As I write this review, the Bay Area is in its third month of shelter-in-place due to Covid-19. This is not a good time to be doing business, but Mark Richardson got the job done for us, and exceeded all expectations of a real estate agent, particularly during these difficult times. My wife and sister-in-law have elderly parents who needed a safe place to spend their golden years. We've known Mark from the school community and our neighborhood for a long time, and he had always been helpful when we needed a referral for a plumber, electrician, handyman, etc., so we wanted to work with him in our search. Now, I'll preface this review by saying that my in-laws are not the easiest people to work with. Part of me was hesitant about engaging Mark's services, because I worried that he would sour quickly to working with them. We met with him before introducing him to my in-laws to warn him of what he was getting himself into, but he assured us that he was up to the challenge. Mark was very generous with his time, and whenever a question arose about a particular home he was quick to find the answer for us. He was respectful of my in-laws and their idiosyncrasies (and they have a lot), and was tolerant of the frequent whipsawing of opinions about this place or that. They finally settled on a place that met all their needs and expectations, but the price was considerably higher than the range that we had hoped for. Mark promptly went to work with the negotiations, and came back to us with a shockingly large cut in selling price. After that, it was just a matter of ironing out the small details, which Mark attended to very meticulously. In early April we closed on a beautiful property in Palo Alto, close to University Avenue. Keep in mind that this was accomplished while the Bay Area was still in the most restrictive state of shelter-in-place, and though real estate transactions were still permitted, it was no easy feat to get all the pieces into place. Even after closing, Mark continued to be there for us and my in-laws - acting as a go-between between them and the management, and even helping move furniture. He still checks in with us from time to time to make sure that everything is working out fine. So, from start to finish working with Mark was a real pleasure. His knowledge of the local market, friendly demeanor, and personal commitment all made for a smooth buying experience. Highly, highly recommended. read more

As first time home buyers we researched and met with several agents before deciding to work with Mark. We selected Mark because he is personable, knowledgeable and most of all ethical. From day one it was clear that the only thing Mark cared about in our buying process was that we find the right house at the right price and be happy with the outcome. He provided a perfect balance of knowledge and information with reassurance and support. Since we were looking in an extremely specific area and within a relatively limited price range, Mark worked hard to show us properties that fit our needs. We visited over 30 properties, some of which we visited several times and Mark always worked with our schedule (we went out on weekends, evenings and in the morning before work). Mark was super welcoming to my mom on one weekend excursion and was always interested in feedback on houses that we visited on our own (open houses). Mark knew intricate details about house styles, history, neighborhoods and was full of advice about the condition and worth of each property. I am an extremely opinionated and very picky person, sometimes difficult to get along with and Mark always met us with a smile, and a positive attitude. He was always early and always dressed in a sharp suit. It was so gratifying to see that our agent took our house hunt as serious as we did! Along with being crazy picky, I am also pretty emotional and high strung and on several occasions when he could sense I was upset or depressed about the house hunting Mark called me to just help me relax and put things into perspective. He has a real ability to understand and empathize with his clients emotional stress (home buying in the bay area, where inventory is low and prices are high, can be extremely stressful) while maintaining the professional care and demeanor to relieve that stress and bring calm and rationality back to the home buying process. In total Mark helped us write several offers and fought for us in 3 multiple offer scenarios. Our offers were not cash heavy and Mark helped us strategize with each contract in order to present the best possible and most competitive offer each time. Mark is so dedicated that he actual wrote and presented the offer for the house we bought (and several counteroffers back and forth with the seller) while he was away on his family vacation, simply because he knew we wanted the house and that time was of the essence in the multiple offer situation. After our offer was accepted Mark didn't disappear like a lot of agents would. He was with us at the house constantly (sometimes 5 days a week) through every inspection, each bid for repairs (so we knew what to ask the seller for) and he even met us at the house when my partner's father flew out from the east coast and again when my father drove in from Sacramento. He worked very hard with the seller's agent (who was only part time real estate and would have constantly dropped the ball if it were not for Mark picking up the slack), and was in constant communication with us about the process. I have so many stories of how Mark constantly went above and beyond the call of duty to make the process easier or to make us happy. One especially cool example, when our roof sprung a leak in the middle of the escrow process and the sellers (who were no longer living in the house) were slow to respond in the middle of a torrential rain storm Mark contracted our roofer and paid for the repair himself (or as he said, as a housewarming gift). We are so pleased with our house and feel like we got the best house at a perfect price, thanks to Mark's hard work. One final note, a lot of people say that you can tell about a real estate agent base not on customer referrals, but based on their industry reputation. Well, to this day, every single person I have talked to about Mark (other realtors, home inspectors, roof inspector, pest inspectors, termite crew, plumbers, electricians and handymen) all speak about Mark's integrity and professionalism and what a pleasure he is to work with. Our roofer says that he has worked with a lot of scum realtors and is pretty cynical but that Mark is one of only two realtors his family would ever use to buy or sell a house (the other being Dennis, who owns MGM Realty). THE LONG AND SHORT: Mark is tenacious, diligent, knowledgeable, caring and ethical. All MUST HAVE traits in a realtor. Looking back to the beginning of our home search to the realtors who didn't seem that bad but just didn't "click" with us, we are so happy and lucky to have worked with Mark on the purchase our first home and we are pleased to speak highly of him to anyone who will listen. I can't wait to introduce him to all of our friends and we plan to work with him on all of real estate related transactions in the future. read more

