose at: HollyRoseHomes.com LRW

Kathie was always very responsive. She was always on time for our meetings and well prepared. She was extremely careful never to 'sell' us on a house that was not truly a good fit for us. If anything, she was more critical of houses than we were. Kathie also never pushed us to go higher in price than we were comfortable with. In short, we never questioned that she had our interests uppermost in her mind.

Once the search was finally over and we were in contract we had expected Kathie's involvement to drop, but was she a tremendous help to us during the negotiation process. She helped to coordinate multiple inspections and contractors providing bids, arranging appointments and providing the materials we needed to negotiate further with the seller. Brian

Contra Costa Realtor Recommendation

Can someone recommend my husband and I a real estate agent/Realtor recommendation who works in Contra Costa county (Orinda, Moraga, Lafayette, Walnut Creek, San Ramon)? We found a Realtor who specializes in Alameda county and thought it would be best to find another in Contra Costa county. Unfortunately, the recommendations on BPN for Contra Costa are sparse. Thanks! anon

Need top-notch real estate agent in Lafayette

We've been through several disappointing experiences looking for a house. We worked with two agents - one who was constantly nudging us beyond our stated price range, and one who kept showing us dumps that were a 'good value' even though we specifically told him: NO FIXERS. We need an agent who will really listen to our needs and not just steer us on his/her usual track. Preference for someone who specializes in Lafayette area. Let the househunting begin (again)

You don't need a top-notch agent. You need to do your homework and adjust your expectations. anon

The agent who was constantly nudging you beyond your stated price range wasn't doing it to make a larger commission; he or she almost certainly did that because what you told the agent you want is out of your stated ceiling price.

And the agent who kept showing you fixers did it because those properties were in your expressed target location and price. You seemed to disparage the agent who pointed out good values by putting it in quotes...he was actually doing a good job! Buying an undervalued property is the fastest, most reliable way to gain equity (*especially* in the current market as appreciation will be minimal in the next few years), &/or to be able to buy in a good location.

I'm an agent: we don't make money not listening to clients or wasting time, and we do want to satisfy. No agent I know has a 'usual track'; our actions are always guided by client objectives.

If it's the money for rehab that keeps you from considering fixers, ask your mortgage broker about a 203K loan for the repairs. If the loan adviser discourages you from it, ask another broker: the loasns are complicated to process and not a lot of agents want the trouble or have the experience. Jessica

Can you recommend a real estate agent?

I'm looking for a superb real estate agent familiar with the East Bay (Oakland, Berkeley, Richmond, El Cerrito) family-friendly neighborhoods and schools. We are not afraid of fixers and may prefer one, even one in what most would consider horrible shape (we are builders). The right person would also know the rental and resale market a bit as we may be looking for investment properties. If anyone has had a great experience or is an agent themselves please let me know. You can write to me off-list if you are a professional. Sue

Seeking highly experienced realtor for North Berkeley house

We live in North Berkeley and are looking to sell our current house and buy a new family home in the area.

We are looking for an East Bay real estate agent who will really be a good fit for us for the long run. I know it's a long list, but we only want to consider people who will truly excel at meeting all of our real estate needs:

We are interested in someone who's been in the business a long time who has a proven track record. Also, someone who is highly competent with both buying and selling, a top negotiator, an excellent eye for staging, up to speed with online marketing, knowledgeable about home construction and repair, energetic and motivated, highly professional -- somebody who will honestly care about us and our home!

Thank you so much for any recommendations you have!! anon

To address some of your specific criteria: Holly has been in the business for a long time, and has a great track record. (I am pretty sure that at one point she was the top-producing realtor at Coldwell Banker in Berkeley.) We have friends whom Holly helped to buy a new house while simultaneously selling their old one, in transactions with nerve-wrackingly tricky timing, just as the real-estate market was crashing a few years ago; Holly pulled it off without a hitch. Holly is very computer-savvy, and while we have only bought, not sold, with her, her use of electronic techniques to help simplify our search for a home was certainly a lot more sophisticated than that of our previous realtor. You can't do better than Holly Rose! Anonymous

Need Walnut Creek realtor

I am looking for a trustworthy realtor to sell my Mom's house in Walnut Creek. My mom is not knowledgeable about real estate, but very trusting of experts. My husband and I will help with the process, but because we work full-time in SF and have an infant, it's difficult. We want someone who we can trust to work in the best interests of my mom.

The house is somewhat run down, and there is little money for fixing it up. However it is large, has a huge lot on a cul de sac zoned for more than one structure (currently there is a guest house), and is in a desirable school boundaries. My estranged father who was paying the mortgage recently cut my mother off financially, so we need to sell as soon as possible. Is there anyone out there who can get us a good price (the proceeds will by my mother's retirement egg) and can be sensitive to some complex family dynamics?

We are also looking for a good fee-based financial planner who can help us set up a retirement plan for my mom using the sale proceeds and work out a realistic budget for a senior who is used to living beyond her means. Thanks! Looking out for mom

Real estate agent for rental home?

I have a 2 1/2 year old and am hoping to move into a good public school district in Oakland (Rockridge, Piedmont, Montclair, etc.) in the next year or so. My husband and I would like to rent to start. We've looked on Craigslist and tried doing research on public schools online on our own, but would love the advice of a good real estate agent. Do real estate agents take on clients looking for rental homes? Does anyone have a recommendation for a good real estate agent? Gina

Looking for a realtor for my parents

My parents are moving up to the Bay Area. They have lived in the same house for 40 years so they haven't had to look for a house for a while. They are in their 70s and are interested in a condo or a place in a senior community (like Rossmoor)for under $400,000. They are interested in something between San Leandro and Pinole including Alameda. Does anyone know of a realtor who might specializes in working with older people? Thanks.

Looking for local realtor for first-time homebuyer

We are going to start looking for our first home, don't have much experience in this realm and would love to find a realtor who is from this area and really knows neighborhoods well. We have a young daughter and and would like help finding a great house for our family, and would appreciate support in figuring out where we can get the most value....(looking in Oakland/ Bereley/ Emeryville/ Albany). THANKS for your suggestions! j.

He helped our friends buy their first home in a more affordable, but still very safe part of Oakland and is helping us buy ours in a similar area (more affordable, very safe, and very cute!).

He was EXCELLENT about listening to our needs, showing us places that fit exactly into our specifics and staying well-within our price range and requirements. His philosophy is that he wants to help you find the right place for you so that when you are ready to sell you will use him to both sell and buy your next place and be able to get great value out of both experiences. We felt like his only clients. His knowledge and trustworthiness was invaluable. He was very honest about why a property might not be a good fit based on our requirements and could point out damage, estimate fixing costs and more. He was also honest about homes being priced too high or being on the market too long because of a likely problem and was pretty much always right about how much we should offer on a home and how quickly it would stay on the market.

I can't say enough good things about the experience we had with him. In addition, he treated us very well and took us very seriously even though we were spending relatively little in the Bay Area market and were trying to find a modest home in a more working-class area (not snobby and rich trying to buy in a snobby/rich area). :-) Please feel free to email me if you have any more questions about him. hannah

Real Estate Consult for Future Purchase Planning

My husband and I currently rent, but we are planning on buying sometime in the next five years. We aren't ready yet, but when we are, we're going to be looking in the East Bay (Lamorinda or Castro Valley, maybe?) for a either a home with some land (at least an acre, ideally more) or land on which to build our own home. As this will be a very large investment requiring careful preparation, we want to start planning now.

Do real estate agents talk to people in our situation? Ideally we want to sit down with someone and walk through our future options: what kind of land is available and where in the East Bay, how much we realistically will need to save, whether or not building our own custom home even makes sense, etc. Clearly if we did meet with an agent now, we would use them again in a few years to actually guide us through the purchase process when the time comes.

I would greatly appreciate any recommendations of a professional familiar with these kinds of purchases who might be willing to consult with a couple in our situation (who won't pressure us to act before we're ready). Thanks, Planning for the Future

Kensington realtor for advice about selling

My family recently became the inheritors of a small 1950s house in Kensington, and we're looking to sell sooner rather than later. Would love recommendations for a good realtor. The house is in decent shape, but has not been remodeled (kitchen, bath, windows etc.) -- one thing we're looking for is solid advice about how much work to do in preparation for selling. thanks! lucky legatee

With Stan & Sharon, you get two for the price of one, as they both work the transaction for you. They each have different specialties. For instance, Stan is a former contractor and knows a lot about how to assess a house physically, what needs to be done, etc. Sharon sees all the houses that come onto the market, and knows the most about marketing, comparables, etc. Together they are a fabulous team. Perhaps equally importantly, they are as honest as the day is long, extremely hardworking, and will hold your hand through the whole process (if you want).

They are just really good people, with lots of experience. They technically specialize in Oakland Hills neighborhoods, but they have handled properties all over the Bay Area, especially the East Bay, and can/will go anywhere. I would recommend you at least try them out. They're great. Joshua

Karen is sharp, honest, respectful, and ethical as the day is long. She is resourceful, generous and works hard. I had many questions and concerns, being a first-time homebuyer. Karen answered my questions and volunteered additional information that helped me make informed decisions. She enjoys getting to know her clients, is a good listener, and wants her clients to be happy with their choices. She's enjoyable to spend time with. She offers the right combination of support, patience, and straightforward directness without being pushy. She understands people as well as trends and fluctuations in the market. She has lenders she works with as well as contractors and inspectors. I recommend her without hesitation. I love my house and am grateful every day that I get to live here. Teri

Realtor Reviews from 2010

Real estate agent

My husband and I recently bought a house working with Wayne Chin: http://www.waynechinhomes.com. Wayne was great to work with, he really knows the area well in terms of available homes as well as local services and schools. He's extremely pleasant to work with and really wants his clients to be happy in their new homes. Wayne helped us out before, during and after the sale, providing guidance, advice and well-informed insight throughout the entire process. Best of luck with your search. I'm happy to answer any specific questions you may have about our experience working with Wayne. CMC

Realtor for El Cerrito multi-unit investment property

Does anyone know of an excellent real estate agent who has expertise in multi-unit investment property in the El Cerrito area? anon

Short sale - finding a good Realtor

My husband and I attempted a short sale last year but were denied by the bank (after 8 months of waiting) because my husband's credit was too high and we weren't in default on any of our loans. It is a different story for us now, and we are wanting to try a short sale again. The Realtor that we worked with the first time was good, but I could tell how frustrated he was with our bank by the end of the process, so I hesitate to ask him to assist us again. If anyone can recommend a short sale Realtor, whom you've had a positive experience working with, we'd love to get in contact with that Realtor. We live in San Pablo and really want someone that is very well experienced and sucessful in short sales. Thanks! Wanting out of this mess.

She helped us through a short sale. We were first time buyers on a budget, and Juliana was very patient with us.

She is very clear about the basics. In our case, because we knew our location, and were on a budget, the basics were price, sound structure, and a good floor plan.

Her philosophy of house buying seemed clear: be prepared to pay 5-10K more than market for a house you really want, to make sure you get it; else, make a bid that is a good bargain, and gives you a reasonable shot.

Juliana was quite careful with our money when making bids. From our experience with her, I would suggest that you not undercut her suggested bid: that way you will have almost no chance of getting the place.

