My wife and I have used Amber Russell for 3 real estate transactions in the past 6 years. In 2013 she helped us negotiate and purchase a wonderful starter home in Monterey before we had children. After the sale, she guided us to multiple credible contractors for jobs of varying complexity. Flash forward 6 years and we now have two small children. We outgrew the 1,110 SqFt, 3/1 home. I contacted 3 contractors with minimal response. I texted Amber after a 5-year hiatus for contractors that specialize in additions. She came back with not only recommendations, but she personally contacted and retrieved rough quotes from reputable builders. We ran a cost/benefit analysis and selling made sense for our needs. Amber came to our home prepared with details about the market and our home, her number and my number were within $500 for a list price. She is realistic and knows the Peninsula market. This is key, as I've worked with realtors in the past that low ball a list price for a quick transaction. When you hear ads about reduced commission "full service" listing, I assure you it isn't comparable to Amber. She will give you advice about what should be done pre-listing. She does it in a kind way but doesn't sugar coat facts. She came in and staged our home with designer décor we never would have considered. She shared that she has at least 3 full storage units of staging material. A few years back we removed and disposed of our closet doors to free up space. We measured the opening and she found that doors from her own home would fit. She took them off and gave them to us. Let me repeat, she took her personal home closet doors off to replace ours. I'm very type A and overly research everything. I spend hours scouring Redfin, Zillow, and MLS. The way a listing is portrayed online makes a huge difference. Amber strategically listed our home with a coming soon marketing campaign. She hired a professional photographer and created a full video tour of the home to accompany the eloquent description on all of the sites and the front page of local newspapers. Once the house was listed it reached #1 viewed home ranking via Zillow analytics within the first day. The home was listed on a Tuesday. The heavily attended broker's open tour was Wednesday and a public open house was that Sunday. One week after listing we received multiple offers, countered, and accepted an offer that met our exact needs and above the asking price with a 20-day close. Amber negotiated the ability for us to rent the home back for a month while we navigated the logistics of moving. She's since been helping us purchase a trust sale home with complications requiring an extended escrow and probate. The home we're purchasing meets all of our needs and validates the cost/benefit analysis of the addition versus selling/buying. She helped us strengthen our offer with numerous tactics beyond simply raising our offer price. Some examples are writing personalized notes to the sellers, having our lender call the listing agent, and review inspection reports for releasing certain contingencies. Amber is punctual, knowledgeable, tech-savvy, easy to work with, has trade secret strategies up her sleeve, and she's got jokes. We will refer all of our friends and family to Amber. If we ever move again, she will unquestionably be our agent. Amber is a professional in her trade and earns her commission. She knows the business, the local area, and she listens to her clients. If you're on the fence about a realtor, you've found your agent. read more

This is our second time working with Amber at Over the Moon which should tell you something about the level of attention and service she provides. We purchased a home with her in Pacific Grove, CA, back in 2018, where she provided outstanding insights into the local market, what to offer, etc. Fast forward to 2024, when we were ready to sell (and at the same time buy in another state). We of course turned to Amber to handle the listing. She had her work cut out for her because our home in Pacific Grove was actively rented, and we had a property out of state that we loved that we wanted to buy with the strongest contingency we could, which meant trying to have an offer in-hand for the CA home. There was a tiny window where we had no renter for 1 week. She dropped everything, and put together a quick-fire open house that was well-attended, and got a super strong offer! But it doesn't end there.. Unfortunately, through no fault of her own, that offer fell through (and so did the house we had targeted to buy out of state..) So the ~1 month of craziness ensued where we found another house out of state, and Amber worked miracles to get our CA house presented even more beautifully, tending to things like refreshing the flowers and landscape, deep clean, working with the rental management company and between renters.. She held several open houses in as many days, keeping us informed but not overly so (so that we would not stress), and all the while we were working the "buy" side, and found ourselves more than once dipping into her insights even for our out of state new purchase just as much as for the sale of the CA property she was responsible for. Even the agents from "buy" property stated words of admiration and appreciation for Amber's insights and wisdom. In the end she made the sale a success, and it occurred days before the "buy", enabling a less complex and less costly (and way less stressful) traditional 1031 exchange (as opposed to a "reverse" exchange which would have been necessary if the sale were not before the buy). To be honest, we never imagined she could make a sale happen so quickly (and believe me it took heroics & very much heavy lifting to do it, and she absolutely put in "the work"), and we are so thankful she did. And her insights absolutely contributed to our successful "buy" as well. She has a natural knack and instinct for the real estate world, coupled with a style of interacting that is both kind and diplomatic while also being direct. I am firmly convinced that no other person could have pulled off the rapid and strong transaction that made our sell & buy happen than Amber, and I would reach out to her in a heartbeat for any future real estate insights even if they are out of state, and I am positive she would pick up the phone, because that is the kind of agent and person she is! read more

