Mark provides both quality and value for the service you get. Word-of-mouth is always best and that's how I found Mark when I did a service requested assistance. He has experience in the industry and knows how to negotiate the best deal for the buyer. I purchased a house in El Cerrito in June 2025. I started working with Mark in October 2024 and he patiently showed me around the area and continued to allow me to find the best place and work through the bidding process that goes on in the Berkeley El Cerrito area. I give him five stars plus and recommend him highly to all those that are looking for a good Realtor, who has their back and knows what he's doing read more

Mark Playsted of Compass Realty is a one of a kind realtor who did an incredible job handling the sale of my sister's condo in the East Bay. My sister was hospitalized and in very poor health. She asked my husband and I to handle the sale of her condo unit. We live out of state so the sale was a more complicated transaction and due to my sister's poor health, time was of the essence. With Mark's expertise developed over years in the real estate business, he coordinated the work of his talented team of contractors, inspectors and stagers. He held one open house which yielded multiple offers, and worked closely with the title company to complete this sale in three weeks time. He is truly a miracle worker. Mark handled all the details and put our minds at ease during a very difficult time. Mark guided us through this transaction with patience and compassion. He is very easy going, incredibly efficient and very knowledgeable about very aspect of real estate sales. In our 40 years of marriage we have bought and sold two homes in California and three in New York State. We felt all realtors did a great job. However, none were even close to the quality, professionalism, attention to detail and talent of Mark Playsted. We highly recommend the work of realtor, Mark Playsted. He quickly assessed our needs regarding this sale and moved at lightening speed to accomplish this very difficult job. read more

Mark is an outstanding and exceptionally talented real estate agent. He is kindhearted, honest, easy to get along with, extremely intelligent and always had our best interests in front. His knowledge of the market in the greater Bay Area is vast, which enabled him to find the perfect house for us (no exaggeration here, Mark guided us to the perfect home). As this was our first home purchase, Mark patiently and promptly answered all of our questions and provided rock-solid guidance throughout the home search and purchase process. To begin, Mark asked us to outline what were essential features of our ideal home, what would be nice to have, and importantly, characters we did not wish for. Within a couple of days he returned a great list of homes, some of which we viewed. During this first round, Mark guided us in honing our list of ideal home characteristics to arrive as what soon brought us to the home we purchased. Mark maintained an ideal balance of close contact while giving us the right amount of space to think for making decisions during the entirety of it all. Once we decided to make an offer on the home, Mark clearly outlined the next steps and what he thought would motivate the sellers to accept our offer. His guidance was spot-on as the sellers quickly accepted it, which was under their asking price and comparables in the area (astounding since the home is on a half-acre acre lot, 10 min from major freeways and walking distance from downtown shopping; all of which are in high demand in the Bay Area and especially so with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic). Importantly, Mark has an extensive network of colleagues (e.g. inspectors, lenders and contractors) that clearly enjoy working with him and were quick to help. These connections were key for pushing the purchase forward. Mark made the purchase of our first home fast, easy, and economical. We are truly and immensely grateful for all that Mark did. read more

Mark is very knowledgeable and a great realtor to work with. Over the course of about two years, he was extremely patient and helpful as we looked for a house in both Alameda and Oakland. When we finally found THE house, Mark ensured all the final steps were smooth. read more

I don't think I could have had a better first time condo buying experience than with Mark. He's incredibly intelligent and knowledgeable while being personable, kind and trustworthy. I was so impressed at how quickly and adeptly he works. I met Mark on a Wednesday morning to see a property I fell in love with that already had two offers. Mark quickly connected me with a lender he's worked with for years. By 2pm I was pre-approved for a loan, and by the following evening my offer was accepted and I was in contract. I don't think many realtors could pull off what he did. I'm incredibly thankful to have benefited from his wealth of experience and savviness. I highly recommend Mark, and would absolutely work with him again in the future. read more

