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Realtors for East Bay Cities

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Realtor for Alameda

June 2007

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


Hi there, We live in Alameda and have dealt with a few Realtors on the island for buying our houses over the years. We have found that Kane & Assoc. is by far the best broker to work with. All the agents are very well trained and their process is above board, straightforward and honest (can't say the same for all the different Realty companies in Alameda). I would recommend interviewing a couple agents from that office. We have had great experiences with Liz Kane, Marie Kane and Hanna Fry. They are very knowledgeable, professional and just great people. I would also recommend interviewing Julie and Darin Vinall of Harbor Bay Realty. Although I cannot recommend HBR as a broker (not a good experience for us), Julie and Darin are very good at what they do, and also great people. Our friends have had good luck with them as a buyers agent. Good luck in your search - Alameda is a great place to call home. :) Kristie
I can highly recommend the realtor who sold my Alameda condo on Alameda, on the main island, Diana Wyman. She is the President of her company, called Bayside Real Estate at 1812 Santa Clara Avenue. Yes, she and her husband are the best at both kinds of skills: the listening/caring and the knowing the market/negotiating. Diana Wyman, Bayside Real Estate, 510-522-5827. Web site is www.bayside-realestate.com
Louise G
Steve Sorensen with Harbor Bay is a great guy and excellent Realtor. Give him a call. Tell him Tim in Berkeley says hi! berkeleyhome at aol.com
I highly recommend Wendy Sanda with Kane & Associates (phone 510-331-0963). We bought a house in Alameda a year ago and worked with Wendy - she was fantastic! She was a referral from our Oakland realtor. We were in a situation where we needed to move quickly, yet still find a place that would suit our family for many years. Wendy quickly identified exactly the type of property we were looking for, previewed several potential properties with us, and when she found *the one* she knew it even before we saw it. She was spot on. Throughout our buying process she was always available and able to answer any question that arose. She worked closely with us as we made our offer, giving us excellent advice along the way. She helped us make a very competitive but reasonable offer in a multiple offer situation and made sure we were able to move in asap with a 30 day close. My husband and I have purchased property before, but had never experienced such an efficient transaction. Wendy keeps in touch and is always happy to give referrals for contractors or other Alameda services. Above all, she has a terrific personality and is a pleasure to know. We now consider her a friend. Cindy
I highly reccomend Wendy Sanda with Kane & Associates. We bought with her about 6 years ago but stay in touch. We were at the bottom of the market then and she never pressured us to spend more (although we qualified for more). She was great during the search part, but even better during the much harder phase of negotiating when you find out there are issues. We were on the phone more than once a day for at least a month and she was great. She has been selling in Alameda for more than 10 years - maybe 15? She has also worked with three friends who were are very very happy with her. Her number: 531-2274. I reccomend you do a drive around with a few realtors to get a feel for them. We were very picky (probably saw 100 homes in 4 months, offered on 4 or 5) and she was great with all of it. Good luck! Jacqueline
We bought our home in Berkeley 3 years ago using Justine Francis as our realtor. She is absolutely fantastic! We couldn't believe how hard she worked for us and how available she was 24/7 - and this was when she was 7-8 months pregnant! She got us into a home that we still can't believe we're in. And on top of it all, she's extremely fun to be around - positive attitude and a great sense of humor. Justine will get the job done. She is based in Alameda (her home) so she knows that area quite well and showed us a few homes there while we were looking even though that wasn't our target area. Couldn't recommend Justine highly enough! We've kept in touch with her and expect to use her again if we ever buy/sell again. Justine can be reached at 510-282-8062. Shoshana B
I highly recommend Mindy Hart with Kane & Associates. She's been in the business for many, many years and is very knowledgeable about Alameda. You can see her ad in the Alameda Journal. Her business number is 510-523-0746 and her email is mindyhart at sbcglobal.net. Feel free to tell her Stephanie W sent you.
We sold and bought a house in Alameda last year. We worked with Steve and Nancy Brandt for purchase and sale - they were terrific! They know Alameda very well - I think they are natives. They were professional, candid, and very warm. They are the kind of people you would want as friends. They also know a lot of people in the community and can refer you to experts who can answer your questions and give you quotes. (We had to have a little bit of work done on our home and needed to know what we were willing to pay.) They went above and beyond what they needed to do - helping us get bids and coordinating contractors after we closed. You can reach Nancy at nbrandt at hbrhomes.com or 510-814-4823. Zara
I cannot recommend Richard Kim highly enough. Our original realtor from another company, completely dropped the ball and our house remained on the market for six months! Richard did everything differently: he returns calls very promptly, he listens, he does not talk you in to anything you're not comfortable with, he has a calm, soothing demeanor and is the utmost professional. He was recommended by another Alameda family who used his assistance to both buy and sell their home and they couldn't be happier. Another family we know just bought their first home with Richard's help. He has all the contacts for staging, painting, website design, house-cleaning etc. so that selling and buying a home is as stress-free as possible: This is his contact info: Richard Kim REALTOR 510.814.4813 rkim@hbrhomes.com http://searchalamedahomes.com/ Good Luck! Jessica L
I would just like to warn you away from Mark Wyman, owner of Bayrise Realty in Alameda. We had to abort the sell of our house at the last moment due to his misrepresentation of our interests. He led us to believe that we would be getting about $40,000 profit on the house, when in fact there would have been a $20,000 loss. This became very contentious and went through legal mediation, which he lost. According to what he said to our attorney, this was not the first time this has happened with him. anon
We worked with Colleen McFerrin from Bayside Real Estate (522.5827), and were very happy with her services. We found her professional, easy to work with, low-pressure, business minded, and generally very likeable. She helped us to negotiate our way into a great Victorian fixer upper, which we wound up being able to purchase for about 40K less than the asking price. At the time, people were saying we'd gotten the best deal in Alameda. She's still in touch with us after more than two years in our house, and we've enjoyed our interaction with her. I recommend her with no hesitation. The best of luck to you in your move to Alameda- it's a pretty special little island. Deirdre
We cannot speak highly enough of our realtor Amy Loughran !!! She is an Alameda Mom of twin boys, has wonderful friendly demeanor, smart, and honest(in a sea of shark types-a rare find). She has been in the bay area for over 15 years and knows all the different neighborhoods. (She drove us around everywhere and was able to tell us about countless neighborhoods and schools-we moved here from Seattle.She is always calm and professional in tough negotiations. She is the one to call to get it done (510)295-9633, Amy's cell phone. She is terrific! amyg
I can wholeheartedly recommend our realtor, Dede Cunningham, who is with Kane. I have sent her several friends and they have all been thrilled with her service. She is very thorough and detail-oriented, which is especially important in Alameda because of the unique culture around building permits and older homes. She knows Alameda very well and is involved in the community so has lots of insight on neighborhoods, etc. She is super organized and pleasant to be around. Her direct line is 510-919-3204 and her email is dedecunningham@alamedanet.net alamedamom
January 2007