It is with the greatest enthusiasm that we recommend Amber Russell with Over The Moon Realty to anyone seeking an exceptional real estate professional. We have now had the privilege of working with her twice, and on both occasions, she has not only exceeded every possible expectation but has also given us the rare gift of making what could have been a daunting process into a joyful, seamless experience. Our most recent home purchase is a dream opportunity we never imagined possible, and it is entirely thanks to her. Amber's thought of us when she learned of an off-market property that perfectly aligned with our long-held wishes. Because she is so well connected, so attentive, and so thoughtful in remembering our vision, she brought it to us unsolicited. Quite simply, we would never have found this home without her. From the very beginning, Amber anticipated every need and guided us with extraordinary care. She connected us with trusted resources for insurance quotations, loan brokers, inspections, title, home repairs, and even furnishings, ensuring that each step was not only handled but handled with excellence. Her deep knowledge of local zoning, permitting, town processes, and historical constraints proved invaluable. At every turn, she researched, advocated, coached, counseled, guided, and reassured us. We always felt in the best possible hands. What sets her apart, however, is the way she goes far beyond the role of a realtor. She orchestrated details well outside of any typical scope to ensure our move-in was smooth and successful--even involving her family members in lending a helping hand. It was not the work of a realtor alone, but of a longstanding friend, someone deeply invested in our happiness and well-being. It is rare to encounter a professional of such caliber, someone who combines unmatched expertise with genuine care. We fully recognize that our dream home opportunity never would have been possible without the remarkable relationship we built with her years ago during our first purchase. The continuity of her dedication and friendship has been nothing short of extraordinary. For all these reasons, we recommend Amber Russel with the highest level of confidence and admiration. She is, without question, a standout in her field, and anyone fortunate enough to work with her will experience the same unwavering excellence that we did. read more

One word for Amber and that is Awesome! We had the pleasure of working with Amber Russell as our real estate broker to find us our dream vacation home in Pacific Grove, and we couldn't be happier with the experience. Amber's market analysis was a game-changer. She meticulously gathered data on comparable properties, recent sales, and neighborhood statistics. This information was crucial in helping us make informed decisions. Her attention to detail and thorough research was impressive, and it became clear that Amber was committed to ensuring we received the best possible deal. One of the most remarkable aspects of working with Amber was the personalized property tours she arranged. She took the time to schedule viewings at our convenience and accompanied us to each property. During these tours, Amber's keen eye for detail and knowledge of construction and design were invaluable. She pointed out both the strengths and potential drawbacks of each property, ensuring we had a well-rounded understanding of our options. Throughout the negotiation process, Amber maintained transparent and open lines of communication. She provided regular updates and was always available to answer our questions and address any concerns. This level of communication fostered trust and confidence, making the entire experience stress-free. Her attention to detail and proactive approach prevented any last-minute surprises, and the entire process was seamless. Even after the deal closed, Amber continued to offer her support. She provided us with valuable resources for home repairs and maintenance, and her commitment to our satisfaction did not end with the transaction. This level of dedication is a testament to Amber's commitment to building lasting relationships with her clients. read more

Amber recently helped us purchase our home in Carmel. To say we were blessed to have her guidance through the process is an understatement. We were moving from San Jose after living there for the last 19 years and began our search with some trepidation since we knew very little about this area. We came upon her name through a search of yelp reviews and couldn't be happier with our decision to have her represent us. My husband and I have both simply loved working with her every step of the way. She was beyond amazing in not just her deep knowledge and experience, but her willingness to bend over backwards to be of help. In addition to being a consummate professional and a terrific agent who is responsive, thorough, diligent, and efficient, Amber is a lovely human being- warm, kind, empathetic and generous. She is known, liked and highly respected by the agents in the area and is extremely well-connected. She helped us navigate every aspect of the process and even after the purchase, she has continued to be our angel. She has assisted us with everything from helping our daughter transition to her new school....to surprising us with a Christmas tree (a true feat since there were none available anywhere given Covid time demand! My daughter literally shrieked with happiness and delight!!)...to recommending an amazing carpenter (who built a fence for our labradoodle) and even a great dog groomer in town!! As we settle into our beautiful new home, we are deeply grateful to have found her and can attest to the fact that she has been an absolute Godsend. Amber is no ordinary real estate agent and we simply cannot recommend her highly enough! read more