If you're looking for a home in Alameda, Mark is THE guy. Excellent communication, knowledge base, availability, and local connections to get you into the best position possible in this frustrating market. I would recommend Mark to any first time home buyer (or otherwise) seeking a home or condo in Alameda. We were referred to Mark by another Compass agent (Jackie Care -- also phenomenal!) when we mentioned we wanted to expand our search to Alameda (Jackie primarily specialized in Oakland). After looking for a few months in Oakland, we realized we were quickly being priced out of the areas we were initially hoping to live in. Alameda also seemed to offer a lot more of what we personally valued and thus we transitioned to almost only looking at homes in Alameda. Our search began in mid-late 2020 and concluded in April 2021. Mark was phenomenal from the outset. Personality wise he is very warm, welcoming, and has a charming accent. He took the time to explain everything we needed to know as first time buyers -- we never felt like we were being talked down to or were asking stupid questions. If you're looking for a home in the East Bay, you'll come to know that the traditional buying rules are NOT followed and Mark was great in helping us understand how and why things worked as they do here (ie: sellers providing their own inspection -- Mark knew most of them on a first name basis and could call them up to personally speak with the inspector prior to putting in an offer;; putting offers in with no contingencies and how that worked, what it meant, and how to avoid pitfalls.... things that buyers outside CA and the last generation don't really understand). As we educated ourselves with various home buying books, online research, etc, he was also great at explaining the technical questions we had. Professionally, he's even better. An Alameda market vet, he knows the area like the back of his hand and gave great guiding advice when we were initially refining our search on specific neighborhoods. Having lived in Alameda for over 20 years, he not only has a detailed knowledge of every neighborhood -- down to the block! -- but also has connections with nearly every person you could imagine. Alameda can be a very insular community in many ways, with it's own local ecosystem of agents, contractors, permitting, etc --- Mark would on the regular tell us how he had played poker with X, or knew Y for the last decade. In such a hyper-competitive market we felt like we had an edge with his knowledge base... he could tell us how each seller's agent tended to rank their offers, and was a fierce advocate for us over the phone when possible. Trust goes a long way in the current market and it was reassuring to have an agent who knew the main players on a first-name basis. Mark was also exceedingly flexible and generous in his time with us. As the month's wore on, he came to understand our style of seeing homes and he would even pre-book showings (this was during COVID when open-houses were not a thing) he knew we would want to see. He would make himself available in the evenings, early morning... and the few times things were dynamic during the day, he actually cleared his schedule for us (thank you Mark!). We were truly appreciative of how much time and effort he put into our search. Having listed and sold numerous homes in Alameda, Mark was also very knowledgeable about the various issues homes in Alameda tend to experience and was great about pointing out otherwise overlooked plusses and minuses while seeing homes. He helped us avoid quite a few money pits. After we (thankfully) got into contract, Mark continued to be in communication almost daily through the close of escrow. When our lender was having communication issues or seemed to be lagging, he'd be on the phone with them finding out what was going on. He also maintained friendly communication with the seller's agent throughout the process to ensure that the sellers didn't get spooked when our lender seemed like they might miss the close date (thankfully they didn't). Even after close, Mark has been helpful in recommending landscapers, contractors, and helping out with a few issues with the house we discovered after moving in that should have been in order. In the end, Mark overexceeded the expectations we had going into this process, which we knew was going to be painful and frustrating. He kept our spirits up through each rejected offer while being realistic about the market we're in. We would recommend him without hesitation to anyone seeking a home in Alameda. read more

This is a very late review but I feel I needed to put this out there. Mark is a very knowledgeable professional. He has a network of professionals that he can refer to for ensuring that the buying process is seamless. From showing me some pretty good options to narrow down my must haves to connecting me with experts to close, made a stressful process less stressful. His strategies ensured that we put together an effective offer and that all my questions were followed up expediently so that we got our house. We were first time buyers with a baby in the oven so we definitely appreciated the fast negotiations to close and the specialists to help us fix it up. We are definitely fans to how he carries on and does business. He lives locally in Alameda and knows a lot about the area and those agents that work around him. We totally recommend him! read more