Juliana has more than 15 years of experience, and this shows in the quick home inspection like examination she will make of the houses she shows you. She gives you a very good sense of what needs fixing, and how much it will cost. We found this very useful. Juliana also has tastes that we felt we could rely on when she suggested possible improvements, or turning down a house.

Juliana's knowledge and experience were particularly useful in our case. She suggested that we make an offer on a short sale that had already been pulled off the market. Sure enough, a few months down the road, the originally accepted offer fell through, and we got the house!

Not only is Juliana a nice person, she has great communication skills. My wife and I have different approaches to decision making: she makes quick gut decisions and her default decision is a Yes while I am irritatingly analytical and my default answer is a No. Yet we both thought her a great realtor! We both have no hesitation in recommending her strongly. J & V

Recommendation for a Realtor in the Oakland Hills

My husband and I are looking for a real estate agent to assist us with selling our house in the Oakland Hills. I checked previous postings and the most current information was from 2007, so I am hoping to get some more current recommendations. We would greatly appreciate recommendations and referral. Oakland HIlls family

Hope Broderick as real estate agent?

I am considering using Hope Broderick of the Grubb Company as a real estate agent to sell my current house in Oakland and to purchase a new home in the Oakland/Berkeley area. If you have worked with her, would you recommend her? Thanks. -Looking for agent

Realtor for First Time Homebuyer using FHA

Can anyone recommend a real estate agent who has helped them with a recent, successful experience buying a house using an FHA loan? We are on the verge of losing the home we are in contract for because our agent was unfamiliar with very rudimentary rules regarding contracts/loans. We are now picking up the pieces but are looking for a new agent. We'd like someone who is a good negotiator, knows Oakland, but above all, is honest and ethical. Thanks! Looking for Something Better

Realtor wanted for Rockridge Elmwood or N Berkeley

We need to move out of our 2 bed/1 bath Rockridge bungalow and find a place with at least one more bedroom and a second bathroom. We are looking for recommendations for real estate agents who have deep experience in Rockridge/Elmwood (or maybe North Berkeley). We can surf Zillow, Movoto etc, but we're looking for a realtor with initiative who can find the fabulous affordable house that isn't obviously on the market. Recommendations for friends / spouses, etc. are fine, but we really want to hear from recent buyers or sellers who have found an excellent realtor. Thanks.

She helped us easily sell our two bedroom Berkeley bungalow w/paint, garden, staging advice and help; and had workerpeople she managed. Our house was a crowded mess, but she could see its potential.

We also had a great buying experience w/her - she kept us from making a big mistake and helped us close on a great house that we'll be comfortable in for a long time. Again, she rocked w/great color and other house advice, plus worker recommendations. She's smart, generous, and a decent person.

Here's her contact info: Marvin Gardens 1577 Solano Ave Berkeley, CA 94707 510.527.2700 annaplant@gmail.com Shirley

Realtor in Berkeley who is familiar with foreclosures

Hi, Our small family is looking to buy a home in Berkeley. We are first-time home buyers and are feeling very priced out of the market. We'd like to find a trustworthy realtor who understand the pros/cons of buying a forclosure and is familar with first-time homebuyer and downpayment assistance programs. Many thanks!! Newbies

Realtor to sell or lease Berkeley Hills home

I want to explore my options regarding selling or leasing my Berkeley Hills home and need a realtor who can tell me what my property would likely rent or lease for, help me weigh the pro's and con's of each in this market, and represent me in the sale or lease process. I don't see any recent postings recommending sellers' agents and would like to know of competent agents very familiar with Berkeley Hills properties. msv

If you want to compare rental vs. sale proceeds, be sure to get help from a realtor who understands both the rental and sale market, and you may also want to talk to a CPA or tax-preparer who's strong on real property tax regulations (e.g., Gary Feiner at Feiner Financial) as tax implications will make a real difference to your comparative bottom lines. There's relatively little for sale in Berkeley right now, so this could be a good time to sell (catch lots of buyers' attention). Lucy

San Leandro Buyer's Realtor

I'm considering buying a house in the San Leandro area and am looking for a good realtor to assist me in the process. I'd like someone knowledgeable and experienced who is also low-key and not pushy. I'd be grateful for any recommendations. - Low-key in search of house-key

We also talked to Lanz Camacho, who is with Rinetti - we liked him too, and they also do a lot of work in this neighborhood as well. http://www.rinettico.com/roster/AgentInfo.aspx? AgentID=13660, (510) 568-6171 x12, lanzcamacho@sbcglobal.net Julie

Real Estate Reco Upper Rockridge & Lamorinda

We live in Upper Rockridge near the Piedmont border. We are thinking of listing our home and would like recommendations for agents experienced in selling $1 MM++ homes in Upper Rockridge. Ideally we would love to find a broker that also has experience in buying in Lamorinda. We sold our Berkeley home using Grubb, and have worked with Prudential in the past. We have heard many bad things about East Bay Soethby's head broker in Oakland and would love to hear your experience if you worked with them. Recommendations are appreciated! Heather

Real estate broker in Berkeley

I need a broker/agent. I'd prefer one whose a top producer for Berkeley and a rec. from experience. Many thanks.

Looking for Real Estate Agent in Lafayette/WC Area

Hello, We are looking for recommendations for an experienced real estate agent in the Walnut Creek/Lafayette Area who has helped you or someone you know by a home recently. We are especially looking for someone who can help us buy a home with our criteria in a fairly short amount of time ( within 6 months to one year). Thank you

We used her to buy our house last fall after looking for a year. We saw SO many houses (because we were so indecisive) and she never complained and did a great job of helping me keep track of them. She was great about seeing all of the stuff on tour days and letting me know what was out there. She is also very knowledgable about current pricing and trends.

dmacdonald@pacunion.com Phone: 925-253-6286 Mobile Phone: 925-963-0269 Web Profile: http://www.pacunion.com/dianemacdonald Other Web Page: http://www.HomesLargeOrSmall.com Stephanie K.

Looking for realtor to help buy a foreclosure

I am looking for advice or a realtor that can help me to investigate the possible purchase of a house in pre-foreclosure or a foreclosure. Geographic areas of interest are Kensington and El Cerrito. Or, do I even need a realtor? I see partial and full addresses listed on many websites. Is there anyone who does this or has done this? Can they share any advice about finding and buying the properties? If realtor, I am looking for someone who is really phenomenal and at the top of his/her game. Attention to detail and promptness are absolutely essential. Thank you in advance.

Great Realtor in Berkeley/Albany

I have a friend moving to the area who wants some updated recommendations for a realtor that specializes in Berkeley/Albany/possibly El Cerrito. Specifically looking for an agent that is patient, trustworthy , a good listener and good with people - not in a pushy-sales type way. Thank you.

Ruth Goldstone ruthgoldstone@aol.com 510-418-7191 (mobile)
Albany Homeowner

Realtor Reviews from 2009

Real estate agent for Alameda needed

I'm looking for a real estate agent who has experience/expertise in Alameda. I'm interested in buying a ''fixer upper'', and am also considering buying multi-family (2- 3 units). So I'd like to find someone who is knowledgeable about these issues. I'm also fairly picky and will wait to find the right property. Thanks for your help, - HJ

ISO Walnut Creek Realtor

My husband and I are ready to buy our 1st home and would like to find an experienced real estate agent that specializes in Walnut Creek. I checked BPN recommendations for Real Estate agents and only found 4 for Walnut Creek (only 1 was from the last 5 years). Please let me know if you can recommend a real estate that you bought/sold a house with who specializes in Walnut Creek. Thank you! anon

Real estate agent for the Peninsula

We are house hunting in a couple of areas, and one area we are seriously looking is the Peninsula - most likely San Mateo or Redwood City (San Mateo is the area we prefer for its location). We are looking for a real estate agent who is willing to help us find a deal. We do have children, and so the schools are important. If you know of a real estate who you can trust, and who will go to bat for people buying at the lower price end, please let us know!

Looking for Alameda real estate agent

My family of three is looking for a home in Alameda, and are searching for a great real estate agent to help us. Ideal would be someone who is enthusiastic about helping home buyers who can afford only the lower price range in the areas that interest us. A plus would be someone familiar with REO's, fixers, foreclosures, etc.(not that we want to capitalize on anyone else's loss - but it may be all we can afford). We are looking for a place in the East End or Bay Farm Island (though would consider the West End) because would like great schools, and hubby commutes to the Peninsula, so southern areas of Alameda are a draw. This is our third home, so we are not total novices, but would like someone who is a straight shooter, has integrity, and is very knowledgeable about the market. Any suggestions are so appreciated.

Monterey Realtor?

Has anyone worked with a Monterey Bay realtor that they loved? We are looking at properties online and are ready to schedule some ''real'' property tours. Thanks a bunch! Looking

Real estate agent - El Sobrante

Can anyone recommend a real estate agent for prospective buyers who specializes in the El Sobrante area? We've been looking around for months with an agent who does not specialize in that area and have had no luck. We currently rent in Berkeley but want to own in El Sobrante. Thanks! C.C.

Piedmont real estate agent

We currently own in San Francisco but want to move to Piedmont for the schools. We can't spend much more than $700,000, so I'm not sure if we can even afford it, but we want to find out for sure. Could you recommend a real estate agent who would be able to take us on as clients with our budget in mind. We might need someone who can just let us know whenever something on the low end comes on the market, but not pressure us to buy something we cannot afford. house hunting family of four

East Bay Real estate agent area

We're looking to take the plunge and buy our first house. Does anyone have any recommendations for a good real estate agent in the East Bay, ideally one who specializes in Pleasanton/San Ramon area? anon

Looking for listing real estate broker

We are thinking of moving out of the east bay. We need a real estate broker who knows the Upper Rockridge area well. I am wondering if anyone sold a house and feels that the listing broker they used was honest and helpful (has names of people for the things we need to fix) so that they earned their commission. We want to give a 5% commission (not 6). Thank you

Berkeley Real Estate Broker

I'm looking for an honest, knowledgeable real estate broker in Berkeley for a mid range house. Thanks so much

Realtor in Orinda

Hi, can someone please kindly recommend an honest, reliable, detail-oriented, well-connected, and patient realtor who negotiates well and specializes in Orinda real estate? My husband and I are starting our house search (to purchase a house) and since I've always lived on the other side of the tunnel, I would really appreciate your personal recommendation. Has anyone worked with April Matthews? She seemed to have quite a few listings with Village Associates. Thanks so much for your time! house hunter

SF Realtor Wanted

Can anyone recommend a realtor for San Francisco? My sister is looking to purchase a home (probably a condo) in SF. Thanks. Ann

TIC Real Estate Agent

I'm looking for a reputable real estate agent who has lots of experience with Tenants In Common (TIC) sales in Berkeley. Any help?? Martin

Realtor Reviews from 2008

Albany Realtor Needed

My family is looking to move to Albany, CA and would appreciate realtor recommendations. Thanks! mt

Really nice Lamorinda Realtor?

Hi, what are your recommendations (the more the merrier) for a Lamorinda Realtor with an excellent knowledge of not only Lamorinda but the Walnut Creek market too? We're looking for a very patient person with good people skills for first timers. Thanks! first time buyers

My husband and I can unreservedly recommend our realtor, Patti Camras, who is with Coldwell Banker in Orinda. She is expert in the Lafayette-Orinda-Moraga area, and she also works in the Berkeley Hills and in western Walnut Creek.

