We met Martin completely by chance, and looking back, I really can't imagine buying our first home with anyone else. The listing agent for a home we wanted to see wasn't available, so he asked Martin, his colleague at Corcoran, to show us the property. One of the first things that stood out to me was his integrity. The house had recently come back on the market, and when I asked about the previous offer, he politely explained that he couldn't disclose that information. It wasn't even his listing, but he treated the showing as if it were. We ended up talking about renovations, what would actually add value, and what wasn't worth the investment. He was candid, thoughtful, and clearly wasn't trying to sell us on anything. I remember telling my wife afterward that there was just something about his energy that I really liked. He followed up, gave us space, and never pressured us. Buying a house in the Bay Area can feel like...a lot. Especially when it's your first. The online searches, open houses, money, paperwork, offers, waiting, and the possibility that things could fall through. Now that I'm on the other side, I can say from experience that your team (agent and lender) makes all the difference in the world. I'm generally a pretty level-headed person, but even I found myself getting caught up in the excitement of certain properties. We lost our first offer on a house we loved (to your typical Bay Area big cash buyer), then went through a stretch where nothing really excited us, and we really questioned if we were in over our heads. Martin's calm presence was invaluable. He never discouraged our excitement or dismissed our disappointment. He just had this incredible ability to keep us grounded, help us maintain perspective, and keep our heads in the game. Our criteria changed more than once despite us "knowing exactly what we wanted", and he never made us feel difficult or rushed. I've never told Martin this, but one thing I especially appreciated was how he treated my wife. In conversations involving money or major decisions, I've noticed how often people instinctively direct their attention to me, as though I'm somehow the default decision maker. Frankly, I find that deeply disrespectful. My wife is my partner, and her voice carries every bit as much weight as mine. That's not something I should ever have to explain or advocate for. With Martin, I never did. He gave her questions, concerns, and preferences the exact same attention, consideration, and respect as my own. He treated us as equal partners from the very beginning, and I'm positive that played a significant role in us finding a home we both absolutely love. I can't begin to articulate how much I learned from him or how confident I felt (and still feel) about our purchase. After sharing our experience with other homeowners, seeing their reactions, and hearing their stories, I've realized just how fortunate we were. Had we not met Martin, I don't know what we'd be doing right now, but I for sure wouldn't be writing this from my own home. Beyond all of that, he's just a really good guy. Thoughtful, funny, patient, incredibly knowledgeable, and someone we really enjoyed spending time with. I honestly can't think of a single piece of constructive criticism, and I do not say that lightly. As long as Martin is working in real estate and we're in the Bay Area, he'll be our agent. Without hesitation. We couldn't be happier with our home, and I'm incredibly grateful that a random showing turned into such an amazing partnership. read more

I highly recommend Martin for both buying and selling. We had been working with different agents for over a year trying to figure out the right steps to take, and Martin got the job done within a couple months. We weren't easy clients, with budget constraints and the stress of buying a new home before selling our first home. Martin got us into a home that is exactly what we need for a price that works for us, and got our old place looking SO good for the new owners. We couldn't be happier. read more

We had such a great experience working with Martin again. This time to buy our home! Just like when he helped us sell our condo, Martin was incredibly easy to work with. He's direct (in the best way), responsive, and an excellent communicator, which made the entire process feel much less overwhelming. In a fast-moving market, he acted quickly and strategically, helping us stay competitive without ever feeling pressured. What really stood out is how well he listened. He truly took the time to understand what we wanted and made sure every decision reflected that. We always felt like he had our best interests in mind. We're so grateful to have had Martin on our side again and wouldn't hesitate to recommend him to anyone buying or selling a home. read more

Worked with Martin again. This time to buy our home and he was just as amazing as when he helped us sell our condo. He's super easy to work with, very direct (no fluff), and an excellent communicator. In this market, timing is everything and Martin moves FAST while still being thoughtful and strategic. We never felt rushed or pushed. Always supported. What I appreciated most is how well he listens. He really takes everything you say into account and makes you feel like you're a priority, not just another client. Couldn't recommend him enough if you're buying or selling! read more

Martin was fantastic! He was professional, well-informed, helpful and offered his opinions while allowing us to make our own decisions. He gave us an educated assessment of the market and what we could do to maximize our price point. We sold our unit, in a tough condo market, for over ask. He was a wonderful partner from start to finish. I highly recommend working with him. read more

