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.

Kellen was a pleasure to work with throughout our home search. He's responsive, patient, and deeply…read moreknowledgeable about his local market. He lined up showings quickly, explained nuances we wouldn't have caught on our own, and walked us through every offer and closing detail with care. His team is tight and well-coordinated. When tricky property issues came up, he had contractor quotes and context in hand within a day, going above and beyond. He never rushed our decisions and always made us feel like the priority. Five stars, no hesitation.

We met Kellen a few years ago and have been looking for houses on/off over the duration with him…read more Then, Kellen recently helped us decide and move forward to buy our first home. Over these open house visits, he has been very supportive and answering our questions patiently while providing various improvement ideas. During the purchase process he has been very prompt and detailed while guiding us. Kellen and his team has been supportive in closing our house in a record time and also guiding us through various conversations with loaner(s), contractor(s), title company, insurance company(ies) and so on.

My partner and I lived in a Myerhoff & Associates unit for just over 6 years. In that time, the…read morewhole team has been responsive, respectful and courteous. Maintenance requests were taken seriously and remedied quickly. We really loved our unit and would rent from them again if we didn't leave the country.

I rented an apartment with Myerhoff & Associates from 2020 to 2026. This was the longest I'd stayed…read morein the same apartment my entire adult life, and if I didn't leave to move out of the country I'd still happily be renting from them in the same spot. Rent was very reasonable for a beautiful high-ceilinged 1-bed, 1-bath full of natural sunlight in the middle of uptown Oakland. We had a full-sized washer and dryer in unit, a gated parking spot, and even a small front yard with a loquat tree. Laura, Nick, Chandra and team were always friendly, supportive beyond our tenant-landlord relationship, and quick to respond to maintenance requests, which were easy to place using the online portal provided. This was by far my best experience renting in my time in the US, and I miss my former apartment already.

I cannot recommend our agent Amy Loughran and the whole team at Kate McCaffrey Group highly enough…read more As buyers in the notoriously tricky Alameda market, we found Amy's deep local experience and sharp instincts to be invaluable. She helped us navigate the common tactic of 'teaser' pricing (listing low to drive bidding wars) by providing clear, accurate data on where market rates actually sat. We ultimately purchased a Victorian home, and Amy was instrumental in helping us understand the special considerations and responsibilities that come with owning a historic resource. Her expertise in this area gave us a level of confidence we wouldn't have had otherwise. Once we were in escrow, Amy truly went above and beyond. Even through the holidays, she was incredibly responsive and never missed a beat. She provided us with excellent referrals for local contractors and was a wealth of knowledge regarding schools and neighborhood nuances. Even though we closed escrow just 2 days before New Year's Day, Amy and the others on the team kept us informed and moved the process along as quickly as possible. If you want a dedicated, well-connected team that truly understands the unique character of Alameda homes, work with these folks!

Jeanne did a wonderful job helping me find my forever home. She was responsive, patient, and easy…read moreto get along with. The process was easy to navigate and I cannot be happier with my purchase. Highly recommend!

Professional and Reliable Property Management I have been…read moreworking with The Cal Agents since 2025 to manage my house rental in the Bay Area, and it has been a consistently positive experience. Key Highlights: 1. Exceptional Team: I've had the pleasure of working with Wilsen, Ahyeza, Chris, Patricia, Jana, Fiona, Nikki, and Ramiro. They are professional, attentive, and easy to collaborate with. 2. Problem Solvers: One of their greatest strengths is that they never shy away from a hard problem. Whether it's a maintenance issue or a tenant concern, they tackle it head-on with a level of responsiveness that is hard to find. 3. Trusted Partnership: When you are looking for a partner to manage an investment property, creating an empathetic and caring relationship with the tenants is the most important factor. They have proven themselves to be reliable stewards of my property. Pro-Tip for Owners: Because they manage a diverse portfolio of both condos and houses, I found that providing clear context on my specific expectations for house-level marketing and maintenance from the start created a great feedback loop. Their receptiveness to this high level of communication is exactly why our partnership works so well; it ensures everyone is aligned from day one. Overall: If you need a team that is responsive and capable of handling the complexities of the Bay Area rental market, I highly recommend The Cal Agents.

My husband and I are very pleased with services provided by The Cal Agents. We have been working…read morethem since February 2022. Their team is professional and responsive, and Maria Buce in particular has been outstanding -- always helpful, proactive, and clear in her communication. She keeps us informed and updated on everything related to our property and tenants, which gives us great peace of mind as landlords. Highly recommend The Cal Agents, especially if you want reliable management and excellent customer service. -Christina-

Hello fellow Yelpers! I am posting this in response to the comment left below by Debbie Ramos…read more This is completely defamation of character. I have personally used Symone Colon for staging services, evaluate my property value and I have recommended my friends and family to use Symone Colon. She has proven to be reliable, professional, responsive and extremely honest with the services she provides her customers. It's unfortunate to see how people will say anything to falsely attack and create disruption in peoples lives and business. False accusations should not be taken lightly. Personally attacking a person and their business should be a crime!! If you need to fact check me, please feel free to contact me directly, I will be more than happy to provide evidence of a satisfied customer.