As first-time homebuyers, we wanted to make sure we did our due diligence at every stage in the process -- visiting lots of open houses and interviewing multiple candidates when we looked for a lender and Realtor. Mark impressed us from the get-go, and kept it up through what turned out to be a long and complex escrow process, and we recommend him highly. He had good knowledge of Oakland's neighborhoods to share, and he gave us helpful advice when we were preparing to make offers. Once we were in escrow, he did a great job of being proactive, staying on top of communication with the sellers' agent and using his network of professional contacts to keep the process moving forward. We're probably like a lot of young buyers in this area -- we didn't want a lot of hand-holding or to feel like we were being steered toward anything, but at the same time we had lots of questions and wanted to be kept in the loop on everything. Mark did a great job accommodating us in these respects -- he was consistently responsive via phone or email, he could make time in the evenings to set up viewings on short notice, and he was happy to 'talk shop' about how things were going, and it felt like his priority was that we'd end up in a home we were happy with (as opposed to closing a deal and getting his commission). We found Mark through a listing of Redfin's "partner agents", and we were able to use our existing Redfin account (faved listings, etc) working with him. read more

I fired the first broker I had here in the area, she kept pressuring me to buy. Then Mark Playsted called me responding to my request of information in Redfin and within a month I am a property owner in Emeryville! He is awesome and gets it, understands his client and takes all my calls, and I call a lot! So happy! read more

I was a trustee for an estate house sale. Fortunately, I connected with Mark Playsted, who is an exceptionally talented listing agent. Any home sale is an emotional experience, as one has to bridge the gap between viewing the house as a personal item to viewing the house as a commodity to be sold to persons unknown. Mark had the experience, knowledge, and tact, to guide my wife and I thorough the renovation, disclosure, and sales negotiations for our property. No real estate transaction is the same. There are many nuanced decisions that have to be made and documents to be signed. Mark understood neighborhood and market demographics that we were totally unaware of. He had an impressive "rolodex" of talented and reliable contractors for staging, painting, flooring, inspections, repairs, etc., which we drew on to make the process smooth. The sales process was efficient and the paperwork more than manageable. We would highly recommend Mark as your listing agent as the closing process went along quickly without a hitch and we were extremely happy with the sales price! Mark was always timely and responsive to any questions or needs we had. Most of all, Mark was experienced and kept us informed of all the important issues during the sales process. There were no surprises except for the great sales price. Todd and Sally Draskovich read more

We already knew the house we wanted to buy when we contacted Mark, so we started out thinking, "Wow, this is easy money for this guy - just fire off an offer, and done!" Well as you might imagine, it didn't quite turn out that way. We ended up having to deal with a complex and difficult closing due to awkward timing with a change of jobs. Mark was an enormous help in dealing with the continual negotiations with the bank, FHA folks, and the sellers. I doubt we'd be in our house today if it weren't for his tireless efforts. Thanks Mark! read more

Mark is fantastic! He is very knowledgeable about the market and knows effective strategies that work best in this crazy Bay Area real estate market. We have only put in 2 offers with Mark and both offers were accepted! That in and of itself speaks volumes in this highly competitive market! (We put in several offers that were not accepted before we met and started working with Mark). Mark was also our listing agent for the house we sold. From start to finish he gave us great advice on how to prepare our house for the sell and on marketing strategies. He helped us secure appointments with vendors and stagers and was really in it with us the whole way. In the end, our house sold within 9 days of listing and we were thrilled with the result! Not only is Mark very knowledgeable and truly gets the job done, he is also very personable, kind and has a great sense of humor. It was a pleasure working with him every step of the way. I had a lot of questions about the whole process and he was always very patient, responsive and provided great information and advice! We highly recommend working with Mark! He gets the job done! read more