From the very start, Martin was integral to our success, helping to create and implement a flawless strategy for selling our home. He was a true partner who expertly executed the work required to get us market-ready and sell our home.Martin is incredibly organized, efficient, and pleasant to work with--he is a professional who simply gets things done. He is well connected to the real estate market and provided invaluable advice on the things that actually matter when selling a home while managing vendors expertly to ensure everything was perfect.Throughout the process, Martin was flexible, an excellent listener, and a dedicated collaborator focused on the goal of selling our home. He helped position our home for the best possible outcome, and his kind and empathetic nature remained steady throughout the journey. We cannot recommend Martin highly enough! read more

What a gem of a realtor. Martin helped my partner and I along our house hunting journey in the east bay. If you are looking for someone that's there beside you acting as a knowledgeable guide as a newcomer to buying a house, look no further. He knew the market we were looking to buy into, helped us weather some periods where we were outbid, and was always a friendly face when we were going to showings. Martin comes highly recommended by me. read more

Martin is magic! After a year of flailing around open houses, having no idea how to enter the real estate market, I met with Martin and closed on a perfect house 6 weeks later. He wasn't aggressive about the timeline, though--he made it clear that he would stick with me and my wife for as long as it took to find the right home. We never once felt that he was pushing to make a sale happen quickly. Through it all, he was incredibly patient and helpful, explaining terminology and protocol that were unfamiliar to me as a first-time buyer. We made a lot of asks on his time in those six weeks, and he always made us feel like he had all the time in the world for those endless questions. We thoroughly enjoyed Martin's company during our home tours and meetings, and appreciate that his expert advice helped us beat out several other bids. I can't recommend Martin highly enough. read more

As a first-time homebuyer, Martin was an incredible partner in my family's search for a house. His responsiveness, nuanced market knowledge, and negotiating skills helped us secure our home for 5% under the asking price, which is quite a feat in the Oakland/Alameda/East Bay market. He truly demonstrated his value and expertise as a buyer's agent. We went through three bids with him: the first buyer wanted more, the second we were outbid, and the third almost fell through because of insurance issues. Martin quickly got on the phone to call his contacts for quotes, and we were able to use that information to negotiate. Throughout the entire experience, I felt like I had a friend who genuinely cared and went above and beyond for me. If you are looking to purchase and want someone who will support, guide, and advocate for you, Martin is an excellent choice. read more

Martin Kojnok - The living room with beams, fireplace, original wood floors, and beautiful views of the landscaped front yard. - Real Estate Agents Near Me

Martin both found me my new condominium and sold my current condo. When I interviewed Martin, I could tell he was honest, kind, smart and calm. Turns out, those are the required qualities of an excellent realtor. Through the ups and downs of finding a great new place (found on the first day he took me around) and then updating, staging and selling my condo in Oakland during the late fall of 2024 (holidays and presidential election around the corner) he was the person I needed to get me through it all. We spoke regularly. He is an excellent listener and partner in the process. His advice and insights were always spot-on. I highly recommend Martin as both a seller's agent and buyer's agent. read more

I could never describe homebuying in the Bay Area as effortless, but Martin made the process incredibly smooth. Even before becoming our buyer's agent, he met with us (twice!) (in our neighborhood!) to run through everything with us step-by-step and ensure we knew what we were getting into. As our agent, Martin was incredibly communicative and worked around our hectic schedules to show us to every house we wanted to see. He helped us manage a slow lender, deal with finicky sellers, and get through the escrow process without losing our minds. Even after buying, Martin has been a blessing to have as a resource for contractor recommendations and general questions. I cannot recommend Martin enough! read more

We met Martin at an open house and immediately appreciated his professional, yet personable character. As first-time homebuyers in the bay area, we were understandably nervous about the process, but Martin's knowledge and experience guided us every step of the way to help us find the perfect home. Communication with Martin was beyond easy - there were never hours that went by where he wasn't responsive. Additionally, he visited a few open houses that we were interested in while we were out of town and provided us with feedback on which were/were not fitting based on our needs. While Martin has countless redeeming qualities as a buyer's agent, the one I admired most is how little pressure we felt from him. He clearly prioritized us finding a house that we loved and it made the process so much less stressful than I would've imagined. We have also used Martin's recs. for various home improvements, etc. and appreciated his knowledge and support during/post-escrow. He truly goes above & beyond! read more

What an awesome home purchase experience! Martin was able to get us in a great home. His knowledge and professionalism are unmatched. He's very patient and never once did we feel any sort of pressure. We felt very comfortable with him, from beginning to end. Very easy going guy! Our satisfaction was his main objective. Really can't say enough. Thanks Martin!!! read more