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


I am a Realtor in Berkeley who can recommend an excellent Realtor in ALameda. His name is Steve Sorensen and he's an Alameda homeowner and seasoned agent. Look him up. He's with Harbor Bay Realty. Tim Cannon
My family and I recommend David Gunderman and Andrew Raskopf as agents in Alameda. They work together as a team and are great. Go to DavidandAndrew.com or 1142peach.com to learn more about them. Smart agents. Nice people too. They are Alameda residents and will help you figure out which neighborhoods are best for you. Nina M.
I would recommend Bev and George Williams at Harbor Bay Realty in Alameda, tel.no. 510-523-1144. I was completely new to this town and they helped me find the right house and neighborhood. They were very patient when I had trouble deciding, and they helped steer me away from areas that I wouldn't like. For example, when I was looking at condominiums in Bay Farm, near the Oakland Airport, we went on Friday afternoon. George commented that if I couldn't handle the noise at that time, then I shouldn't even consider buying there. He was right and I ended up in a quieter neighborhood just 5 minutes away. I worked mainly with Bev but for the few times that she wasn't available, her husband, George, showed me some places too Nancy
For the couple looking for a Alameda realtor I can highly recommend Carol Martino of Reality World. She is the owner,broker and loan agent of her own agency. She is a long time Alameda resident and knows the market. She is down to earth and will help you no matter if you are looking at high end homes or fixer uppers. She helped us with the purchase of our home 7 years ago and explained the whole process to use and never made us feel stupid or less than when we asked tons of questions. She can be reached at 510-523-9300 email carol[at]carolmartino.com www.carolmartino.com Good luck! I have seen alot of cute houses on the market in Alameda in the past few weeks. Mary
Karen Kellenberger works at Kane and Associates. She is FABULOUS!!! She's been in Alameda for 20 years (living and working), and really knows the community well. And she's very honest about home values, etc. You will not be disappointed. Call her and meet her and then decide. Tell her Kirsten and Jason recommended her. Good luck. kirsten
A friend recommended Richard Kim, of Harbor Bay Realty in Alameda, 510.814.4813, rkim[at]hbrhomes.comto us and were thrilled with the services he provided to us. He's patient, responsive, knowledgable, low-pressure and very nice and he also listens to what you want instead of trying to convince you about something you don't want - all great traits - we coudn't have asked for anyone better. SearchAlamedaHomes.com
Jessica
June 2005

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


to the person looking for a realtor in alameda - there are tons of them! but you would be very happy with david gunderman and his partner andrew raspkof at kane realty. david was a colleague of mine before going into realty. he is patient, dedicated and non-pushy. email me if you want more info. his website is www.davidandandrew.com jennifer i
We went through a few realtors before we found Karen Kellenberger at Kane and Associates in Alameda. She really worked for her money, and worked hard for us. She's a local Alamedian (which makes a difference in this competitive real estate market). Her number is 510-523-6058 ext. 221 kirsten
January 2003

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


We used George and Margaret Gadsby, based out of Alameda but very familiar with the surrounding areas as well. They really do care about you plus have a lot of experience. They only work off of referrals so they save on advertising and in turn, offer a low commission. They worked with us under a short timeline and really eased our 'pain'. We still keep in touch with them! Definitely worth a call to them to see if you hit it off with them. Tell them we sent you. The Gadsby's 510-748-5300 www.homes-link.com Karen
I highly recomend Wendy Sanda of Kane & Associates - her phone number is 510-531-2274. We purchased our home with her about 3 yrs ago in Alameda. I cannot say enough wonderful things about her. If we ever move we will use her again. Jacqueline
I would like to recommend Marilyn Schmacher of Harbor Bay Realty. She is a wonderful agent in Alameda. My SIL is an escrow officer who knows all the agents here, and she is the one who recommended her to us. She helped us buy 2 houses so far. She is very experienced, thoughtful and down to earth. She is one of those people you meet and it feels like you've known her your whole life. She is very patient and fun to work with. Her phone number is 510.814.4709. Give her a call! Laurie
I can recommend Steve Zager at Bayridge Realty-he was very good with me when I refinanced my home. He's at 510-524-3333x301. Good luck Cathleen
Hi there Mom! I have a very good friend that is a realtor that fits what you are looking for. His vitals are:
Darin Vinall
Harbor Bay Realty, Alameda (specializes in Alameda and San
Leandro)
(510) 814-4824
dvinall AT earthlink.net
Also I should point out that he is very sensitive ( and knowledgeable) about schools and neighborhoods. He has a two year-old, and has another on the way! He currently resides with his wife and son in Alameda. And I must add that his sister-in-law lives in San Leandro with her family. A true expert in both areas you mentioned. Good luck in your home search. Julie
We used Kate Hardwig (510) 728-6412 to buy our house in San Leandro. She was very good and got us a house at less than the asking price at the height of the bubble. As far as I know she doesn't work in Alameda, though.
Sept. 2001

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


I have a friend who is selling his home in Alameda and recommends his realtor quite highly. Her name is D.A. Hammond, and her business phone number is (510) 339-9290. She also works quite a bit from her home, and the number there is (510) 654-6141. She is very reputable, with many years in the business. My friend and his wife have been very happy with the way she has handled the entire process so far, from setting up open houses to keeping them informed on the overall process. (Their home on Liberty St. is still available and it's a beautiful one. Check it out!) -Mari

Albany Realtor

Feb 2006

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


September 2004

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'd like to recommend Ruth Goldstone from Marvin Gardens. We Bought our house in Albany 4 months ago after working with Ruth for 3 months. This was our second bid (!) We found Ruth to be always available for any question, she took the time to explain all the forms and to understand exactly what we were looking for. Ruth was very well informed with spesific Albany issues. We felt like we paid a fair price for the house and did not negotiate the commission. Ruth's # is: (510) 527-2700 Please feel free to email me for any further information. Orit
I can enthusiastically recommend my sister-in-law, Paulette Erickson of Keller Williams Realty (cell-phone :(510) 219- 1677, email: paulette at kw.com) on Walnut St. in Berkeley. She is knowledgeable about the Albany market and she has just successfully represented us in buying a home there (we closed on August 25th). She grew up in Oakland/Berkeley and now lives in the El Cerrito Hills, so she is very familiar with the whole East Bay. Good luck! Hisae
In answer to the recent post requesting a recommendation for a Realtor: I highly recommend Kevin Tannahill, Security Pacific Real Estate, 524-1112. He was our realtor for a house we just sold in Albany. He lives in Albany and really knows the territory. He priced our home just right, not too high and was very knowledgable in negotiating the terms. He was very engergetic in getting our home ready, he provided painting contractors, landscapers, flooring contacts and even helped with the color for the door and outside of the house. We negotiated the agent's commission (after doing interviews with several other agents). He is very personable and very attentive, he was always reachable at any time. On top of that he's the son of some tennis friends of ours and he plays tennis too!! Margo
Nov 2002

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.