To merely use the term "above and beyond" completely minimizes how great Mark has been working for us. Our family was often completely unable to address some of the tasks needed to get the house ready for sale. Without hesitation, time after time, Mark stepped in with a reassuring smile that he'd take care of the issue and keep us updated. I would try and give a rough estimate of how hard he worked, but, to be honest, I lost track myself, he was that busy. But I am so thankful he's helped up through a very successful sales process and certainly consider him a friend as well as an awesome (and funny!) realtor. read more

In recent years, members of my family have done local business with MGM. We can say with certainty that the Morenos are a top-notch real estate office! Dennis and Laura go above and beyond the daily duties of your 'garden-variety' realtors. They're a very 'hands-on' family enterprise and have generations of experience in the Sunnyvale and surrounding areas. Throughout the years, the Morenos have established a very solid reputation in the community and have ALL the 'connections'; from contractors, roofers, home inspection, clean-up/hauling away, etc necessary to 'get the job done' and are second to none! In addition, the Morenos are a very reliable and dependable family concern who aim to maintain ongoing, long-term and lifelong relationships with their clients and families they have done business with in years past. I would whole-heartedly recommend MGM to anyone in the Sunnyvale and surrounding areas who are in need of buying/selling property and/or require the services of local movers, home inspection, home repair, etc. read more

Dennis just finished selling my family's 15 unit in Sunnyvale, and has sold several other of our family properties over the years. As with all of the real-estate transactions that he has handled for us, he handled this most resent one with his customary professionalism and integrity. During the negotiations and escrow period we hit several bumps in the road (some pretty rough). Dennis stepped up to bat each time and helped smooth the way through to the closing of escrow. Most of us may only ever purchase or sell a property once or twice in our lifetimes. I truly feel that Dennis understands this, and has the patience and clarity to explain some of the complicated paperwork and protocol which arise during the process of buying or selling. I speak for myself and my family when I say that we are truly grateful to have had Dennis by our side during the process of this last sale, and well as the sales he has helped facilitate for us in the past! read more

We have been working with Dennis and Laura, both of whom have demonstrated outstanding professionalism and customer service. The place they found for us is absolutely perfect for our needs. We are so grateful to have found this company, which has more than exceeded our expectations. Highly recommended! read more

How grateful we are to have Mark Richardson as our realtor. He is kind, professional, knowledgeable, and goes the exta mile for his clients. We sold our home in Sunnyvale while living 1000 miles away. Mark went out of his way to check the house during torrential rains, kept a savvy eye on the contractors, and knew just what to recommend so our house sold with 23 offers. 23! After the offers came in and we were under contract, Mark kept us informed every step of the way. He responded quickly to phone and emails and was cheerful even when we were stressed. Thank you, Mark! read more

We were trying to lease a new place when we came across a property that was being managed by Mark Richardson. He was very courteous and professional to me and my wife. He was patient throughout the 9-10 days that we spent in finalizing the lease. It was fairly straightforward and easy to deal with him. He was responsive via email or phone and helpful at all times. We had several queries directed at the landlord and he effectively communicated back and forth between the two parties. He was upfront about the terms and the expectations. Although things did not work out in the end due to reasons not under Mark's control, we ended up having a positive experience dealing with Mark. When we had to let go of the lease he was very professional, pleasant and understanding. Hope to deal with him in the future. read more

