I had the pleasure of working with Stephen Bloom this past summer to sell my home, and I want to set the record straight about the lone inaccurate 1 star review which has been left about him: I was the other owner of the home which the other reviewer was discussing, and I agree with Stephen's response. The root problem was that our home had some negative features which drove away buyers, and the "concerned Piedmont citizen" was unwilling to cooperate with Stephen's recommendations regarding lowering the listing price to get the house sold. We had a financial necessity to sell our home, and unfortunately we paid more for the home than it is worth. The other owner, who left an inaccurate negative review, was unwilling to see reason and insisted on a high initial listing price, and was unwilling to accept Stephen's guidance regarding lowering the price after we received no offers for many weeks. The other owner and I have been in legal conflict regarding this house, among other things, for years, and Stephen was very patient and accommodating and took great pains to remain neutral in this difficult situation. He always communicated with us both in a respectful way. We did eventually receive one offer through Stephen's efforts, but unfortunately the buyer backed out due to factors outside of our control. We got consistent feedback from potential buyers about certain factors which made the house undesirable and Stephen took steps to mitigate the issue, and I believe he was close to getting another offer from a new buyer. However, the "Concerned Citizen" insisted on taking the house off the market and switching realtors, which delayed the house sale for another month or so. Our new realtor has also done an excellent job, just as Stephen did, and after new staging/photography and multiple open houses we once again got just one offer - this time lower than the last offer - which is unheard of in Piedmont and in the Bay Area in general. Usually there is a bidding war, but not for this house. The buyers who spoke to our new realtor gave the exact same negative feedback as the ones who spoke to Stephen Bloom, which illustrates that it is the house which is a problem, and not the realtor. I am thankful to have the privilege to sell a house and to have had Stephen's help, and most of all I appreciate his kindness and patience with our very unusual and difficult situation. read more

I regret NOT listening to other esteemed real estate agents that recommended me against considering Stephen Bloom for a premium Bay Area home market listing. Stephen significantly underperformed and had to be removed from the listing. Unfortunately, he was not nibble and could not offer solutions once there was adversity from his own recommendations. Stephen struggled and failed with many aspects from the home valuation, to the custom marketing of the property and / or delivering on any of his professional projections. It was as if he did not understand the community or the customer at all. I would recommend avoiding him in any / all of the premium East Bay neighborhoods unless you think your home can sell itself or are selling snake oil. He did not get it done and I suffered expensive losses taking his guidance. The feedback I received from his peers was consistent on what it would take to fix his miscalculations. read more

We have a home because of Bloom Homes. What else is there to say? From introduction to house keys, Stephen Bloom and Robin Donovan were heaven-sent. They committed to be on our side and worked at full throttle for us from our very first meeting until our names were on just the right deed. As first time homebuyers my wife and I had questions, concerns, anxieties, and decisions that might otherwise have felt like impossible challenges given the Bay Area market. Understanding that it's no small feat to find a home much less place a successful bid, Stephen and Robin imparted strategy, helped us understand how to find what we were looking for, and eventually guided us through the closing process without a hitch. Friends of ours have house hunted so long that they've decided to rent again; others have placed bid after bid only to come up empty handed, but Stephen and Robin--through intimate market knowledge, years of experience, and sharp math consistently positioned our bids right on the wire. Our first two bids almost made us homeowners off the bat, which seems unheard of given the fact that cash offers were being made left and right. By our third bid, within months of beginning our search, we were homeowners--with a bargain of a house in just the area we wanted. In the process of closing, we even decided to change lenders to lock in a better mortgage rate. Stephen and Robin both took the radical change and the delay and made it work. It was a risky decision on our part and could have complicated the sale's stability, but rather than make the situation more stressful, Stephen and Robin simply continued to be on our side, explaining options and best practices in keeping the sale on course. Sincere thanks to Robin and Stephen! Nearly a year later, we remain forever grateful to Bloom Homes and can't recommend them enough. read more