I've worked with Diane Ohlsson from Red Oak Realty who helped my group start a cohousing community in the Temescal. I've referred many of my friends to her and I think she's a great agent, especially in negotiating in this competitive market. I even work with her to form cohousing communities. You can see what we do at www.Hesternet.net/house or just call her re: single family house. Her # is 280-2139 or visit www.DianeOhll Karen
I want to very highly recommend our realtors: Bob Randall & Mariedda Grynbal. They did such a great job in helping us to find the house of our dreams.

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


I recommend Betsy Thagard. I know her both in a professional and personal capacity. She is a Red Oak Realty agent who helped us close the purchase of our house and she has since become a friend. She is very professional and diligent. Contact her via betsythagard.com catrin
I saw a posting requesting the name of an agent that would be helpful to the buyer and not just the seller. Two years ago we bought in the throws of the crazy pre dot com bust days- where everything went as is for 75K over asking price. We found Cherie-Hunt at Prudential in Alameda after searching in oakland/berkeley for months. Two weeks later we had a bid on exactly what she promised- our dream house. We not only got our house but we got 10k back because of her crass skills. She is down to earth, thoughtful and full of pipp. I can't recommend her highly enough and hope you'll call her cause she'll help you out. Good luck 510-337-8670. Juliette
I would recommend Jan Fougner. He is a broker in Oakland and serves the Oakland/Berkeley area that you are interested in. Jan is trained as an architect, lawyer and real estate broker. He is extremely thorough, ethical and conscientious. We bought our first home with him and he provided experience and attention to detail that made everything go very smoothly. We have referred several friends to him and they have been equally delighted with Jan. His number is (510)655-8211. Tell him Carol Akiyama sent you! Carol

Berkeley Realtor

March 2002

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


I strongly recommend Merritt Levine with Red Oak Realty - (510) 280-2177. She really knows her way around this difficult real estate market & she really goes to bat for you. We bought our place last September & I don't even know if we could have found anything close to what we wanted in our price range if it weren't for Merritt. Elisabeth
Leif Jenssen at Red Oak on solano is the best! he helped us find the perfect starter home, and has also helped friends with home purchases. He grew up in Berkeley, so is extremely knowledgeable about the various neighborhoods, etc. and what constitutes a reasonable bid. in addition, he's enthusiastic, honest, and just a really nice guy. The Anderson-Barrett family
We ended up buying a starter home in Oakland and worked with a realtor named Dan Joy. He works for Heritage Real Estate in Montclair, and his phone number is 510-339-8900 x242. For price reasons, we were looking mainly in Oakland, but he seemed to be familiar with the east bay from El Cerrito through Oakland and into San Leandro. Unlike many realtors I've heard about, he really worked hard for us. Feel free to email me if you have any questions. Michael

North Berkeley Realtors

Jan 2007

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


We just sold our North Berkeley house and I highly recommend our agent, Anita Thede, at Northbrae Real Estate on Hopkins Ave. From what you say, you want someone who really knows the area (she does). When I first bought my house, from a friend in the late '90s, I went around to other homes that were on the market first to get a sense of the comparable value. She and her associate, Gayle, were often at these houses, either looking or representing the sellers, and I got to know her a bit. She helped me out, well knowing that she would get no benefit from it at the time, and when it was time for us to sell, we had no doubt about going to her. We were happy we did! Let me know if you want to know more, Abigail M
We have used Carolyn Jones at Grubb Co. for three of our real estate transactions. She is fabulous and efficient. She is from this area and knows all the other agents. c.s.
I would like to recommend our realtor Marilyn Garcia at Coldwell Banker in North Berkeley. She did an excellent job both of selling our North Berkeley home and helping us find our new home in Orinda. North Berkeley is her specialty (as well as where she lives) but she also did a great job for us in Orinda. Like you our search was long and slow -- we had a 2-year rental here in Orinda and spent most of it looking for just the right house and neighborhood. Marilyn never pressured us but was always willing to drive over the hill at short notice to show us something when we needed her to. She is very smart -- a Berkeley Phd in economics -- and practical. She has my highest recommendation. Her number is (510)390-5406. Good Luck! Lisa H
I've always worked with Pat Leaper of Red Oak, who is very experienced and not likely to try to sell you something you're not interested in. I have bought 3 properties through him and have come to regard him as a friend as well as an excellent agent. Chris D
we LOVE our realtors - ira and carol serkes. they are incredibly knowledgeable about the north berkeley area, live in north berkeley, and buy and sell here. they have helped my husband and me sell a home (we received multiple offers and more than we expected), buy a home (they submitted our LOW bid and we WON the bidding war), and have also worked with friends and family with the same fantastic results. visit their website at www.berkeleyhomes.com here is their contact info: 800/887-6668 Toll Free http://www.berkeleyhomes.com 510/526-6668 Direct happy we found the serkes!
Hi Allison - I am a mortgage broker in the area and have professionally and personally used Jennifer Jonak (510-501-6276) for a number of years and she is amazing. She is a corporate attorney as well, so that helps a great deal. She lives in Kensington and knows all of Berkley very well - we just bought in Claremont about 1 year ago and Jenny helped us. Email with questions. Jason R
More than 20 years ago when we were looking for a real estate agent, we toured open houses in the Berkeley area, not for the house but for the agent. Through this process we were fortunate to meet Kathryn Stein, who works for Thornwall Properties in Berkeley. Since then we have bought and sold properties in both Berkeley and El Cerrito, mostly fixer-uppers, with Kathryn as our agent. She has been a stalwart worker and friend through not only our property searches but my parentsm search for a ''level-in'' property. We value her integrity and her extraordinary knowledge in the field. During the last few years Kathryn has teamed up with Helen Walker and together they are a dynamic duo. We highly recommend Kathryn and Helen to all of our friends. Kathryn can be reached at 510-848-1950 x 230. Susan D
Hi there - We recently purchased our home and used the services of Liz Rush who is now with Elmwood Realty and Investment Co. I'm sure you will receive lots of recommendations but here are a few things about Liz that we especially liked: 1. Patient - she was very willing to do what WE wanted. We were first-time buyers who had waited out a really hot market and were not about to rush ANYTHING in a slowing down market. We shrugged out shoulders and scoffed at the prices when we went to see homes. We finally found a good deal on a house - it was a messy close (seller close to foreclosure) but she stuck with it and we're happy. 2. Personable - nice person and genuinely great with our kids. 3. Trustworthy - at all times we got the sense that she wanted to do the right thing for us. So, good luck - her information is below. Liz Rush Realtor Elmwood Realty and Investment Co. 2991 College Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705 C: 510-689-6921 O:510-883-7009 F: 510-883-7076 EAnnis
I highly recommend Janet Kaplan. She works at Windmere and helped me buy my house in North Berkeley. She always took the time to check in with me on a personal level every time we met so she really understood what I was looking for and was able to support me emotionally as well! I truly believe that I wouldn't have gotten my place with any other agent. There was actually a higher bid than mine but the selling agent chose mine because she knew Janet. When it all went through I really felt that she was excited for me...as a single mom it was really nice for me to feel like I had an ally. She really walked me through the whole process and always took the time to explain everything to me . Her cell phone number is 506-2762 or you just call windmere on solano (right above La Farine). good luck! stacia
Leslie Avant at Pac Union (339-6460 x1341 or 925-254-1232) would fit your criteria. She was very experienced and treated us with warmth and dignity, even as we were flying in on a hectic schedule from Boston to look at housing. She has lived/worked in the area (possibly even Berkeley, but I'm not 100% sure) and bought/sold her own houses around here, so she knows Berkeley very, very well. She has a lot of the history about the area under her belt and told us some stories that helped us feel more grounded and oriented, which helped a great deal. I think she would be very understanding and patient with you. Why don't you give her a call and try her out? k12mcc
When we bought our house, I met Bill McDowell of Berkeley Hills realty through chance . . . I was a first-time buyer, just going to open houses, and he really impressed me with his willingness to talk, understand my needs (which were pretty fussy and didn't involve a lot of money), and give free advice. He became our agent, showed us a lot of homes, really ''got'' what we wanted, and found us a wonderful home. I recommended him to friends who had the same great experience, And, he's based in North Berkeley, with a long history in the area. When we choose to sell, I'll call him again in a heartbeat. http://berkhills.com/AgentsPages/TracyBill.html billmberk[at]aol.com vm 510-524.1700 x30
Mariah B
Hi. I recommend Janet Kaplan as a realtor. She is an expert in the N. Berkeley area. She is very patient, a great listener and doesn't push you into a sale. Her number is 506-2762. She is a realtor with Windermere which is located at 900 Colusa Ave, Ste 203. Good Luck! Sara
Brett from Realty Advocates is a really laid back person. He will listen to your needs. Since you know exactly what you want it won't be too hard to figure it out. We have worked with him for a few years. We have put bids on places that we didn't get and then waited for a year before bidding again and did get. Brett's number 510 428-0757. Lisa
We just sold our old house & bought a new one (both in North Berkeley) w/ Colleen Larkin. I'll relay what the other professionals that work w/ her regularly told us. We went on the brokers' tours and the realtors would uniformly tell us, without prompting, that she was the best, wonderful, etc. We had the building inspector tell us she wanted the right outcomes for her customers, even if that meant the deal didn't go through. And the loan company exec talked about her compassion. Our own experience evidenced all of that. Also - that she listened to what we wanted, honored our requests, and when we found ''our'' house, she did everything possible to make that happen for us. We were also very specific about where we wanted to be. She has 20+ years experience and so knows the real estate cycles and micro-''climate'' areas in Berkeley. Good luck in your hunt - here's her contact information: http://www.thornwallproperties.com/agents.html 848-1950 X240 from starter to dream home
Ditto the comments on Brett Weinstein of Realty Advocates as a buyers agent. Practical, focused, experienced, super easy-to-work-with and reassuring. His office number is 510 428 0757. By the way, his office also standardly represents sellers for 4% commission--with excellent service. We are just now in contract to sell a house with him. Happy with Realty Advocates
A little more than 2 years ago, my wife and I started to look for proerty in the Berkeley Area (we were living on a boat in the Caribbean at the time.) We walked into a Real Estate Office and met Marilyn. She both directed us in our own searches and took us around herself. Her guidance was invaluable. We are happily housed nopw in North Berkeley in a house which we wouldn't have found without her. Good luck on your search - her contact information is: Marilyn Garcia, PhD Coldwell Banker 1495 Shattuck (at Vine), Berkeley (510) 981-3035 marilyn_garcia[at]sbcglobal.net
Bill & Carol
Aug. 2002

