At the beginning of 2021, as we began contemplating selling our home, postcards from the Talbot Team started appearing in our mailbox showing a number of successful sales in our San Leandro neighborhood. Many of these listed sale prices that seemed almost too good to be true. Plus, Jade and Paul touted alternative approaches to the standard move out, stage, show for two weeks, and review offers. Since we have a young child, the prospect of minimizing disruption both on the sell-side and the eventual buy-side were very attractive. So we figured we might as well see what the story was behind their listings, and added Talbot Team to the list of realtors we met with before selling our home. Meeting with Jade and Paul in person reinforced our impression that they were attuned to our particular needs and desires, and well-suited to sell our house in this market and in our San Leandro neighborhood in particular. They asked all the right questions to gain the information they needed to set up the sale and market the house, but without being overly intrusive or pushy about anything. They reassured us by repeatedly saying that if things got too hectic, we could always hit pause on the sale and revisit later in the year. Even if real estate agents are ultimately in the business of selling houses, it was nice to hear that we would stay in the driver's seat of the process. After an in-person meeting, a few calls and Zooms, it was clear that Jade and Paul would work hard to get the home sold in the most efficient and fruitful way possible. Jade in particular had an intuitive sense that we wanted to move quickly, and she immediately matched that by laying out a rapid, but entirely doable sale schedule. We signed on with Talbot Team enthusiastically. When the local sales market started to take off as we were prepping the home, Jade and Paul proposed a shift in sale strategy that turned out to be prescient and very sensitive to the micro-movements in the pace of local sales. And even though it required some last-minute changes on our end, the Talbots were very transparent in presenting the potential upsides along with the downsides of going for full market exposure. In the end, in the space of one month, we had gone from meeting the Talbots for the first time to having over a dozen offers to choose from---really impressive! Don't get me wrong, selling on that timetable required a lot of effort by us as the sellers, but Jade, Paul, and Stevie put tremendous effort of their own to get the house ready to show and securing dozens of showing and a set of multiple strong offers. From consulting on self-staging and design choices, advising on vendors, navigating the complicated sales contracts, and even supplying some last-minute decor, Talbot Team were dedicated to getting us our best outcome throughout. (Also, these guys are all over the little things that make it easier, like an ongoing SMS text thread, shared Google Drive folders, and stopping by to deliver/pick-up keys and so on.) In the end, we were very pleased with the sale process, and highly doubt we would've ended up where we did without the energy and work Talbot Team put into our home. After selling, we turned immediately to the buy-side, working more closely with Paul and Stevie. To be honest, in our experience, most Bay Area buy-side effort is put in by the buyers themselves, but Paul was ready with crucial inside info on what price buyers were looking for on particular properties, what certain restorations costs would be, what the drawbacks and benefits of various neighborhoods were, and helpful suggestions on the appropriate range of offer amounts when a list price was deliberately low. Happily, as buyers, we didn't get as much time to work with the Talbots as we expected, since we had an offer accepted in Oakland in our first week shopping, but the experience of getting under contract was smooth and easy. As a final note, for buyers or sellers in San Leandro: Jade and Paul are members of the community who are invested in the city and its neighborhoods and care about it as a great place to live. If you are buying or selling here, I would put them at the top of your list! read more

When my wife and I found out we were going to have our first kid, we knew it was time to leave the duplex and move into a home. This was such a smart, great decision during a global pandemic in the craziest housing market in the country said no home buyer ever.  We spent a few months on our own taking tours, searching the apps, and driving around neighborhoods, but overwhelmingly hopeless doesn't do justice to how we were feeling during that time. That is when Jade and Paul came into our lives. From the moment we met them, we felt kindred spirits that were genuinely invested in finding a future house for our growing family. They took us on personal tours all over Oakland, which were especially helpful since we came from NYC and had no idea where we should even be looking. They viewed each home and neighborhood we saw as an opportunity for them to understand what was important to us and make sure they weren't wasting our time. This market is insanely competitive and wow did we feel it as soon as we made our first offer. That initial process was so much to take in as first time home buyers, but they walked us through every moment, including helping us find our financing person.  We ended up coming in second, but we knew this first one was more about going through the offer process. Unfortunately, we didn't need that same experience after the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th times we made a bid.  In each bid there were between 5-20 couples also making offers and each time, we were the second couple behind the accepted bid. We were at the end of our timeline and had just about given up to find a two-bedroom apartment since our lease was up. Jade and Paul didn't let us give up and kept reminding us, the only bid that we need is just the one that gets accepted. They pulled out all the stops and left no stone unturned to finally find the house we knew we wanted and on our 5th bid, a beautiful 2 story in Maxwell Park was finally accepted. Jade and Paul made sure that everything we needed was addressed by the seller, or they used their vast network to connect us with any of the missing pieces we needed to complete the purchase. I'll never forget the day I had a mini panic attack because the final costs could have been in a range of "ok this isn't too bad" to "holy hell this is way over our budget." Paul became my mini therapist and listened to each point and helped me understand the bigger picture and how the actual process would most likely play out.  Having these two around for these difficult first time home-buyer anxieties was priceless. It's hard to quantify just how much they did for us, but they never made us feel like we were a burden no matter how picky we were. They also never made us feel like we were silly noobies no matter how "dumb" our questions may have been. The only thing I wish we did differently was to find them sooner.  Also, they made us laugh from the moment we met them and in 2020, that was definitely a hidden perk! read more

