I want to say that I'm so glad I chose Micheal. I've been shopping around agents and couldn't find one that is patient, knowledgable, and really thinking in the buyer's shoes until I met Micheal. The experience has been smooth and easy. His insights and suggestions are very helpful when we are browsing properties. He goes extra miles to read and summarizes all the documents for me for every single offer I put (which requires a lot of work!). Sometimes, he even tries to talk me out of the deal even though he has already put so much work on it. I'm very impressed by his dedication and his notion of customer-centric. In the phase of closing, I put my 100% trust in him and he is able to handle all the details exceptionally well when I was so occupied by my job. Eventually, I'm able to buy a place I really like thanks to him. I will contact him again for my next purchase. I recommend Michael to everyone I know. read more

My husband and I just purchased a new home in Alameda thanks to Michael's help, and I'm so unbelievably thankful we were introduced to him! From the day we started working together, Mike was like an extension of our team - it's obvious he's a big advocate for his clients, and I really felt like he had our best interests at heart every step of the way. He was patient with my millions of questions, extremely responsive/flexible with his schedule (which was crazy given we only had a frantic 2 weeks to find the right house and get an offer accepted), gave us sound advice whenever we asked for it (and sometimes when we didn't), and went out of his way to make sure I was comfortable and informed throughout the entire process. Michael knows the local market and other agents really well too, which is how we were able to present the right offer and beat out a few other parties to snag our house. To top it all off, Mike is a really great guy we enjoyed spending time with - a huge plus when you're working closely with someone on such a big decision! If you're looking for a real estate agent you should run to Mike immediately!! read more

If you are buying in the East Bay, look no further then Michael Lane. From block to block, he can guide you through the area. You want to know about farmers markets, running paths, bus lines, food recommendations in the neighborhood... just name it, and he can tell you or do some quick research. I had just come off working with a couple of lazy agents and was skeptical about agents in general. Michael debunked all of my assumptions. He truly is a partner in the buying process, calling on his years of experience in this market. He'll guide you through the disclosures, ask the good questions to the other agent, give you great advice when going through the bidding process, and most important to me - he was incredibly proactive and responsive through the whole process. Buying a house in the Bay Area can be soul draining, but I honestly was able to enjoy the process because of working with Michael. In short order, we found the home perfect for me in Oakland. If you are buying a home in the East Bay, its a no-brainer to choose Michael Lane - it will make all the difference in your process. read more

Michael is super to work with, he made buying a house fun and easy! His deep knowledge of the market and his personal connection to the seller helped us get a home at the first try! And when we started getting cold feet during the process, he patiently but determinedly helped us over the finish line. Great guy, highly recommend. read more

I first met Mike as a buyer new to the Bay area in 2015. Mike is incredibly knowledgeable of the East Bay real estate market and helped me find the perfect home and neighborhood for my family. He was always very responsive and great to work with. When we listed the home in 2020, he was our first choice to use as the listing agent. He again was a pleasure to work with, guided us through every step of the process, and got the home sold on time and for a good price. I highly recommend Mike for anyone looking to buy or sell in the East Bay. read more

Michael helped us close on a condo that was in our ideal neighborhood. Throughout the process from hunting to negotiating - Michael was very attentive and anticipated things we wouldn't have known to ask or consider, which was extremely helpful in such a competitive market. I also appreciated Michael's demeanor in sharing helpful information about neighborhoods/comps that ultimately got us a winning bid, but importantly, without being pushy or stretching us beyond our comfort zone. He's also just a really cool person and we enjoyed getting to know him! it was a great experience to work with him and I would highly recommend his service!! read more

AMAZING!! Michael really embodies the principle of going above and beyond! I count Michael as not only the top real estate agent I have worked with but the top professional I have received services from (which is a long list he is at the top of)! Where do I start... My wife and I moved here from London and started our search remotely with very little knowledge of the Bay Area. We didn't intend to actually buy a place before landing here and I never would have imagined making such a huge decision from abroad... but Michael really earned our trust and he helped us land the perfect place for us at a great price. There are too many things to mention so I'll just give a few anecdotes to help illustrate why he is a five star agent (would give more stars if possible): -Michael, went out of his way to travel to properties and personally scout them out for us. There was one property we wanted to put an offer on but had a concern about the roof inspection. When I called him, he turned his car around and headed back to the property to have a look himself. -Michael is honest and is not just in it for an easy commission. For example, we were almost ready to pull the trigger on a property until he gave us his view on the downsides of it (it was pretty close to the highway and had already been gut renovated so less room for appreciation). -Michael knows how to get offers accepted (which is HUGE in this market!). For example, he helped us come up with some sensible sweeteners (eg, fast closing) and when he submitted our offer he included an expiration time of later the evening which flipped the pressure to the buyers. -On top of that, the seller's agent at our property was actually the next door neighbor! So Michael went and chatted with him for a while about us and why we would make great neighbors which ultimately helped get our offer accepted. -Michael gifted a 1 year warranty on the house + appliances for us at no charge! This has already come in handy due to problems with the dryer. He also personally helped to get us connected to the insurance agent and get an appointment set up with a contractor. -When we moved in, we were surprised to see an expensive house warming gift waiting for us from Michael. But the gifts didn't stop there! Given the problems we were having with the dryer he decided to get us a gift card at a laundry service!! -On top of all of this, Michael had just had a new baby!! Nevertheless, he was extremely responsive (despite time zone differences) and made us feel like we were his only customers. read more