If you are reading this, stop hesitating and call Mark Playsted now! My interaction with Mark covered several offers and lasted almost two years in timeframe before a successful close. Needless to say, Mark was extremely patient and was thorough in providing valuable guidance and advice for each potential property. While I have purchased multiple other properties and have worked with several other experienced & established agents over the years, Mark separates himself with his professionalism and vast knowledge. His responsiveness and willingness to "go the extra mile" is truly extraordinary. With Mark's representation, I managed to close on a very difficult multi-family property transaction with tight deadlines. I completely credit Mark in me getting the property as he convinced the listing agent of my ability to perform and provided invaluable industry contacts to utilize to ensure the property closed on time. Whereas other agents may take the easier path, Mark never shied away from challenges. He proactively tackled the difficult issues and pushed to ALWAYS protect my interests and reduce any areas of risk. I couldn't be more satisfied and happy with Mark's service. I will definitely be contacting Mark again for future representation and highly recommend him without reservation. Did I already mention you should call him now?! Thanks again Mark! read more

From the moment I first spoke to Mark, he put me at ease with his good-natured and easygoing approach. We had a stressful situation and needed to find a house quickly, but without compromising on what we wanted. Happily to say, we now have the exact house we had been imagining. Due to Mark's knowledge and expertise, we were able to move through the process confidently and smoothly. We hadn't bought a house in this incredibly competitive market before, and he was able to give us the guidance needed to make a successful offer. Overall, it's been a pleasure working with Mark, and I recommend him without hesitation! read more

Our experience working with Mark could not have been better. He made our dream come true! My wife and I were looking for a home to raise our newly-born son. This was our first home purchase, so we needed a lot of help. Fortunately for us, we connected with Mark. He guided us through the process from start to finish, without any problems at all. Mark provided detailed background information on neighborhoods, schools, HOAs, building types, coding for renovations, financing, inspections, home insurance, and the offer process. He was always available and attentive to our changing needs. We enthusiastically recommend Mark to anyone buying a home, but especially any first-time home buyers. Mark is the best! read more

This is the third time Mark has represented me in real estate transactions, I would not even consider using anyone else to buy or sell property in the Bay Area. In all three instances we were dealing with a fast moving & volatile real estate market -Mark's experience, local knowledge, professionalism & unflappability were key to making successful outcomes in all cases. Real estate transactions, whether you're a buyer or seller can be very stressful & having an agent who is calm & detail oriented makes a huge difference! In my most recent transaction I was living 400 miles away & Mark managed everything so I only had to make one trip back to the Bay Area to sign papers at the Title Company. Mark is unfailingly good natured & a great communicator two more wonderful characteristics! No need to interview other agents, do yourself a favor & just call Mark Playsted! read more

Mark is the best! We had a great experience with him and as a result are now home owners! He kept on top of all the paperwork, reports, home inspections, pest inspections etc etc and recommended great people for these. He went the extra mile for us, even though he probably made a modest amount working with us, and we closed within a month. He's very personable, and not like your typical real estate folks. We're very thankful to him and can't recommend him enough. read more

We recently bought a beautiful home i Alameda, Harbor Bay, and we simply couldn't have done it without Mark's help and guidance. Working with Mark was a very pleasant experience from the very start to the finish line. There is enough stress and anxiety as it is in this heated real estate market, and then it really helps working with someone as patient, honest and knowledgeable as Mark. Importantly, since we were not familiar with the area, Mark got us up to speed and helped us narrow our focus. He also helped us getting in contact with the right person for financing, and the whole process was teamwork. Thank you, Mark! read more

Mark was so patient with us from the first random contact- we found him on an iPhone app, and looked at our first place in May 2012. I had no idea how to buy real estate, but he patiently answered all our questions and when we found a short sale property we wanted he kept on top of it through the grueling 3 month closing and all the extra paperwork and hoops to jump through and got the closing in the nick of time. He was a real advocate for us and helped us get a great deal. Our condo is already worth 33% more than we paid! I cannot say enough about how lucky I feel to have met Mark. We were selling a home in Missouri at the same time, and I just wished he could have done that for us, too! read more