We weren't in the market to buy a home, but life had other plans. When we stumbled upon a rare opportunity to own a piece of Oakland history that could accommodate our multi generational family, we knew it was a long shot. That's when I set out to find an agent who was not only experienced and strategic but also culturally competent and a believer in big dreams. Enter Alonya, courtesy of my loan agent--a true heaven-sent professional. From the moment we connected, Alonya brought a calm, capable, and encouraging energy that kept us grounded through every twist and turn. Believe me, we faced them all. The home had been sitting on the market with no offers (which felt like a win at first), but things quickly shifted into a multi-counter offer situation that dropped us into third position. --definitely not the position you want to be in. By all logic, we shouldn't even be the owners of this home. But with Alonya by our side, we beat the odds. Not only did we land the home, but Alonya also helped us secure it below asking and under market value. Talk about a miracle worker! She truly believed in what I half-jokingly called "delusion," but it turns out, that kind of belief is exactly what dreams are made of. I didn't just gain a home; I gained a friend. Alonya made the impossible feel possible. If you're looking for someone who will advocate for you fiercely, keep you grounded in chaos, and bring heart to the process--she's the one. If I'm ever "not in the market" again, she will be my first call. read more

Apologies for the long message, but it's worth starting from the beginning. We met Alonya back in 2010 when we first moved to Oakland, and she quickly became a close friend. By 2017/18, we began casually exploring the market, but prices were high. Throughout that time, Alonya consistently supported us--staying in touch and answering our many questions with patience and insight. In late 2024, we let her know we were ready to buy. She immediately helped us map out a clear timeline and plan. Her attention to detail is unmatched, and she truly listened to what we wanted. We toured homes nearly every weekend, and as first-time buyers, we appreciated how she educated us on every aspect--from pricing to layout to condition. Rain or shine, Alonya was there in person, and always just a call away. When we narrowed it down to our top three, she offered honest feedback and steady guidance. She helped us stay grounded and focused on our goals. Thanks to her recommendations, we had the clarity and confidence to make the right choice. We love our home and couldn't be happier. If you're thinking about buying, give Alonya a call--you'll be in great hands. Thank you again, Alonya. We truly couldn't have done this without you. read more

Alonya Buford - Keller Williams - Real Estate Agents Near Me - Oakland, California

Alonya is an excellent realtor who provides a wonderful combination of high skill, service, and compassion. We met Alonya in 2019 thanks to a referral from our brother, who is also a Keller agent on the East Coast. Over the past four years, off and on, Alonya has patiently worked with us as we navigated the different seasons of this very turbulent and competitive East Bay housing market as first-time homebuyers. We tapped out of the search more than once and when we were ready to dive back in she was always ready to resume. We have been impressed by her excellent team and network. For every phase of this process, from lenders to haulers, she can refer you to a reliable service that can get you to the next step. Alonya is easy to work with. She always answers thoughtfully, meeting you where you are, and infusing a lot of levity and laughter. All in all, it has been a great experience, and we would highly recommend Alonya Buford. read more

Alonya Buford - Keller Williams - Real Estate Agents Near Me - Oakland, California

Alonya helped me buy my first house. I'm a single female and so finding a neighborhood that was safe for me was essential. Being a local herself, Alonya helped me find the perfect neighborhood. She is very friendly & knowledgeable and answered the many questions that I had since I had no idea what I was doing at the beginning of the process. She also was very helpful during the bidding process as to what would help me get to be one of the top offers. I definitely recommend her! read more

It is difficult to put into words a strong enough recommendation for Alonya. We spoke to a number of great realtors but she set herself apart by giving us her expertise and letting us decide how to use it. We started with no knowledge of the process, but Alonya educated and guided us not only to a great purchase but to a working knowledge of how to buy. Alonya is charming, fiercely intelligent and ceaselessly hard working. She knows the area and the right people for any particular job. We're so pleased to have worked with her, and hope you get a chance to do the same! read more

We worked with Alonya for a year while looking to buy in Berkeley. We first reached out because we had found a house we wanted to offer on in four days and did not have pre-approval or anything - Alonya was able to recommend someone to expedite pre-approval, explain house buying, and even organize a couple of specialist inspectors to visit the house with us within three days, even though the seller's agent told us this would be impossible on the timeline. We didn't get that house, but she continued to be fantastic: never pushing us to offer on houses or at amounts we weren't comfortable with, but always realistic and always happy to show us houses at times convenient for us or to find an expert if there was something we wanted to know about a house or source a rough cost for something. She was always thorough in evaluating what an offer amount should be. And now we have successfully closed on a great house, and she continues to send us all her contractor contacts and to find a repair person when something broke the day after we moved in and we panicked. We really can't thank Alonya enough. read more

