We moved to the peninsula less than a year ago and started renting with the plan to buy a house in…read morethe coming year or two. When we interviewed realtors we were drawn to Raziel because it felt like every question we had was answered and backed up by data-driven analyses. We were also really intrigued by his unconventional process that is extremely involved in the beginning. Coming from out of state we learned so much about the area and what kinds of properties we could expect for our budget in each neighborhood we were interested in. This allowed us to really hone in our search and made the process less stressful because at that point we knew exactly what we wanted and were prepared for the right house to come along. During this time Raziel also guided us through the process of understanding buying a turn-key property vs. something that would need renovations. When we found our ideal property, we were a little anxious because it was an off-market Hillsborough house. But Raziel was quick to move and get us a showing and guide us to make the right offer for the property. It was complicated, as some off-market listings can be, but it was Raziel's strong relationship with the listing agent that helped our offer prevail. We have to say that every time we saw a house and the listing agent heard we were working with Raziel they had a genuinely warm reaction that made it obvious he is well-liked and respected in his field. Also, Raziel knew our plan was to buy in the 1-2 year range and we never felt pressure to move that timeline up. Instead, for every house we considered putting an offer on, Raziel gave us a thorough discussion of all the reasons why someone would not want to buy the house, and that helped us really decide if it was the right property for us. It always felt like he truly wanted to find us the right house for our family, not just make a business transaction. We feel so grateful that we worked with Raziel and his team to find our ideal property (thank you Jenny and Angilee!).

Raziel and his team (Jenny, Angilee, Emily) are exceptional! With their support, we bought our home…read moresooner than we expected, and the entire process was incredibly smooth: our very first offer was accepted. In the Peninsula's competitive market, we couldn't believe it! As first time home buyers, we were looking for someone deeply knowledgeable who could guide us through the entire process: from understanding local neighborhoods and why buyers might choose one over the other, narrowing down our criteria along with what's realistic in our budget, doing diligence when the right house pops up, and navigating the offer process. We didn't know what we didn't know, and we really wanted an expert. Raziel was exactly who we were looking for! He has a very well-structured process that we loved - touring neighborhoods, looking at past sold homes together, and moving quickly when the right house pops up. I really enjoyed learning as much as I could from Raziel, as he has so much local knowledge that I would never have learned otherwise. For the home we ultimately purchased, he suggested bringing an engineer on-site to take a look at the house before we submitted our offer. He also flagged an unusual item in the seller's disclosure packet that he hadn't seen before and recommended reviewing it with a real estate attorney. We followed both suggestions. Everything checked out, and because of that diligence, we felt confident submitting our offer. We would not have taken those extra steps without his guidance. Raziel truly de-risked the process as much as possible. By offer day, we felt informed and prepared. We love our home and are incredibly grateful for Raziel and his team. We can't recommend them highly enough!

Julie has been an invaluable part of our home-buying journey--truly irreplaceable. We are so…read morethankful that we have her expertise and guidance as first-time homebuyers. She answered all of our questions, listened to our wants, and brought an amazing network to the table. Julie was professional with voicing her opinion and was honest with it, which is a rare quality to find in an agent. She does not up sale for the sake of selling. But was smart and careful with how she strategizes and made sure we got what we needed at a great price. Julie consistently reached out to ensure we felt at ease throughout the process and made sure our goals were met without regret. She is thorough, honest and amazing to work with. We got our house at a great price and feel incredibly fortunate to have had Julie by our side every step of the way. Thanks to her, we navigated this complex process with confidence and ended up in a home we truly love.

Julie helped my husband and I close on our dream home! We had such an amazing experience working…read morewith Julie and her team. She is extremely friendly, knowledgeable and has a great reputation in the area. We were honored to be one of her clients. We felt so cared for throughout the process and have never met a realtor like her. We would totally work with her again in the future. We can't recommend her enough! Thanks for everything, Julie.