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


To the first time homebuyers: I cannot speak highly enough of my realtor, Colleen Larkin, at Thornwall Properties in North Berkeley, on Shattuck. She is simply the best. I was a first time homebuyer, and working with her, I made my one and only bid in this crazy market. There were 16 other offers, 3 higher than mine, yet Colleen succeeded! She is masterful, a great people person. She understood exactly what I wanted, and was or was not able to do, financially. She knew when to push me and when to back away. She is a wonderful judge of character, and simply a joy to work with. Elizabeth
We used Melissa Eisenberg from Marvin Gardens, and had a great experience. She was a very good communicator, listening to us re.what we wanted, open to feedback, etc. and also good at guiding us through the process. Very available as well -- we were also first time buyers, with all the jitters, and found her to be very good at her job. Her phone is 527-9111. Suzanne
I can highly recommend Juliana Wynberg at the Marvin Gardens realty office on Solano Ave in Berkeley. She helped me buy my first home in Albany a year and a half ago. She has worked in this area for years and really seems to know it. She was recommended to me by another satisfied home owner in Albany. Her phone number is 527-2700, ext. 31 Good luck! Sheila
I'd like to recommend my long time friend, Martha Becker (Thornwall Properties: 848-1957). She helped me find & buy my first house ever last year, in Albany. 1. She really quickly ''got'' what I was looking for & that made it a lot easier & faster. 2. She managed to be both easy going & energetic at the same time -- it was a nerve wracking process to come up with the money & also the market was *extremely* competitive at that time. She made the whole experience so much easier! 3. When it came to making an offer she did a really great job of also helping the sellers to connect with who I was. I'm quite sure that their understanding of why I wanted to buy their house & what kind of person I am was why my bid won over similar offers. 4. She really seems to like what she does, especially the joy of finding bargains. She's smart & funny & well, just not a stereotypical realtor. I sent her name to a couple that posted here (directly via email) & it sounded like it worked out great for them as well (they bought their first home). Good luck! Marina
I would like to recommend Heidi and Jerry Long as great realtors who are extremely knowledgable about Berkeley and its environs. I have used them both as a seller and as a buyer and they are equally good in both realms. Heidi is especially impressive in helping get renovations done with her extensive list of good painters, landscapers, roofers, etc. Both Heidi and Jerry are genial, easy to get along with, and highly skilled at guiding one through the arcane labyrinth buying or selling a house. I trust them implicity. They work for Red Oak Realty, on Solano, 510/280-2150, www.heidiandjerry.com Dianna

El Cerrito Realtor

Oct 2006

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


July 2004

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!!