Alonya's attentiveness, knowledge and proactive style of work was fundamental to help me find a home. Not just a house but a place I can call home. She welcomed my many questions, most of them out of my anxiety around the process as a first home buyer, especially during December and all the holidays! She would take that as an opportunity to learn what I wanted and provide me with options that would interest me. And she was so on point! She also took time to make me familiar with the area I was interested in, explaining the possibilities of enjoying things I wanted in the neighborhood, which is in the East Oakland area. This process can involve a tone of deadlines, documents and papers and it can be very overwhelming and I worried I could miss or forget things but she was very diligent in juggling contacting the multiple parties, from the loan office to the sellers agent in a way that I trusted that I'd count on her guidance to keep me up to date, although also in my own pace as I made my decision on which place to buy. I appreciate you, Alonya! read more

Alonya came highly recommended from a trusted friend and absolutely did not disappoint. She guided us bravely through the process of finding the right home in a super-crazy seller's market in one of the lowest inventory towns in the Bay Area. She hooked us up with the right lender immediately; scheduled the best inspectors; fielded endless questions and concerns with the coolest, calmest demeanor; and even negotiated an incredible contract that had the seller paying ALL the closing costs. Alonya is no-nonsense, straight to the point, quick to respond, and knows what she's doing. You can trust her to find you the absolute best deal, and to lead you effortlessly through any bumps in the road. We love Alonya! read more

Alonya Buford - Keller Williams - Our family on our porch, the night we got the keys to our new home! - Real Estate Agents Near Me - Oakland, California

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Alonya is a amazing person and a fantastic Agent. If you are looking to buy or sell property in the Bay Area she the person you need to call. Thank you Alonya for helping my family in our time of need. read more

Alonya was fantastic! So some context... Alonya helped us find our home in Oakland and she was great. She was very communicative, knowledgeable about the community, and had some good strategic advice for us with regards to who to use for lending, offer size, and contingencies. Fast forward 15 mo and unfortunately this home just didn't work out for us. As light sleepers, the urban living was simply too noisy for us and we made the choice to sell. She was very sympathetic and understanding of our situation and moved quickly to help us get it sold. We had a lot of anxiety about losing money and the move but Alonya helped us get the house staged and sold in a timely manner...even during COVID. Highly recommend her! read more

Recently, we decided to sell my parents first house and our family home. It was a difficult decision, and we knew it would be an emotional process. The house had been sitting empty for over a year and it was time. Alonya was recommended by my sister. She had worked with her in the past and knew she would be a good fit. Alonya went above and beyond to get our house ready for the market. She was easy to work with, communicative, proactive. She handled the process from beginning to end with confidence and experience. Everything went so smoothly and effortlessly because of her. I would definitely recommend her and will use her again. read more

Alonya is THE real estate agent that you want on your team. She is fiercely loyal to her clients, conducts herself with the utmost integrity, and really knows what she's doing. She helped us through the very stressful (and emotional) process of selling our home. Alonya is professional and personable. She delivered on everything we discussed - staging, timeline, offer size, etc. She responded promptly to all of our questions and concerns, particularly throughout the escrow process. Alonya is a calm and reassuring person, and we are forever grateful for her dedication and hard work. Thank you, Alonya!! read more

Alonya helped me find my dream home during a moment of difficult personal transition with ease and intentionality. She listened to my needs, observed my likes, dislikes and questions (both said and unsaid), and used that information to guide me through the competitive and skillful negotiations it takes to purchase a home in the hectic Bay Area market. She worked directly with my lender when needed to make sure she was setting me up for success, and kept me updated on developments from early morning to late night. She was knowledgable, kind and attentive. Alonya and her team used their expert network to take me from bid to closing escrow. I'm so grateful to have been able to stay within budget in a neighborhood that I love and a home that I love even more. I highly recommend her for anyone looking for support in a very competitive real estate market. read more