We must have been terrible clients: picky first-time buyers looking for the Perfect House for a low price in Orinda! But she was patient with us, answered all our nervous questions, and provided expert and valuable advice. (She even returned my calls when she was on vacation in Carmel with her husband!) She is a good negotiator and helped us close what could have been a troublesome deal. Her Web site is www.patticamras.com. -- Happy Homeowner

Realtor - Castro Valley

Does anyone have any first hand knowledge of Mark Rodrigues out of Castro Valley as a real estate agent for selling a house? We were directed to him for selling our house, and I want to get a sense of whether I can trust his recommendations. Inclined not to trust real estate agents

Realtor for buying a condo

Can you recommend a good realtor for buying a condo for future living and/or an investment. Thanks... thinking about the future

Realtor - East Bay

Does anyone have referral information for Helen Walker of Thornwall Properties? I need to buy and sell and have been referred to her for both but do not see recent recommendations on the archives. nervous buyer/seller

Real estate agent for Oakland under 300k

Can anyone recommend an experienced real estate agent who is familiar with the Oakland market and who would be willing to work with someone shopping in the sub-$300K market? Ideally someone with some experience buying fixer properties who is also sensitive to the needs of a family with small children. Thanks! House Hunting

Someone to help us sort out our best options

I guess I should preface this with 'we're NOT looking to sell right now'. We just want someone who can sit down with us and almost act like a consultant, someone who has a strong grip on the reality of the housing market and who can tell us realistically what the next 3-5 years holds. Someone who is very familiar with construction loans and the pros/negatives to home additions. Someone who isn't going to push their own agenda, but who can really help us sort out what the best options are for us in the future. If we have to pay an hourly fee, that's fine. We didn't use a real estate agent when we bought our current home, so we have no one we can turn to. Relative/friend recommendations are highly sought after! Thank you! always a planner...

Couple of questions you'd want to think about in advance: How long do you plan to be in your home (a 3-year horizon is very different, from an analytical point of view, compared to a 20- year horizon)? Are you hoping to meet basic needs, or preferences? How do you feel about risk?

No one knows what the future holds--the feds are about to take over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, a step unfathomable a couple of years ago. But trends from past housing slowdowns are useful (and these suggest that slowdowns tend to result in flat prices for a 5-6 year period, and we're about 2 years into that trend already).

Financing is difficult right now unless homeowners have about 20- 25% equity in their homes (i.e. a realistic valuation is about 20% more than the outstanding mortgage plus any seconds or home equity lines). (New purchase loans under $729,750 are reasonably available for those with good credit histories as well.) Construction loans are much more difficult to get than a home equity line for construction purposes.

Also, FYI, someone told us that the Grubb Co. was mostly high- end and wouldn't work with us because our needs were on the less-expensive side. Not at all true. John and Judith went out of their way in many ways, and did an excellent and top- notch job for us. Rahel

Alameda Realtor needed

Can anyone recommend a good realtor in Alameda? My husband and I want to buy an Alameda condo for my mom to live in (and perhaps buy it with her). We'd like a trustworthy, nice realtor (not to pushy) who can help us find a place, and also figure out the best way to go about buying it. Thanks!

Realtor for first time buyer

I know there are a million recommendations for realtors in the archives already, but most come from before the market went crazy. I am wondering if anyone can recommend a realtor who understands prices well, and could be helpful now that the market is so wacky. We are first time buyers, focusing on Alameda, but open to other areas, and looking for what most others look for - a decent house in an area with good schools that isn't going to bankrupt us. confused buyer!

Realtor Reviews from 2007

Alameda Realtor

A few months ago, someone asked for a recommendation for a real estate broker. I have been very happy with the services of Rick Pavao of California Real Estate Finance in Alameda (521-0300). I believe he is the owner of the company. He truly puts the interests of the client first to the point where I wonder how he makes any money. He is knowledgeable and would never push the risky loans that are causing the current havoc in the market. Cindy

Commercial Real Estate Agent

We're thinking about buying a smallish apartment building, but don't know much about this sort of venture. Anyone out there know a good commercial agent? Thanks in advance.

Realtor for finding house with an in-law unit

Can anyone reccomend a trusted and capable real-estate agent capable in finding properties with secondary/separate ''coach houses'' or ''in-law'' apartments on the property, or similar arrangements in either Alameda or Contra Costa counties, and sympathetic to the costs of an expanding family and care of elderly parents. In need of good and understanding agent

Richmond/El Sobrante Realtor

Any recommendations for a seller's real estate agent in the Richmond/El Sobrante area? Thanks!

San Leandro Realtor

Can anyone recommend a good realtor for San Leandro to help us find a home? Also, whatms the market like in San Leandro? Thanks. Looking in San Leandro

After many years in Berkeley, we've decided to move. San Leandro is one of our possibilities. Can someone recommend a good realtor for San Leandro? Also, whatms the housing market like in San Leandro? Thanks. Leaving Berkeley

Realtor for Alameda

I am looking for a house in Alameda (the main island) and am looking for a realtor who can help me in my search. Can you recommend someone? Thanks. House Hunter

If you're considering moving to Lamorinda, I've got a really nice and very talented real estate agent to recommend. His name is Jim Ellis. His contact info is: Ph (925) 253-4602, Cell (925) 285-7423, Email: Jim@oldoski.net, Website: http:// www.oldoski.net He listed and sold our Richmond Hills house and showed us all around Lamorinda when we were planning to move there. He is smart, patient, easy to work with, and extremely helpful. In the end, we decided to stay on this side of the Bay for our own reasons. Had we decided to live there, I have no doubt he would have found us a great place & a trouble-free tansaction. JoAnne S

I have just had an amazing experience with mother/daughter team Aliya Johnson and Liz Stevens of Windermere real estate bay area. as a single mom, I needed a miracle and these women (liz is the broker owner and aliya a licensed agent) listened and worked with me quickly and efficiently. I had my house on the market for 2 weeks, 3 open houses, and had 200 people go through! I am now under contract with a very short escrow. Here's the catch: these two women know their markets so you too must be willing to listen to the particulars of your area. Cant hurt to call them. Good Luck. Liz: 510.409.6977 or 510.984.2000 michelle

East Bay Realtor

Hi, my husband and I are going to have our first child in 6 months and are interested in going from renting to buying. We're looking at Albany, Rockridge, Montclair, and possibly Alameda. Our budget will make buying in these areas a real challenge, so we need a creative, experienced real estate agent who will work hard within our budget. Recommendations based on experience with realtors in any of these neighborhoods, working within the current market, are greatly appreciated. rmr

Oakland: Lake Merritt Realtor

We have a 4-bedroom house in China Hill near Lake Merritt that we want to sell and would like a recommendation for a realtor who knows that area. Thanks for your help. Joann

If you are looking for an amazing real estate agent to work with I highly recommend both Dave and Carla Higgins. They helped us purchase our first home.We were clueless and overwhelmed about the process. They held our hands and baby stepped us from the beginning till the end. (Which was exactly what we needed). They are very knowledgable about schools and neighborhoods. Dave and Carla are experts in real estate and wonderful people too Thalia

I would like to recommend my wonderful realtor, Sarah Richards, of Red Oak Realty. She is extremely knowledgable, listens to your needs, doesn't push anything other than what you ask for and is just a super-nice person in general. I have 2 small children and she didn't flinch when I had to bring them to look at houses and they screamed in the car. She helped us buy a house in ''short sale'', which is essentially pre-foreclosure. We weren't looking for that in particular, but we found a house we loved and it happened to be a short sale. A lot of realtors wouldn't touch it because they didn't have experience in the area. But Sarah got us through escrow in 20 days (our choice)! Plus, she helped us negotiate some major repairs on the house at the seller's cost. She specializes in Richmond Annex and El Cerrito/ Albany, but I know she does other areas. (We bought our house in Richmond). I highly recommend her as both a incredible realtor and a person of integrity. You can reach her at 510-292- 2036 or at saraherichards@gmail.com. --Lexie M

Oakland: Montclair Realtor

Hello! My husband and I are expecting our first child this summer, so we've decided to take the plunge and buy our very first house. The BPN realtor archives online are great, but a few years old. If you can recommend a realtor who specializes in the Oakland Montclair/Piedmont areas (or other areas with good elementary schools- these are the ones we've come up with so far), we'd love to know about them- we can use all the help we can get! Thank you very much! Amanda

This is an unsolicited recommendation for the best agent in Contra Costa: Leslie Mills at Coldwell Banker. We found her from a similar message posted on this site from 2001, and she was beyond our expectations and then some. We were first time buyers and sellers when we contacted her. Leslie and her team have been nothing but helpful, diligent, informed, hard-working, flexible and available since the moment we started the process of selling our condo and buying our first home. The whole experience has been as optimal as I can only imagine, largely due to her, and her demeanor and advice has been invaluable. Her network of resources is amazing, from staging our home for sale to people to do the work necessary at reasonable cost to long-term help we're just grateful. Do yourself a favor if moving in CC County, call her. Really, she's the best. Carolyn G

Vallejo Realtor

My mother-in-law needs to sell her home in Vallejo. The house is almost 20 years old and has not been maintained. I'm looking for advice on what we should have done to the house (in addition to new paint and carpeting) to maximize the sales price without going to an excessive amount of effort. The house has 4BR/3BA, a funny floor plan and a steep hill in the backyard. Have you worked with any good real estate agents who specialize in Vallejo who could provide some advice (and possibly help us sell the home once it's ready)? THANKS! Signed: What to do about MIL's home?

