Priscilla was so kind and accommodating. She was communicating with sellers and providing regular…read moreupdates to me. She worked around my busy work schedule. Which was the most helpful as I worked 16 hour days. She connected me with a morgage broker who was equally communicative. And I was able to find my first home within just a month of searching!

Priscilla was an amazing buyer's agent and advocate to work with! I will recommend her to all…read morefriends looking to buy a home in the Bay Area. Her glowing reviews are what drew me to work with her. She was friendly, patient, responsive, knowledgeable, always prepared, and full of great ideas. As a first time homebuyer who was specifically looking for a home in Oakland, I could not have asked for a better agent. I knew from our first chat that she was a perfect fit. She gave me sage advice and with her guidance, I was able to purchase my dream home at a reasonable price on my second offer! She helped me accomplish what other agents told me was not possible. Her team is exceptional. They were responsive and ensured that my closing went as smoothly as possible. I cannot recommend Priscilla and team enough!

Hiring Deeana was one of the biggest regrets my family did this past year. We gave her a chance…read morebecause initially we believed in her skills to sell the home quickly, and wanted to support a black owned business. THAT DECISION TURNED OUT TO BE A DISASTER. Under Deeana, deals fell through because of her lack of professionalism, she disrespected and cussed out members of my family, and buyer agents, all while we our mother was terminally ill. She made this process the worst experience we could ever imagine. She locked us in a terrible contract which we couldn't get out of, and held us hostage to sell our own house. It took her nearly 10 months to sell the home, and the reason why it sold is because we had to hire additional help to manage her process. If you are a potential client, I highly advise to look the other direction and find a more professional realtor that cares about their clients.

Some markets are very nuanced. East Oakland happens to be one of them. There are tenant's rights…read moreissues that are specific to Oakland; there are cultural and socio-economic considerations in dealing with owners, buyers, and tenants; and there are specific challenges to listing a property in East Oakland. Fortunately, Deeana Owens has seen it all. This is a market that is typically a home buyer's first foray into real estate. They are not savvy when it comes to their expectations or demands. They require extra guidance as it relates to home financing and how to successfully close on a property. Deeana was my listing agent and worked closely with the buyers' agent to reach a successful close. I like that she is hungry for results and works hard to reach the finish line. She does not take kindly to nonsense and I am very much the same way. When the buyers would not release their scheduled contingencies, we immediately served them with a notice to perform. The buyers' agent was playing games. We don't know if it was an effort to renegotiate or if they weren't sure the loan would be approved. Either way, we were not having it. Ultimately, the deal closed as it was negotiated. With interest rates at a 12-month low, it is again a seller's market. If you are thinking about selling a property in East Oakland, I would not hesitate to refer you to Deeana Owens.

If renting twice from the same company doesn't say enough, let me spell it out: Cerda-Zein Real…read moreEstate is top-tier. Professional, organized, and genuinely kind across the board. Maintenance was always timely, respectful, and easy to work with. CZRE has been my second home in more ways than one, and I couldn't recommend them more.