Paul and Jade were absolutely indispensable in buying our first home! My wife and I have lived in Oakland for more than two decades as renters and could not have been more ignorant of how the real estate industry worked. We also did not have as much money to spend as most buyers in the East Bay these days, but every step of the way, the Talbot Team was patient, honest, responsive, knowledgable, and just super nice human beings. Paul always walked us through details in simple terms, making sure no decisions were made until we understood and were comfortable with everything. The man really knows his trade. After months of looking, we realized that every prediction and piece of advice Paul gave was almost perfectly spot on. I swear, by the end, we just started saying, "Paul's always right." A month into looking, we had an offer on a house get accepted but luckily the Talbots put the right contingencies in place so we found out there were some huge problems with the house before we finalized the deal. That's regular, competent real estate agent stuff, sure. What impressed me was, Paul could have easily tried to talk us into buying that house, collected his commission, and moved on. Instead, Paul said, "Don't buy this house. You could afford this, you could do the work, but with your schedules and lifestyle, it will just stress you out. You won't be happy here. We should keep looking." I already knew we were going to walk away from that house, but going forward we trusted the Talbots implicitly, which is no easy thing when you're putting your life savings on the line. The circumstances of buying our actual house are too weird and complicated to explain here, but the seller didn't accept our offer and was prepared to put the house back on the market. We were disillusioned, frustrated, and ready to quit and just move out of the Bay Area. I still don't know exactly what magic Paul was working behind the scenes with the seller and their agent, but he called me the next day with a counter-offer that was WELL BELOW what the seller could get by going back on the market. We moved in 3 weeks ago, absolutely love our new home (I now see all of those other houses didn't work out because they weren't our house - this is our house), and not only did the Talbots get us it at a price we could afford, but I honestly think we would not have got any house in Oakland if not for them. Listen to Paul. He's always right. read more

I cannot speak highly enough about my experience working with Jade and Paul Talbot as my real estate agents! They truly are the dream team that made my home buying journey an absolute delight from start to finish. Let me tell you why: - Super Responsive and Great Communication Skills: Jade and Paul were incredibly responsive and always available whenever I had a question or needed clarification. Their communication skills are top-notch, ensuring that I never felt left in the dark throughout the entire process. - Educated Me About the Home Buying Process: Being a first-time homebuyer, I had a million and one questions. Jade and Paul patiently educated me about every step of the home buying process, from mortgage pre-approval to closing. They took the time to ensure that I fully understood each aspect, giving me the confidence to make informed decisions. - Guided Me When Running Into Obstacles: No home buying journey is without its obstacles, but Jade and Paul were there every step of the way to guide me through any difficulties that arose. Their extensive knowledge and experience in the real estate market proved invaluable in helping me overcome any challenges we encountered. - Great Advocates in Finding My Dream Home: Jade and Paul went above and beyond as my advocates in finding my dream home. They took the time to truly understand my preferences. Their dedication and commitment were evident, and I couldn't be happier with the home that is now mine! :) Above and Beyond, Transparent and Smooth Process: Jade and Paul truly went above and beyond, exceeding all expectations. They were transparent throughout the entire process, ensuring that I had clear visibility into every step. Their diligence and attention to detail made the entire home buying experience as smooth as possible. I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to work with Jade and Paul Talbot. Their friendly, understanding, and warm demeanor made this journey truly enjoyable. If you're looking for real estate agents who are responsive, knowledgeable, and will go the extra mile to help you find your dream home, look no further than Jade and Paul Talbot. They are simply the best! read more