I simply cannot say enough good things about Mark Richardson as both a realtor and a property manager. Ethical, professional, diligent, calm, pleasant, experienced--the list goes on. I have dealt with a few Bay Area real estate agents and property managers over the last couple of years as I settled my mother's estate. Mark was the best of the bunch! I made my Realtor selections very carefully, interviewing various agents, so in the end I was happy with each one, but Mark outshone them all. I got to know Mark over the year+ that he managed a rental property for us that had multiple deferred maintenance issues and some sticky problems that required a lot of patience to resolve. I don't live in the area, so I really relied on Mark to help mediate and keep an eye on the property for me. He helped us find excellent new tenants, which is an art itself. When we were finally ready to put the property up for sale, he made saavy suggestions about what kinds of "sprucing up" repairs were worth paying for, and which weren't. Also, he is such an incredibly talented middle-man. As our agent, not only does he have to represent us, but he also has to inform the tenants of their rights and reassure them about what occurs during the sale process and after. Then he has to deal with the buyer's agent and the buyer. He handled all with the calm and professionalism I had observed over our year of working together. Best of all he helped us get a great price for our property! Bay Area real estate is a crazy and complex market, and it is very reassuring to have someone who's lived there all his life help you navigate the shark-filled waters. read more

We bought an apartment as home in Sunnyvale by working with Mark recently. It is the first time we bought a property. Before working directly with Mark as our buying agent (at the same time he was the selling agent for the same property), we had a horrible experience with another realtor, we had to pay quite a lot of money for getting away from that deal. We had fear at that moment but Mark saved us. He is a honest, trust-able person, he let us know all the details about the property and transition, and he is always ready to help and answer questions. He is the standard of a real business man.There was no secret talk, no hidden things, but only the truth. We don't have any problem to go through the process, we recommend Mark Richardson since he is a really good realtor based on our experience. read more

When I began searching for a home in the Bay Area, the complexity of the process and idiosyncrasies of the regional market made me really uncomfortable. I'm used to figuring things out on my own, but I quickly realized that I was out of my depth. Mark Richardson saved the day. He helped me understand the process, making it accessible and easier to navigate. That's what I value most about Mark: he empowered me to be in control of my home purchase. Instead of just telling me what to do, Mark always took the time to fully explain the options so that I could feel confident and make a well-informed decision on my own. As a result of Mark's expert insight and support, I always felt like I had the facts that I needed to be comfortable with my choices. Mark is extremely knowledgable and experienced. When he went with me to look at houses, he pointed out a lot of important details to make me aware of issues and benefits that I would never have recognized on my own. He also shared a tremendous amount of knowledge about real estate negotiation, helping me understand how to compete effectively in a market that is saturated with tough-to-beat cash offers. Mark was also very accommodating. I was staying in the Bay Area without a car while hunting for a house, but it was never a problem because Mark was always happy to pick me up himself. He drove me to every house that we looked at together. He also went to great lengths to accommodate my schedule. During escrow, Mark worked hard to make sure that everything progressed smoothly. On several occasions when my lender moved too slowly or made mistakes, Mark exceeded all expectations by stepping in with a timely intervention to help me resolve the problems. With Mark's help, I was able purchase a great home within my budget. I couldn't have done it without him. read more

My sisters and I worked with Dennis Moreno to sell our mothers home in Sunnyvale. Through his recommendations and familiarity with the area, it was a lot of help for us to get our mothers house ready to sell. Once all the work on the house was done, it was ready to be listed with Dennis. Open house was on Saturday and Sunday, by Monday we were receiving offers, we received multiple offers, and it sold above asking price. To say the least, we were very pleased by our experience with MGM Real Estate & Dennis Moreno. read more

Being in escrow for over 20 years, I have worked with TONS of realtors. Over the last year or so I have had the pleasure of working with Mark Richardson on his REO transactions. He is efficient and extremely thorough which makes my job that much easier. I can only imagine how thorough he is on the buyer/seller side! Thank you Mark for your business and professionalism! read more

I worked with Mark Richardson for the first time about four years ago. Mark helped me get my first house right as the economy and real estate market had tanked. Although Mark's office is in Sunnyvale, a city that is full of $1 million homes (and is surrounded by similarly priced homes), he took more time than he should have to show me a bunch of houses and he guided me through the home buying process. Now it's time for me to upgrade and Mark hasn't changed a bit. He makes me feel like I'm the only person he's representing and he's never too busy to answer his phone and return emails. I also really enjoy his no-pressure approach...he's full of suggestions but makes it abundantly clear that I'm free to do what I want. I couldn't ask for anything more from a realtor. read more