Lamorinda Realtor

Moraga Real Estate Agent
Can anyone out there recommend a good real estate agent with a strong knowledge of the Moraga market? Anon

Realtor familiar with Alameda

Hi! My husband and I are thinking about buying a house in Alameda after all the great reviews it has received in BPN. But we have very little information about the different parts of town, schools, etc. We are hoping someone might be able to recommend a realtor who knows Alameda well and can help first time homebuyers navigate this world. Any other thoughts or suggestions related to buying in Alameda are also very much appreciated. Thank you for your help! Rebecca

Realtor to help buy ''fixer''

I am looking for a realtor to help us buy a ''fixer'' in a nicer/ more established neighborhood in oakland/berk/piedmont. So far my search has been mixed. I'm looking for someone both hard working and low-key, honest and not too pushy. Someone with experience fixing up houses themselves, interested in keeping their eye on all fixers that come up. thanks. -potential fixer

Oakland: Temescal Realtors

I will soon be looking for a first home in the Temescal area of North Oakland, can anyone recommend a realtor? I am looking in the 450-600K range. Thank you! anonymous

North Berkeley Realtors

Can anyone give me a recommendation for a real estate agent who would work well under the following conditions? My husband and I are thinking of selling our current house sometime in the spring or summer and would like to buy in a very specific area of North Berkeley. We're very particular even down to the blocks we are interested in looking at. The downside is that not too many places sell in this area, and not too many of those are in our price range. However, we're willing to hold out and take our time because we want the next house to be the house we stay in for a very long time. This means that we really need an agent who is ok with the process taking a while and who won't try to push us into the wrong area/house just to make the sale. Any suggestions? Thanks. Allison

Realtor Reviews from 2006

Looking for fixer-upper in Berkeley/Oakland

We're first time home buyers who don't want to move to the suburbs, but are worried about what we'll end up with for our dollars in the Oakland/Berkeley general vicinity. We rent a house in on the Oakland/Emeryville border and it's really shown us how important your neighborhood is; I'd rather a dump we can work on over time in a neighborhood with walkability, friendly neighbors, and accessible amenities. If you've had a great experience with an agent who really enjoys this sort of thing-- this definitely won't be a turnkey property we're looking for-- I'd love to hear from you. Thanks

I would like to ''highly'' recommend Norah Brower of Berkeley Hills Realty. 510-524-1700 x 26 or Cell 510-703-6934 Norah is one of the most architecturally literate agents I have ever met. She understands how various styles of architecture translate into personal values for her clents. I am an architect, so I had a great need for this type of dialogue. Norah is a good listener and knows when to step back and let you make the final calls in those very stressful moments. Norah was also very helpful in connecting us to the community and sharing her wide range of helpful references with us. Feel free to give me a call for any further information. 510.558.8280 Joanne K

If you have kids and are wondering which real estate agents can deal with that well, I have a recommendation for you. We recently bought our first home with the fantastic help of Kathryn Stein and Helen Walker from Thornwall (848-1950) in Berkeley. They are both mothers and can cope with the things that kids do while looking for a house. They were always so nice to the kids (and us), and know how to help when the kids are distracting you or too tired, etc. When we finally found a house and were serious about getting it, the little one was feeling it was very unfair that the older one would get a larger room. Helen took her seriously, paced the length of each room with her, showed her all the good reasons why her room was nice for her, and how it really wasn't that much different in size. Whatever I had to say at that point would not have worked, but Helen saved the day and made her so happy with the room. We did get the house, and the little one has never complained about her room since. These two agents are just life savers when you are tired and stressed from house hunting with children. I could share many more good comments about them if I had room. Good luck to all house hunters! Happy in New Home

El Cerrito Realtor

I am not responding to a specific question on Real Estate Agents. However, my husband and I just bought a new home in El Cerrito and I would like to recommend our agent. Her name is Francine Di Palma and she is with Red Oak Realty on Solano Ave. Francine is truly unbelievable and a rare find. She was so patient with us...we took 8 months to find the home that was perfect for us. During this time, it was always revealed to us, that Francine has an excellent reputation in the community for being professional, hard working and ethical. She has the perfect balance of being straight forward and honest but not pushy. After 8 months of working with her, we did get to know her well and our first impression was correct, but our respect and fondness for her increased. And she is smart, fun, interesting and funny on top of all of that. I honestly believe we NEVER would have found our perfect home if it was not for her Kristen

Pleasanton/Dublin Realtor

Hi, I'm looking to buy my first home and am in need of a buyer's agent for the pleasanton/dublin area and/or the fremont area. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Thank you una

I'd like to recommend our agent Jerry Long. As first time home buyers in Northern California, we were wary of getting into the market q too many horror stories about houses going thousands of dollars over the asking price had scared us into submission! But Jerry made it seem like a breeze; he was supportive, wise, and resourceful. Our budget always seemed to us be too tight, but Jerryms patience and confidence that we would find something gave us hope q and he was right! Hems always willing to take the time to answer questions and offer advice, and his laid-back style took all the anxiety out of important decisions. He and his wife Heidi focus on Berkeley, Albany, Kensington and El Cerrito, see www.heidiandjerry.com pakravan

Last week I saw a posting discouraging home buyers from using Lawton Associates. It is unfortunate the poster felt he/she had a bad experience. I wanted to let people know that my experience with Mary Smartt and the team from Lawton Associates was wonderful and rewarding. Mary spent a lot of time with us as first time home buyers. She was gracious and the utmost professional. We found a home that was perfect for us but was also listed way below market value, resulting in a bidding war of over 50 offers! We didn't have the highest offer, but through Mary's professionalism and experience in this market, she helped us craft an offer that got us our dream home. There were a lot of issues that came up in escrow that Mary handled for us, covering every detail. My parents who have been investing in real estate for over 30 years and who were involved in the process of our home purchase have said that they have never come across a real estate professional as thorough as well as personable as Mary Smartt. We truly consider Mary a friend of the family for life and would never hesitate to work with her again and would recommend her to anyone. Marina P

We had a very negative experience with Lawton Assocs of Berkeley during a recent home buying experience. We purchased at the height of the market and paid a premium price for what thought was a fairly decent, albeit older bungalow. As we were first time homebuyers we had many questions and at times I had no idea what we were doing and thus relied on our Realtor (Mary Smartt and Ron Kriss at Lawton Assocs) for guidance. We found out much later that our Realtor did not live up to her "Fiduciary Responsibility" in representing us in the purchase, neglected a number of inspections we had asked for and thought we had gotten, did not fill out the TDS properly and was generally rushed with the process. She tried on many occasions to get us to bid the maximum we had been approved on for a house that obviously was not worth that amount (even with overpayment). In the end, we still overpaid and are now faced with a list of claims from concealed issues with the house. Moreover, the Realtor was totally lax at helping us find properties...at one point we tried to fire her but had (our current house) ready to bid and needed to move ahead. Lawton is small boutique agency in Berkeley which we were referred to by a friend. Lawton tends to represent sellers in Berkeley, Rockridge and Piedmont. -Anon

For anyone looking to purchase a home, I wanted to strongly recommend Karthiga Anandan at the Grubb Co. We purchased a home in Berkeley from Karthiga last summer and were so pleased with her professionalism. Karthiga was not only very knowledgeable about the real estate market in Berkeley but also about the details a buyer should know when assessing which house is the "best fit" for you. We used a different agency back in 1998 with our first home and were satisfied with the service. However, with our latest foray, we were amazed how much our previous agent didn't provide in all these little ways in terms of personality, contacts with local contractractors, architects, and inspectors, and negotiation. Karthiga truly made a stressful situation into a much more pleasant one. Carolyn

Piedmont Realtor

I like to hear from people who have had great experiences with their realtors in purchasing a home in Piedmont in the last few years. I have heard about Chris Cohn, Dana Cohen, Kirt Buchholz, Diane Verducci of Grubb, and also Georgia Cornell of Pacific Union --- does anyone have any first-hand experiences with any one of them in buying a home in Piedmont? Any other recommendations are also very much appreciated !! albert

I would like to recommend our realtor, Jimmy Reina of Red Oak Realty in Albany. Last year when we bought our first house we used Jimmy and were very happy with him. Jimmy listened closely to our needs and desires and didn't waste our time with houses or locations we weren't interested in. He was very patient with us and thoroughly explained everything. He showed us homes in Berkeley, Oakland and Alameda - in the end he helped us with a very quick closing on our home near Lake Merritt. He is a good resource for the type of buyer who wants to take the time to understand what they are signing. My husband and I were very satisfied and would love to be able to direct more business his way. You can reach him at 510-280-2120 or jimmy at redoakrealty.com Cheryl

In 2005 my partner and I put our El Cerrito home on the market. After meeting a bunch of realtors who left us cold, we found Kathie Longinotti of Coldwell Banker in north Berkeley (next to Black Oak Books at Shattuck and Vine). Kathie has warmth and enthusiasm, diligence and an eye for detail. She was always gracious and professional, even though our home s across the street from an active demolition site s was locationally challenged. She expressed genuine excitement about our home, and it was apparently infectious: We got 12 offers, exceeding even our secret hopes. We confidently recommend Kathie to anyone looking for a great agent. Her number is 510-486-1495. John B

Hi I am writing to recommend a terrific Real Estate Agent that I have been working with. She has gone above and beyond any expections that I had. She is constantly keeping my husband and I updated on houses on the market and willing to meet with us at OUR convenience. It has been a refreshing experience. She works in mostly in Montclair but her area of expertise include all surrounding areas. Erin P

If you're looking for a house in the East Bay, I can _highly_ recommend David Kafton, a licensed real estate broker. He rec'd his PhD from Berkeley in the 1960s, has been a resident of Berkeley since then, and so he knows the area like the back of his hand. He used to be w/ Mason McDuffie, and has been running his own practice for the past 10+ years. He helped me buy my first house in 1994, and our second in 2000 (for the 2nd purchase we weren't the highest bidders, but his presentation got it for us). Not only does David have over 25 years of experience as a realtor--he has an incredible amount of integrity; his commitment to the community is expressed through his work to help people find the right homes; and he has a heart of gold. We've remained friends to this day, and if I need a referral for anything from a chimney sweep to a vet to the best eclair in town, he's the first person I call. You can contact him at 510.524.8973 or dtk at kafton dot org. AJ

Albany Realtor

I would like to recommend Francine di Palma, a real estate agent at Red Oak Realty in Berkeley. 510-527-3387 Francine helped my husband and I buy a house in Albany this summer. The first thing I noticed was that she spent most of her time telling us what NOT to buy, rather than pushing properties that may not have suited us exactly. It was clear that Francine wasnmt just trying to walk off with her commission as quickly as possible. Francine exhibited her dedication to our interests on many other occasions, in particular taking on awkward negotiations with future neighbors over a potential boundary dispute with gusto. She also used her local connections to spot suitable houses early, point out potential problems and hunt down as much information as possible q lots more information than is available from listings and conversations with sellers and their agents. Two months after the purchase closed, Francine is still emailing with recommendations for gardeners, plumbers, odd-job helpers and much-needed general advice on how to look after a home. Kimberly W

I want to recommend an amazing real estate agent, Dana Cordiero at Red Oak Realty, 2983 College Avenue, Berkeley, 510-849-9990x2152, danacordeiro@sbcglobal.net. Our family of four moved to the Bay Area from Boston 1.5 years ago. Dana was helpful in arranging rental housing for us while house-hunting, was amazing with our two children during countless open-houses, and kept an amazing positive attitude through the entire process that there was a house for us that would fit our family. She was effective in negotiating cash back after a surprise during inspection. She continues to be a great reference for contractors and services, mails us information periodically, has fun client appreciation events and has become a delightful family friend. Anon

I give my full endorsement to Carrie McAllister, my real estate agent who helped me find the house of my dreams. As a first-time homebuyer Carrie patiently walked me through the home-buying process. During the search I was most impressed with how well Carrie listened to my needs -- location, size, amenities, etc. Carrie was professional and thorough and a pleasure to work with. You can reach her by phone (510-292-7838), email (carrie@redoakrealty.com), or you can visit her website: www.carriemcalister.com. Scott F

Realtor Reviews from 2005

After using the Berkeley Parents site as a resource over the years, my partner and I would like to post a recommendation of our own. Last summer we decided to put our El Cerrito home on the market, and we began to shop around for a real estate agent to represent us in the sale. After meeting a number of realtors at open houses who left us cold, we found that Kathie Longinotti of the Coldwell Banker office in north Berkeley (next to Black Oak Books, at Shattuck and Vine) had the warmth and enthusiasm to represent us the way we'd have represented ourselves, if we could have. Kathie's diligence and attention to detail was just what we were looking for; if anything, she was more excited about our house than we were, and we figured that potential buyers would respond to Kathie's excitement. They did. We got 12 offers on the house, exceeding what we even secretly hoped for (even in the traditionally sluggish month of August, for a house with a rather challenged location across fr! om an active school demolition). Through it all Kathie was gracious and professional ' we strongly recommend Kathie to any seller looking for a great agent. Her number is 510-486-1495. John B

Moving to the Bay Area from the East Coast

We moved to the Bay Area from the East Coast and are looking for a realtor to educate us about the East Bay neighborhoods and the housing market. We have 2 children and want a house in a good school district. Annon.