It's slightly embarrassing how long it took us to buy our second home in the Bay Area. Well, I'll take that back. It's INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT to find a home that meets all the mandatories -- even if you keep that list as short as possible. Then throw in a global pandemic and a housing shortage, and it's no surprise it took us close to FOUR YEARS to find, bid on, and land our dream home. During that entire time, Martin was a constant. He's quick to answer questions over email or in a call, and always happy to pivot when we asked for more house tours more weekends in a row. Over the summers and into the falls, we'd fall out of touch, but Martin was always ready to dive back in as our partner when The Endless Search started again. Martin is a fount of positivity in crazy times, as well as a trusted advisor on what neighborhood or home might fit our eccentric needs. When it came time to put in an offer (or two, or four), Martin kept us informed and hopeful throughout the process, even as several homes slipped away due to market factors. Now here we are, on the other side of The Search, and we can't wait to invite Martin over for a drink in celebration of the care and attention he shared with us throughout. TLDR; -- work with Martin, you won't regret it! read more

Martin did a double duty as my agent in selling my condo AND helped me purchase a home at the same time, I must say he is amazing! The other positive comments here are 100% accurate. He made, what would have been a very stressful time, much easier and seamless! He took care of everything, from picking out house fixtures to arranging trustworthy contractors to prepare my condo to go to market. He did such a wonderful job (and at minimal cost) that I thought about staying, my place looked beautiful! Martin helped me find and negotiate an offer to purchase a house I love. His good nature, sense of humor and professionalism helped land us a home that had multiple offers, the sellers decided to work with us, that's how good he is! I can't say enough great things about Martin, he goes above and beyond for his clients, he is knowledgeable about the market, efficient, meticulous, responsive and has a great eye for interior design and renovation. He gave good advice when I could not make a decision. I highly recommend Martin Kojnok! read more

We had the pleasure of working with Martin in buying our first home. Martin's friendly, honest and knowledgable demeanor made it easy for us to feel comfortable asking any and all questions. He was responsive and proactive in helping us see homes quickly while hitting most of our list (like Martin says, 8/10 is a great house!). Martin is a phenomenal realtor really can't recommend him enough! read more

As a first time home buyer, Martin's patience, knowledge, humor and expertise around both the market as well as the process was especially helpful. Not only do I feel like he helped me literally on EVERY step of the way, I also felt like he got to know me, my needs, my ideas AND my quirks so well that his consulting (and - let's face it - emotional support) became more impactful with every property we looked at. We spent a long time looking, we went through an offer that we lost, and Martin had to put up with quite a few logistical ups and downs with me. Throughout the whole journey, I felt so well supported and guided that - when it was time to make a scary offer on a dream home - I knew I could trust Martin and BOOM! Thank you! read more

Martin impressed us with his attention to detail and professionalism from our very first home viewing. He was extremely knowledgeable, helpful, and dedicated through the whole home-buying process. Very patient and accommodating, Martin answered all of our questions and took time to explain the many complex factors that could potentially impact our decision. In a very fast-paced business, Martin was always quick to respond and help position us for success. After a few visits he was able to get a sense of our style and recommend some amazing places that we hadn't previously considered. His confidence and assertiveness helped us secure the perfect home that fit all of our requirements. We found that if you're going to be spending a lot of time with an agent, make sure that you enjoy being around them and that they won't push you to do something outside your comfort zone. Martin always gave us his honest feedback and found ways to have fun in the process. Not enough praise - thanks Martin! read more

Short story: Run. Don't walk. Martin is amazing. Work with him now. Long story: We met Martin by accident while we were out on noncommittal Open House weekend, in the before times. As first-time homebuyers, we were tiptoeing into the process and didn't quite know what we needed in a Realtor - we just knew we didn't much like any of the ones we'd met so far. Within seconds, we knew that we wanted to work with him. In our notes about the properties we saw that weekend, we had an enormous note in red ink that read LOVE MARTIN!!!! Our instinct was perfectly accurate. He very patiently wheeled around the East Bay with us, looking for the right space. During these visits, Martin offered important perspective about what to look for, educated us about Homebuying 101, talked us off the walls during any and all first-time-homebuyer freak outs, and kept a terrific sense of humor at every step. His easygoing, patient manner is equally met by a sharp professionalism, incredibly responsiveness, nuanced knowledge of the area and the market, and a very sharp mind. We successfully bought our first home, largely thanks to his guidance. I'm only sad that we don't get to spend our weekends house hunting with him anymore... but we plan to stay in touch, because he is AWESOME. read more

Working with Martin was great! His responsiveness and patience as we bought our first house was so helpful. He was great about answering our questions without ever feeling like he was trying to push us in any directions and was always straightforward which we appreciated read more