We've been happy with Susan Grant, who knows El Cerrito and Richmond quite well. She's given us great advice on what to fix and what to leave -- and she has a very good eye for what needs to be done for staging. Susan's email is: susangrealtor at earthlink.net Ann
I highly recommend Mike Hughey, who did a great job helping me sell my house about a year ago. He specializes in the El Cerrito/Albany area. Melinda
Hi, I know a wonderful realtor. She will work very hard for you, provides excellent services and knows the area well. She has helped several friends (and is currently working with my father) to buy houses and just sold a house for another friend. This is her contact information. Claudia Esteban. El Cerrito Office 10240 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530 Main Office: 510-527-9800

Oakland: Lake Merritt Realtor

April 2007

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


We've been working with Jerry Ratch from Coldwell Banker to sell our home in lower Rockridge. Jerry has over 20 years experience as a realtor in this area. I'd strongly recommend him. He's very professional and detailed about next steps. After meeting with us he provided a marketing proposal that was very detailed. We had MANY realtors and people come through, and sold our home after having it on the market less than 2 weeks. Jerry can be reached at 510-981-3037 (direct) or jerryratch[at]yahoo.com. Lisa
Check out Brett Weinstein whose website is realtyadvocates.com. He's a great realtor,charges less is commissions, and knows the area well. anonymous
I wholeheartedly recommend Deidre Joyner with Prudential. She just sold our house with a great success! (Multiple offers in less than a week, sold over-asking price, etc.) She is an Oakland resident so knows the market very well. Check out her website (www.deidrejoyner.com) and call her at 510-835-6180. She does everything to sell your house. yukari
To sell a house in China Hill, I would definitely call Dave and Carla Higgins. They have been focused on China Hill and surrounding areas for years, plus they are very honest, funny, and smart. Also, successful. They know what they are doing, and won't miss a thing. I just googled and found their website http://www.daveandcarla.oaklandhomefinder.com/ Good luck, I think that it is starting to be a really good time to sell too! Higgins fan

Oakland: Montclair Realtor

Feb 2007

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


Barbara Reynolds of Prudential in Berkeley is fantastic and makes your realistic home dreams come true. Here's her website, http://www.barbarareynolds.com/. With her assistance, we bid, bought, and moved into our home in SIX WEEKS. She's the consumate professional with a wonderful sense of humor as well. We highly recommend her! Good luck! Lupe & Leticia happy buyers
We purchased our first house when I had just had our first child and found Sandra Vogl at Grubb co. to be amazingly supportive. Like a good mother, she looked after us and knew how to navigate the terrain. She asked the right questions, anticipated our needs as our family grew and steered us from some short-sighted choices. Her area of expertise is Montclair and Piedmont, though we ended up in another part of Oakland. With Sandy's help we beat out competitors, despite not offering the highest monetary bid. Sandy's hardworking, respected, and a driven negotiator. Her connections paid off for us. Six years later, we still keep in touch. Hilary
I highly recommend Michael Valva with Valva REalty in Oakland. Valva realty has been in business for decades (50 or more I think). We bought 2 homes with Michael and sold one home with him as well. He/Company knows Oakland and Piedmont REALLY well and can help you find what will work for your family. Good luck Mary
Call Debbi DiMaggio with the Grubb Co. at 510-414-6777. She is GREAT! From: Satisfied Home Buyer
You should talk to Lucretia Jacobs with Prudential California Realty in Montclair She just had a baby and will understand your needs first hand. Plus she is a great Realtor, and is very thorough. (510)290-4907 Email: lucretia.jacobs@prurealty.com Stu S
I can highly recommend Stephen Bloom from Lawton Associates. His phone is 510 -541-6728. From my experience, he listens to what you want, working with you based on your needs, not his agenda. I have referred Stephen to a number of my friends buying their first homes, and have always gotten more than positive feedback. I would be happy to share their names with you if interested. He used to be based in Piedmont, but now is in Rockridge. Buying a home in this market has its tricks and turns; having someone you feel comfortable with to guide you is key. Good luck, and congratulations! R. Donovan
Although the Grubb Company has a great reputation, my own experience with Michael Friedman was very bad, to the point where I am trying to find out where to file a complaint beside the BBB. I used Friedman for my first house after my divorce - he refused to give me a copy of the seller's disclosures until closing, arranged a 2-week escrow without my consent and told me after the fact, arranged for a drain inspection without my asking and then charged me for it, and finally tried to get my mortgage broker to state a buying price for the house at $15,000 more than I had agreed to, but with a $15,000 credit. The inspector he recommended was just as bad - after the inspection he stated that the roof was 95% fine. The result is that I have a ''new in 2004'' roof that's been leaking (Friedman's response was ''you knew the previous owner was the one who installed it), and various repairs and updates that will cost 3-4 times what his inspector estimated, not to mention a severe mold problem as I couldn't afford to fix everything at once. Just because the RE company has a good reputation doesn't mean that all its agents are good. Paying heavily
We l-o-v-e-d our real estate agents: Corey Weinstein and Hanna Kerns of Orange Door Properties http://www.orangedoorproperties.com/. Corey made navigating first-time home buying a pleasure. susie

Oakland: Rockridge Realtor

August 2006

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


Hi. Lawton Associates specializes in Rockridge. I've worked with Ron Kriss, the owner, for over ten years, and have always been happy with him and his staff. He's helped us buy three houses and sell one. He knows the Rockridge area inside and out and I don't believe anyone can do a better job. Good luck!
Try Hal Feiger at Realty Advocates on Alcatraz Ave. -- many years of experience in Berkeley/North Oakland, down-to-earth, personable, discounted commissions. Hal was our agent for selling a house in Berkeley and buying in lower Rockridge, and we couldn't have asked for better service. Tel. 510-428-0757 E-mail: hal[at]realtyadvocates.com Web site: www.realtyadvocates.com Morris
Try calling Jerry Ratch at Coldwell Banker. Jerry lives in Rockridge, so he knows the area quite well. He's found homes for two people I know. Both had very particular needs. He was very patient with both, attentive and wouldn't give up until they found the right home. He can be reached at: (510) 981-3037 or (510) 486-1495 Good luck! Anne
I highly recommend Jeff Robarts, with Prudential. He is a long- time resident of Rockridge, and has represented a number of buyers and sellers in the area. He is smart, level-headed and patient, and actively keeps on top of the neighborhood market. He was instrumental in helping my family buy our Rockridge home last year. He's also a really nice guy. If you would like more information about Jeff, please email me. Otherwise, you can contact him directly at 510-390-6490 suzannet

Oakland: Temescal Realtors

Jan 2007

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


I'd like to suggest that you contact my husband, Joel Kovisto at joel@kovistorealty.com. He is a Realtor and we've lived in Temescal for the past four and a half years and just love our neighborhood. I know he'd be happy to help you find a home that's right for you. You can also check out his website: www.kovistorealty.com. I've also seen signs for www.TemescalHomesCentral.com, you might want to check that out too. Good luck! clegas

Piedmont Realtor

March 2006

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


We moved from Oakland to Piedmont last year and had a wonderful experience with our realtor, Nancy Maloney, at Coldwell Banker in Montclair. She grew up in Piedmont and knows the area well. She helped us with both the purchase of our home in Piedmont and the sale of our Oakland home. With so much going on in a short time period she really did a great job and managed everything perfectly. We were very happy with the outcome. Nancy can be reached at 339-4781. Cindy M
Jan 2005

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.