I want to thank Michael for helping us close our house so quickly, less than two weeks after we started working with him. He was very responsive to what we needed and any time we needed him. He knows the East Bay and was very aligned with what was going on in the market. Although our offer was outbid by one of the several buyers, the trust he gained from the seller about our ability to close quickly, helped swing the deal in our favor. Before writing this, I did see that there was quite a difference of opinion between the other two reviews. Mark's experience matched ours. It seems Claudio only gives one star reviews on yelp. read more

In December of last year, we packed up our apartment in Europe with plans to relocate to the SF Bay Area and buy a house. After hours of careful online research, I found Michael Lane. He had great reviews and his photos looked friendly enough... So, I sent him a message and had a couple of "standbys" on cue, just in case In turned out he "wasn't the guy." Well, let me tell you: he was THE GUY. We could not have found a better person to help us in our search. *Is he familiar with the area? Yes- Mike is an East Bay native, and has intimate knowledge of the whole area. *Is he professional? Yes- extremely. He was also super friendly, patient, and personable. *Is he a great agent? Absolutely! He is super skilled at negotiations and deal-making. He is also very well-networked. This is key. If you want a chance at getting your offers considered, do not underestimate the value of a well-known agent. Because he's one of the best, he's also busy in this competitive market- but he has an amazing way of making you feel like you are his only client. We greatly appreciated this. You'll need experience, talent, and connections like Mike's. Call him. You will be so glad that you did. read more

Mike is a fantastic realtor. He is very accessible, extremely personable, patient with questions and will make you feel like you are his only client even though he may be busy. We became very interested in a condominium in Alameda. Many other potential buyers also shared our interest. Mike anticipated that the competitive bids would far exceed the asking price. While helping to allay our anxiety he also gave us great advise and we were able to place a winning offer. I have no doubt that it was only with Mike's expertise that we got our new dream home. I highly recommend calling Michael Lane. read more

We relocated from NY to the bay area and worked with Michael to find our home in East Bay. Michael was very easy to work with and also helped us to get a great deal on our house as he stayed in touch with the listing agent even after initial bids were submitted...luckily the top bids fell through and Michael helped us move quickly to swoop in. He knew the area well and was excellent in helping us make decisive moves with our bid strategy. read more

Michael took the time to educate us about the local market, learn about our preferences and guide us through long reviews of disclosure packages. He was extremely responsive every time we wanted to see or had questions regarding a property. After a couple months of hard work, he helped us find the perfect house in a great location and at a very attractive price, which is not an easy thing to do in the current market conditions. Both my wife and I highly recommend Michael. read more

Mike was recommended to me by a fellow veteran, and I wasn't let down! His expertise and good judgement lead us to a great house, one in which my wife and I will be happy with for an eternity! Can't tell you how much we appreciated his sincere commitment to ensure all our needs and concerns were met. Mike will really go all out, Highly recommended!!!! John & Susie C. read more

I'd never bought a home before so this was a relatively new experience for me. Doing it again, I'd go through Michael because as I sit here in my new home, three months in, I realize he helped me find just the place I was looking for. Thanks Michael read more

We were lucky meet Michael at an open house, as he really brings something different than the other realtors we considered for our house search on Alameda. Michael is hard working and has a more contemporary approach to real estate than most. My husband and I were looking for a fixer at a great price and Michael really dug in and found us properties to consider that were not on the active market and did not give up on us until we found the perfect property for our needs. Michael also knows Alameda really well and was able to steer us into the right neighborhood for us and even more important, he has a great reputation on the Island and strong relationships with other agents which is critical in such a small community. I would highly recommend Michael and will definitely use him again for my next real estate venture. read more

We have been working with Michael last year for 6 months starting in January until July. We saw many houses and made ~10 offers. 2 times we were the highest bidders but we were never able to close a contract. It seemed he was gaining knowledge of the market and negotiation on our own expenses. Eventually we change agent and got a house in 3 weeks. He is very kind and works hard but has no clue on how to buy a house in this tough market. Very disappointed we would suggest to look for someone else. read more

Michael was fantastic in helping us find and purchase our home. He's a great guy and went the extra mile for us. I can't recommend him highly enough. read more

It was a pleasure having Michael as our agent when we were looking to buy a house in Alameda. Like the rest of the Bay Area, Alameda's housing market is highly competitive but Michael did a great job of advising us on finding a house and putting in a competitive offer. If you are looking to buy on Alameda, I think it is really to you advantage to have a realtor who lives on the island and understands the intricacies of the various neighborhoods. I think Michael is a fantastic choice and would certainly use him again in the future. read more