I viewed one of their properties earlier today and was very disappointed in how the unit was…read morepresented in the images on both their site and Zillow. I wanted to share them with you. In the attached images, you'll notice the really nice and colorful one (enhanced with AI), and then you'll see the reality of it. Take special attention to the tree's. There's a beautiful backyard with a tree on the left hand side as you go into the backyard. It isn't there. But there is a tree in the middle of the backyard, it just doesn't exist in the AI enhanced photo. Oh, and obviously everything else in the AI enhanced image that looks so enticing for any prospective renter doesn't exist. They called it a "private oasis," I'm not kidding. I attached that screenshot as well. I can kind of understand real estate companies using AI to slightly enhance a property's photos. I also understand that not everyone is a photographer and good photographers cost money. But this is just outright lying. This is such a waste of time for so many of us. On top of that, and this is one you'll want to pay special attention to, they're passing off a 30% fee to their tenants that's based off the rent. This should be paid by the owner of the property. With some deep dives it seems like it's an Alameda issue, but it's still so much money to put down for a rental that you'll never get back. This is outside of your deposit mind you. And what's crazy is, I would have considered this fee had I not been completely misled. And to add to being misled, the place was NOT in good shape. Vincent (the agent) told me it had already been "cleaned" but it very clearly had not. The kitchen specifically stood out. All I ask is for real estate companies to just be transparent with their listings. This involves everyone's time and money. This was a very icky first impression and now I know to avoid Cerda Zein. There's so many good, honest renters out there just trying to find a good roof over their heads. I'm one of them. Please consider this as you deal with this particular company. I've been looking for a few months and I've now come across 2 really shady real estate companies, which led me to being a Karen posting about it. One owns the majority of Berkeley (Premium Properties) and this one (Cerda Zein) owns a lot of Alameda. If you decide to rent with them, please don't eat that 30% fee. That's NOT normal. I know people can be desperate but this is a racket. And if you do decide to rent with them, please do some research on them before forking over that lost money. It's all online. I say this as someone who's been renting in the Bay Area for a few decades. UPDATE: I can't respond to Jose C's messages he sent me so here ya go. You're in for a wild ride. Hi G R. Jose C : Thank you for the feedback and for giving us the heads up. * I really appreciate your understanding. Jose C : We do have one correction: the property absolutely includes the private yard shown in the listing. * It does Jose, but it is NOT like the photos. This is the point of contention. Jose C : Calling it a "private oasis" simply refers to having your own secluded outdoor space. * Fair, but why the manipulated photos (old or new) it doesn't matter. New tenants are led to believe that's the current state of the unit, as advertised in the listing on your website here. - https://cerda-zein.com/property/rentals/1105-park-ave-b Jose C : As for the "AI-generated backyard", AI usually makes yards look better, not greener with weeds. * That's such an interesting take. Did you see the photos I posted from 5 hours ago compared to the listing photos? There's no way you're arguing that the photo on your listing was worse than what I posted. Weeds? Oh man. Your images are gorgeous. When I saw it, it had ZERO grass or plant life. The backyard looked like garbage. The photos I posted are backing that up. Jose C : The photo wasn't AI-generated, it was an older photo from a previous marketing period that inadvertently cycled back into the listing. * Jose, look at the photos you guys posted on your site and alternate rental sites. There's tree's misplaced. Jose C : Judging by the bare trees in the background, it was likely taken during the winter. The green ground you see appears to be seasonal weeds, not artificial landscaping. * Holy moly, so the photo was taken during winter? It had a tree on the left hand side back then and a lot of additional plants and grass? Again, please review the photos I posted. Jose C : Again, thank you for bringing it to our attention. * This doesn't feel sincere at all, you fought me on the obvious facts I provided. (Picture evidence) Jose C : We have updated the listing photos to better reflect the property's current condition. * I would certainly hope so, that was the point of my Karen post. But you're still asking for an $800 fee from a new tenant. That's insane. But good luck.

Valerie helped me to purchase a home this past summer, and working with her was absolutely…read moreincredible. From responding quickly to my thousands of texts and questions, to introducing me to lenders and contractors, she was there every step of the way. She was out of country for a short part of the journey, and was so dedicated that she called me at midnight her time, just so that we could get the contract nailed down. She even went so far as to drop off boxes on my front porch, so that I could start packing in a hurry, when I was in a pinch for time. Even though we closed on the house three months ago, she is still helping me today! I feel like I not only got lucky with the best possible realtor experience, but also gained a friend. I would recommend Valerie to anyone looking to buy or sell in the Bay Area. I love the house I ended up in, but if I ever need a realtor in the future, I can't imagine using anyone else. Thank you, Valerie! Doing business with you was an absolute pleasure.

I had to move suddenly across the country and Valerie stepped up and represented me better than I…read morecould for myself! She was responsible in taking care of all the necessary items we needed before the sale and I slept better knowing she had everything under control. She did a fabulous job at creating a competitive selling environment in a quiet market. I highly recommend Valerie, she has great contacts and knows what to expect. Highly professional and knowledgeable of the market.

I am deeply grateful to Ms. Passion, whose exceptional knowledge, professionalism, and skills…read moreguided me through a complex and challenging property process. She demonstrated remarkable expertise in addressing and resolving difficult issues, offering guidance and insight that allowed me to reach well-informed decisions. She was consistently available to address questions or concerns, thoughtfully discussing and processing each issue to ensure the best possible resolution. Her accessibility and responsiveness provided reassurance, reflecting her genuine commitment to my best interests. Even during times of frustration and uncertainty, she remained composed and unfaltering in her commitment, maintaining a clear focus on my vision and ultimate goals for the property. Her discerning attention to detail allowed her to identify potential issues I had not considered, and her thoughtful guidance provided both confidence and clarity. Ms. Passion's dedication, insight, and support were invaluable, and I will always cherish and appreciate her assistance and commitment to achieving the best possible outcome.