Lamorinda Realtor

If you are looking for a real estate agent in Orinda, I would highly recommend Patti Camras of Coldwell Banker, she is true professional in all phases of her work. She sold our house in less then one week. Her marketing plan was very effective as we encountered a swarm of potential buyers/lookers during our first open house. She made all the important arrangements and contacts for staging our house and spared no expense when she advertised it. She is the president of Orinda's Chamber of Commence, formerly a career school teacher in Orinda, and lives in Orinda, so she knows everything about Orinda. It was a real pleasure working with her. If you want a real professional for buying or selling a house in the Orinda/Moraga/Lafayette areas, call Patti or look her up at http://www.patticamras.com/ Ron

Oakland: Rockridge Realtor

Can anyone recommend a great realtor who has solid experience selling in Rockridge? Rockridge Seller

Maison Nouveau; realtors that rock! If you are looking for a realtor, Maison Nouveau is the place to call: 510-849-9900. They have an office in the east bay as well as SF and everyone in their office will work together as a team to find you the best place. We worked with Tori and Annalise and they were awesome. Buying and selling a house can be incredible intense and they were there for us whenever we needed. They seemed to work all hours, and even helped entertain our kids while we looked at homes. Best of all they only accept 2% commision and will up your offer by the remaining 1% or credit it back to you for closing costs. With the cost of homes what they are, this was a substantial amount of money! I highly recommend them, they helped my family get into an amazing house. jartdesign

Realtor for Alameda or Albany house

We are thinking about buying a 3 or 4 bedroom home in Albany or Alameda. Can anyone recommend a realtor who is familiar with these cities? (Also, any advice about buying a home or living in these cities would be appreciated.) Thanks. Looking To Move

We recently purchased our first home and were lucky enough to have had Francine DiPalma at Red Oak Realty on Solano Avenue to guide us through the process. We were such babes in the woods and, being from NYC, totally bewildered by the whole wacko real estate scene out here (in NYC, nothing EVER goes for more than the listing price; you b argain down - here it's just the reverse and it's a real mystery as to how much to bid over asking). Long story short - Francine is not only smart; she's wise and knows so much about every little aspect of, not only the market, but the actual house itself (she could be an inspector, I think LOL) She got back $10,000 for us on an issue we were prepared to not fight about. She's also a joy to be with - funny and kind and caring and we cannot recommend her highly enough. Carole F

Carrie McAlister, a realtor with Red Oak Realty, is as good as they get. I was new to the home-buying process and to the East Bay, and she introduced me to both with patience and expertise. As we explored new neighborhoods Carrie listened to me and had a very clear sense of what i was looking for; as a result, we spent more time looking at homes and neighborhoods that i may not have found on my own. When it came time to submit an offer, then counter-offer and negotiate with the seller i couldnmt imagine having had anyone else help me navigate the choppy waters: she kept me cool under some stressful moments, and her advice s both prudent and shrewd s made the difference in the end. Carrie can be reached by cell phone or e-mail: (510) 292-7838 or carrie at redoakrealty.com. Scott F

I'd like to recommend our realtors Jerry and Heidi Long. They are a married couple, so you get two for the price of one. They truly compliment each other in their strengths and expertise. They are long time North Berkeley residents and are very experienced and knowledgable about property in Berkeley. We have hired them both to sell a house and to purchase a house. When selling the house, they assisted us immensely in getting the house prepared, knew just what to do and who to call. They have also assisted many of our friends in buying homes and everyone we know has been thrilled with their help. Carrie G

An example speaks volumes: It was Sunday, and my husband, 2-yr. old, and I were ready to look at open homes our Realtor, CJ Boydston of Coldwell Banker had recommended; we just wanted to rest for a few minutes before heading out. The next thing we new it was 5pm! We had slept through the open homes! So we ate dinner and decided to drive by to look at the exteriors of the homes we meant to view. When we called CJ to confess we had missed the open homes, CJ immediately offered to come meet us at the houses and let us view the properties. She spent several hours taking us to all the properties we wanted to see. Thanks to CJ's responsiveness and good humor, that is the night we found our home. That was Sunday and they were hearing offers on Tuesday. There is no way we would have been able to make an offer on the house if we had not seen it Sunday night! We're happy to say our family has now settled into a house we are so proud to call home. We are so impressed and happy with CJ that I feel compelled to recommend her here, and to everyone I know! We had been working with another agent for months but getting no results, when a friend strongly urged us to work with CJ Boydston. Long story short-CJ's level of customer service and ability to get us a home we wanted at a price we could afford totally exceeded all expectations. With CJ, we were the winning offer on a home with 10 offers. Though all the offers were extremely competitive, the listing agent said that CJ's presentation skills got us the home. CJ works with both Buyers and Sellers. Everyone we have introduced her to loves her. She works out of the Montclair/Piedmont Coldwell Banker office and can be reached at (510) 282-3411 or cj at cjboydston.com. Andrea

We recently had an exceptional first time home buying experience with Martha Becker at Thornwall Properties, (510)848-1950 x247, whom we selected based on a glowing review previously posted on Berkeley Parents Network. Martha specializes in working with first time home buyers. She is candid, honest, supportive, very responsive and down to earth. Her wisdom, connections and experience helped us purchase the first home that we bid on- even though their were a few bids that were higher than ours! Thanks to Martha, instead of a run down fixer, we've got a gorgeous house in an up and coming neighborhood with great neighbors. Her instincts about the market are spot on. I can't say enough positive things about our experience with her. If you feeling hopeless about getting into the market, give her a try- she's a miracle worker. Erika & Austin

I would recommend Chris Cohn with Grubb. She recently helped us evaluate an unusual real estate situation, and I really valued her input. Her knowledge of the local real estate market is tops. M. Moore

I'm writing to recommend our realtor, Francine Di Palma at Red Oak Realty on Solano Ave. in Berkeley. Francine helped us buy our house in Albany in November and was a pleasure to work with. She gave us consistently good advice and we felt she was a true advocate for us throughout the process. She is smart, experienced, always level headed and very witty as well. I would recommend Francine for anyone looking to buy or sell their home in the East Bay. You can reach Francine at (510) 280-2148 or by email at francinedp at yahoo.com. Susannah

We recently had an exceptional first time home buying experience with Martha Becker at Thornwall Properties, (510)848-1950 x247, whom we selected based on a glowing review previously posted on Berkeley Parents Network. Martha specializes in working with first time home buyers. She is candid, honest, supportive, very responsive and down to earth. Her wisdom, connections and experience helped us purchase the first home that we bid on- even though their were a few bids that were higher than ours! Thanks to Martha, instead of a run down fixer, we've got a gorgeous house in an up and coming neighborhood with great neighbors. Her instincts about the market are spot on. I can't say enough positive things about our experience with her. If you feeling hopeless about getting into the market, give her a try- she's a miracle worker. Erika & Austin

Juliana Wynberg of Marvin Gardens is an excellent realtor. I moved to the area with my partner last summer, and she really helped us zero in on what we needed. She knows an amazing amount of detail about seemingly EVERY property in Berkeley and Albany. She was very respectful of our guidelines, never trying to push us into something that we didn't want. She also saved us from bidding on some properties that really weren't worth our money. She'also down-to-earth and fun to be around. Caroline

I'm posting an unsolicited recommendation for our awesome realtor, Heidi Long of Red Oak Realty. She helped us find a wonderful home in Albany in under two months...it was only our second bid! Additionally, she was able to negotiate a purchase price lower than the list price, which is virtually unheard of in Albany. Heidi has been in the real estate business for over 15 years and it shows. She's quite knowledgeable about Albany, Berkeley, and many other parts of the east bay. Give her a call if you want a real estate expert by your side during the often nerve wracking experience of buying or selling a home. We appreciated and were reassured by Heidi's calm demeanor, sage advice, and comforting insight. Caroline

To the person(s) asking about Gene Millstein's qualities as a realtor. Gene is an outstanding, experienced realtor. We were first time home buyers with very complicated transaction needs that involved out of state property and a time constraint. He handled the whole process in a thoroughly professional way. Gene knows Berkeley neighborhoods inside out and knew of every home on, or soon to be on the market. Throughout the process, Gene was genuinely concerned about our needs, and desires. He's not about just trying to make a sale and will take as much time with you as you need to help you find the right house for you. In fact, Gene not only advised us against houses that were overpriced and not quite right for us, he actually helped us reduce our winning offer at the last minute by a significant amount after assessing the bidding situation. This clearly shows that he had our best interests and not his commission at heart. Feel free to contact me if you would like further information. Desiree

Juliana Wynberg of Marvin Gardens is an excellent realtor. I moved to the area with my partner last summer, and she really helped us zero in on what we needed. She knows an amazing amount of detail about seemingly EVERY property in Berkeley and Albany. She was very respectful of our guidelines, never trying to push us into something that we didn't want. She also saved us from bidding on some properties that really weren't worth our money. She'also down-to-earth and fun to be around. Caroline S

I enthusiastically reccomend Martin Chan of LOH realtors and investments.He did a great job selling our home this past Fall.We had an offer before our home was opened.We had only two open houses for the G.P. and were very pleased with the end result.He is very dedicated to his job and his clients. He is very easy going and works with you and your needs. We have two children(2 year old & 6 month old at the time)and he was great working around nap times and bringing documents to our home to sign.My eldest still asks about Mr. Chan and we will have the pleasure of working with him again soon with the purchase of our home.He knows the area and the market extremely well.He is a fantastic negotiator and always keeps your best intrest in mind.Martin can be reached at 510-339-9825 ext.105 E-mail:marty AT lohrealty.com

San Francisco Realtor

Hi, Can anyone recommend a good realtor in SF (we are looking to buy in Sunset or Richmond area)? We are the first time buyers, and can't afford an expansive house, but we still want to find something we like :) Were you happy with your agent? Was (s)he able to find a house of your dream without making you spend too much? Was (s)he honest and trustworthy? Committed and motivated? Did (s)he explain everything in plain English? Would you use that agent again? If so, we'd love to talk to him/her! Please, include any info you would like to share about the agent. Thank you very much! Started looking...

Piedmont Realtor

I am looking for recommendations for realtors from people who have recently purchased a home in Piedmont. I would like to purchase a home in Piedmont, and have a very specific idea of what I am looking for. I am familiar with Piedmont, and now need a hardworking agent with integrity and who is also a very good negotiator. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. anon.