We worked with Mike to purchase our home in Alameda and he was amazing. We were new to the Bay and Mike took the time to show us around and give input on neighborhoods he thought we might like. He was super knowledgeable about the market and was able to tell us what we would need to do to get each house. Additionally, he was incredibly patient when we were indecisive. In the end, we were able to purchase our home because of Mike's great working relationship with the local agent. We wouldn't have been able to do it without him! read more

I relocated to the Bay Area last year. Michael came highly recommended by my relocation company. I was assigned another agent before Michael, who kept saying there was no inventory. When I met with Michael I knew that we would work really well together. To work with him was one of the best decisions I have made in my life. The Bay Area market is tough, but Michael put his heart and soul into searching for homes for me. He was extremely helpful and patient with me over a two month period, and submitted the first three offers, which were not accepted. I was frustrated, as I could not find a home within my budget, but Michael supported me, and we continued to explore. Michael always made himself available. Finally, I found a home that was on the market for a while with no potential buyers given the condition of the home. Michael worked with the seller's agent directly and we went in with a lower offer, which after tough negotiations was accepted. During inspection we found a couple of issues with the home, but Michael worked with the seller and her agent to ensure everything was fixed and paid for before I moved in. I closed in four weeks and I must say that I couldn't be happier. It has been a pleasure working with Michael. He is always responsive, kind, respectful, goes over and beyond, always happy and smiling. He took his time and did his due diligence in ensuring that this was a good purchase, and there were no issues with the property at the end. Given my travel schedule he made sure he was always there to help if needed. He is very thorough in reviewing documents, is collaborative and fun to work with. I trust Michael, and will work with again in a heartbeat. read more

Mike is all you would ever want in a realtor and more! He's personable, professional and willing to go above and beyond the call of duty! He helped us to get an awesome house that we would have never been able to find on our own. He knows the Alameda area extremely well and gave us a great sense of all the different neighborhoods. He also explained the process every step of the way, which, as first-time home buyers, was invaluable. He was super responsive and just an absolute pleasure to work with. Highly recommend! read more

Michael really understood what I was looking for, and helped me save a lot of time looking for the right place. He is well-connected and found good options that I had not found on my own. He also gave clear guidance on how to take care of all the home-buying paperwork, which I really appreciate. Great job! read more

Looking for real estate in the bay area can be a stressful and slightly overwhelming experience, particularly for those from out-of-state. We had just moved to the area from Massachusetts, and were completely unfamiliar with the various neighborhoods and real estate market in the bay area. Thankfully, Michael Lane was recommended as an agent by my company. Michael has an extensive knowledge of bay area neighborhoods and real estate, particularly in the East Bay where we were looking to purchase. Michael took the time to drive our family around (including two small children) for tours of various East bay neighborhoods, and was able to answer off hand all our questions about school systems, crime rates, local shopping, transportation options, etc... With Michael's lead, we honed in on the perfect neighborhood, and found the perfect home for our family. He went above and beyond our expectations, extensively researching the home, including going through all the HOA documents and meeting minutes, talking directly with the selling agent, and reviewing contractors who had done work on the house. Our first offer was approved, and we couldn't be happier with the decision. After closing we noticed some minor imperfections in the home, for which Michael contacted the selling agent and had fixed of before we moved in. I highly recommend Michael to anyone looking for a reputable and knowledgeable real estate agent. read more

Michael is an outstanding Real Estate Agent. He leads with something rare in this world - Honesty. He will give you good and bad news with the same direct and honest approach. He isn't afraid to get aggressive, if necessary. When details were needed he was available at all times. It seemed he worked 24/7. He made sure offers were done accurately and on time. The house we purchased was exactly the one we wanted. He got into the nitty gritty of inspection reports and helped us understand what was being said. He was willing to say, "this house needs so much work, so don't bid on it unless you have another couple hundred thousand to spend." If I was buying or selling a house again, he would be the first person I would call. He earned every penny. In the rough world of real estate sharks and liars, he maintained his integrity. I can see why he sells a lot of homes. This Top Producer shines!! read more

Mike was awesome to work with in our search and purchase of a house in Alameda. We came across all the stellar reviews on Yelp and we are so glad we decided to give him a call. Mike went above and beyond the call of duty - from writing/sending letters to prospective sellers, giving us tips on things to look for in a house/neighborhood, to making sure our new house was clean and ready for us when we moved in. He never rushed the search and wanted to make sure we find the house that is right for our family, rather than making a hasty decision based on time constraint (we were expecting our second child soon). He is very professional, well networked, and has lots of valuable knowledge about the area; and he is very relational and made us feel like old friends. We even tagged along to pick up his son from daycare to check out potential options for our kids. We were very fortunate to have Mike as our real estate agent and now a friend! read more