8037 McCormick Ave 
Michelle and Marcia’s family was out-growing their Moss Avenue condo quickly and we needed to find an Oakland home with plenty of space, an easy commute to the City and a short trek to Skyline High.
After adventures in Maxwell Park and Millsmont we found this recently-remodeled charmer in a quiet section of the Eastmont Hills. Not only did it have a hardwood floors and Bay views – an entire in-law unit was refurbished below!
Congratulations Guys!
330 13th Street, Oakland 
Sometimes things are just meant to be. I’d been working with Ethan for a few months as the increasing popularity of Downtown Oakland continued to whittle away available inventory. We wanted to get him into his first home at the right price and the right rate.
Ethan loved this building from the start but the list price was more than we wanted to consider. The developer had only a few units left and was eager to finish the project up. We proposed an offer well below list and held our ground – after many rounds of negotiations we were in contract at 10% below list with additional Seller financing. We were able to secure an amazing rate and close soon after. Congrats Ethan!
I met Derek after a simple search on the internet and he helped me find my first home in Oakland. Derek toured with me through many different complexes throughout West Oakland and downtown Oakland and made himself available on weekends to fit my busy schedule. He is extremely responsive on email (literally minutes on a reply) and drove the entire home buying process forward. I had high confidence that Derek would represent me and my interests when speaking to the developer/listing agent/other real estate agents. I highly recommend Derek as he is deeply experienced and is a friendly and responsible guy who will get the job done.
Ethan
5424 Silva Avenue, El Cerrito
Skylights, gardens, creekside setting and a wonderful flow, what isn’t there to love about mid-century El Cerrito hillside homes! This property sums it up better than most.
We marketed for ten days and received five offers, the accepted offer was $55k over asking price. I negotiated the short sale and we managed to close in just over three months.
Having bought and sold a number of homes over the years I want to recommend Derek as the best agent I have eve used on either end of a transaction. Derek made the recent sale of my El Cerrito home easier than I could have imagined. The sale was somewhat complicated as it was a short sale and there were several more steps and confusion as more parties were involved. Derek made it a breeze.
Jerry
4015 West Street, Oakland 
I had been helping Sarah and Tamara shop for a place of their own for a few months; they are courageous and spirited and looking forward to tackling a renovation project of their own. Avid cyclists and urbanites, we scoured Oakland in search of a property with solid bones and just barely move-in condition.
After many offers we succeeded in locking in this craftsman on one of the most coveted streets in the quickly gentrifying NOBE area. It was a HAFA short sale with an incredible number of twists and turns but perseverance pays and we finally managed to reach close of escrow. As the Sellers were now gone from the premises we raced over and flung back the 40 year old carpets…just as we had suspected, the hardwood floors in the living and dining room were in pristine condition. Congrats Sarah and Tamara!
My partner and I worked with Derek in purchasing our home. Derek consistently went out of his way to be there for us. He has exceptionally strong interpersonal skills, which translated into smooth negotiations with the seller’s agent and sellers. He really walked us through the process and answered questions along the way. He also has terrific connections with vendors…both the lender who turned out to be even better than the good option provided through my union and various inspectors and contractors. He is the perfect REA and was a great coach through this exciting but somewhat scary process.
Sarah and Tamara
711 Elm Street, El Cerrito 
Our friends Laurie and Chase have deep roots and close ties to these wonderful pocket neighborhoods in El Cerrito. Their current abode was starting to feel a wee bit small however and something bigger was definitely needed. When this wonderful, one-level four bedroom and two bath (with plenty of storage) arrived on the market we couldn’t resist and swooped immediately, locking in the deal by personal presentation of our offer.
We helped to arrange financing, inspections and a rent-back for the delightful Sellers, who were just as excited as we were to have Laurie and Chase move into this great community. Overall a very smooth transaction which closed ahead of schedule. Congrats to all!
My partner and I worked with Derek in purchasing our home. Derek consistently went out of his way to be there for us. He has exceptionally strong interpersonal skills, which translated into smooth negotiations with the seller’s agent and sellers. He really walked us through the process and answered questions along the way. He also has terrific connections with vendors…both the lender who turned out to be even better than the good option provided through my union and various inspectors and contractors. He is the perfect REA and was a great coach through this exciting but somewhat scary process.
Laurie & Chase
218 Beverly Avenue, San Leandro
I came full circle on this one. I toured this 4 bedroom / 2 bath in it’s antiquated state as flippers were salivating to bid on it. Those clients decided to pass on it then as the scope of work was a bit too much – the potential was unmistakable though.
Fast forward a few months and I’m touring the renovated property with Amanda & Josh, looking for a spacious new home for themselves and Woodford the dog. Everything I loved before was kept intact; the full height window systems, original fireplace and spacious dining room. With newly renovated kitchen and bathrooms, reinvigorated hardwood floors and ground-floor master, this lovely retreat with large detached studio space was irresistible. Congratulations guys!
3022 73rd Avenue, Oakland
I love flips, or to be precise, I love flips done by professionals I know and trust. I’ve advised clients to walk away from plenty in the past. That said, my Buyer simply knew this property was for her and we negotiated into contract with a sizeable credit. We then inspected every last inch and realized we had a great house on our hands.
We made sure to get a few more concessions, notably a new furnace installed and credits for a sewer lateral, then closed escrow in thirty days on a purchase price $35k below appraised value. Combine that with a super-low interest rate and there is plenty of room in the budget for new furniture!
2407 Telegraph Ave #205
These days, distressed condos can be a great entry point into income property in hot areas without putting all of your resources into one building.
We helped our client pick up this clean, well laid-out unit in a short sale. Only three days on market – speed is essential to capture deals such as these. On the edge of Uptown’s booming rental community, this $100k cash investment will soon be renting for $1,300 or more. Combine this with a moderate HOA fee and little to no additional acquisition expenses and our investor will be looking at a projected cap rate of 8% and potential for appreciation as the area continues to develop.