We had an outstanding experience working with Martin. He was always available to answer our questions and provided valuable insights that helped us make informed decisions. He knows the steps to take so that your house will sell quickly and for what it's worth. Overall, he exceeded our expectations in every way. Work with Martin! You won't regret it. Thank you for everything, Martin! read more

If you're searching for a realtor in the Bay Area, I can't recommend highly enough that you stop searching and contact Martin immediately. You'll be so glad that you did. We're first-time homebuyers and we had the good fortune of meeting Martin by chance a little over a year ago at an open house that he was showing for a client. Many months later, when we decided to get serious about buying, there was no doubt in our minds that we wanted to work with him. From day one he took incredible care of us. We felt supported from our very first conversation until the day we closed. He took the time to answer all of our questions and to educate us early on in the process about what to expect, so we never felt confused or "in the dark." I've heard stories from friends about how difficult the home buying process can be, but because of Martin, we always felt confident that we were on the right track and we knew that we were in good hands the whole way through. Martin is professional, knowledgeable, responsive, patient, generous with his time, and he's also a whole lot of fun to be around. Stress is inevitable when buying a home, but Martin went the extra mile at every turn to make sure that the stress didn't get the better of us. Because of him, we were able to enjoy the process of looking for the perfect home. We're moving into our new house in less than two weeks and we're looking forward to keeping in touch with Martin for a long time to come. read more

The best reference is a returning client! We have had the pleasure to work with Martin in 2014 when we purchased our home in Oakland. Five years later, we decided to move and we contacted Martin immediately and asked him to assist us with the sale of our home. Even though our move date was more than 6 months out, we already had a lot of questions and Martin always took the time and had the patience to answer them. Together with Martin, we prepared everything and felt that we were in good hands. Early 2020 the time to sell came. We already purchased our new home out of state and it was the time to execute on our plan. And suddenly there was COVID-19! During the lockdown staging was not deemed essential so it was not allowed, open houses became impossible (illegal) and we were not sure if we could get the contractors to complete the work needed. We were completely unsure about the next steps as the situation was new to all of us. Martin asked for a few days to evaluate this uncommon situation including the new legal framework and the impact of all actions on the health of all parties involved. After a few days, Martin came back with different ideas and a new plan. Long story short: the contractors did their job, Martin found great alternatives to the expensive staging (we even saved money here) and when it came to visually present our home in the best light on the internet, Martin had his expectations and he didn't stop until he has gotten us the best results. That way he attracted plenty of potential home buyers and despite COVID-19, we successfully sold our home with only a minimal delay, even though the house was completely empty. The photos were just brilliant! It is easy to sell a home in the Bay Area when everything is going perfectly well. But the coronavirus threw a wrench into a usually easy process making it hard and uncertain. That is the moment when you want to work with a realtor that knows his job and is flexible and creative enough to find alternative solutions where you think there are none. Martin is one of these realtors! Plus he always stays calm and is very reliable. Highly recommended, just like in 2014! read more

We worked with Martin to buy our house and then sell it two years later. Martin worked with us to and gave us realistic expectations for pricing or home and then anticipating what kind of price we will get. He went above and beyond and helped us with getting a landscaper for our yard that was well priced, and even helped us with tips on staging. While we were preparing our house for sale Martin checked in and made sure we were on schedule, as well as to see if we needed help. He provided great service. He also provided us with information all along the way on process, escrow, terms, etc. When we did get an offer, Martin was able to help us negotiate so we got the best offer possible and best of all he sold our house within a week of listing it! Thanks for all your help Martin. read more

Martin is the best! He helped me buy a townhouse in the Oakland hills recently and I was delighted with his level of service and support. He provided good advice when I asked for it and let me make my own decisions on the rest. We jointly worked out a below asking price offer that was immediately accepted by the owner. With his help, I was able to obtain a fantastic home in a great neighborhood at below market pricing for comparable properties. Martin's communications with the listing agent and my mortgage broker were timely and professional. He provided great encouragement as I went through the usual case of the buyer's nerves. He provided really everything you expect of a partner in real estate process and more. Highest marks! read more

Martin is a wonderful agent! One year after moving into my dream home, I look back fondly on a relatively easy purchase experience. I was impressed by his responsiveness to requests, questions, and deliverables with a quick turnaround. I'm happy to refer friends to an agent that I trusted through a process that could otherwise be overwhelming. Thanks, Martin, for all your help! read more

Martin is the best! My wife and I are now first time homeowners thanks to him. He did an excellent job helping us find exactly what we wanted, and he knew right where to look to help find us a home. Martin is very knowledgeable of Oakland neighborhoods, and was extremely considerate of our wants and needs through the whole process. Because of some complications on the Seller's side we ended up having a difficult closing process, but Martin led us through it patiently and knew all the right things to do to close successfully on our new house. I would highly recommend him to anyone! read more