I highly recommend Jennie Lippincott; I believe she's with Montclair Realty. She helped me buy my house 2 1/2 years ago, and has helped other friends as well. She grew up in Piedmont, has been a realtor for many years, and knows about all there is to know about Piedmont. She definitely is a full service realtor and went way beyond to make my move from out of state as smooth as possible, including short-term child and dog sitting! (She also helped my sister sell her house in Berkeley and works throughout this part of the East Bay.) Her phone no. is 510 384-3557. Charlotte
We just used to Dana Cohen (Grubb Co., 510-339-0400) to buy a home in Redwood Heights and sell one in Leona Heights. She's very knowledgeable about the entire area, very hardworking, and committed to getting the best deal for her clients. I believe she lives in Piedmont, as well. If you use her, tell her that Michael and Terri sent you. :) Michael
Nov. 2001

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


We bought a house in Piedmont in July with both buying and selling agents from the Grubb Company, which handles the great majority of Piedmont real estate. We liked our agent, Sheila Gallagher, but we had serious problems with the Grubb Company and the seller's agent. I'd strongly recommend you use someone else (try Pacific Union -- there's a woman there named Patty ???, who I've heard good things about). I would be happy to provide additional information if needed. ellen
The Piedmont Realtor I like is Erika Celestre at Grubb Co. Her # is 339-0400. -Tim
I can highly recommend Kurt Buchholz of The Grubb Company. 510-339-0400. When we were looking a year and a half ago, he showed us all around Piedmont. Although we decided we couldn't get what we wanted in Piedmont and ended up buying in Lafayette, he kept us well-informed of the market. We used him to sell our house in the North Oakland Hills and he was unbelievably professional, organized and courteous. He also got us another 10% over what all the agents thought was the highest we could get. By the way, if you end up looking in Lamorinda, I would recommend Margot Kaufman of Village Realtors, 925-254-0505, just as highly. Between her and Kurt we had the best experience with a sale and purchase one could hope for. Linda Byberg linda
i would highly recommend Donna Costella of Pacific Union for the Piedmont and Montclair areas. she has helped us and several of our friends sell, bid, and buy in these areas. we first met her in 1995. she is extremely professional and ethical. she was also sensitive to the fact that we all have infants and/or toddlers. -Suzie
Chris Cohn with the Grubb Co. in Montclair is an amazing real estate agent. She is well-respected and experienced (25 years+), and will steer you to only the best (for your needs) properties to look at. She has terrific taste and vision, and is a strong but gracious negotiator. You will have the utmost confidence in Chris. 510-339-0400 ext 253 -Suzanne
I highly recommend that anyone seeking a house in Piedmont contact Haideh Chew. Haideh knows the neighborhood very well, and often gets wind of properties that are going to come on the market before they are even listed. My family knows Haideh because although she is a much-sought-after real estate agent, she makes time each day to teach French to Piedmont's school children. Haideh is a good listener, a solicitous human being, and very experienced in the Piedmont market. She works for Prudential California Real Estate. You can reach her at: (510)428-0900, or haideh.chew at pruweb.com. Siobhan
I know you were hoping to find realtor referrals, but just thought I'd share a story from a friend. They moved to Piedmont recently because of the quality of schools. They budgeted the money they had been spending on private schools for their two kids into their mortgage, and strettttttched themselves to get into the costlier Piedmont neighborhood. The kicker: their kids were so bored that they ended up putting them back into private schools. So much for their budget. So be sure you personally check out the schools and assess their fit for your particular kids before making a big investment! Good Luck! Ann

Richmond/El Sobrante Realtor

June 2007

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


Two excellent real estate agents for the El Sobrante area are Gloria Egger of Egger Real Estate ([707]433-3604), and Melanie Ross (melanie.ross@solanopacific.com (707) 319-2828 http://www.MelanieRossRealEstate). Amy
I highly recommend Tom Carr for a real estate agent for the Richmond/El Sobrante area. He's a really nice and patient guy who was also a general contractor so he has a lot more practical knowledge than your average, phony realtor. He's a local boy and he knows everyone because he went to the local public schools (West County and Orinda) as well as Cal State & UC Berkeley. I know he's already helped people buy & sell homes in the El Sobrante/Richmond/Carriage Hills area (my friends used him and loved him) and he's now based in Orinda at Coldwell Banker so he's doing business on both sides of the tunnel (or both ends of San Pablo Dam Road if that's your route). You can call him on his cell at (510)406-1965 or at his office phone (925) 253-6327. He's one of the nicest people in the world and he'll do a good job for you. Cheers! deedee
I highly recommend my realtor, Sarah Richards, of Red Oak Realty. She has years of experience, very easy to work with, listens to your needs and follows them (!), very professional and will make things happen for you! Also, if you have kids, she is great with them and works around your (and your kids') schedule. She can be reached at: 510.292.2000 -Lexie

San Leandro Realtor

June 2007

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


The realtor who just helped us buy in Berkeley, Amy Robeson, knows the San Leandro market very well (she buys and sells there and lives there!) and is extremely organized, knowledgeable and pleasant to work with. She was very on top of every detail and is still helping us with questions after our move. She works for Red Oak Realty (a very reputable company). Check out her website (it has testimonials from other clients): http://amyrobeson.com/index.html good luck! susan
Dave Tang with Reliance Realty helped us with our first home and our current home in the East Bay. he is super-knowledgeable, honest, has integrity and also owns a brokerage company so that you can do it all through him in a timely manner without having to deal with multiple companies. He's helped people all over the East Bay. They have two offices: San Mateo Office: (650) 577-9500. Pleasanton Office: (925) 226-0110. Ask for Dave Tang and tell him I referred you. Pauline F
June 2007

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


The agent I recommend for San Leandro is Julie Cuellas from Red Oak Realty on College Avenue in Berkeley. As a home inspector I get a unique perspective on Real Estate agents. I feel Julie is effective and assertive in promoting her client's interest. I also appreciate that she takes additional efforts in finding defects on properties that could effect her client's investment. I know a lot of good agents but she is the one who could offer a specialty in San Leandro. A Home Inspector's Choice
I can't recommend Lorri Arazi enough. We thought we'd buy a house in Oakland 2.5 years ago and we ended up in San Leandro and couldn't love it more. She knows the East Bay so well and is very caring and knows all about houses and what to look out for. We loved all the people she recommended from the plumber to the chimney guy. She is so great! Feel free to email with any SL questions, too. Good luck! http://www.lorriarazi.com/ yvonne
When we bought our home in San Leandro two years ago, we were very happy with our realtor, Julie Cuellas, who is with Red Oak Realty in Berkeley. She's energetic, ethical, positive and responsive, and as a resident of San Leandro herself, she really helped us understand the local market and how it differs from the Berkeley/Oakland real estate scene. We're convinced that her advice as well as her good reputation with other realtors helped us get our home for a fair price. You can reach her at 510-280-2166. Good luck to you; we hope you'll be as happy in San Leandro as we have been! Katie W
I highly and wholeheartedly recommend Amy Robeson of Red Oak Realty. She is a San Leandro resident who knows the city's neighborhoods very well. She is highly ethical, knowledgeable, and very friendly and personable. She is the most responsive realtor I've ever worked with and she makes sure that all aspects and details of the transaction are taken care of. She helped us sell our San Leandro house in a matter of days (last year in a slow market) and helped us find a wonderful new house -- also in San Leandro (because we love it here). If you're looking for a realtor in San Leandro you can't do better than Amy. www.amyrobeson.com 510-280-2173 Best of luck to you! Cathy C