My wife and I had been looking at homes for the better part of 3 years. We had dealt with more than a few brokers during that time. We met Stephen at an open-house for a property he was selling that we were interested in purchasing. At that point, we were so fed up with realtors that we were trying to cowboy it on our own. He could have tried to shine us on and push us into a purchase that proved not to be the right fit for us. Instead, he told us outright what we needed to know, and cost himself a sale. We were impressed with Stephen's professionalism, knowledge, and above all, honesty. When we later found yet another property we were interested in, we called Stephen immediately and he arrived within 15 minutes ready to show it to us. Unfortunately, the property was a foreclosure, but Stephen soldiered though the entire process along with us. He was very patient and took the time to explain each step of the process: helping us write the offer, arrange the inspections, and wrangle the bank's agent. All of this is what you would expect from a good agent, not that there seem to be enough of those around these days. What's really remarkable about Stephen is that he worked so hard on our behalf, even when it ran counter to his interests. For example, we were so worried that we would be outbid on our dream house, that we were all set to make a much higher offer. Stephen convinced us to put in a lower number, ultimately saving us more than $40k on the final price! Who does that?! A great agent. read more

We cannot recommend Bloom Homes enough!! Stephen is an incredibly astute agent. He understands the East Bay housing market, gives great council without being overbearing, and is extremely trustworthy with a great local reputation. We wouldn't have gotten such a great deal on a house if it wasn't for his negotiation skills and attention to detail. He's also connected us with great tradespeople since buying our home, which has been a lifesaver! Stephen and Robin were wonderful to work with, and we'd work with them again in a heartbeat. read more

My husband and I just bought our first home and are excited to settle in Oakland and into our great home! We were hesitant at first to get an agent because we had met so many aggressive or shady ones at open houses. After we got 3 different recommendations from 3 couples we are friends with to talk to Stephen, we finally did and he did not let us down. In a nutshell, Stephen is: -very patient -great with logistics of unusual circumstances -quick to respond to questions and requests -great at giving personalized service to get what you want -as hands-on or off as you want him to be -very knowledgeable about the whole process of buying a house -proactive about getting offers in that are good and getting you the best deal -a great negotiator who stands up for his clients -great at knowing the real shape of a house that needs work -thorough, respectful and friendly Now that we are in the house and he has been paid, he is still helping us to get contractors we need. Overall it was great to work with him and we are very happy with the house we are in (and the price we got!). If you want someone who knows the East Bay extremely well, is willing to work hard for you and is very professional, you should call Stephen. read more

We had such a good experience working with Stephen and Robin, we really couldn't have done it without them! We were able to find our first home in a multiple offer situation with a minimal levels of stress -- all thanks to Stephen and Robin. My husband and I had been casually going to open houses for a few months just to get an idea of neighborhoods and prices when we met Stephen at an open house. We knew right away he'd be a great guy to work with: friendly, knowledgeable and without any of that pushiness so many other realtors have. There are so many factors to consider when buying a house, it's super overwhelming as a first time buyer. Stephen and Robin were really great about calmly educating us on all the details we needed to know about the market while also learning about us and our home wish list. They asked us lots questions about what we were looking for -- what we did and didn't want. Most importantly they helped us assess how the houses we looked at compared to our ideal list of 'wants' and 'don't wants'. We had our second offer accepted, and Stephen expertly guided us through all the details of the inspections, negotiations, and paperwork. Both Stephen and Robin are lovely people who really had our best interests at heart. Stephen was so patient and kind with us at a time when I know we were incredibly stressed about the weight of responsibility of buying our first home. With his great knowledge, enthusiasm, and professionalism, we came through the process with our sanity and our first house! read more

We met Stephen and Robin in the summer of 2012 when we were looking to relocate from SF to the East Bay. With a baby fast approaching, they really listened to our needs and helped find us a lovely, move-in ready condo which was the perfect answer to our frantic search. Throughout, they patiently answered our endless questions and steered us deftly through the often intimidating and confusing process. They were really honest and genuine in their communications and we valued their advice. Three years later, we were ready to move on to a home with more room for our son to play, learn and grow. We had become discouraged with the market - the overbidding, the small numbers of properties in our price range, when they noticed a property that had fallen out of contract in a neighborhood we'd practically given up on and alerted us. We jumped and with their responsiveness and negotiating skills, our offer was accepted! Concurrent with all this, we were trying to sell our condo and were so relieved to leave the details in their expert hands. All of their suggestions in planning and staging were excellent ones and resulted in an overwhelming response. They have an intuitive sense to the local real estate market which was absolutely invaluable. Now we're in our new home and we couldn't have done it without Stephen and Robin! They are amazing and we are truly loyal fans. Dan and Laura read more

