I am a physician and have been wanting to buy a short-term rental investment property to offset my W2 . I hired Ken and Ashley to find some good deal for me. I originally wanted to buy a big bear Lake property. They helped me with intensive research and drove me up there (about 2 hours) to look at properties. It didn't happen because they are just too expensive for me to afford. Not a single word of complaining from them even though no deal happened. A few months later, I started to investigate some properties in Indio, CA, which is more affordable for me. Again, Ken took immediate action and drove me to look at some properties (about 2 hours drive). I originally wanted to buy a property with Turkey finish. But the seller was firm about the price (bear in mind that this is not a good seller's market) . Then Ken turned around and found a different property: same size and floor plan for $500K less (our guess is that the seller went bankruptcy and, in a hurry, to sell). I was thrilled about this deal. However, it turned out the seller had issues of the solar not paid off and unfortunately the company went bankruptcy in the mid of escrow. They went above and beyond dealing with this complicated solar transfer and every other hiccup that came up. After months of negotiation, working with lender, escrow, title company, seller agents, a solar agent from a different company, the deal happened with additional 10k of credit contributed to the solar loan from the seller. Ken was extremely patient and very pleasant to work with. Ashley is extradentary careful in looking over the legal issues and paperwork. Ken stands out strong for my interests in the process, financially and privacy. They are interpersonal skills and real state knowledge is a totally different level from my previous agents (I bought several houses and hired multiple agents before. Most of the agents are either clueless or doesn't give a damn about me other than getting their commission quick and no work. lol). Ashley and Ken were always on top of things, always available, and never let the ball drop. Their attention to detail and calm under pressure made the entire process smooth (for me, anyway!). If you want smart, trustworthy agents who will fight for you, protect your investment, and actually get the deal done -- call them. I wouldn't work with anyone else. read more

We have sold many homes in our lifetime and we have never met a realtor as dedicated and motivated as Ken. He brought us multiple offers and sold our home above the list price. He listed our home aggressively but within reason, and marketed our home beautifully. We were very impressed by the way he showed our home to each and every buyer. He showed the home like it was the first time he was presenting the home each time. He gives 100% and you can see his passion shine through. There was a lot of conversation about how to navigate the challenging marketplace around COVID. Our experience with Ken personally was seamless but like many transactions the unexpected occurred. In our case, we were faced with a situation with the buyer that would have ended our escrow. I'm certain that if we had any other realtor, we would have cancelled the escrow without question to avoid headaches and frustrations. But that's not what happened... We have to give credit to Ken's business partner, Ashley. She helped us think outside the box and presented us an angle that we would have never thought about. And it made sense. She helped us put together a letter on all the reasons why we were not going to cancel and through that journey we discovered truths that allowed the buyer an opportunity to perform and act in good faith. Her plan was so successful, we closed escrow a week later with no worries. I think it's important to consider the unexpected when hiring a realtor and ask yourself if you know how the person you've hired has navigated difficult and unexpected situations. This experience taught us that while risk exists, an exceptional realtor will get you to the finish line without cancellations.... and The Harter Group is that exceptional! We have them to thank for helping us! We will definitely be referring them to all our family and friends. read more

Working with The Harter Group was an exceptional experience from start to finish. They didn't just list our home; they partnered with us every step of the way to make sure it looked its best and sold quickly. When last minute issues came up, they didn't hesitate to jump in personally, helping with small repairs like fixing a broken screen and touching up the landscaping. Their hands-on approach and attention to detail made all the difference. We had some very particular buyers, but The Harter Group handled every challenge calmly and professionally, keeping the process smooth and stress free. They went above and beyond to ensure nothing fell through the cracks and that both sides were satisfied with the outcome. When it came time to buy our next home, they were just as dedicated. In a very competitive market, they guided us with patience and insight, ultimately helping us secure our dream home below listing price, something we never thought possible. What truly sets The Harter Group apart is how much they care. It never felt transactional; they genuinely wanted what was best for our family. Their integrity, hard work, and personal touch turned what could have been a stressful process into an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Thank you, Ken, and the entire Harter Group, for your incredible dedication and support. We're beyond grateful and highly recommend you to anyone looking to buy or sell a home. read more

We wanted to hire a realtor who knew the area, who knew our home, and who specialized in our community. As soon as we met Ken, we knew he was the right person to sell our home. He truly is a special realtor who not only connected with us, but knew how to sell our home to each buyer that came to see it. We knew what we were hoping to sell for, and had a number in mind that we felt was fair. Every other agent who came to talk to us, not only gave us a much lower number, but told us that we would probably sell for much less in today's tougher market. We felt as if they were trying to condition us for a lower offer, so that they can get a quick sale. Ken was the complete opposite. His enthusiasm for our home and what he realistically felt he could sell our home for, made us feel at ease. Selling a home is stressful, and Ken literally told us "Let me take some of this stress off of your shoulders." We felt like he had our back and only cared about what was in our best interests. It was truly refreshing. Within 2 days on the market, he presented us with an ABOVE asking offer (in a buyer's market)! Escrow was a breeze thanks to Ken and Ashley, and we couldn't be happier with how everything went. He sold our home for over $100k more than other agents told us we would sell at. Using The Harter Group to sell our home was one of the best choices we have ever made! Thank you! read more

