In June 2025, my sister and I made the decision to sell the rental property we jointly owned. Since…read morewe had never sold a home before, we were on unfamiliar territory. We interviewed four different realtors, and honestly, they all appeared to be trustworthy and knowledgeable individuals who could guide us through the sales process. After narrowing down our choices to two realtors, we requested proposals for selling our house from each of them. These proposals included information about the costs of necessary repairs and upgrades as well as estimated selling prices. During the interviews, it became evident that we were entering a buyers' market, which may limit our ability to achieve the desired selling price. In the end we chose Kaelin. Her proposal kept us within our budget for repairs and upgrades, and she was confident that she could sell the home for its fair market value. Our other 'finalist' was not so positive on achieving those goals. One of the daunting aspects of preparing to sell a home is finding reliable and trustworthy contractors to undertake the necessary work to prepare the property. Once you have these contractors, you need to ensure they begin work as soon as possible. Additionally, you must closely monitor the progress of the work to ensure it is completed on time and in the manner you desire. This becomes particularly difficult for owners selling a home that is located far from their primary residence, making it challenging to meet with contractors and monitor the progress. Kaelin truly shines in this role. She already knew the contractors we needed and managed to get them to provide us with quotes. Once approved, she swiftly put them on the job and ensured timely completion of the work. Initially, the ambitious goals we set together at the project's beginning seemed a bit too demanding, but we managed to meet them. When a buyer wanted to make an offer before the house went on the market, she made sure it was a strong and compelling offer that aligned with the high end of the sales price range she had specified in her original proposal. She also didn't hesitate to incur the cost of staging the property (she pays for this), as this demonstrated our readiness to proceed with other offers if theirs wasn't satisfactory. Long story short, she made it happen. We ended up putting in less money than we planned in repairs and upgrades and sold the property right at the high end of what she said she could do. We found Kaelin very easy (even fun) to work with over the 2.5-3 month timeframe as we went from planning and starting repairs & upgrades to closing escrow.

Kaelin is an outstanding real estate agent. She knows the market and can guide you in what to do…read moreand what not to do in preparing your house for sale. I can't speak highly enough of her integrity and doing whatever needs to be done to sell your home. In our case, we were not able to do the upgrades, as we had left the area. Kaelin jumped in and lined up contractors, supervised their work, and beautifully staged out home. She was always present at the Open Houses, followed up on leads, regularly communicated, and kept our best interests foremost in her thought and actions. I highly recommend her and her team. They kept us appraised the dates for the work, Open Houses, and any bills. Simply a wonderful, warm, and engaging agent with a dynamic team who will work with and for you!

From start to finish, Gina and everyone at GRO were fantastic! We needed a house that would be big…read moreenough to accommodate a family but stay strictly within our budget. With her patient guidance, Gina helped us navigate the housing market in Santa Cruz, and after a few *fun* offer adventures, we landed a fantastic house for our growing family. Even after the closing date, she and her team have been extremely helpful, connecting us to local contractors and providing guidance to us as new home owners. Thank you Gina!

I just finished buying a home with the awesome Gina Odom. From the very beginning she asked…read morepertinent questions to make sure she understood my needs. She was thorough and thoughtful throughout the entire process. She made great recommendations yet it was always driven to meet my needs. If you want a knowledgeable and seasoned professional...... Gina is that and more. She and her team were kind and generous every time we spoke or met. I highly recommend you give her a call.

When we started looking for a property in Aptos a year ago, we went to Yelp to find realtors that…read morewere familiar with the local market. Mike Bloch's reviews were great, so we contacted him. He stood out for his knowledge of the Santa Cruz market and his personality and positive, open attitude. We decided to work with him, and he and his team delivered. Within a few months, we found a property we liked, so we decided to make an offer. Even though our offer was good, the seller decided to take a different offer (the house was a duplex, half of it occupied). We continued to monitor the market with Mike's help. We narrow down our search to a very specific, relatively small neighborhood close to the beach. It took us several months, but we finally found a great property, made an offer, and we got the house! Thank you, Mike for your patience and for guidance throughout the entire process! :-) :-) :-) :-) Sincerely, The four of us

This is my second time using Mike Bloch's services. First time was like 15 years ago. So many…read morepositive things to say. First, off, we had been looking for a new house for a few year, and he was always so patient with us and never got any pressure. He is down-to-earth, very honest, straight-forward, great communicator, and just a super great guy. He did such a great job marketing our house to be sold and advising me on how to fix it up to sell quickly and for the right price. What a great partner. Thanks Mike.