My wife and I were looking for a place in the East Bay for a few months when a friend of ours introduced us to Stephen. We only had the pleasure of meeting Stephen, his counterpart, Robin was always really responsive and professional. After visiting a few dozen places, we found something we both liked, made an offer and they accepted! I know it's not that common to be batting 1,000% when it comes to real-estate, but we have Stephen and Robin to thank for that. :) If and when it comes time for us to move and look for a different place, we wouldn't hesitate to reach out to the Blooms first. read more

Stephen is awesome. He helped us find an awesome home, and helped us through the entire process from viewing places to the final closing. Stephen is very responsive, and he really helped smooth everything over in our particularly rocky mortgage process. The home-buying and mortgage process can be extremely stressful, and Stephen always seemed to be there to help ease our worries, calm our anxieties, and keep us on the right path. At the beginning of the process Bloom helped us by figuring out what it was we where looking for, in what neighborhoods, what types of places, within our price range. We looked at a bunch of places that he recommended based on our criteria, and because he has looked at so many homes we often relied on his expertise in knowing what homes where good values, which ones where a lot of house for the money, which ones needed too much work, and which ones needed only cosmetic work with sound foundations and major systems. Once we found a house that we loved, Stephen helped advise us on what offer to put in, and submitted it on our behalf. Our offer was accepted! Then, he recommended which types of inspections we needed and called his team of inspectors that he works with and trusts - they where all very good. Then the negotiations began. Stephen went to bat for us with the seller's agent and negotiated the price to be reduced. In our particular case, the bank turned out to be a complete nightmare! Stephen kept the pressure on to keep things moving and was always on call to handle emotional banking-related phone calls when all hope seemed lost to us. We would recommend Stephen as a realtor to anyone, since he helped us in so many ways above and beyond the call of duty. His efforts where tireless and extensive, and he did a great job. And this was on our little cheap first-time house on which he didn't even stand to make that much money off of! The amount of time and energy spent on our case shows how important the ethics of realty are to Stephen, as he knows that his business is referral based. Well, we will certainly refer Stephen to anyone we can! Stephen Bloom is an exceptional realtor and a pleasure to work with. Thank you Stephen! read more

We were incredibly lucky to have Stephen and Robin on our side during the home buying process. We could not have done it without them! Aside from the fact that Stephen and Robin are super-friendly and all-around great people, they're professionals who know what they are doing, and will make the process work for you. Obviously, it's in every realtor's interest to get you into a house as fast as they can. But there's a few things that really set Stephen and Robin apart: Availability: we never did find a time when Stephen could not be reached--and we tried contacting him at some odd hours! Stephen always has up-to-the-minute updates on your situation, and it's obvious that finding a house is as important to him as it is to you. He took us on open house tours on weeknights and weekends, and it never took more than a few minutes for him to respond to an email or phone call. Stephen and Robin also sent us many new listings during the week, so we could make the most of our weekend open house tours. We interacted with them on a daily basis. Connectedness: Stephen knows everybody in this business. Every open house we went to, the person showing the house recognized him immediately and greeted him warmly. This warmth was extended to us as buyers, and you get the sense that the process of making an offer will be conducted fairly and openly. As first time buyers, the fact that Stephen was so well known and respected really put us at ease. Market knowledge: We all have access to MLS listings, online calculators and the like, but nobody knows how to come up with an offer number like Stephen. We saw multiple instances where he mentioned what he thought a house would go for, and he turned out to be exactly right. It's some crazy concoction of being in the business for years, knowing the neighborhood and the agents, feeling the market and where it's headed...to me, this is where Stephen absolutely proved his value. He gave us a number to make an offer with, and it was the right number. Isn't that what you want an agent for? Neighborhood knowledge: Stephen and Robin have their neighborhoods down to a science. The degree of granularity is awesome, and they really know which areas to steer you toward. We started with a pretty open slate of where we wanted to live, but after seeing a few different houses Stephen honed in on which areas we should be looking. He literally knows the difference between quality of life on the west and east sides of the street! He's got an impressive map of what's good and what's bad and can give you details on an address at the drop of a hat. He's like a London taxi driver without the Cockney accent! Attitude: Positive, positive, positive. Stephen and Robin are behind you 100% when you're ready to make an offer, and manage to strike just the right balance of optimism and pragmatism. Buying a house is a numbers-driven venture, but it definitely doesn't hurt to have someone with a great attitude on your side. With Stephen and Robin, you feel like no matter what happens--you will get that house! As some of the other reviewers on here have noted, it's just too bad we can't award Stephen and Robin that extra 6th star. They are the best in the business and I would not go to anyone else -Thanks again Stephen and Robin! read more