Update: As of May 2022, Within 24 hours ! of having a new agent, the listing went live , went live…read moreon a Saturday had a cash offer by that Sunday, offer accepted Monday. The house sold. Sellers beware !! I recommended this company because of Symone Colon ( DRE 02022962) My mistake. Symone Colón knew I was not happy with her as an agent. she offered to cancel my contract and I agreed. They would not cancel the contract unless I cancelled my yelp review. Symone & Dianna said the contract was not with me and that it was illegal for me to leave a yelp review. I have all the proper paperwork Giving me 100% authorization to handle the sale of this property. This listing has been in this broker's hand for over 70 days. The agent knew she was going to get this listing by October 2021. The listing expired,their only job is to sell this property! We were given an opportunity to cancel the contract from both Symone Colon Dre 02022962 & Dianna,we accepted it, We we're NOT satisfied with Symone Colon and her inability from A-Z on selling our property. Dianna the owner/Broker threatened they would not cancel the contract with by family until I remove the yelp review. They bullied me into deleting a yelp review. I did delete the review as instructed by Bayside real estate April 22, but because it was still on Dianna's mobile telephone app ,they would not cancel the contract even though I emailed proof. The incompetence of this Broker is unbelievable. Dianna & Symone via email tired to bully & blackmail us, this went on from April 22-26 over a Yelp review! The last review they this company had was 2015 they only have four reviews ! (Shame on me for not checking reviews...) Diana and Symone made my life hell for 4 days over a yelp review, The pettiness is just as boggling as their incompetence & Unprofessionalism. I did remove the review or they would not cancel contract. I now have a canceled contract in hand. We are the clients, WE contracted YOU to sell OUR property. We entrusted YOU as OUR agent to guide US as you are the LICENSED agents. Sellers beware of Bayside real estate & all parties affiliated with this company! I do not not want them to do this to one other person Or Family !! The undue stress they caused our Family is 100% unacceptable knowing they have current medical issues & I have documentation stating because of medical issues please deal with Debbie Ramos. I've known Symone Colón for over 25 years or so. the fact that she can do this to a friend. Also the comment left below by Violeta ,she's her best friend from . Violet who left the review has no clue of THIS business transaction. she is comparing staging to selling. That shows you Symone Colon immaturity. she had her best friend leave a review about something she knows absolutely nothing about. Bayside real estate and all parties concerned are very messy obviously read all the reviews. You decide Have all documentation in regards to this matter.

Utilized this rental agency before back in 2008 when I moved from Florida to California. Staff was…read moregreat then. Attempted to use them again in February and March 2016, and although there were no listings that met my criteria, I felt that the staff could have been more friendlier and more courteous. They may be pushy to complete a rental application, so that you may pay their fee. But don't feel the pressure to do this folks, until you physically view a place that meets your criteria. You do have a couple of options on Alameda, if you choose to search through a rental agency. Do your homework.

I liked the housing as an affordable rate, but you tour by YOU having to come get keys then drive…read moreto unit then drive back, and THEN give you application where it is stated there could be fees and it's complicated so just felt turned off. Got my hopes up and it was a whole hour driving back and forth. Not cool. I thought that's their job as property management? Plus I found out a tenant hadn't gotten their fridge fixed for 5 months, that's messed up. Affordable housing does not mean you are allowed to neglect people.

Steven Shutler is an exceptional agent. He helped us secure a two-bedroom apartment in our dream…read moreneighborhood of Pacific Heights in under a day! We identified a listing of interest, Steven arranged a tour within the hour, and our application was submitted, signed, and approved just two hours later. Steven is everything you want in an agent--professional, highly responsive, and transparent throughout the process. He even negotiated a 35-day lease start, giving us sufficient time to provide notice at our current residence and saving us a ton of money. You are an absolute gem, Steven. Thank you!

Rent SF sucks not only can you not get through to anyone ever contact anyone or get someone to ever…read morelook at an application but we had a $500 deposit stolen from us and never got it back and we didn't even get into a house or anything we did an application that required a $500 deposit that we were supposed to get back they'll give you a s***** Studio for $3,000 and then expect you to pay a deposit which is not ethically moral or systematically just these aren't just houses in finances these are people's lives and everyone deserves a home I think rent SF needs to take a couple steps back and look at themselves as a company as an organization and add morale to their policies add understanding to their conduct and include empathy as a package deal

I hired Guy Blume to help me sell my two-family homes in Alameda, and I couldn't have asked for a…read morebetter experience. What really stood out was how hands-on he was. Guy didn't just give suggestions about preparing the properties for sale. He actually helped coordinate contractors and repairs to get the homes looking their best for buyers. That kind of support made the process much easier. He was always easy to reach, answered my questions clearly, and explained things in a way that helped me understand the process without ever talking down to me. When offers came in, he gave honest feedback and never pressured me to accept anything I wasn't comfortable with. If you're selling property in Alameda and want someone knowledgeable, responsive, and genuinely looking out for your best interests, I highly recommend Guy.

We selected Team Guy after meeting with seven other realtors to sell our house. Guy's extensive…read moremarket knowledge and advice played an incredibly instrumental role in the sale. He provided invaluable insights and saw things we otherwise would have missed. He has a lot of experience doing what he does! Guy and Ashley both worked tirelessly to get results. We couldn't be happier with how quickly the house sold. Guy comes with our highest recommendation, as we have been thoroughly impressed with his work.

An excellent company to work with. Yvonne Elkins and her associate Nancy are the nicest ladies to…read morework with when looking for a place to live in Alameda, which is not the easiest thing to do. I have worked with two other property management companies, who will remain nameless, but working with Dragonfly completely changed my view of property managers and owners in Alameda. Yvonne and Nancy are professional, on top of it, and easy to work with. It is such a local, cozy feel compared to the larger companies. I recommend Dragonfly to anyone for renting or buying.

Yvonne is amazing. She responds quickly and keeps your interests at heart. If you need any of the…read moreservices she offers, I would highly recommend her. You will be taken good care of.