Holy cow! What a great experience! My partner and I worked long and hard to get to the point of being ready to buy our first home and after meeting Paul at an open house while we were narrowing down our wants before starting to seriously look, we were so impressed with Jade and Paul's preparation and knowledge of the new laws that we asked them to be our agents! Once we met with them when we were ready to fully jump in to THE SEARCH, we were impressed again, with their flexibility and knowledge of our preferred search area. It helps that they are local and care deeply about the community we wanted to move to! With no pressure at all, Paul and Jade provided us with a few lenders they had good experiences working with, and we ended up connecting with a lender we loved (shout out again to Peter Barnes at Cross Country Mortgage!). Once we had our pre-approval in hand we were off and running! Shockingly, after only a couple weeks of looking, we found a few homes to get more info on, and Paul helped us navigate the minefield that is looking for older homes in the Bay Area, all without any pressure or pretense. We opted not to put an offer in on the first house, but when we walked into our future home while visiting open houses on our own, we just knew it was going to be hard to let it go! Paul and Jade helped us navigate the disclosures, helped us land on a strong, pre-emptive offer, and helped us secure an accepted offer, even thought it WASN'T the highest offer. While a great letter to the seller likely helped, Paul's work with the selling agent and his connection with our lender, helped us land a home we love in a community we absolutely ADORE! Even after we closed in a very short 21 days, and even through the crazy holiday season, Paul and Jade have been there with us every step of the way, even lending us their truck to pick up a wood chipper, a full month after we closed! Even now, we know they have our back and our community's back, and that they are on this journey with us for the long haul. We could not be happier with our experience with them and how smoothly we got through the entire process. THANK YOU PAUL AND JADE!!! read more

Jade and Paul of the Talbot Team aren't just great real estate agents, they're great people who truly care about their clients. They are passionate experts who will go the extra mile to help you find your dream home, make smart choices to improve the value of your future or current property, and navigate the complex Bay Area market to close the deal in a tough negotiation. Jade and Paul are responsive, patient, and down to earth. From accommodating last-minute tours to providing quick replies to emails and texts, the Talbots helped our family navigate the competitive East Bay market with urgency and poise. They took the time to truly understand our family's needs, right down to listening to our daughter's wish list for our new home, which meant all of their guidance and recommendations were aligned with our objectives. Their honest, straight-forward communication and measured approach was refreshing in an overheated market that can sometimes push buyers beyond their comfort zone. Jade and Paul's calm confidence made the entire buying process smooth and easy. Between Jade's expertise in design and Paul's knowledge of construction, the Talbot Team was able to provide a clear vision of the potential in each property we toured. Jade identified short-term and long-term updates that could improve each space for our needs and Paul pointed out trouble spots and future upgrades that might need to be factored into our budget and buying decision. Beyond design and construction, the Talbot Team's connection to the local market was invaluable as we explored hidden gem neighborhoods in and around Oakland, and more importantly when they leveraged a connection with the seller's agent to get our offer accepted. If you're looking for real estate agents who are responsive, patient, caring, and experts in their field, then I highly recommend the Talbot Team. They're the perfect choice for anyone who wants a smooth and stress-free real estate experience. read more

I worked with Katie to purchase my first home and she is awesome. She made sure I understood the realities of the market, and what the strategies were depending on how I wanted to approach it. I was empowered with all the tools I needed to make a decision and take calculated risks that ultimately landed me my first home. During the entire process Katie was accessible, always had time and made time for my questions, and never once made me feel pressured to make an offer. Katie is also a lot of fun to work with. I totally enjoyed all of the tours we did. She has a good sense of humor and gives you space when you're exploring to check out and feel out the place on your own. I always appreciated that she wasn't "giving me the tour" because that starts to feel very sales- like versus her approach, which is much more personal and low key. Making a decisions about your house is already stressful enough. She is also super professional, made sure to connect with places I wanted to see, and worked with my lender to ensure I had a smooth escrow. While I was good to go on lending, insurance, etc., she had references for all, but again never pressured me to go one way or another. Her team also put together a really helpful first time homebuyer seminar, which helped me kickstart my homebuying journey and conversation with her about what I was looking for, and she and her team were great to work with the entire way through. Again, she is awesome. Definitely the person you want on your team during the crazy bay area home buying journey. read more