We had the pleasure of working with The Harter Group, a fantastic husband-and-wife team, to sell our property in Baker Ranch and purchase a new home in Ladera Ranch. Their expertise and dedication were evident throughout the entire process. The sale of our home presented some challenges due to ongoing HOA litigation, but they handled it with remarkable skill and professionalism. They easily navigated these complexities, keeping us informed and reassured at every step. Their exceptional negotiation skills and strategic thinking helped us secure a great price despite the hurdles. On the buying side, they expertly guided us through the competitive market, ultimately helping us find our dream home in Ladera Ranch. Their deep understanding of the local market and their proactive approach gave us a significant advantage. Beyond their professionalism, they were always available, patient, and attentive to our needs. They made what could have been a stressful experience feel smooth and manageable. Their personalized service and genuine care for our satisfaction truly set them apart. We can't thank them enough for their support and hard work. They made a potentially daunting process enjoyable and successful. We highly recommend them to anyone looking to buy or sell a home! read more

Choosing Ken as our real estate agent was the best decision we could have made. When he stated what he believed our home was worth, we thought he was just throwing out a high number since all the other agents offered to list the home at a significantly lower number. He began to show us why he though this was the correct price to list the home by explaining and showing us the comparable homes from similar neighborhoods. I realized that the other real estate agents just wanted to get our home on the market for a quick sale. No one wanted to fight to get us what we deserve for our home. Not only did Ken list the for $80,000 above what the other agents wanted to, but he actually got us even more as we closed above asking. He was an incredible negotiator and made sure he got us what we deserved. Thank you Ken for going above and beyond for us. I will always recommend you to everyone, because I know they will have the best experience possible working with you. You will always be a friend of the family and we will always be grateful for how you represented us! read more

I am an agent who worked with Ken on a recently completed transaction in Lake Forest. Ken was a joy to work with and the transaction closed on time with no issues, which is a rarity in this business. He was so on top of the escrow and an excellent negotiator, the transaction closed smoothly for all parties involved. He has a tremendous grasp on the Lake Forest communities and surrounding areas - Ken impressed me when he was able to list off every floor plan and model type in the community we had our transaction together and the most recent comps. As if that wasn't enough, he knew every activity and really sold not only the house, but the neighborhood and lifestyle to my clients. Ken would be a great resource for anybody looking to buy or sell a home! I definitely recommend him - not just from a professional standpoint, but any consumer would benefit from having him represent them. My clients were lucky to have me, but even luckier to have Ken on the opposite end of the transaction flooding them with useful information. read more

Our home was on the market with two other realtors for over a year prior to COVID. Both failed to sell our home. And neither of them were able to attract many buyers to schedule showings of our home. We turned to Ken next. His attention to detail and marketing program made our dated listing refreshed and attractive. COVID hit, but despite that we had so many showings. Ken brought us multiple offers and his team had our best interest at heart throughout the entire process. They were very accommodating and patient with us too. We highly recommend The Harter Group. - Godwin I. (seller) read more

Ken recently represented us on the sale of our home in Foothill Ranch. We would highly recommend Ken as your agent whether you are looking to buy or sell a home! When he first met with us, he was very confident on how to price our home, on obtaining a leaseback for us and on meeting our required timing to close escrow. Within 1 week of listing our home, he had multiple offers above our listing price and we were in escrow! Most importantly, however, is that Ken was with us every step of the way, was extremely pleasant to work with and made for an extremely smooth escrow/closing. read more

entire experience from start to finish was wonderful. They were incredibly personable, responsive, and always gave great advice. They took a lot of the stress from selling our home and moving cross country with 2 small kids, off of our shoulders. I can't thank them enough for that. In what I would consider an uncertain market, they took a challenging list price and got us a full price offer in only 4 days. We couldn't believe it! My wife and I can't thank them enough! read more

Very knowledgeable and easy to work with when looking for a house to buy. They went out of their way to meet our needs, including driving for several hours to meet us at locations far away from their home. They were on point with making sure paperwork and documentation was handled efficiently and in a timely matter, and always informed us of updates as soon as they were available. Working with them has been a pleasure, and I could not recommend them more. read more

My husband and I just sold our Mission Viejo home with Ken and had a great experience. He helped us buy our next home at the Great Park in Irvine and we were looking for a deal. He was able to get us our dream home within our criteria for a great price. Literally the day after we entered escrow the builder was offering our floorplan for anywhere between $150k-$200k more. We just closed on our home and have a ton of equity already. Thanks Ken. read more

The Harter Group has been my personal agents the last 6 years I've been here. Ive never worked with a more ethical group. Ive been able to send them about 3 referrals in the last two years and I have to say I would never associate my name with someone unless they are best. They absolutely know this market and truly work for YOU not just a commission. If theres something to find or money to be saved they work MAGIC. SERIOUSLY LOVE THEM!!!!!! read more

Thanks to the Harter Group, we are in our forever home! They were able to sell our old home within four days, above the asking price!! Not only that. They found us the most beautiful home in Lake Forest. With this beautiful backyard, we can not wait to have friends and family over. Everyone knows that selling your house can be stressful... But not with the Harter Group. They took such good care of us. I will forever be grateful to them. read more

We first met Ken when we purchased our home, he was on the other side of the table representing the Seller, impressing us greatly with his passion and professionalism. So, years later, when it came time for us to sell our home, we turned to Ken without hesitation. Ken surpassed our expectations, ensuring we achieved the best possible outcome and keeping us grounded and calm throughout the process. read more

We interviewed multiple realtors before selecting Ken and his team. His knowledge of Baker Ranch as well as his investment in the area were key. Ken was very flexible in getting potential buyers to view our house and always helpful in prepping the house if we weren't home to do it ourselves. Ken is pleasant to work with and was always available to answer any questions or brainstorm different ideas. read more

Ken and Ashley at The Harter Group were amazing to work with! They made selling our condo and buying our new home smooth and stress-free. Super knowledgeable, responsive, and always looking out for our best interests. We couldn't be happier and highly recommend them! read more

The Harter Group brought us multiple offers and sold our luxury home $170k over the last model comp in our neighborhood. They exceeded our expectations when they negotiated a sales price $40k above the appraised value. Thank you so much! read more