Alonya is hands down the best real estate agent ever! My husband and I were blessed to have this superstar sell us our first home. We had been searching for over a year and came up short until we met Alonya. I remember like it was yesterday, her saying, " I will get you guys a home this year that you will love". Alonya did just that and went above and beyond during every step of the process. I was pregnant at the time and anyone who has ever purchased a home knows that it is a stressful process. Alonya was informative and there to assure us on what we should do and could expect. There were times when my husband and I were focused on other things and Alonya would bring everything together so we could refocus to reach our goal of becoming young homeowners in the bay! She is a dedicated, knowledgeable agent who will invest time in her clients to ensure that they are happy and everything is on the right track. My family is forever grateful for this angel who took the time to do research and helped us to achieve homeownership. I love the fact that even after we closed, till this day if I have a question about something I can still reach out to her for advice. If you are looking to buy a home don't hesitate to give Alonya a call. She will stick to her word and truly cares about her clients. read more

Alonya is an outstanding real estate agent ... smart, knowledgable, understands people, and has great relationships. I met her last year when I was looking for a property and talked to her about what my needs were. Months later, she brought to be an off-market deal that was exactly what we had spoken about. She had found it through a friend of hers and it was perfect. She helped negotiate a great deal on the house and we were able to get it under contract in no time. Without her ear to the ground finding great deals and her savvy understanding of how to negotiate and move them forward at the same time, we couldn't have gotten to the same outcome. She is amazing. Exactly what you are looking for in a real estate professional. read more

Where do I even start with Alonya. She was an absolute stellar of a realtor. From the first day of house-hunting she radiated such open and friendly energy. She was professional throughout the process, yet it was literally like having family helping you; she only wants what's best for you, but always gave practical advice. Her experience makes her well-versed in the field, but she simplified things for us since so much of the process can get confusing and hard to keep track of! She was patient with our million questions at any given hour and was very accomodating whenever we'd ask to look at a house. I can't emphasize how we appreciate all of this as we've learned (in our opinion) the value of keeping the momentum going with home hunting. The process of home-buying is very personal, suffice it to say. All your monetary 'business' is out there, so having someone hold your hand without judgment makes a world of difference. We are forever grateful to Alonya and her Team for guiding us into homeownership read more

Alonya is amazing! She told me her goal was to try her hardest to have me and my husband in our first home by the new year. After searching 4 weekends in a row we found our home and closed by the first week of December! Alonya really works for her clients. She is extremely patient and reliable. She listens to exactly what you want and gives the best advice. As first time home buyers we could not be more happy. Will be recommending her to anyone that needs a realtor. The best experience thanks to Alonya! read more

Alonya is awesome! Our house needed a lot of work before selling. She coordinated and directly handled all the contractor work keeping things on schedule and budget. Very pleasant and professional. Highly recommend! read more

Alonya is the best! First of all, she came out on Christmas to show us the condo we eventually bought. She practically held our hands throughout the entire buying process, and even answered our random and repetitive questions. She is perfect for first-time buyers, and I truly appreciated her super friendly and calm demeanor while I internally panicked during escrow. She's a local to the East Bay, so she really knows her neighborhoods. Thank you, Alonya, for all your help and awesome vibes you brought with our first home buying experience! read more

Alonya and her team are fantastic! She is beyond knowledgeable about the E2E process for buying/selling, and translates that to your average buyer/seller. Her commitment to her clients through the process is a reflection of her passion and integrity. She takes the stress out of what is already stressful and approaches with ease and confidence. I would choose to work with her again in a heartbeat. read more

As a first-time home buyer without a lot of financial savvy, I felt like I was way out of my league in understanding everything that buying a home entails. I'm glad I looked for an agent that came recommended for first-time buyers because Alonya was the best! She understood my financial situation and was able to connect me with a great low-interest loan based locally in the Bay Area. She found inspectors that were thorough and helped me understand what to prioritize in terms of the repairs needed. She was even able to negotiate the price below what I thought was possible! I really appreciated her personal touch in sharing with me her own experiences as an Oakland native and a recent first-time home buyer herself. I would whole heartedly recommend her to someone who is looking to buy a home in the East Bay! read more

Alonya is freakin' amazing. She's an expert of the Oakland area, well-networked, and works for her clients! I'd highly recommend working with her in the future in a house hunt. My husband and I were in the market for house in the Oakland area. We first met for over 2 hours just asking her questions about the process. She gave us the low down of what to expect around listing / asking prices in the area, neighborhoods, closing costs & processes, and even expected timing of the process. She was incredibly patient with my constant questions and made herself available! Alonya spent multiple weekend with us looking at houses. The first few times, she gave us a wide range of houses to look at, but eventually was able to adjust to what we liked. She gave us pointers of what to look for in "good craftsmanship" and how to improve a house in value. She was honest and helpful in her opinions! We ended up putting out multiple offers on houses. Each time, Alonya went above and beyond - developed a rapport with the listing agent, coaching us on how to present ourselves, and ensured we were making the most competitive offer possible, without breaking out bank. Throughout the closing process, Alonya was there: available by text and answering all of our questions. She even came to our closing appointment and made it a super memorable event! Everything was super smooth, and Alonya had a huge part in it. Should I have any friends buying in the East Bay, I'd recommend Alonya in a heartbeat. She's amazing! read more