Seriously, why can I not give Stephen 6 stars? After looking for a year and a half with another agent, we were referred by two separate people to Stephen. Just call him! As soon as we met him, the difference between Stephen and other agents we had met in the past was immediately apparent: Stephen asked us more questions about what we were looking for, did and didn't want, and to evaluate how much we agreed upon as we looked at different properties. He explained a great deal about the current market, inventory, and how that all affected our search. Stephen is an excellent communicator, always seemed to be available, and was incredibly patient and kind with us as we experienced the stress of buying our first home. His extensive knowledge, enthusiasm, professionalism, and dedication was reflected in every other awesome person or business he referred us to (inspectors, mortgage brokers, insurance agents), and I he gave us excellent advice. Buying a home can be incredibly daunting as you navigate a new world of vocabulary, where your savings is going to go, and the commitment of big scary loan. Stephen will make it make sense, and arm you with the information you need to make the right choice for you. read more

Stephen Bloom and Robin Donovan are absolutely wonderful to work with. We were first-time homebuyers and had lots of questions. They were patient, knowledgeable, and highly communicative. We started working with them while we were looking for a home in Oakland, but were outbid in our preferred neighborhood. Robin listened carefully to what we were looking for and pointed out a beautiful home in North Berkeley that hadn't been on our radar. It ended up being the house that we bought and we couldn't be happier to be moving in to our dream home. I highly recommend working with the BloomHomes team. read more

My husband and I LOVE Stephen Bloom! I don't have a single negative thing to say about him after buying our house, and we will use him for future transactions without hesitation. We were very cautious in choosing an agent, and really took our time before giving even our contact information out during the open house circuit. But, immediately after meeting Stephen we both turned to each with a knowing look. We had found our agent. Stephen is not pushy or salesman-like at all. Yet, he has clear and helpful opinions, and he is not afraid to stick up for his clients when appropriate. We bought at a time when properties are receiving multiple offers after being on the market for mere minutes, and Stephen aided us through the aggressive and quick process with ease and calm. We purchased the second home we put an offer on, and despite several hiccups along the way (none the fault of Stephen!), we still moved in on-time and quite happily. We had a very pleasant experience with Stephen Bloom and we will certainly use him in the future. read more

Stephen did a great job representing us with the recent purchase of our home in Rockridge. He's very familiar with the area and his advice regarding the amount to offer and the other key terms in the purchase agreement was invaluable. Because of that, we were successful in a multiple offer situation and I don't feel like we overpaid. He was also very responsive and accessible. We would highly recommend him. read more

Its been a year since we bought our house with Stephen Bloom, and we still think back on what a great job he did and how wonderful he was to work with. We met Stephen on a Sunday at an open house. He became our realtor that afternoon. We'd made an offer on a house the following Wednesday and almost got it. The following week we'd found another house, offered, and got it. We were in and out of the market in two weeks! And, when the seller dragged their feet on punchlist items he withheld his commission until they were substantially complete! He's remained a friend since. Both my wife and I highly recommend Stephen (and his partner) and we look forward to buying another home in the future if for no other reason but to again work with Stephen. Thanks Stephen! read more