Realtor Reviews from 2004

Sharon Whipkey is a realtor with integrity. She is an exceptional listener. She asks really insightful questions. Sharon is quilter and a former life coach. If you're looking for a home in Alameda or Oakland, Sharon is a very devoted realtor who is dependable with a good sense of humor. She's calming and very focused on getting your goals met. I've heard many good testimonials about her lately, also. rebecca

I just bought a house and really want to recommend my agent. If you are looking for a great realtor in Berkeley and the East Bay, Franz Ross with ZipRealty is amazing. He helped us narrow in on the right kind of house, right neighborhood and worked within our price range. He was exceptionally buttoned up on the paperwork and very proactive. This is not something I have found to be true for many realtors so I really appreciated everything he did. Also ZipRealty gives buyers part of the sales commission which helps with the closing costs. They also have a really great website that shows every home listing in the area there with details, pictures, etc. Franz' cell number is 510-910-0871 or you can get assigned a realtor for your area if you sign up at ziprealty.com. We rented for 7 years in Berkeley (and 7 other places) so when we dove into a purchase, it was great to have someone who really knew the market and how to make it through all the escrow stuff to the other side. Lauren

My husband and I just bought our first home in Berkeley and I'd like to highly recommend our agent, Tim Cassidy, from Red Oak Realty on College in Berkeley. Tim is patient and extraordinarily hard-working and he found us a home that was under our budget (we're joking that it was the last affordable house in Berkeley) that has many of the qualities we were looking for for ourselves and our two kids.

Tim spent endless hours looking at houses, he took us out to see new houses that fit our criteria every single week and went way out of his way to answer my questions (and I have a LOT of questions-most of his answers were emailed to me because I'm a busy mom w/ few windows for extended phone conversations). Several times we were able to print emailed documents in need of signatures from home at our convenience. He even came to our home a couple of times when we had some things that needed a fast signature. Though we are very familiar with the bay area Tim demonstrated an incredible knowledge of the area and area resources.

We are very lucky to work with Tim and he made the experience of buying a first home on a budget in this tough market a good experience. His # is 510-292-2011 and 510-697-8079. [updated May 2006] MG

My husband and I can unreservedly recommend our realtor, Patti Camras, who is with Coldwell Banker in Orinda. She is expert in the Lafayette-Orinda-Moraga area, and she also works in the Berkeley Hills. We must have been terrible clients: picky first-time buyers looking for the Perfect House for a low price in Orinda! But she was patient with us, answered all our nervous questions, and provided expert and valuable advice. (She even returned my calls when she was on vacation in Carmel with her husband!) She is a good negotiator and helped us close what could have been a troublesome deal. Her Web site is www.patticamras.com. -- Happy Homeowner

I would like to recommend the real estate services of Martha Becker of Thornwall Properties. I moved to Berkeley with my family this past summer. The real estate market was then and continues to be a tight and difficult market for buyers. Martha worked very hard for us by calling us personally each week to recommend properties for us to see during open house days. Throughout this stressful process, Martha was encouraging, honest, and straightforward. She never pressured us to bid on homes we didn't want or to bid beyond our means. Once we were willing to make a bid on a home, Martha helped us make our offer the best it could be. We bought a home in Berkeley on our first bid, an incredible feat in this tight market. Even more amazing was the fact that our offer was not the highest bid. But thanks to Martha's skills, our offer still stood out. You can contact Martha at 510-848-1950 x 247 or at marthabecker@hotmail.com. We recommend her without reservation! Martha's fantastic! Catherine

My husband and I just bought our first home in Berkeley and I'd like to highly recommend our agent, Tim Cassidy, from Red Oak Realty on College in Berkeley. Tim is patient and extraordinarily hard-working and he found us a home that was under our budget (we're joking that it was the last affordable house in Berkeley) that has many of the qualities we were looking for for ourselves and our two kids.

Tim spent endless hours looking at houses, he took us out to see new houses that fit our criteria every single week and went way out of his way to answer my questions (and I have a LOT of questions-most of his answers were emailed to me because I'm a busy mom w/ few windows for extended phone conversations). Several times we were able to print emailed documents in need of signatures from home at our convenience. He even came to our home a couple of times when we had some things that needed a fast signature. Though we are very familiar with the bay area Tim demonstrated an incredible knowledge of the area and area resources.

We are very lucky to work with Tim and he made the experience of buying a first home on a budget in this tough market a good experience. His # is 222-7731 or cel 679-8079 MG

Buying first home in the East Bay

My wife and I are expecting our first child in March, and are also looking to buy a first home in the East Bay. Can anyone recommend a good Realtor who knows the East Bay well, and is also knowledeable on schools? We've been focusing on Oakland, Berkeley, Albany, since this is where we currently work and reside. However, we are not averse to considering the other side of the tunnel -- we just no nothing about it. We are looking for someone experienced, knowledgeable on the East Bay, and hard working who is willing to put in the leg work on our behalf: checking out new openings, not just sending us out on drive-bys. I've checked out the already-posted listings for realtor recommendations on the BPN, but the latest is from 2003. Since the market has gotten even crazier, I thought I'd ask if anyone has had good experiences recently. Any names would be appreciated. reed

Hal and his two colleagues, Brett Weinstein and Jes Montesinos, run a small office on Alcatraz near the Berkeley-Oakland border. Morris

Francine Di Palma, CRS
Email: Francine at FrancineDiPalma.com
Web-site: www.FrancineDiPalma.com
Direct Line: 510.280.2148
Fax: 510.526.9543 

Leif was born and raised in Berkeley and really knows the East Bay. Real estate is all about relationships and it is very important that other realtors know your realtor and respect him. Because Leif does a lot of business the other realtors know that he brings qualified buyers and that the deal will go through. This made a difference I feel in getting our offer accepted.

The other nice thing is that Leif has a partner Jose Fernandez and they work together when needed. That meant that we always had someone to talk to and were never left waiting for a call back or unable to see homes.

We are very happy with our home and feel like we got a good price. Leif's number is 510-280-2126. Julie

Aside from being extremely ethical, hardworking, insightful, and an excellent strategist, what impressed us most about her was her ability to assess our reactions to houses and adapt the listings she showed us to meet our needs. She was able to zero in on the right listings, and help us write the right kind of offers. Because of her, we literally have the house of our dreams.

Additionally, her commission is 2%, which effectively increases the offers you make on houses by 1%. In this market, that can give you a substantial edge over other offers.

her phone number is: 510 849-9900 her website is: http://maisonnouveaurealty.com/ rewoodruff

We bought our first house in Berkeley in the low end of the
price range in May '04 and we were very happy with our agent
Devony Corry (282-5403, devony at sbcglobal.net) with Buy the
Bay Realty.  

Strengths:
- Devony is very hard working and energetic. While she was
working for us we felt she was on our mission 22 hours a
day. She has initiative and was very proactive in working
with our lender, the title company, etc.  She went and
looked herself at everything she later took us to see.
- She is experienced and works in a range of Bay Area
communities. She has ties to other real estate
professionals, making various inspections easier to schedule.
- She was a strong negotiator when it came time to closing.
- She seemed to have good judgement about what to show us
and what not to waste our time with. Yet she was sensitive
to our desires and showed us a condo in Albany at our
request even though she says she thinks families are better
off in a house.
- We checked recent references and they were glowing.
- We were financing through a state program, which means
some extra paperwork, and another agent discouraged us from
going that route. But Devony was patient and enthusiastic
about the program, which greatly augmented our purchasing power.
- We were able to buy for less than the asking price.
- She was very patient with our baby and three year old! 
Her office has lots of toys.

Less strong points:
- She knows something about area schools but her information
seemed kind of dated or general.  Best to do some research
of your own for any areas you are seriously considering. 
- We found her slightly overly optomistic at times about
things like the price of a drainage inspection including
work plans (it didn't) and similar smallish things.  
- She really encouraged us to spend more than we had
planned, something that I do think we'll thank her for one
day, but it will take a few years to know for sure.
- Charis

Ira and Carol work in the area from El Cerrito through Oakland. They have a very informative website with lots of maps and photos for anyone who is looking for a home in this area: www.berkeleyhomes.com. Elizabeth

Realtor for TIC

I am thinking of buying a duplex with my sister and going into it as a tenancy-in-common. Can anyone recommend a realtor with experience in duplexes/tic's? or do I even need someone with any special expertise in these kinds of properties/sales? renter no more?

To the person looking to buy a duplex as a TIC...I don't know where you are looking, but I know a very experienced, smart and savvy realtor in San Francisco who specializes in TICs. Her name is Britton Jackson and she is with Zephyr. I do not know if she will work in the East Bay, but you could ask. YOu can call her at 415-939-7878. Good luck with your purchase! Eden

I highly recommend Patrick Monahan at Prudential Realty of Lafayette. We bought our first home in Concord last January when our son was 10 months old and he was simply the best. He put in so many hours looking for just the right home for us and was so patient with us on the days we had to drag our ''little screaming mimi'' to our appointments. When we started, we wrote down a list of characteristics that were important to us and he kept our focus on that goal. As many of you probably know, it is hard for first-time buyers to be competetive in the market because you so often get out-bid. Near the end, we were ready to put an offer on anything, just so we wouldn't have to keep looking, but he kept our faith and hope alive and eventually we found the house that was perfect for us. He is professional, caring, honest and steadfast and I don't think you could find a nicer guy. He has experience in Orinda, Lafayette and Concord. His office is located at 999 Oak Hill Rd, Lafayette, CA 94549, and you can contact him at 925-864-9867. Cindy

Albany Realtor

Hi! We are looking to buy our first home in ALBANY and wanted recommendations from people who had actually purchased a home there. (We realize this question has been asked before but it seemed like no agent was recommended more than once.) In addition to the real estate agent's name, company and phone #, could you tell us: 1) How you found your agent 2) Strengths/Weaknesses of your agent 3) How long ago you purchased your home 4) How long you worked with your agent 5) How many bids you made before yours was accepted 6) Did you feel you paid a fair/good price 7) Did you negotiate the agent's commission 8) How much over asking did you pay (if you don't mind telling us) 9) Did your agent have a good handle on any issues relating specifically to homes in Albany 10) Was there important information you did not find out until after you purchased the home 11) Any other useful information THANKS!! We would really appreciate any recommendations you could give us! Julie

I felt like I had to share with the community the name of a realtor who provides specialized assistance in today's thriving housing market. Her name is Lisa Hardy and she's with Montclair Better Homes Realty. I know that Lisa has lived in Oakland for more than 30 years and has a firm grasp on its many neighborhoods and communities. In this competitive market, representation is the most integral aspect of the buying and selling experience. Lisa offers FREE market analysis, FREE Interior Consultant Services, a FREE Aggressive Marketing Plan that includes advertising AND complete MLS Service. If you're looking to buy/sell, you should give Lisa a call at 510-812-6699. I'm sure she'll be a great asset to you. Lisa takes a genuine interest in seeing that the personal housing goals of her clients are reached and that the outcome of each transaction is a happy one. Anne

Need a realtor? Please contact lTeam Arean of Keller Williams (http://agent.kw.com/101320/). Cynde, Jeff, and Alex, ''Team Area'', acted as our agent for our 1st-time home purchase. They began by explaining their individual roles, focuses & strengths, & what we could expect from each. They made us feel like their priority. What ensued was a 3- point effort on their part to get us the house we wanted. During the entire process, they fully responded to our needs. We met at the end of 6/04 and we happily closed on 8- 12-04.