Martin is a fantastic agent, We can't say enough good things about his professionalism, his tireless patience with endless questions, his persistence in doing a thorough job, and his willingness to go the extra mile for his clients. We couldn't have found a better group of agents to work with, and look forward to the next transaction! read more

I've been so busy enjoying the home Martin worked with me to buy 5 months ago that I'm just finding time to recommend him. I connected with Martin simply because he was proactive in offering his help when I reached out about a listing I had seen. Martin worked with me thru 3 deals before I landed offer #4. He was responsive, honest, knowledgable and low pressure about Oakland's intense market always providing the information I needed and taking the lead to communicate quickly and effectively with the seller and back to me. If you are looking for a no-nonsense realtor who takes time and patience to keep you moving forward in the process, give Martin a try. read more

Before today, I did not have a yelp account. However, I was so impressed with my recent experiences with Martin, I have created an account solely to share my opinions on his wonderful character and steadfast work-ethic. Martin and I have successfully closed on a home purchase for a mutual client. Although this project faced adversity in many ways, the end result was a great-success due to the individuals that made it happen. In my opinion, Martin is one of the best Realtors I have had the pleasure to work with. He takes ownership of ALL challenges and is a true advocate for his clients... going well-beyond normal expectations. I highly recommend Mr. Kojnok for all your real estate needs...he is a powerful resource for today's challenging housing market read more

Martin did a fantastic job in not only finding our famlily our first home, but also going through the close process with me step by step was very helpful We closed on a difficult foreclosed property that required many additional forms and documents. Martin was organized and detailed through out the home buying process. We were very grateful to have worked with him and look forward to working with Martin in the future. I would refer him to a friend or family for their real estate needs to anytime. read more

After going thru three Realtors I finally found Martin on a random Sunday open house. He offered what he could do for me and immediately I discovered this guy is more attentive, well organized, and very market knowledgeable. While in contract and in the inspection phase he took the time to hand-hold me thru the process. Although he's been doing this for just a few years, however, you would not believe it. And if he has an issue that is new to him he has two other seasoned realtors to obtain the answer from. So it's like you are getting three for one with Marty. He also will buy you a drink whenever you see him. Solid guy. I Highly recommend this gentleman! read more

Martin is the best!! He came highly recommended from a friend who had great success as well. He is very personable, professional, and detail orientated. We were first time home buyers with very little experience and knowledge about the home buying experience and Martin helped us tremendously. In fact, the very 1st offer we ever put in was ACCEPTED and that was due to his exprience in knowing the market and our budget. And throughout the whole process he was available to answer any questions and concerns making sure we were informed buyers. read more

We are from Atlanta. We wanted to buy a home for our son who attends to UC Berkeley. The process of homebuying was much more different than l'd imagined in the bay area. It is insanely difficult housing market for buyers. We met Martin initially at one of the open house visit. We liked his approach and asked him to work with us. Because we were on a very tight timeframe. Martin prepared us a condo list within a several hours of our first meeting. He was incredibly friendly and took his time to sit down with us to determine what would be a good fit for us. He even recommended a lending agent Mike Molina in the area, which we ended up using and greatly appreciated. Working with Martin exceeded any of my expectations. As a first time homebuyer in the bay area, I was not familiar with the process in California. He was very helpful in explaining the entire process and really relieved my stress level.. I truly believe his expertise helped tremendously in our offer getting accepted. Martin gave us excellent guidance, unflagging availability, and deep knowledge about the process. In short we're quite pleased with our experience with Martin. We highly recommend him. read more

My wife and I just purchased a home in the East Bay and were turned on to Martin randomly by a colleague. Martin was incredible and not only navigated us through the market during this insane, hyper-competitive period but also helped us negotiate cash back from the seller during our closing. As first time home buyers, we were more-or-less completely freaked out by the process and Martin methodically walked us through every step of the process -- downtown to the scrolls of paperwork -- to make sure we were clear and comfortable at every point in the decision. He also calmly talked my wife off the ledge on several occasions (and all hours) which is a service that deserves it's own Yelp category entirely. Martin helped us make the biggest decision of our lives and and we were so very lucky to have worked with someone we could trust to depend upon to make it happen. read more

I worked with Martin for about a year looking for the right property. I already own a home and was looking for investment property in Oakland. I've worked with several other agents over the years in other real estate deal and was very satisfied with Martin's professionalism, knowledge of local real estate trends, and, mostly, his patience. I now own a beautiful 2 unit building in a great location; exactly what I was looking for. read more