East Bay Realtor

April 2007

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


Sheri Madden with Marvin Gardens, 510-501-1317. She worked with friends of mine who were very happy with her. I have also had the chance to do work for her as a service provider, I run a mobile locksmith service. She has always been very professional and a pleasure to work with. Julie P
Dec 2006

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


For a great real estate agent talk to Mykah Larkins at Marvin Gardens in El Cerrito (a very good friend of mine): http://marvingardens.mlsb.com/mls/agent.cfm?ClientID=34&ID=8145 She and her aunt Mary Gray are in business together and are wonderful, nice, real, people. Mykah grew up and lives in El Cerrito, so she knows the area very well (not to mention everybody!). Mykah also knows the in-and-outs of how to fix up a house, which neighborhoods are good, which schools are good, and loves to help with ideas on all of this! Allison
Hope Broderick at GRUBB and CO in Montclair is wonderful. We purchased our firsthome from Hope and she is much more than a RE agent.She goes above and beyond in every way. ANd she's a sweetheart two with 2 small children HBroderick at GRUBBCO.com Please tell her that Lisa and Michael recommended her Lisa
I would like to recommend Patti Camras (925-253-4609 (w) 925-899-9282 (c)). She helped my husband and I through buying our first house, and she was wonderful. Patti is very knowledgeable, listens well, and is very pleasant to be with. She wants what the best for her clients. The house that I ended up buying was advertised with a lower percentage commission for the buying agent, and yet Patti was willing to pursue it. Even after buying the house, I still stay in touch with Patti all these years. She is a wonderful resource for contractors. Recently, my house went through a disaster, and Patti offered her help which was very touching. My recommendation for Patti is without reservation
Dave Tang with Reliance Reality is absolutely wonderful. He is patient, honest, and makes sure that you understand the maze of real estate purchase. his company also has a mortgage lending component (Portfolio Lending Company). so you don't have to work and wait for 2 people. he helps you with both. he has lived, built homes, and worked in real estate in many different neighborhoods in the Bay Area, including the East Bay. his contact info.: dave at formyrealtor.com Pauline F
I enthusiastically recommend our realtor Martha Becker of Thornwall Properties. She specializes in first-time home buyers. She was instrumental in the purchase of our home in Northwest Berkeley two years ago. She works hard for her clients. You can find out more about her on the Thornwall Properties website. Her email address is marthabecker at hotmail.com Catherine
October 2005

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.


I'd like to recomend Tania Balazs as a great realtor for the central east bay region. She has two small boys, twins, and is very mindful of what families are looking for. She is very understanding and hard working and reliable. I have watched her both sell a house down the street from me (which she sold for well over the asking price) and she has worked with me on finding a house. She has been a realtor for 3 years, and before was a landscape designer. She speaks fluent Spanish and Hebrew and is generally enjoyable to talk with and see. She did a wonderful job of listening to what we were looking for and is extremely reputable. This is a case where she will make up for any lack of experience by doing much extra footwork that other realtors may choose not to do. I feel strongly about her. You can call me if you have other questions Tania Balazs-Gvishi Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 1495 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA 94709 (510) 206-2686 Cell (510) 981-3048 Direct (510) 549-3720 Fax Johnna A
For the person looking for an East Bay Realtor, I want to highly recommend Ismail Abdullah at (510) 776-3105. He is incredibly professional, experienced, and very knowledeable of the housing market and neighborhoods in the East Bay. He is also very responsive to your individual needs and constraints- not at all pushy. He served as our realtor in the recent purchase of our home in Oakland, but I know he also works throughout Alameda and Contra Costa County. We had a very challenging seller and without Ismail, we would probably still be looking. brightstar
To the person looking for an east bay realtor - I highly recommend Doug Fuller, at the Prudential office in Montclair. He is attentive, reliable, great to work with, and not a pushy seller at all - we had a wonderful house-buying experience with him. He can be reached at 510-339-9290. Lisa
Hi, This was in response to the person relocating from the East coast to the East Bay looking for a realtor and good school district. I would like to highly recommend our realtor Ted Streeter from Better Homes Realty in Lafayette. He was thorough, quick, and very responsive to our needs. If you're looking for a good school district, the Lamorinda (Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda) area touts one of the best and he has lived and worked in this area for 20 years and knows it like the back of his hand. He really went the extra mile for us - really fought hard to help us get a good price on our home (he saved us several thousand dollars) and even absorbed some loss from the seller's broker's negligence. My husband and I think he's great! He's the broker and owner of Better Homes Realty of Lafayette and you can reach him at 925-284-9520 ext. 212 or www.tedstreeter.com Good luck! Sandra
I would highly recommend Soheila Smith if you are looking for an experienced realtor who is knowlegeable, accomodating, and very easy to work with. She is intimately familiar with the Lamorinda area, which has some of the top-ranked schools in the state. Soheila found us the perfect home after an exhaustive search. She is genuinely caring and concientious. You can reach her at (925) 963-1284 or email her at soheilasmith at earthlink.net. Good Luck on your move. Joan S
We used Ruth Goldstone from Marvin Gardens and can't recommend her enough! She knows the Berkeley, Oakland, Rockridge, El Cerrito area extremely well (including the various schooling issues). We bought the house earlier this year when the market was really difficult for buyers, yet Ruth still was able to get us the house for $20k less than what we'd actually bid (after inspections). I would use her again in a minute. Her number is 510-418-7191. Lara
We would love to recommend our realtor. He does an excellent job marketing (virtual tours etc.). He gave us great advice and was able to be supportive and strong without being pushy or adding any stress to an already stressful experience. His name is James Juanillo and he works for Prudential. His office is in San Francisco but he is currently working in the East Bay as well and we never had to go to San Francisco until it was time to close the deal. If you need a warm and smart realtor, please give him a call. (415) 929-5820 daraw
To the person looking for an East Bay Realtor: I want to highly recommend Dave Tang with Reliance Realty. Dave helped us buy and sell our first house, and recently helped us purchase our second home. He is super knowledgeable (he built houses before), available, helpful, and has a lot of integrity. He can also help you with your mortgage, so that you can have both through the same person and not have to wait for time lags and work with multiple people. He also has two kids, so he's mindful of what a family needs. His info.: Dave Tang 925/226-0160, email: dave at formyrealtor.com Tell him you were referred by Pauline F
If you are looking for a stressfree way to buy and or sell a home I can't suggest Dave and Carla Higgins enough. They not only sold our home and took care of every little detail from finding great painters, stagers, and handymen and sold it for the top price in our neighborhood.... But they also found us a great new home and the movers to help us move. All this was so very important with both of us working fulltime and two small children and another on the way. Anyway Again I can not tell you how thankful we are to have chosen them as our realtors. You can call them at 510-595-7699 or www.DaveandCarla.com Jim K
May 2005

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
March 2005

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


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
We were very happy with Ann Plant of Marvin Gardens when we worked with her over 13 years ago. She was fabulous and very patient, in took us well over a year to find the"right" house. We used her to sell a house and buy the new one. I can't tell you how many houses she told us were not right for us (and she was right). We have recommended her to friends who have worked with her very successfully more recently. Anon.
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
Dec 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