There isn't enough that I can say about my first foray into buying a home with Stephen as my broker. Stephen, Robin, and the rest of the BloomHomes team were all incredibly patient, kind, and they just know their stuff about the dynamics of the housing market in the Bay Area. I have referred everyone I know that are even testing the market to utilize Stephen's expertise. He gives frank, honest, and exceptional advice. He makes the process so much easier than I ever imagined. I really cannot thank him, Robin and the rest of the team enough. Trust his expertise, and you will be rewarded. read more

Stephen was such a huge help when we were looking for a home -- we'd spent the better part of a year with no luck, and literally within one month of working with him, he'd shown us three places we wanted to put an offer on, and a month after that we were moving into our new home! Stephen is a super responsive realtor, easy to get in touch with, quick to answer our many, many questions, and knows the East Bay inside and out. You can't do any better than Stephen if you're looking for a realtor in the Bay Area! read more

We were referred to Stephen and Robin by a friend who also used them to buy a home in the Oakland area. We contacted Stephen and he got back to us right away to go over our goals, budget, etc. As first time home buyers, we had been watching the market for a couple of years as we saved, and had grown more and more discouraged with our prospects of being likely to get a house in one of the locations we wanted. Instead of trying to make us bid above our price range, they only showed us properties within our range and even encouraged us to mostly look on the lower end of our price range as they warned us about unforeseen costs with closing, insurance, inspections etc. They didn't once show us a "dream house" above our price range and were spot on about how much various properties would go for. At one point there was a house I was interested in and Robin predicted it would go for over X amount (out of range for us) and so we didn't waste our time looking at it and skipped it -- and she was right! In the end, because of their realistic bids, negotiating skills, and contacts in the lending industry, our second bid on a property was accepted and we closed on our home exactly 7 weeks after my initial introductory email to Stephen asking them to take us on as clients (30 day escrow). They walked us through the insane/fast-paced closing process and were really there every step of the way for inspections and negotiations even when we couldn't be there! They were super flexible about when and where to meet for various things including signing all of the closing documents and using docushare for the other documents, which gave us the flexibility to not have to miss a lot of work during the hectic process. Most importantly, both Stephen and Robin exhibited a lot of integrity throughout the whole process, even when the listing agent and seller blindsided us with various issues like hiding certain disclosures etc. Stephen and Robin have both continued to be a valuable resource, and even after closing (now that they no longer have any obligation to us), they have continued to help us negotiate with our seller when we came across various issues in the house that needed fixing, and we are happy to say that we managed to negotiate to have the seller fix these issues even after we moved in. Buying a home in the Bay Area is a daunting and overwhelming process but having two experts to guide us through the experience was invaluable. read more

We just purchased our first house and would not have managed to become owners without Stephen's good humor and expertise. We were surely not the easiest clients, in that we are very risk-averse and had narrow constraints regarding price, public transportation, neighborhoods, bedrooms, and just about everything else. As first time home buyers, moreover, we were very much aware of what a big step it is to enter the housing market these days. Stephen understood what we wanted and also taught us how to evaluate the houses we were looking at. He toured numerous houses with us, reported on many more we did not see together, and walked through the couple that we especially liked multiple times. As much as he made it a priority to learn what we liked and what we didn't like, he also helped us to understand where it was smart to compromise (moldings) without giving up what really mattered (location). He taught us, above all perhaps, not to be unduly swayed by the newly remodeled kitchen, for which one clearly pays a premium! When we found the right house, Stephen sized it up with us. He even crawled under the house to explain the state of the foundation! He then worked with us to put together an offer with which we felt comfortable and that also had a real chance of getting accepted. He was terrific at communicating with us during the negotiations and clearly aggressive in pitching us and our bid to the sellers. In this respect, and in getting the closing accomplished, Stephen's contacts in the real estate industry were crucial. He gave us great recommendations for a variety of lenders. In the end, our preapproval from a well-respected local lender helped our offer stand out. Once the offer was accepted, Stephen arranged thorough inspections with roofers and other contractors. He made sure that the seller was doing what was required for the transfer of property. Everything went smoothly--from the general inspection to the appraisal to the signing to the loan funding. For anyone who is looking for a home in this market, making things go smoothly is obviously not to be taken for granted. Stephen helped us close the deal and was an invaluable source of information, wit, and support throughout the whole process. Overall, we cannot recommend Stephen Bloom highly enough. read more