Important info: Team Area is comprised of 3 licensed ''realtors'', each capable of fully servicing the client. Their attention to detail is borne out of a commitment to ensuring the buyer obtains ALL property-related info (i.e. inspections, disclosures, etc.) before close, including paying for inspections, as well as being bold about requesting info and repairs from the Seller. Their commitment to Sellers regarding inspections includes making sure Sellers know all costs before going on the market, including ordering & paying for all inspections before putting a property on the market. Sellers can relax when listing with Team Area. Potential buyers are screened prior to offers being accepted. Their industry reputation is solid; other agents enjoy & look forward to working with them. They also work w/only the best service providers: painters, lenders, handymen, etc. Additionally, Jeff's a carpenter, Cynde a teacher (an ability to communicate with a wide variety of people), and Alex is bi-lingual (Spanish-English). Post close, Team Area sent their handyman to handle odds and ends we needed fixing. You can't beat that kind of service! Commission check in hand, yet they contmd to respond to our needs! My next home purchase will be w/Team Area. To sell, Imd contact them, too. Please email (iabingy@sbcglobal.net) for specifics about Team Area. I recommend them w/out reservation. Tracey

El Cerrito Realtor

Can anyone recommend a smart, savvy real estate agent specializing in the El Cerrito area? The archives only go back to 2002. We're looking for a knowledgable, experienced realtor who can offer sound guidance on how to get the most for our house, i.e. update the bathrooms and kitchen or not, to stage or not to stage, curb appeal advice, etc. Also, is it better to go with a large, national real estate company, or a smaller, local one? Thanks!!

I highly recommend Jake McTigue of Prudential California Realty. His phone number is (510) 868-1575. He was warm, conscientious, patient, very ethical, worked very hard for us and was extremely thorough. Even after the sale had been completed he helped with issues that came up. He is also extremely knowledgeable of the market and priced our house ''just right''. He was simply a delight to work with. Bernice

I am still amazed at how well my recent buying transaction went, and want to share this realtor recommendation. Helen Walker of Thornwall Properties helped me purchase the perfect house, late last year in the midst of fall buying frenzy. I know that her market knowledge, experience and insight were instrumental in ours being the successful offer (out of nine!) on the house I purchased and where I now happily reside. Helen provided me with excellent advice and support throughout the process. On a professional level she was thorough, diligent and thoughtful, making sure that I had and understood all the technical information. On a personal level she was solid and friendly and able to provide emotional support and good humor along with all the business. During the entire process we made two offers, and I felt good about them both, even the one that was unsuccessful. In hindsight, it was actually quite a lot of fun... Judy

To all homebuyers: I cannot speak highly enough of my realtor, Alexandros Gailas at AG Realty in Orinda. He understood exactly what I wanted, and if I am or am not able to do, financially. He is a wonderful person, easy to work with, always available, returning calls, and he updates me on new properties. He works not only in areas as: Orinda, Moraga, Lafayette, Berkeley, Albany but anywhere you would like to purchase a home in the East Bay. He helped me with my loan and the homebuying process. Alexandros can be reach at his office: 925-254- 7600 or by email: AGrealty1 at sbcglobal.net

I highly recommend Francine DiPalma, CRS of Red Oak Realty, who helped us find and buy our first home in El Cerrito, CA. Francine may be reached at 510-280-2148 or by e-mail at francinedp at yahoo.com or francine at francinedipalma.com. Francine was informative, honest, and worked really hard for us. She was extremely organized which helped a great deal in a difficult market for buyers. In addition, Francine really knows the East Bay. Our budget was low, and yet Francine remained positive, found us a great house, and helped us to put together and submit a competitive offer that was accepted! We thought Francine was fantastic. Katie (murphymessage at yahoo.com) katie

For anybody who's looking for a real estate agent in the East Bay, I would like to recommend Barbara Reynolds (http://barbarareynolds.com/). She professionally and with patience answered the many questions that, as a first time home buyer, I had every turn of the way. I have never felt pressured or rushed while, at the same time, Barbara pointed out deadlines and the tighter Bay Area market times so that I could take full advantage of what was available. G. H

Realtor Reviews from 2003 & Earlier

Grubb Co. Realtors

Hi, I am looking to sell my house and would like recommendations of realtors- We originally used Grubb to buy our house but our agent moved. Has anyone used Debbi DiMaggio (Our former realtor recommended her) or others at Grubb? Thanks for the advice

Realtor for First Time Home Buyer

I am looking for recommendations for a realtor with integrity, to represent our interests, keep us well informed, and steer us clear of potential first-time buyer pitfalls, advocate for us in this ''market'' and help us find a home. If you've had a similar, positive experience with a realtor, and success in buying a home, please pass on your references. Enormous thanks. linda

Good realtor for Berkeley/Oakland

We have been looking for a home to buy in the Berkeley/Oakland area for a LONG time now. I'm frustrated by the high home prices and maybe/what if's with the schools. As much as I love living in this area, I know that a move over the hills would be money well spent b/c of the good public schools. That said, can anyone recommend a good realtor. I prefer a woman, one that has children, knows the schools and neighborhoods, spends the time to figure out what we want and won't be too pushy(for the sake of the sale). Also, one that has a good eye for the structural issues(seismic retrofitting, foundations, land slide zones etc.) that we would encounter. Thank you! Maya

Todd and Katy Van Laanan
Empire Realty Associates
4185 Blackhawk Plaza Circle
Suite 101
Danville, CA
925-217-5035
toddandkaty AT toddandkaty.com

I would like to offer another perspective of using Kathryn Hill of Thornwall Properties. We LOVED her, and have recommended her highly to everyone we know who needs a realtor--buying or selling! She was recommended to us when we purchased our home 5 years ago, and will use her when we eventually sell. Why go elsewhere?? She's a trained professional, and she's got lots of years of experience! If I can answer any questions about using Kathryn, please contact me. Christine

Looking between Alameda and San Leandro

Because of unexpected but happy events we have to find a house quickly somewhere between Alameda and San Leandro. We need a realtor who is good at finding us a safe, family friendly and especially multiracial neighborhood with good schools. Can anyone recommend a realtor? Thanks again. A mom

Darin Vinall
Harbor Bay Realty, Alameda (specializes in Alameda and San
Leandro)
(510) 814-4824
dvinall AT earthlink.net

Albany Realtor

We are beginning the process of buying a home in Oakland/Berkeley/El Cerrito/Albany area and we're curious if anyone has worked with a buyer's agent that they liked. With the market so competitive in our price range we'd like to find someone who is really working for us, rather than the sellers. We have a 21 month old son and our major requirement, in addition to affordability, is a good elementary school.

Based on the our criteria, and going by our busy schedule (with both of us working & commuting & having a 2-yr old) they carefully pre-selected houses to show us for several months. After seeing every house, they took notes as to our likes and dislikes, & were able to further tailor our search.

All the work, incl. signing closing documents was done during off-hours. And they made best friends with our daughter as they kept her company to let us see & discuss the houses we were coming to see, uninterrupted. Three years later, my daughter stops by their office about every week to say hi on her way home from school.

They are very involved with the community. For example, they volunteer a lot of their personal time and money at local schools.

Their web site is http://www.pruweb.com/grynbal-randall.

Please call me if you want to know more. I can never say enough wonderful things about this team. Maria

North Berkeley Realtor

I am looking for names of good realtors that work in the N. Berkeley/Albany area. My husband and I are first-time buyers and would need someone willing to work with us in this demanding market. If anyone can pass along a name, I would greatly appreciate it. Karen

Berkeley Realtor

Hi, My family is moving back up to Berkeley after 2 years in San Jose. We're looking for a realtor who has experience working with families moving in from another area. We're planning to buy a somewhat affordable ''starter home,'' and I don't know if realtors take that into consideration when they work with clients, but that's our situation. Thanks for any leads you can give us, Laurel

Lafayette Realtor

We are looking to buy in the Lafayette area within the next 6 months and would love to get a recommendation on a real estate agent. Many thanks. -kelry

Realtor for move from the East Coast

My husband and I are moving to the East Bay in the early spring. We are open to renting or buying. I've read the past realtor and rental agent recommendations. Can anyone recommend a realtor who regularly handles both types of transactions - renting or buying' Since we live on the East Coast, we want someone who will be able to help us explore our options from a distance - someone who will understand (and look for)what we need, help us find the right type of home, and make this already diificult process a bit easier. If anyone has recently made this type of move, any other advice would be appreciated. Thanks! Shari

Montclair Better Homes

Can I get any input on the following realtors?? Tarpoff & Talbert, or Nahid Nassiri of Montclair Better Homes?? I was impressed with all of them, but would like to hear others experiences.

We were avid readers of T&T's weekly articles in the Montclarion Real Estate section, and when we were ready to start looking to buy, we contacted them and met them for some one-on-one Real Estate 101-type consulting and coaching for our particular situation. They were extremely knowledgeable and helpful, and went out of their way to provide us with hints and tips that went beyond the scope of the hourly fees they charged.

Although they couldn't take us on as a buying client (they were booked and also had a different geographic emphasis), they referred us to an excellent realtor who came through for us. I could go on and on about how fabulous they are -- thoroughly creative marketers, knowledgeable/ethical realtors and warm/giving people...but feel free to contact directly if you have any questions. Noreen

We have very high expections and Pat and Anet exceeded them ten fold. They are extremely professional and have a high degree of expertise in both real estate transactions, negotiations and support. On top of this they are just plain nice! They returned returned calls very quickly, gave us wonderful advice and support and they never made us feel like we were too demanding or silly. They take pride in their work. Of course we ran into some bumps, doesn't everyone?, but we followed their advice and reconciled the problems and now we own a house. When we sell our house, we would not dream of using any other realtor. Regards, Michele

Martinez Realtor

Wanted: recommendation for realtor and/ or mortgage broker in Martinez, CA area.

Moving from Montclair to Piedmont

We are considering moving from Montclair to Piedmont to take advantage of the great schools. Our son is one and a half now so we have some time. Can anyone suggest a good real estate agent for the Piedmont area? Any advice for househunting there would be much appreciated. Thanks! Lisa

Alameda Realtor

We are in love with the idea of living in Alameda and really want to move on and find a home there. Does anyone have a recommendation for a realtor that specializes in Alameda. We need someone with experience and confidence. We are looking for an older home with style and character. The home we lost was built in the 30s and was everything we could have asked for. Any referrals for a realtor who would have our interests at heart would be greatly appreciated. MW

Realtor for selling our house

We are considering putting our home on the market, and are looking for a realtor who will work with us and our needs. Our special considerations: We can't afford to move out and rent a place while we're waiting to sell, so clearing out and "staging" the house is not an option. We have a 15-month-old so I doubt we could make the house look as non-lived-in as they would like. Has anyone sold recently with a realtor who was understanding, cheerful and optimistic, as well as competent and communicative? Our house is quite nice and I think it will move even in this slower market, but I need to find a realtor I feel comfortable with. Thanks! --Lori

2000

Contact info:
Carolyn Jones           office: 339-6460 ext 339        office fax: 339-6519
Pacific Union           home (ok to call): 841-5172
1900 Mountain Blvd
Oakland, CA 94611

Once we had identified that we were interested in specific houses, we needed to get a Buyer's agent to get us in to see the houses. The person we used was Steve Schneider, with Marvin Gardens on Solano in Berkeley. He wasn't particularly familiar with the area we were looking at (San Leandro), but he's a great agent, so that didn't really matter. His phone is: 1-510-841-1414. That's his home, and the number for the B&B they own. (Be warned, though, they were talking about buying a place in Spain, and moving, so you might have to go with someone else at Marvin Gardens if that happened). Dawn

Reasonable fee for a realtor in this market

Early next year my husband and I plan to sell our Oakland Hills home in order to buy a house for our family in Moraga (for the great schools and family friendly community). What is a reasonable fee for our real estate agent? Is 6% the going rate or is it customary to negotiate that down? If it is negotiated down does that discourage buyer's agents from working with a seller's agent? It's been over a decade since we bought out house, so any advice is welcome. Thank you. Oakland HIlls family

Bypassing my realtor and using seller's instead

We have been working with a great realtor for several months now. He has taken several trips of several hours each to show us houses and send us lots of emails with listings tailored to our specifications. I recently found a house that is perfect for us via craigslist and the selling agent will only sell to us (the house is pre-MLS) if we have no agent so he can get the full 5% commission. My husband and I had a disagreement about what to do in this situation. He views realtors as sales people - even if the Circuit City guy spends 1 hour going over flat screen TV's, it's not unethical to waltz into a Best Buy for the actual purchase.