Laura and her team were amazing. She was right on in her approach and recommendations for preparing…read moreand selling our home in San Mateo Park. We had a terrific outcome and were 'saved' many times over by the members of Laura's team guiding us through paperwork, repairs, handoffs and connections for support services. Laura was always calm, cool, collected and kept things fun. We absolutely recommend her.

Laura and her team were incredible to work with as a first time homebuyer, and I can't think of…read moreanybody else that comes close to their level of expertise and professionalism. I was referred to them via a professional connection who trusted her with many deals in the past, and I can say it was also a 10/10 in my case. As you may know, the SF Bay Area is a competitive market, and it's quite a grind to gather all the paperwork, assemble an offer, let alone have it be accepted and go through a seamless close. It's a stressful situation for most including myself, but Laura and her team was on top of things throughout the process. Where do I start? Well, I can sit here and type for days raving about my experience, but I'll cut to the chase: Laura, Lexie, Ty etc. were incredibly friendly and personable, they responded to questions (texts, calls, emails, whatever!) pretty quickly and in great detail. That alone establishes trust, especially for such a high value and emotional purchase - your home. Laura never pushed or persuaded me on any listings we toured. In fact, she came in with a fresh perspective on "risk"s and things to watch out for as a buyer (the condition of the floors, the floorplans / layout, the neighbors / neighborhood in general, modifications allowed, permit history etc.) which I greatly appreciate given I had no prior experience and doing this the first time. Once we settled on places we'd like to place an offer for, she and her team pounced on getting all the docs lined up in time - pulling permit histories etc. to make sure there aren't any unexpected snags. She and her team were extremely communicative throughout the process, navigating counteroffers and just hustling it out. I just felt they really went above and beyond here. Once we were in contract, Laura, Lexie and Ty coordinated all remaining work (secondary inspections, loose fixtures, clogged sinks, deep clean prior to move in, extra paint / garbage removal etc.) to make my move-in significantly more seamless and stress-free. Some of these were done by the seller / seller's agent, in which she handled all communication promptly to have them addressed before the closing date. Others we did a day or two after close, but the appointments were so well managed ahead of time. Also, some folks who came by the place to do the work only had nice things to say about her and her team. Honestly I can't imagine anybody else doing it this well as Laura's!

From the get-go, Jennie was a great agent -- super organized and friendly. We knew exactly what…read moreneeded to happen at each step. With Mindy's help, they were both able to answer all our questions quickly and efficiently. What really made all the difference was Jennie's approach and persistence in getting us the house we really wanted. She worked closely with the other agent and made sure we got it across the finish line. Highly recommended!

Zen coast home team help my family find our dream home !! Jennie and her team knowledgeable,…read moreresourceful and professional. She gave great advice and made the experience fun and easy .

Wesley Ko came highly recommended from a friend. He laid out a plan for us to sell my current…read moreapartment and purchase a new house in 6 months (all in Oakland) and he worked very hard to help accomplish that goal. Throughout the process he was patient, responsive and professional. For the sale, Wesley and his teammates were extremely efficient when it came to staging and holding open houses and we were able to sell my apartment after the first scheduled showings. The only really difficult thing I had to do was say goodbye to the apartment and move out. I am extremely picky and so when we began to tour houses, Wesley's patience and eye for details really helped narrow down potential properties that would be a good fit for me and we also struck out a lot of bad ones. Wesley's experience shines during touring. Just to name a few things he has a keen sense of smell for moisture/mold, can feel for the slightest unevenness in floors and can tell good from bad repair work just from a quick glance and feel, he has really seen it all. This is where a whole lot of Wesley's value comes from, he's not just another paper pusher...he actually enjoys looking at houses with clients and he is great at pointing out things that a normal person wouldn't see. Eventually a few months later we were able to close on a new house that was exactly what I was looking for. It was a pleasure to work with Wesley and he was so helpful throughout the entire process. As I said before he is thoughtful, smart, engaged and it's clear he loves what he does and I now recommend him to everyone I know who is looking to buy in the bay area.