Stephen and his partner Robin did a great job getting us into a home! They really seem in tune with the market and neighborhoods of the East Bay. One of their greatest strengths is knowing what it takes to just get an offer accepted. The first property we put an offer on we went up against 36 others. We were close. In the second property we put an offer on, we went up against 12 others, and we made it to the top three. Some how Stephen and Robin worked some magic and got our offer accepted. They have many connections and were willing to burn the midnight oil for us. read more

Coming from Portland, we felt overwhelmed and intimidated by the real estate market in the East Bay. Stephen, with confidence, assured us that he would find us a house within our allotted time frame, that met our budget. And - him and his partner, Robin, definitely exceeded that promise, finding us a house we truly love, in a very short time. They absolutely go above and beyond as realtors...and I have come to find that's a rarity! In addition, they are very friendly and down-to-earth, yet extremely talented and knowledgable about the real estate market in this area. And - always timely at responding to emails and making clients feel like they are important and listened to. They never once made us feel like our budget was inadequate, but instead worked with it and found us a home we really adore. So thankful we had the opportunity to work with Stephen and Robin....we would absolutely recommend them (and we do!) to everyone we know. read more

Stephen and Robin know the Oakland market extremely well and are able to spot value and distinguish from marketing hype. I viewed (but didn't buy) a house that they conceived and built that was fantastic! Stephen and Robin recognized the underlying value of this particular location and took full advantage of the potential, but undeveloped, view of the Bay from the roof deck that made this house a unique and breath-taking value. Well done! You will find value in their combination of mark savvy and ability to recognize cost-effective potential for improvements. read more

Stephen and Robin are amazing, they helped my wife and I find a home, even after putting off the decision for a year and a half after our initial search. Once we were ready again, they gave us an incredible amount of info and choices, one of which we got right away. Go BloomHomes! read more

I agree with all the reviews that Stephen is a friendly, very capable agent with a thorough knowledge of the area and know-how to close a deal smoothly. He had connections that allow the process to go smoothly, takes care of all the necessary details, and is helpful in explaining things when asked. However, he was not quite the right realtor for me and it's worthwhile exploring if the fit works for you. While he didn't do much in terms of sending listings or showing places, he was responsive, seemed trustworthy, and had a great deal of knowledge, so I chose to work with him. Unfortunately, I didn't really recognize that the fit wasn't right until I was already in the process of closing with him. As confusing as the process is, I would have benefitted from an agent who laid out the whole process for me and the nitty-gritty of what I had to consider. If I asked questions, Stephen was helpful in explaining, but if I didn't know to even ask, I didn't get the information. This led me to buying a house that in retrospect, I would not have for the price, had I truly considered all the aspects of cost, remodeling, neighborhood, etc. Knowing that I was a motivated buyer, after the offer was made, I felt at times that Stephen was not an advocate committed to my best interest. He didn't help me fully assess the situation in view of my goals, and he made some statements that in retrospect I find misleading and am still confused by. In addition, I've realized that short closing times are not always in the best interest of buyers; regardless of the length of closing, it is important to space things out. During that frenetic time, things came up during the inspections--but because the appraisal was scheduled for right after the inspections, I was under a lot of pressure to come to a final offer amount before the appraisal. It was not enough time to make a careful decision, and I did not feel that Stephen fought for me. It seemed that because I was a motivated buyer, he was taking the easy path. It made me feel that things pretty much came down to "the bottom line." While I'm sure he is a great agent for many people, I would recommend that you make certain that he works for you. Also, it sounds like people who've had good experiences with him demand a lot of his time and effort from the beginning, and keep challenging him to meet their needs. read more