I am more relationship-focused and feel we couldn't do anything short of a full 2.5% commission for them since they've been so helpful to us. Maybe there's an middle route? Buy the house without them but pay them an hourly rate as a thank you for all the time they devoted to us (a retainer or something along those lines). It seems a shame to lose the perfect house because we have a realtor. We don't know what is customary in this arena having never bought a house before. Help! Anonymous

Second, the Realtor representing the sellers has a legal obligation to them to get the maximum amount for the home and not do anything that might compromise that. That includes pointing out issues with the home to you that might lower the value. They cannot negotiate on your behalf or offer any advice...what happens if there are inspection issues? (there always are).

There may be other unsavory issues as well. I'd probably tell my Realtor about the house and proposal from the seller's agent. If push comes to shove, have your agent present the offer to the broker (local office manager) directly and insist they deliver it to the owners.

Home buying is a huge purchase, I strongly recommend that you do not circumvent your Realtor. Rick

1. The guy at Circuit City is a paid employee. If you buy the printer from someone else, he may lose a commission but he's not going to lose his income.

2. Purchasing a home without expert advice is tricky. If you are willing to put your neck out to do that, go ahead.

3. It's too bad realtors are seen as so disposable. There are so many wise and seriously educated people to help you negotiate portions of a contract you may not even consider negotiating for yourself or looking out for and protecting you from liablility.

4. The listing agent is greedy. Is he looking out for you or him? It's legal but is it ethical and in your best interest? If he/she is representing the owner solely, he/she will bring the best offer, not make a deal on who is willing to forgo their own protection.

Your realtor has a fiduciary duty to make sure you are protected and serviced - his salary and professional reputation as a small business owner (regardless of the brokerage) depends on it. How can a listing agent hold fiduciary obligation to two clients? Good luck. anonymous

I understand you want this other house. However, the Agent for the house is in direct violation of his agreement with Seller (for whom he is the Agent), which promises to show them all offers - not just offers from folks he represents. He is also likely not telling his Seller that he's using coercion in order to make more money (front and back end commissions). Not only that, but just because it's not listed on the MLS system doesn't mean he can bypass the rules and ethics of his profession - which he is doing by forcing you to use him as your Agent.

Your alarm bells should be ringing off the hook. This guy sounds terribly unethical, if not outright breaking the laws that allow him his license. There are a lot of things he can do to push the sale of this house, including not disclosing important details you may need to know.

You should do two things: tell your Agent about the situation (you owe him this much), and also call the Sellers' Agent's home office and talk to the Manager. You may find you can place your bid on the house through your own Agent.

To even consider acting in the sneaky, underhanded way the Seller Agent is suggesting, you are allowing yourself to be coerced illegally and will be acting unethically if you do as he wants. Not-a-Realtor but married to one.

That said something similar happened to us. After almost a year of working with a realtor that we loved we found something off the MLS (essentially a for sale by owner/realtor). I was straight up with my Realtor about it and he said - go for it (I knew I had picked a good one then!). That said in the end we decided to pay him out of our own pocket (he agreed to 2% instead of the usual 3%). IT was money very well spent! There was a massive amount of work to be done while in escrow and they handled the massive amounts of paperwork, scheduled and attended with us all inspections and negotiated the inspection items with the seller.

I too was always a bit skeptical about Realtor services but by the end of our escrow I was convinced they had earned their money. good luck!

More to the point, in this case, it seems to me the seller's agent is pushing the boundaries of ethics. (I am not in the profession, so I can't speak to the actual laws governing real estate agents- you should check into them.) He may be within the scope of the law, since as you say the house is ''pre-MLS''... but if he is unwilling to present any and all offers to his client and pay a commission, he's not necessarily acting in the best interest of his client and thus could be breaching his fiduciary responsibility. Given that this guy is definitely not going to work with YOUR best interest at heart, you have even more reason to be concerned about negotiating a house purchase without the benefit of a professional representing you.

If you really want to make an offer on the house, talk to your agent and let him know the situation. He may have some suggestions on how to proceed.

In my opinion, integrity pretty much always pay- if not monetarily, then exponentially in other ways. anon

I bought my first property without a buyer's agent, but was credited the commission by the seller who did not have an agent either. I used a portion to hire an agent as a consultant to go over the contract.

I would discuss this matter with your agent. buyer beware

''I'll sell you this home, my brother did the title search,don't worry that the deed says it belongs to the Smiths, it was a typo my aunt never bothered to have it fixed no one ever checks these things also don't worry that half of the new bedroom sits on the neighbors property it was not recorded as being build so it saves you from taxes. Its all in writing somewhere in this 238 page document, just initial each page and my grandma will stamp the notery at the end.'' Anon

1) When you enter a contractual negotiation to buy a house, you have different interests than the seller. The contract includes a lot of items with financial/major implications, beyond the offer price itself. This isn't the time to get on my soap box, but trust me: There's a lot more than salesmanship to good representation in a real estate transaction. Your agent should be involved for your own protection and benefit.

Re. your chances to get this house with your agent: The listing agent MUST SHOW any serious offer to the seller, and I doubt the seller's going to reject it on the basis that their agent isn't earning both sides of the commission! IF the listing agent refuses to present your offer to the seller because you have an agent, that listing agent could lose his/her real estate license. If you tell your agent about the listing agent's position on this sale, your agent can be sure your offer gets a fair airing.

2) This listing agent has apparently not made this listing visible to other agents. Is this part of an agreed-upon sales strategy with the seller...? It makes no sense to me to limit marketing of a property for sale, and makes me wonder if this agent is limiting marketing (not giving the property a full airing) in order to keep all other agents out, and secure the full 5% commission. This sounds like an agent working for him/herself - not for the seller to whom he/she owes a fiduciary duty. Would you want this agent in control of representing your interests in this purchase, when the agent already demonstrates potentially poor allegiance to his/her existing client (the seller)?

3) Your agent has been spending many hours with you and ''working behind the scenes'' each week, trying to help you achieve your home-buying goals. Dumping the agent at the alter (by going it alone) breaches a relationship your agent has honored by working vigorously on your behalf. The listing agent should know better than to ask this of you.

I agree with you that real estate IS a relationship business. The best realtors put time into building the relationship in order to really understand their clients' needs and properly serve their clients. I hope you'll honor that relationship - AND act in your own best interests - by bringing your realtor along with you on this offer. Good luck! from a realtor with no tolerance for sleazy real estate practices

Relocating to So. Cal - need advice about selling

We are most likely moving to Southern California for an amazing new job for my wife. We need someone to help us crunch numbers so we can figure out what is best to do with our home in Berkeley, which has lost about $150,000 in value since we bought it. We would be living in Pasadena area 6-8 years until the job moves to another state. Do we sell in Berkeley for a loss and buy (or rent) in the Pasadena area? Do we rent out our house in Berkeley until it regains value? (But the mortgage, taxes, and insurance are about $5500/month and we could rent out the house only for $3000-3500/month.) We don't know who or what kind of person could help us look through all the issues, crunch numbers, and make our best decision.

Decided not to sell - what to tell realtor?

We have been looking for a long time now for a new house larger than our current one. The inventory has been weak (or crappy) in Berkeley and the homes that we do like seem to always still go, even today, for much over asking price with multiple bids. We have not decided to do it yet, but the option to stay put and add on/remodel is still being considered. If we can't find what we want we might as well build it ourselves. Though that will be a huge, painful undertaking. That choice is still far off.

Our real estate agent has been great. She stays in touch, is always checking in, and points out homes on a weekly basis that might fit our profile. She too has been disappointed with the inventory in Berkeley. If we decided to remodel instead of buy new how do we handle this with the agent? Is it commonly just a matter of being honest and saying thanks, or is some form of monetary compensation common in these cases or simply a nice thing to do? She's put a lot of time in for us and it does not feel right to just abandon ship and say sorry. If compensation is appropriate how much? At the very least we would provide her with a nice thank you such as a gift cert to a great restaurant, hardly a payback for time on the clock but at least something. Frustrated with Berk real estate

How to choose a realtor for first home?

My partner and I are first-time home buyers. We decided to buy a home while out of town and got a reccommendation from a friend for a realtor. We've had a steady stream of email correspondence with this woman and our sense is that she is a good fit for us and specializes in the neighborhood we want to live in. But we have never met with her. Upon our return we got another reccommendation from another friend who said that their realtor is very well known. They mentioned that one of the key reasons their offer was accepted for their current home was their realtor's reputation for closing the deal efficiently and without a hitch. How important is it to choose a realtor with a known name and strong reputation? anonymous

I will recommend our current realtor, Leslie Easterday at Pacific Union. Leslie is a WONDERFUL buyer's agent (and also reps plenty of houses), with infinite patience, endless availability, and a deep, 20-year knowledge of the Berk/Oak/Alameda market. She really offers expertise and seems to know every street and neighborhood. Her number is 510-334- 9281. sarah

Our first buying experience was very good(with John Stasky), we actually had fun in the process and ended up buying a beautiful home in Lower Rockridge for a very reasonable price.

The second buying experience was completely different. It was all business, we didn't click at all with the realtor. We ended up with an OK property, but not nearly as happy as we did with our first purchase.

I think it is important for the realtor to get to know you and understand what you are looking for (both what you say and what you don't). Good realtors get a sense of what you like by your comments when you see properties, and then match that to the properties they scout. If the communication is not great, then the match may not be the best. So, in retrospect, for the second property we bought, I feel I should have gone with the realtor I connected with (even if newer to the business) and not with the one that had more seniority. Good luck with your purchase! EP

You might want to interview at least three or four agents before you settle on one. Ask the hard questions like: ''How many times have you been sued?'' or ''Have you been fired by a client?''. A good agent will answer all your questions during the interview candidly and without hesitation. They should, without prompting, give you a list of recently closed transactions and the names and phone numbers of five or six recent past clients for you to call. I had a great experience with Warwick May (www.warwickmay.com). Good luck! anon