From the sales rep to the whole team (fit & finishes, customer experience, stager, and sales…read moreanalysis), OWN is a great company to work with. Although I had started the remodeling before signing with OWN to be the sale representatives for the house, their expertise in knowing the market for my location set us up to get the best return. The expert staging that put the finishing touch that helped to attracted over 20 potential buyers during the open house. Everything was handle expertly and professionally. So buying or selling, OWN Real Estate is the company to go with.

Working with Alex and Kristle was absolutely amazing!…read more Even before our search began we had an in depth conversation on what we were looking for and they frequently incorporated that feedback whenever highlighting properties for us to view. During our search they always kept us engaged and thinking clearly since the home search can be an emotional rollercoaster. And something I was not expecting, was that even after shepherding us through the closing process, they made sure that we had everything we needed to make our new home feel like home! I would highly recommend anyone looking for an expert to guide them through the home buying process to give Alex and Kristle a call.

The Lam team was extremely supportive in helping us in every step of buying our first home -…read moreespecially in educating us on what to expect and how to think about different decisions / options since it was our first time. Thank you for a smooth and seamless process!

I wanted to share a story about how I misjudged someone…read more.. I had my doubts about Stanley Lo. If I'm being honest, I'd have to admit I had a complete aversion to Green Banker. His advertisements were ostentatious. His outfits were silly. However, after mediocre experiences working with some of the Bay Area's (alleged) top agents, my husband urged me to give Stanley a chance. So I did... From the onset of our relationship, Stanley Lo proved me wrong. At our first meeting, I was (pleasantly) surprised & (begrudgingly) impressed by his business acumen. I liked that he was upfront, experienced, well-connected, intelligent, and entirely professional. My husband pointed out that, "He answers his phone every time I call him." -- and it's true! He works all hours of the day. Despite my reservations, Stanley Lo turned out to be one of the hardest-working men I've ever met. Additionally, his dedication to selling my house was unparalleled. In his recent mailing, he wrote: "Behind every escrow is a story -- often a challenging one. This year alone, I helped many homeowners resolve issues such as: Difficult disclosure and inspection issues Appraisal and financing complications Title and permit problems Buyer and seller contract disputes Complex legal and HOA matters and other major roadblocks that could have cost clients time, stress, and significant money In every case, my mission is the same: Protect the homeowner, solve the problem, and close smoothly -- while saving clients as much money and stress as possible. When needed, I go the extra mile: researching solutions, leveraging decades of expertise, and using my unique network to resolve issues that many agents cannot." So, I am here today to attest that his claims are not just lip service; he really does go the extra mile and delivers. I can't tell you how many things he did that I'm certain no other agent would (or could) have done. For example, he arranged for an international notary to help us process an online power of attorney. He helped mediate family disputes. He relentlessly nagged stakeholders until the job was complete. And he didn't stop calling until the deal was closed. The tasks he performed were far beyond the scope of a typical REALTOR. And for that, I am incredibly grateful. Mr. Lo, I wanted to say that I am sorry that I misjudged you. I was very wrong. It's clear to me now that your success is completely well-founded and deserved. You have my utmost respect and I intend to enthusiastically recommend you from this point forward. Thank you for all you did to sell my house! You were a true pleasure to work with! Natalie Kee Johnson

Stanley is warm and caring. He has many years of real estate sales experience. His office staffs…read moreare very knowledgeable and efficient as well. It was quite pleasant office.