My partner and I had been looking for a house for 6 months when we found Stephen. We knew the house we wanted and he was great in guiding us thought the process. He was really available, helpful and patient. He went above and beyond and was great to work with. I highly recommend him. read more

Very knowledgable about real estate and responsive by email and phone. Robin is a genius with numbers. Stephen has a strong understanding of structural aspects of the house and of the pros/cons of the neighborhood, complex, and positioning of house. Great advice on how to make a strong offer to the seller. (Can't comment on providing listings that match your wish list as I put together the list using Redfin app and visiting open houses on my own.) Not as detailed- or process-oriented, so you will need to come up with a checklist of questions and follow-up with them regularly. read more

We were referred to Stephen and Robin through a friend. They are not at all pushy, but are well connected in the area which is very helpful in the very competitive local market. They gave us realistic advice on what we were able to afford and where to buy, and we are very happy with the home we purchased with their help. read more

As first time home buyers, Stephen and Robin did a fantastic job demystifying the process, showing us multiple places within our budget, communicating with our lender, and offering honest feedback to our never-ending questions. He was patient. He was responsive. He had a good sense of humor. He's continued to be a resource-offering recommendations on contractors and clarifying additional items-even after we closed. We're looking forward to having them over for our house warming soon! read more

Working with Stephen while we bought our home was great. He talked us through the process, which as first-time buyers was essential, bringing up points we never would have thought of on our own. After showing us a bunch of homes, he got to know what we were looking for and actively helped us find ones that fit the bill, no small task given our budget and criteria. His knowledge of basic construction and permitting helped tremendously as well. I'd highly recommend him and in fact, already have. read more

This man can do no wrong! Any time I deal with him he is always honest and straightforward. We bought a house that was just right for us and when there was a minor problem right after we moved in, he stepped right up and got it fixed for us! If there were 6 stars,he'd get that. read more

After 8 months of searching for our first home with another realtor and no luck, we switched to Stephen and within a month we were in contract with our current home. It was a complicated sale with many contingencies that included repairs and he took care of EVERYTHING, from the negotiation to inspections, to repairs. Right after closing we recommended him to another couple, and within a month they were in escrow on their dream home! You are is good hands with Stephen. read more

Look no further - Stephen is the agent you've been hoping to find. He came to us highly recommended, and after our experience with him we will recommend him to our closest friends and family without hesitation. He combines a level-headed honesty with a thorough understanding of the local market and the intricacies of the transaction. Stephen proved a reliable and knowledgeable ally who provided a calming presence through an otherwise stressful process. When unexpected complications threatened to scuttle a successful closing for us right at the end, Stephen went way beyond what anyone would reasonably expect to make it happen. Seriously - call him. You won't be sorry. read more

We feel so very lucky to have met Stephen. As first time home-buyers, we appreciated his patience, availability, and warmth, which served as encouragement on what would otherwise have been a bumpy path. Thoroughly competent and well-respected and liked by other realtors (so many sellers' realtors said, Oh Stephen!! We love him!), we could not have imagined a more effective and kind leader on this journey. The highest HIGHEST recommendation! read more

As first time homebuyers, my wife and I were very happy to have Stephen as our realtor. When we first started looking at homes, we were considering a wide range of options in many neighborhoods, but Stephen took the time to get to know us and to help us narrow our search. Throughout the process, Stephen was very accessible, patient, and knowledgable. Maybe most importantly, Stephen is an enjoyable person to be around, so that really helped make the sometimes stressful process of buying a home much better. We have already recommended Stephen to our friends, and we highly recommend Stephen to anyone else looking for a home! read more

Stephen Bloom really shone when things felt dark! We had some trouble selling our house due to bad timing with a slump in the market, but Stephen persevered. We sold the home and due to his keen business know-how and years of experience, not to mention willingness to shed some blood, sweat, and tears, we got a great price. He was willing to listen to our concerns, negotiate with us on what had to be done and what could float, and was ALWAYS available with a smile. His mid-western values and sheer kind heart are what makes him a fantastic agent. You won't be disappointed if you go with Stephen. Thanks Stephen. read more