Working with Turiya has been the most exceptional real estate experience we've ever had. She is,…read morewithout question, the most detail‑oriented, passionate, patient, and dedicated agent we've worked with -- and she completely changed the course of our home‑buying journey. This was the first home my husband and I purchased together as a married couple, and we came into the process feeling discouraged and uncertain. Before meeting Turiya, we had started to believe that finding a home we truly loved in Santa Cruz County just wasn't possible -- we were even considering moving out of state. From the moment we began working with her, everything changed. Turiya took the time to fully understand who we are, what mattered to us, and what "home" really meant for our family. She listened deeply, guided us thoughtfully, and never once let us lose hope. Her passion for her work shines through in every interaction; she treats her clients with a level of care, attention, and commitment that is truly rare. Thanks to her persistence, expertise, and belief in us, we found our dream home -- something we genuinely thought might never happen. We are forever grateful for her support and the way she cared for us throughout this journey. She doesn't just help you buy a house -- she helps you build the life you want, and she does it with heart. We cannot recommend Turiya highly enough. She is extraordinary.

Turiya Blanchette - Christie's International Real Estate Sereno…read more© You want your deal run right? You want your chances fair? Meet Turiya Blanchette And you're a lucky fella! Folks if you're interested in real estate anywhere in the Santa Cruz area, you can't do better than have Turiya representing you! Her level of high professionalism and integrity is incredible! Her dedication to your business goes far above & beyond your wildest expectations! In a world where others might drop the ball, Turiya goes an extra mile for you! That's the Bottomline! Trust me! Most importantly, Turiya was born & grew up in the area! She knows the land inside and out, her ties and love for the community are strong & fantastic! Her work ethics are phenomenal! She's been in this business for about 8 years to date (end of 2024) but her service oriented skills took charge in her teens! On a personal level, you can't find more trustworthy, pleasant, engaged, and hard working realtor! Turiya is your first & best resource when it comes to Real Estate buying or selling! If you want the process to go seamlessly, look no further! Buying your dream home is a stone's throw away with Turiya, from start to finish! Naturally, if you wish to list your house for sale with Turiya, she's amazingly well-connected with local designers, photographers, repair companies, handymen, and other professionals one might need when preparing a house to be listed for sale. Turiya commands the beautiful Santa Cruz County on the Pacific Coast! Happy house hunting! Enjoy what you're doing! *I'm runnin' out of real estate Tryna make all the right moves I don't wanna hesitate I would bet the house on you! [ Review #822 w 1 pic Feb 4, 2025 ] Amazing Turiya! @Christie's International Real Estate Sereno

Selling my Capitola home in summer 2025 was no small task -- high interest rates, lots of…read morecompetition, and plenty of economic uncertainty. I needed a realtor with a real plan, and Shemeika delivered. A friend had raved about her, and now I know why. From our very first meeting she came prepared with comps, a clear marketing strategy, and a "how-to" guide that quickly became my home-selling bible. Shemeika made me feel like her only client -- responsive, attentive, and always steps ahead. She knows the Santa Cruz market inside and out, but what sets her apart is how she combines sharp strategy with genuine care. At different points she was exactly what I needed: a coach, an advocate, mentor, negotiator, therapist, and trusted advisor. She guided me through staging, inspections, and negotiations with confidence and professionalism, making the process far smoother than I was expecting. What impressed me most was her balance of warmth and fierce advocacy -- supportive when I needed reassurance, tough when it came time to protect my interests. I absolutely adore and respect her. If you need a realtor who brings creativity, hustle, and heart to the table, Shemeika Fox is the one to call.