Passion is a wonderful real estate agent. encouraging us. She never gave up, she constantly called…read moreour mortgage counselor, closing coordinator, escrow officer, etc. SEvery time we went and looked at houses, she would show us a plethora of them. Her having a family background in construction really helped us in our process. When we looked at houses she was able to point out things that needed to be fixed and the quality or lack thereof of the upgrades in some homes. We had a lot of problems come up in our home buying process but Passion kepthe never let them slack on their jobs. When we finally closed on our home you could tell that she was genuinely happy for us and not because of a check. If or when I buy a home again, I would choose Passion again.

Jill and her team put their best foot forward and helped sell my condo in a tough market while I…read morewas overseas. Her local community highlight videos on YouTube and Instagram were fantastic and the place really looked great with the stylish staging. We even had many windows replaced under warranty during the listing period, which she and her team were able to manage and oversee; always looking for ways to improve the listing in the eyes of potential buyers. Even in a slumping market we received multiple offers and discussed which was best for not only me, but would benefit the building and neighbors. She was on call for all hours of the day and night (due to the time zone differential), and responded promptly. Jill's team brings a lot to the table, and I would recommend Freidrich Homes Group to others looking for their local real estate needs.

As a family law attorney, I've worked with many real estate professionals over the years--but Jill…read more& Jane Friedrich stand out as truly exceptional. Jill & Jane recently handled the sale of a home for one of my clients going through a divorce, and I can't say enough about their professionalism, communication, and results. From the very beginning, they were proactive, organized, and sensitive to the unique dynamics of a divorce-related sale. Jill and her team did a phenomenal job prepping the property--it looked absolutely stunning, which made a huge difference in the final outcome. Thanks to her strategic pricing, beautiful marketing, and skillful negotiation, the home sold quickly and for more than we ever expected. Jill & Jane made a potentially stressful process feel seamless for all parties involved. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Friedrich Homes Group to clients again, especially in complex situations where experience and discretion matter. They are true professionals and a pleasure to work with. -Law Office of Gina M. Mariani

I highly recommend Nancy Copeland! She worked with us through the home buying process and was…read morealways extremely knowledgeable, patient and flexible, even during the stressful escrow process. She spent a lot of time explaining the ins and outs of the wild Bay Area housing market, about the different kinds of issues homes could have (termites, dry rot, roof, foundation etc) and more. Most of all I really appreciated that she never rushed or pressured us in all the months that we looked at houses together because she recognizes that buying a house is a huge decision. Nancy is great!

As first time home buyers in the Bay Area, we could not recommend Nancy more. She consistently went…read moreabove and beyond to help us navigate the confusing and competitive world of real estate, taking the time to explain things to us that we didn't understand and offering support where needed. She is warm, kind, skilled, and tenacious. We feel lucky to have found her. She helped us purchase a condo in exactly the area we wanted at a price we could afford, and follows up every so often with updates about real estate in our area and to see how we are doing. Thank you a million times over, Nancy.

My husband and I are proud three-time Martha Becker clients: she helped us buy our first home in…read moreOakland during the feeding frenzy of the post-pandemic housing boom, sell that home when we needed to move for work and life reasons, and purchase our forever home in El Cerrito. For both of the homes we bought with Martha as our agent, our very first offers were accepted. For the home Martha sold, we received multiple offers that greatly exceed our expectations. Martha seems to know everyone, and is widely respected by her peers, meaning that our offers were more attractive simply because other agents want to work with her. Martha is truly one of a kind. She's a magician who will make your budget and needs work for you; a no-nonsense advisor who tells you everything you need to know and holds your hand throughout the wild East Bay homebuying process; an expert landscape architect and general contractor who won't think twice about crawling around the crawlspace of a potential home or planting greenery herself to beautify a home for sale; and, most of all, a great, kind and funny person whom you'll love to work with. We've recommended Martha to many of our first-time homebuyer friends in the Bay Area. She is the best!

This is way overdue- 6years overdue. Without Martha I don't think we would have been able to buy a…read morehouse. The market was crazy but she worked hard to make it happen and we love our house. The part I loved most about her is that she knows the market and was realistic. She wouldn't let us put bids in for houses that would go over what we could afford. This meant a lot less stress because as a first time buyer it took a lot to commit to a house and then to be heartbroken when we didn't get it would have been too much for me, especially if it happened over and over again. She made the whole process easy for us and was really on our side. We will always use Martha and recommend her to everyone. She's terrific.