Nov 2004

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


I read the most recent recommendation for Dave and Carla Higgins (daveandcarla.com) and had to chime in. Their expertise was invaluable when we moved this summer. Our old home, which only a year ago had languished on the market for over two months with no offers before we gave up and took it off the market, sold for asking price in just two weeks thanks to Dave and Carla's aggressive marketing strategy. If this wasn't impressive enough, their shrewd skills of negotiation resulted not only in buying our wonderful new house for asking price, but also getting $25K back from the sellers to finish the section one work. They also were quite helpful in referring us to reputable contractors to complete the necessary work before moving in. Dave and Carla were great to work with: very personable and energetic, and we would recommend them to any friend looking for a top-notch real estate sales team. Deirdre
Great Buyer's Agent

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


Just wanted to recommend our wonderful realtor, Sherri Madden at Millstein Realty. She has expertly guided us through our first home sale. She has been attentive (but not overbearing), professional, thorough and calm throughout the entire stressful (how can it be helped?) process. She is a gem! Jennifer Lowery Jennifer
October 2004

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


We've had very good experiences both selling and buying with Hal Feiger of Realty Advocates (www.realtyadvocates.com, 510-428-0757). Hal is a Berkeley native who really knows his way around the East Bay real estate scene, and he provides attentive service without ever seeming pushy or overbearing.

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


We have had a great experience with realtor Roy Grigsby of the Prudential office in Claremont. We’re moving from San Francisco to the East Bay and weren't entirely sure of where we wanted to move. Roy met us in a local coffee shop, listened to our needs and has spent time driving us around the East Bay. Of course he's showing us homes, but he’s also telling us about preschools and elementary schools, interesting neighborhoods and parks, and all-around great places to take our two children. We’ve decided to focus our efforts on the Rockridge/Elmwood area of Oakland and Berkeley. Roy’s professionalism and good humor have helped make the process something approaching fun. No small feat in the chaotic real estate world. Anon
Greetings,in response to the inquiry about an East Bay agent, I would like to recommend Francine DiPalma of Red Oak Realty. She works out of the Albany office. My husband and I bought our first home exactly one year ago and Francine was a wonderful agent. Info:
Francine Di Palma, CRS
Email: Francine at FrancineDiPalma.com
Web-site: www.FrancineDiPalma.com
Direct Line: 510.280.2148
Fax: 510.526.9543 
We found Francine to be incredibly hard-working, professional, familiar with the East Bay, and additionally a really pleasant, caring person. One thing we liked about Francine is that she is very involved in the real estate community. Francine's knowledge of East Bay real estate and real estate in general helped everything go smoothly for us. She had a great deal of attention to detail and made sure we were completely comfortable with every aspect of the transaction. It was clear that she was representing our interests in a trustworthy and honest manner. I recommend Francine highly and would definitely use her services again (although we do not plan to move anytime soon!) K Murphy
I'd like to recommend Leif Jenssen at Red Oak Realty. We purchased our house in February of this year after 6 months of looking. We were very discouraged but Leif knew exactly where our house would be and kept us going. He spent many hours with us looking at homes and neighborhoods.

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


Chris Cohn. She is simply amazing. Thoughtful, professional and totally operates in your best interest. I cannot say enough about her. She grew up in Berkeley, and has been a realtor in the East Bay for a LONG time. She's progressive, warm and funny (you always need a little humor when buying in this market). I should also mention that because of her reputation other people want to do business with her/take her offers because she is totally above board. You want a realtor with a good reputation(it strengthens your offer on a house). She can be reached at: (510) 339-0400 or you can look at her web-site at www.berkeley-properties.com Good Luck!
I cannot recommend our real estate agent, Heather Sittig, of Maison Nouveau Realty, enough. She has a great knowledge of the east bay region and real estate market, with sensitivity to desirable school districts.

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


I know several east bay realtors who are all very good. But one stands out to me as a very savvy smart hard working woman: Tara Nelson with Intero. The phone number is 925-251-2500 Good luck and welcome to the east bay! Christina
I highly recommend our agent, Steve Dopkin (College Ave Realty, 510-845-8008). We selected Steve based on the positive reviews of two financial-planner friends, and based on his years of experience throughout the East Bay. Among his other qualifications, he has a law degree (although he is not currently practicing law) and was able to alert us to possible legal issues which might pop up in the future (easements, etc.) He also seemed very well able to talk with us about the structural/physical aspects of various properties. He gets high marks for patience and persistence. Both I and another prior client of his were very picky and determined to find a 'deal', and he was quite willing to go the distance with us. At the end of the process, we found a 'diamond in the rough' house last year in our most-sought-after neighborhood which we were able to instantly improve with paint and sheetrock. We love our house and regret nothing about the process thanks to Steve. deirdre
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 Serkes are wonderful realtors. They sold my Berkeley house after another agent was unsuccessful, and then they helped me to find and buy the perfect house for my family (also in Berkeley). They know every neighborhood, and they really understand the local market. Their expert advice was very helpful in submitting bids and negotiating with sellers. And they are really nice people, besides! I know they are very busy, yet they always made me feel like I was their only client.

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


A wonderful realtor is Pat Leaper. My husband nick- named him the 'Irish Bulldog,' because he was solidly on our side. He totally went out of his way to help us find a place to buy and the when it comes time for us to sell this place, we'll ask him to take care of it. Pat is also the co-founder of Red Oak Realty, a company which focuses on houses in the East Bay. His office is on the corner of Broadway and College in Oakland. 510 292 2000 happy home owner
We did not buy our home recently, but had the most wondeful experience with our agent, John Stasky. He was extremely profesional, very pleasant to work with, and got us a great deal in (Lower) Rockridge. You can contact him at (510)528-8800 johnstasky AT aol.com I'd be more than happy to give you any more refences if you'd like to -see email below. Good luck, EP
I highly recommend our realtor, Liat Bostick of Coldwell Banker. She helped me, my husband and our then 18-month- old son to purchase our first home a year ago. And, I say she helped all 3 of us because she really worked well with our whole family -- understanding the features we needed in a house today and into the future, respecting our budget, watching our toddler while we viewed open houses (though I still recommend leaving your toddler with a friend while you tour!), and giving us the support and referrals we needed to make offers and carry-out inspections thoroughly and efficiently. Liat was a tough and effective negotiator on our behalf -- we were in a multi-bid situation -- and I think her interpersonal skills and quick thinking during those negotiations were critical to our success. Finally, Liat is a pleasure to work with. Give her a call at 339-4734. Good luck! Eden
We are very happy that we chose to work with Dave and Carla as our realtors. They made the usually stressful experience of selling our home and buying another one enjoyable and problem free. ( This was especially important since our baby was 9 months old at the time) They have a very useful search engine on their website, www.daveandcarla.com , for browsing homes on the market in each east bay city. Unlike agents that are a one person show that are juggling you with all their other clients Dave and Carla have a team of kind, experienced agents working with them so no matter when we needed a question answered or to see a property there was always someone there to help us. We highly recommend them to everyone. Jim
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