Shemeika Fox has shown herself to be a very competent realtor who has guided us through the entire…read moreprocess of selling our two homes. As these were our family homes with an emotional attachment to each, she was sensitive to our needs and very professional in all aspects of the selling process. Her expertise in all phases including her advice with listing the property, staging the home, advertising, selling and closing were above and beyond. We are very happy with Shemeika and give her the highest marks as an agent. The Stelling Family 2025

Deborah is an honest, caring, & professional realtor that has great ethics and is an overall great…read moreperson to work with. I purchased a home she listed and she helped navigate through some very delicate situations with great care for all parties involved. It was an absolute pleasure working with her and am looking forward to working with her in the future!

Deborah Wood was referred to us by another RE/MAX realtor friend of ours…read more From our first meeting we were impressed with her professionalism and her optimism about selling our Scotts Valley CA home. Our goal was to sell our CA home by enough of a margin to afford a larger home outside of California. We first met with Deborah in November, 2020; placed our home on the market February 1, 2021; and ultimately sold our house in mid- to late-February, 2021. In getting the house ready for sale, Deborah prepared us for real-world potential problems and helped us meet various timelines. When a last-minute heavy rainstorm caused a roof leak, Deborah was not fazed and we were still able to go to market on February 1, 2021. While our Scotts Valley home did not sell at or above the asking price, Deborah was still able to negotiate terms with the buyer such that we reached our goal of selling our CA home by enough of a margin to buy outright a larger home outside California. Deborah was at all times professional and responsive to our many calls/emails. If she was going to be unavailable at any time, she provided us with plenty of advance notice. We recommend Deborah Wood as a realtor for anyone considering selling their home.

As a resident of Sierra Crest, I first noticed Zaid Hanna's name back in 2024 when I saw his real…read moreestate marketing poster at my doorstep labeling him as the "your #1 Sierra crest Seller Agent." I snapped a quick photo of it, thinking I might consult him if I ever needed to sell. By the winter of 2025, I received another flyer from Zaid that read: "The market is frozen, but we didn't give up." Even though the market was rough at the time, that property sold shortly after. His words truly touched me. In the high-cost, wealthy Bay Area, a modest condo often doesn't get much attention; many agents wouldn't bother putting in the effort and would simply advise the seller to rent it out if it didn't sell quickly. Although I had never met Zaid, I saved his number in my phone right then because I was deeply impressed by his work ethic. In the spring of 2026, my mother unfortunately passed away, leaving behind a condo that needed to be sold. I was at a loss for who could help. The property's location wasn't ideal, and the market was slow, so I knew I needed a top-tier agent. While I initially considered finding a Chinese-speaking agent, for some reason, I decided against hiring a Chinese agent. That's when I thought of Zaid. One day afternoon, I gave him a call and described the condition of property. he scheduled our first meeting immediately. Zaid was very nice. Our first meeting went incredibly well. Zaid analyzed the market for me. It was April, and inventory was unusually high. He recommended a minor renovation, and I agreed because I knew it would change the look of the home. He was highly professional and honest with me, acknowledging that the market was tough, especially for condos. However, he emphasized that his goal was a quick sale upon listing so it wouldn't sit on the market. Zaid's true professionalism shines through his phenomenal team. From remodeling, cleaning to the official listing, every team member was diligent and responsible. The renovation took about two weeks--a bit long, but the results were stunning. The house officially hit the market around Memorial Day. Throughout the process, Zaid called me every Tuesday to give updates. Remarkably, after just 7 days on the market, we received an offer! This completely exceeded my expectations. Given the less-than-ideal location, I had mentally prepared myself for a long wait. Seven days was faster than I could have ever imagined. I had seen many condos on Zillow sitting on the market for over three months, forcing sellers to slash prices multiple times. I felt lucky. The subsequent escrow and contract process went smoothly without a single delay. All contingencies were removed exactly on schedule. Yesterday, on July 2nd, this modest little condo officially closed escrow. I am incredibly grateful. It is easy to sell a perfect house, but selling a property with an unfavorable location requires an agent with extensive knowledge, sharp skills, and precise valuation. I believe a challenging property is the true test of an agent's capability, and Zaid completely proved himself. He gives honest advice that both buyers and sellers should take seriously. I highly recommend Zaid and his team, and I look forward to working with them again in the future.