Paul Talbot is an amazing real estate agent. He will work relentlessly until you find the right place. During the two plus years that he worked with us (very indecisive, first-time buyers) he never gave up. When we met him, we didn't even have a loan pre-approval, something that had already deterred other agents from wanting to work with us. Paul was happy to help us through that process and, once pre-approved, to start the more serious house-hunt. In this crazy Bay Area market, it took a long time for us to be really ready to bid. He would never show signs of impatience through the dozens of houses he would find for us. He would say, with total confidence, "we would find the perfect place for you guys" and indeed he did! On our second bid, and for a price we were more than confortable with. He also made sure the quite tricky negotiation process run smoothly, and, once the house was ours, held our hands through every step of the paper work. Since he's very knowledgeable in house remodeling himself, he even helped with the house renovations by recommending contractors, materials, walking us through the process of requesting permits in Oakland, etc. And, to our surprise, he presented us with a lovely welcome-to-the-neighborhood goodie bag! My husband and I couldn't be more grateful to have worked with him. read more

Jade and Paul did an outstanding job selling my house in San Leandro (closed today!). I spoke with several realtors before deciding I wanted to work with the Talbots. I liked getting a husband/wife team (two for one!), they understood my market, attributes of my home, and put together a great marketing plan...brilliant photos, video and drone footage, arranged excellent staging, and stayed on top of the details involved in getting my house to market. When the offers came in, Jade and Paul were VERY skillful in negotiating a sale price well above any obvious comps. I've worked with other realtors (selling and buying for investment) - Jade and Paul are unique. They listened to my concerns. It was a collaborative process. There were issues around pricing, staging, timing where we didn't initially agree. Ultimately, I deferred to their experience and wisdom on most issues and am very pleased that I did. I know the market is hot and ANY realtor could have sold my house...it just wouldn't have been for as much as Jade and Paul sold it for!! I'm a difficult client and generally cynical about realtors. The Talbots are exceptional! I am so grateful for their professionalism. It was obvious throughout the process that they had my back. Highly reccommended. read more

I highly recommend working with Jade and Paul Talbot. They are incredibly professional, reliable, personable, and knowledgeable. They really went above and beyond to understand our needs and make the entire process go smoothly. Jade and Paul supported us with selling our old house, and we were very satisfied with our final sale price. They made some great recommendations for relatively minor, but high impact upgrades, which really improved the desirability of our house, and which we enjoyed while we were still living in the house. We added a half bathroom, created a walk in closet, and transformed our garage into a home office/guest room. They helped us from start to finish from talking through our budget, to making design decisions, to hiring and coordinating workers, to final staging and all the other details. They were also super helpful with helping us find and purchase our new house. They were available to walk us through the entire process with great insight into the various neighborhoods, pricing trends, potential house upgrades, and tips for making the strongest bid. Jade and Paul are amazing and we were so fortunate to work with them. read more

We enlisted Jade and Paul Talbot to sell our charming, elegant craftsman in the Upper Fruitvale/Maxwell Park neighborhood in December 2021. We couldn't have been happier with the process from start to finish. They're not only area specialists but they also bring unique insights into buyer demographics to provide an edge in preparing the property to appeal to the right set of buyers. They presented us with options on upgrades to make with an eye towards RoI that made it easy to make decisions. They're technically savvy as well as very hands on, roll up their sleeves and do whatever it takes to get the job done. This was a god-sent for us, since we're out-of-town - we didn't have to go to the property even once during the process. To top it all, they got all the property prep done during Thanksgiving week 2021 and we were on the market the following week. It was a turnaround of less than 2 weeks thanks to an excellent set of vendors they have ready to start. All that paid off in the tremendous interest in the property and the resulting offers we received. All in all a great experience! Thanks, Jade and Paul! read more

We were so fortunate to work with the amazing Talbot Team (Jade, Paul, and Katie) on our recent home purchase in Oakland. We were initially introduced to Jade years ago when we were just starting to explore a move from Redwood City. Even though the timing wasn't right then, they were incredibly patient and helpful, always keeping our goals in mind. When we were finally ready to make the move, we saw a Talbot Team sign at an open house and it felt like fate! They connected us with Katie, who was instrumental in helping us refine our needs, understand the market, and even explore new neighborhoods like Sheffield Village that we hadn't considered before. The entire team was with us every step of the way, from finding a fantastic mortgage lender to crafting a winning offer that got accepted on the first try! Their kindness, support, and genuine enthusiasm for helping us find our dream home made all the difference. We couldn't be happier with our experience and would wholeheartedly recommend the Talbot Team to anyone looking to buy or sell a home in Oakland. read more