We started our investment property house hunting maybe 2 years ago, and Mark Richardson has been helping us through the entire lengthy process. Mark is very patient, knowledgeable and professional. He showed me numerous homes (as soon as I came up with a new property list, he took me see them asap), explained pros and cons in terms of the neighborhood/condition/rent, helped us deal with sellers, got through the purchase process smoothly, and after I renovated the house, he found great tenants for us. Although there were like millions of things to take care during the contracting, he got it well organized and I didn't have to worry at all. The more we work with him, the more we trust him. Highly recommended. read more

Update: Mark also helped me sell my home and I am reminded what a pro he is and how easy he is to work with. He listed my home on a Thursday, we had 120+ people come to the open house on the weekend (even though it rained both days), and by Wednesday I had multiple offers above asking price. He sold it in 6 days! read more

As a first time homebuyer, I was incredibly anxious about the whole process. Mark Richardson was incredibly understanding and patient as we looked at house after house. He was very reliable and always made himself available. Being new to the world of home buying, I knew nothing about the process and felt overwhelmed. Mark was great about answering any and all of my questions no matter how silly they were! He is very knowledgable, and helped guide me through the whole process. He was there every step of the way, and I feel so incredibly lucky to have had the pleasure of working with him. read more

Mark Richardson helped us with the purchase of our first house 7 years ago and we just love our house. We chose Mark instead of several other realtors because he isn't pushy, he is honest, he communicates clearly and he listens well; qualities we did not find in the other realtors we interviewed. He was a great help throughout the whole process including advocating for us and being at the title company explaining everything as we went through the lengthy contract. We wanted to be informed each step of the way and he understood our needs both in terms of our wanting to understand each part of the purchasing process, as well as our ideas about what an ideal home for us would be in a tough market for buyers. He took us to many wonderful homes, explained the pros and cons of each neighborhood as we considered them, and then helped us make offers on two. The house we ended buying is wonderful in a great neighborhood with a large enough yard to meet our needs. We feel very good about the purchase and have been very happy in our own home. We have maintained contact with Mark - because not only is he a knowledgeable realtor, but he is also a great guy!! He went above and beyond in helping us to navigate buying a house, he even went with us under the house into the crawl space for a closer inspection, and now remains available to assist us with questions, giving professional advice and fact finding while we evaluated our house for refinancing and answering queries about property taxes. Mark is the first person we think of when we think about real estate and we have never been disappointed. He is a professional, intelligent, caring realtor who works hard for his clients. read more

Mark Richardson was the selling agent for us. He is highly professional, honest and has the client's best interest in mind. From start to finish he was in constant contact regarding the status of the contract, He was very knowledgeable of local comps to set a selling price, helped us through all the necessary paperwork to start the listing, and kept us informed of the progress. From the initial offer to close of escrow we were in touch with him and everything went smoothly. We highly recommend Mark. read more

Mark Richardson went above and beyond the call of duty assisting us with selling our Sunnyvale home. He explained every step in detail and reassured us when we became nervous. I emailed and texted with questions and requests and he always gave a helping hand. I appreciated the amount of time he spent coordinating painters, carpet installers and cleaning crew before the open houses. He really cared about doing a great job and making it easy for me and my husband during the sometimes stressful time of selling a home. He even made a few phone calls and found us a real estate agent up north when we didn't have good luck finding someone that we liked. As for the actual business of putting our house on the market, I felt that Mark has a keen grasp on the pulse of our Ponderosa neighborhood in Sunnyvale. He gave us wonderful advice on pricing strategy and how to prepare our house for sale. I'd highly recommend him for any of your real estate needs. read more

Mark Richardson was referred to us by one of my coworkers, whose husband is 'old friends' with Mark. My coworker and her husband had recently purchased a house using Mark as their Realtor, and were very pleased. Mark is very professional, nice, upfront, honest & a great listener. He is clearly very educated on the housing market, and has great knowledge and advice on the areas we were considering for our new home. This advice was invaluable to us, since we were new to the area. Mark was very patient with us while we figured out what we did and didn't like about certain houses and neighborhoods. After a few intensive weeks, we found a house we loved, put in an offer, and after a little back and forth, it was accepted. He walked us through each step of the way, taking time to explain the process and answer any & all questions. He was by our sides at closing, and went above and beyond to get us our house in record time! Mark dealt with a less than awesome seller/agent, and made sure to protect us from the stress of it, while still keeping us informed. We love our home, and our neighbors & neighborhood. Our experience with Mark was fantastic! Whenever we should decide to sell or buy again, we will definitely be working with Mark. We also are excited that my parents are working with Mark on the search & hopeful purchase of their new home in the coming months. They've already met with Mark after our referral, and are thrilled to be working with him! =) read more