Alonya is very patient, honest and personable- qualities that were much needed during a stressful search for our perfect home! My husband and I are first time home buyers and Alonya helped us throughout the whole process. She knows the business inside and out and really took the time to listen to us and explain things that we were not familiar with being first time homeowners. Thank you, Alonya! read more

Alonya is a top real estate agent in every regard. She is a true local expert in Oakland and the surrounding Alameda County. Alonya takes the time to educate her buyers and sellers, communicates extremely well, and, not to mention, is one of the friendliest and most professional agents you will ever meet. Whether you are a first time home buyer or looking for a listing agent to sell your home you are in great hands with Alonya! read more

Thank you Alonya!!!! My partner and I are moving in this weekend, thanks to her tireless efforts. We were moving from SF to the east bay, and her insights into different neighborhoods was invaluable. When we fell in love with a house, she made sure we had the most compelling offer possible, going above and beyond to coordinate with the sellers and make sure we were in contention, and beyond, to actually get it! This was my first time buying a home, and she was very patient and informative with all my questions. 100% recommend. read more

Alonya is awesome!! She helped my partner and I find our first home in the east bay. Home buying is crazy in this market but she was with us every step of the way. She was super communicative and insightful. We're so grateful for Alonya's professionalism, depth of knowledge, and patience. read more

Alonya is so professional and personable. She explains every step of the home-buying process in terms I understand. She consistently communicates updates and useful information. As a first-time home buyer she empowered me with information to make the best choices. I found comfort in her expertise and warm personality. read more

Alonya was AMAZING. She was super patient with all of our questions about how to maximize the value of our property, staging, and just general knowledge of Oakland. She gave us some neighborhoods to check out based on us telling her what we wanted and we actually ended up purchasing our new home in one of those neighborhoods. Clearly her knowledge is vast and her ability to understand what you're looking for is spot on. We really appreciated her diligence and effort that she put into selling our condo and we highly recommend her to anyone looking for an experienced realtor. read more

Alonya is absolutely WONDERFUL!!! As first time home buyers, my husband and I went in without really knowing the ropes or what to expect -- we just knew we found our perfect first home (we just didn't know how to get it!). After contacting Alonya, she sprang into action and had the perfect mix of calm and urgency (she moved quickly, and we felt like she shared our desire to make this happen!). Alonya was incredibly knowledgeable and patient with our questions - always available when we had a moment of panic, and willing to go the extra mile to answer additional questions and interact with the seller's agent. Alonya is super experienced, and was able to contextualize a lot of our questions and concerns with a long-view of the Bay Area housing market landscape. She also knows the east bay like the back of her hand and had great tips for the move in process. I would highly recommend Alonya to any future home buyer -- first time, or seasoned. Thank you, Alonya!!! read more

Alonya is a phenomenal agent! She is most knowledgeable about her field, demonstrates an amazing positive manner way of connecting with her clients and presents the most up to date information that will assist you in making an excellent choice(s). She goes the "extra-mile" for you. So, if you are looking for a realtor who is outstanding, contact Alonya immediately. read more

If I could give a rating of ONE BILLION STARS, I would in a heartbeat!! Words cannot express how truly grateful My husband and I are for Alonya Buford at The Bridge Group. We are both Oakland CA natives and really wanted to purchase our first home in Oakland. Due to the real estate boom in Oakland, we were very discouraged about finding an affordable home to suit the needs of our family. OMG!!! Alonya was a savior! She was adamant about finding us a home in Oakland that fit our needs even when we gave up on it ourselves. We closed on our first home in OAKLAND on 9/6/2016 only after a few months of searching. The entire home buying process can be quite stressful as most people know, but Alonya is very knowledgeable and super informative in all areas of the entire process. She always reassured my husband and I that there is no need to worry. She kept us in the loop on EVERYTHING! She never showed a sign of frustration throughout the process, even when I think she probably should have (my husband and I can be quite a headache with questioning everything). Alonya remained professional,calm, but very vigilant when dealing with the lender and seller. My husband and I are so happy in our new home and we owe it all to her hard work and dedication. I highly recommend Alonya at The Bridge Group for all of your real estate needs. Do yourself a favor and contact her now, you will NOT regret it!!! read more