I recently bought a wonderful condo in Oakland's Lakeshore neighborhood with the help of Paul and Team Talbot. Over the years, my friend group has actually used Paul and Jade for various purposes (5 purchases and 1 sell) and there's a reason we keep coming back! Paul made the process as easy could be in the tough Bay Area market. He made a stellar recommendation for a lender, which also went smoothly despite an out-of-my-control problem with a balcony. Regardless, Paul made it work and was clear and communicative the whole way. Paul was super easy to work with, always available, gave clear advice/instruction, and really put the control in my hands throughout the process. No complaints at all, and I've been very happy. I've also been thrilled with the contractor recommendations he's made (cleaning and moving so far), and as my friends have reported, they are happy as well. Paul has been around the area long enough to know the market well and to know where to go to get things done. Overall, I'd recommend him and his team to anyone. Thanks Paul! read more

We connected with Jade and Paul through a recommendation from another realtor, we were looking to sell a piece of land and these guys had a some experience working with land. For anyone that doesn't know, selling a lot of land is a bit different of a process than a home, and tends to take much longer to work through it. I can't say enough good things about the method and mechanics and design of Jade and Paul's strategy. I can't say enough great things about their communication. I don't even have the words for their positivity and drive. They created a clearly laid out plan, with a schedule for consistent updates with us, they communicated clearly about interest and inquiries, and ultimately sorted out an incredibly smooth closing. They're experts at social media based marketing and create fantastic and interesting content that really does drive views clicks and conversations. Lastly, they're simply good people. I would be happy and proud to recommend Jade and Paul to anyone looking for a modern realtor! read more

When my wife Karen and I first dipped our toes into the deep, dark abyss that is the Bay Area housing market we were naive, like young animals in the spring, unaware of the dangers that lurk around (seemingly) every corner. Little did we know that the realtors who we had engaged would be like shepherds for sheep who would guide us through every intricacy of the process and consistently make sure that we were fully aware of all of our options. As we neared the end of the negotiating process, with the paperwork coming on thick and the deadlines coming in tight, the Talbots were very responsive and on top of the details and the proper order of operations. Paul, Jade and their team made this potentially stressful "closing" process very smooth and I know, for a fact, that our side of the negotiating table came off as nothing short of completely professional, every step of the way. I won't hesitate to recommend the Talbot team to any of my friends or family who need real estate services in the future. read more

We enjoyed working with a fantastic team as a first-time home buyer. From the beginning to the end, they were always there to guide us through the process, ensuring we felt comfortable and informed at every step. They patiently addressed our questions and provided thorough explanations, which helped us understand everything better. It all started when we met them at an open house, and their market knowledge and passion for their work impressed us. They took the time to understand our specific needs and budget, going above and beyond to locate the perfect home that ticked all the boxes. Their responsiveness and availability were remarkable. They promptly replied whenever we reached out with inquiries or concerns, ensuring we felt supported and valued as a client. Their commitment and attentiveness truly made the entire experience enjoyable and stress-free. read more

We found the Talbot Team when looking at a property they were selling in Richmond, CA. After our first call, I knew I didn't need to look any further for a Realtor team. Jade and Paul were very responsive and had a ton of resources for first time home buyers. They also made the loan and home insurance process seamless. Paul was down to walk through disclosures and Jane always gave me the 411 on houses I was interested in. I trusted their knowledge and expertise throughout the process. They also kept it real with me and I knew what to start looking for in this crazy market. I bought a house with some potential and I was able to in-vision it when we walked through it together. I honestly appreciate them working with us and I look forward to our partnership going forward! Thanks to everyone on the Talbot Team! read more

I can't recommend The Talbot Team, Jade, Paul, and their team, highly enough. As a first-time seller I was, of course, apprehensive about the process of selling my home, especially in a market as hot as the one now. They are organized, informative, focused, and most helpful. When there was something that needed to be done, Jade & Paul were as clear as can be about what, how, and when to do it. I chose to self-stage my home, but Jade & Paul helped with everything from stringing café lights in the backyard, providing some additional staging props and, most importantly, guiding me through the offers process. I only wish I were in the market to buy a home - I would engage the Talbot Team in a heartbeat - but, alas, I have retired to Italy. I highly recommend working with Jade & Paul; you won't regret it. read more

I cannot recommend the Talbot Team enough. They have been so amazing throughout the entire process of selling our house, and they have made something that is inherently stressful and anxiety-inducing easier than I ever could have imagined. We decided to sell our home in Oakland and relocate to Southern California during the very uncertain period of Covid quarantine, and Jade and Paul guided us expertly through the process in a way that made us feel comfortable and safe. They were always available to give us their advice and guidance (they continue to do this even after our sale closed), and it is clear that they both love what they do. On top of all of this, they are wonderful people to be around. If you're looking to buy or sell a home in the Bay Area, do yourself a favor and work with Paul and Jade. read more