My wife and I worked with Zaid Hanna at Real Estate 38 to sell my father's house that I inherited…read more The outcome was positive and the process was efficient and transparent. Zaid and his staff were professional, knowledgeable, dependable, and to the point. I would definitely work with them again. Zaid was honest and forthcoming about the value and sales process that he expected for the house, and it played out just as he outlined, with the sale price beating his prediction. With invaluable advice from Zaid, we decided what improvements to invest in, and then Zaid took it from there. He introduced us to a contractor that he works closely with and trusts. It was the easiest home improvement project I have ever experienced. We all met briefly to walk through the house and discuss the desired improvements, the contractor provided a quote which was fair and straightforward, and then Zaid and the contractor drove the process from beginning to end. We were fully informed and consulted, and then before we knew it the work was done and the results were good. The rest of the process was just the same. Zaid directed me to the providers he recommends for different inspections, etc. and then he took care of the rest. The house looked great as staged, and it was photographed well. The open house must have gone well, because a few days later we were in escrow. Easy-peasy, for us at least!

We cannot say enough great things about Bri Steel at Live Love Santa Cruz! As buyers not from the…read morearea, we had no idea what to expect navigating the Santa Cruz real estate market -- but Bri made the whole experience easy and no pressure. Bri took the time to really understand what we were looking for and provided initial feedback on the areas we were interested in and the current market conditions. She was low pressure and gave us space, but when we found the place we wanted, Bri was sharp, strategic, and aggressive. She walked us through exactly how to position ourselves competitively. What really stood out was how quickly and smoothly everything came together. Bri helped us close in record time without any hiccups. We are so grateful for everything she did and cannot recommend her enough.

Bri helped us buy our house 5 years ago, and most recently helped us sell it as we were moving out…read moreof area. She is incredible and helped with every single details. She was fast and thoughtful! Could not recommend her more!

We found Sam 5 years ago when we were looking to purchase a condo in Santa Cruz for our children to…read morelive in during college. At that time it was a challenging buyers market yet he made it happen quickly for us! 5 years later it was time to sell. Not only did he coordinate painting and carpet for us (we live in So Cal) he made sure everything was done right from first to last! Literally days before we were to go on market the world stopped with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. He made what was a traumatizing and frightening situation into one we felt comfortable navigating through. He kept in constant touch and reassured us with his vast knowledge of the area and market trends that we would make the sale happen. We listed in May and had a buyer within 10 days! Closed in 30 and we are so grateful as we are now in escrow for our dream cabin home. I can not recommend Sam highly enough as a realtor. He is sharp, empathetic and very thoughtful in how he transacts his business. I would refer him to anyone and if we ever are back in Nor Cal would use again!

Sam & team are absolute rockstars. I cold called them based on reviews and recommendations and they…read morewere immediately helpful. It really blew me away. They took time to really understand what we were looking for, gave us a really good understanding of the area (we're not from SC), were unbiased in what they showed us, and never felt like we were being sold. And in the end, found exactly what we were looking for. True definition of pros. No question I know who to call next time I'm in the market.

As a real estate appraiser, I often consult with realtors who specialize in specific market areas,…read moreparticularly when assignments involve limited comparable data. Recently, I reached out to four realtors in Seascape (Aptos), and Faith truly stood out. She provided insightful and well-researched feedback that was consistent with the data trends I had observed, adding valuable context to my analysis. Her professionalism and willingness to assist were exceptional. I was so impressed that I recommended her to my client (a trustee/executor), who now plans to work with Faith to sell their home. I would gladly consult with her again or recommend her services to others seeking a knowledgeable and reliable realtor. Stephen L. Varga, SRA @ Abba Appraisal

Thank you so much Faith for helping me get into my first home. As a first time buyer I appreciated…read morethe guidance and reassurance you gave me during my home buying experience. Faith was very knowledgeable in the real estate field and her experience made the process seem non-stressful. Faith shared a lot of information and educated me along the way. I'm glad I had Faith as my realtor!