Ali Gilmartin Davis was our realtor partner for our most recent house search in the San Mateo…read moreCounty region, which is one of the most competitive buyer markets in CA. In short, we had an exceptional experience from start to finish, and here are just some of the highlights. DM me with any follow up questions. -strategized our lease out/contract for vacating East Bay residence which now serves as an investment property. She made the contractual process seamless. -invested a day to show us neighborhoods of potential interest to help us narrow down geo pocket shortlist to hone in on. -rolled up sleeves to get us contractor estimates during disclosure review/offer stage on several homes. This allowed us to feel comfortable in our all in costs to purchase/renovate/upgrade. -well connected with seller agents, which can be notably advantageous in multi-offer scenarios. -at 11th hour of close of escrow, we hit an unexpected bump in road that Ali was able to swiftly resolve behind the scenes while we were in the hospital for child delivery. -highly consultative and patient in the process, which for us was approx 6-8 months with so many moving pieces in our life (ie-pregnant, moving to temp home, etc) We had the pleasure of meeting a few others from the Gilmartin Group-- highly impressed with their firm and more importantly the individuals.

I hired Maureen Gilman Gilman Based on positive reviews. But I terminated the listing contract due…read moreto her conflict of interest. She brought her brother to do the carpeting job without my prior approval. Not only that she recruited my contractor to get a carpet quote for her brother who never showed simple of carpets or talked to me in regards the carpet job. And also once I told her my house was under a trust, she brought me to her husband who is a lawyer. After we arrived at his office he even read my trust. Immediately told me that I needed to redo my trust because it was too old. No matter how old the trust is, it's valid as long as the owner didn't do any changes. Maureen may think that I'm a quite older Chinese single woman and she could control me in anyway she wanted. But she didn't know that I used be a realtor and retired for A long time. I fired her

Working with Debbie and team was a masterclass in professional integrity. In a fast-paced market…read morewhere it's easy to feel like just another transaction, she consistently prioritized our needs above all else. Her transparency kept us grounded, and her focus on our comfort made a high-stakes process feel manageable. If you are looking for an agent who values your long-term goals over a quick sale, Debbie is the gold standard Colleen Pimentel

We have known Debbie for many years during which she has helped us with our various real-estate…read moretransactions (sale and purchase). She is obviously a top-ranked realtor for a reason! Her knowledge of real-estate market in the San Mateo county is unparalleled, and her extensive array of resources and connections will help the clients to achieve a good return on their investments. She genuinely cares about her clients and goes beyond the norm to help them in the process.

If you are looking for an agent to sell or buy a house, you should go to Jim or at least schedule…read moretime to meet him and you will know why everyone loves him. Jim knows the Peninsula well and sold our house. People asked why we didn't go with someone from San Carlos and it's because no one we met was better than Jim. SHORT VERSION A few words that describe Jim in no particular order: 1. Ethical 2. Professional 3. Punctual 4. Personable 5. Attention to detail - he keeps it real! LONG VERSION 1. Ethical - ex. He hired the best guys to do home inspections and would recommend suggestions on repairs vs hiding things. ex. Jim schedules time in his office for brokers to present offers to the seller, which means no funny business. The seller gets to be apart of the process. I've never done this with any other agents. 2. Professional - Jim doesn't take short cuts and explains everything to you. My neighbor mentioned 2 things when he met Jim - Professional & Nice suits. He always gives updates on what's going on so you're never left in the dark. 3. Punctual - Jim responds in a timely manner to your emails (even to say thank you so you know he read the email - I love that). He always arrives early to all his appointments with you. 4. Personable - Jim is just a really nice guy but gets the job done. When driving through Hillsborough, people were waving to him. 5. Attention to detail - You'll need this when buying a home and he will tell you if the buyers cut corners on the floors, kitchen, etc - Jim won't just sell you a home to make commission and will tell you what he really thinks the house is worth - again, he keeps it real. Jim takes the time to listen to what you want in a home and tries to find the perfect house for you. If Hillsborough is the place for you, he will not stop working until he finds something. He knows Hillsborough better than anyone, he's lived there his entire life and still lives there. Again, we couldn't be happier. He's probably tired of me telling him that I've learned so much from him and that we are so happy we met him. Also, his assistant, Lesa is amazing! She is very personable and I feel like I've known her for years. She's the best and the sweetest person you'll meet! You basically get attention from 2 realtors vs just 1! Now you can't get better than that! :)

Jim's a 5 Star guy and a 5 Star realtor. Highly recommended.read more