If you are looking for a realtor on the Monterey Peninsula, hire Amber Russell. There's no question about it. Simply put, she's amazing! We had been flirting with the idea of purchasing a home in Pacific Grove for years. We wanted a second home that could, in time, become our forever home. We did a LOT of research on local area realtors. We narrowed our list and interviewed a few candidates. Everything we read about Amber was confirmed in the interview, and my wife and I both immediately had a strong comfort level with her. Amber was extremely professional. Her attention to detail was first rate, giving us supreme confidence that the most important transaction of our lives would be handled professionally. Amber was patient and never pressured us. It was comfortingly clear to us that Amber wanted us to find the right home for us, not just a home. Amber is also extremely well-regarded by other realtors. The respect she commands from her incomparable track records and involvement in the community is an asset that enhances in no small way her representation of her clients. I firmly believe that her gift for writing clean offers and being straightforward gives her clients' offers a leg-up on competing offers. Once she helped us get our dream home, she didn't stop being of service. She has remained available to answer questions, give advice and has even offered to help us with some post-sale details before we move in. I couldn't be happier with her representation of us and recommend her without hesitation to anyone in need of a realtor on the Peninsula. read more

My wife and I found and purchased a beautiful beach tract home in 2012. While we hoped this would be the last home, we knew we might have one more move. I began to follow the beach tract market and kept the realty advertisements we got in the mail. Through the years, one name kept popping up. That name was Amber Russell. When our neighbor across the street passed away, Amber sold the home. My wife and I then decided that Amber would be our choice to sell our home when the time came. In 2022, the time came. We met with Amber who took us through the process of selling our home so we understood what we could expect in terms of the labor of preparing the home to be sold and negotiating the offers that might come. She knew painters, and other specialists. Under her direction, we looked at nearly every aspect of the home and got (nearly everything) working. With the new paint job on the outside, she staged the home making it beautiful inside. She worked diligently and tirelessly to schedule maintenance workers, inspectors, and fellow realtors to enter the home. Amber and her staff held open house events twice a week for every week the home was on the market. She made herself available for status calls and we spoke frequently. Then the housing market began to crumble. She told us our home would sell and she would stick with us until it sold. Finally, when offers arrived, she advised us on the actions we would take. While we held our breath though the counter offers, we sold our home! My wife and I would choose Amber (and Rob) again in a heartbeat. read more

I can't recommend working with Amber enough! My husband and I had an *exceptional* experience working with her from out of town as we were looking to purchase a home in PG. She helped us find the perfect home for our needs, and went above and beyond during and even after the closing process. Amber is incredibly knowledgeable, responsive, accessible, accommodating and well connected. The first time we met with her we were with our little ones, and she was so understanding about meeting us at a park while we were visiting from out of town (and needed our kids to be distracted long enough to talk with her!). Then when our house came on the market, she offered to do a FaceTime call so we could initially see the house, and then met with both my husband and me separately when we came to see it in person as we weren't able to go at the same time. She was so accommodating which made the whole process easier on us. She was very knowledgeable and supportive during the offer (and counter offer) process, as well as throughout the inspection / contingency process. We got the house we wanted below the offer price. Amber knows the area well and is incredibly well connected. Even after closing, she's helped connect us with a variety of tradespeople, getting bids, setting up a contractor lock box, etc. Her husband even came to our house to fix up a few things. Everyone she refers us to is as nice and reasonable as she is! She is the best and we could not be happier with our experience working with her! I'd highly recommend her to anyone! read more

Amber from Over the Moon Realty recently helped my wife and I sell our home and working with her was an absolute pleasure! We met Amber almost 7 years ago when she helped us buy the same home we just sold and the level of service she provided was unforgettable. Naturally, we had to hire Amber again and, like before, the entire process was smooth and stress-free. Her expertise and knowledge of her craft made it incredibly easy to work with her. She provided invaluable guidance on how to prepare our home for sale, coordinated all of the staging with the help of her incredible team, and presented a very compelling pricing strategy. Amber's attention to detail ensured that every aspect of the listing was perfect, maximizing our appeal and landing us multiple offers. Throughout the selling process, Amber was answering our questions, helping us with scheduling, and providing sage advice. Her professionalism and dedication truly set her apart. Thanks to the hard work of her and her team, we were able to sell our home quickly and at a price that exceeded our expectations. We cannot recommend Amber highly enough to anyone looking to buy or sell a home in the Monterey area. She's not only the greatest realtor of all time, but a genuine and remarkable person. Thank you, Amber, for making it such a pleasure to buy and sell our home! We are over the moon with your service! read more

Amber Russell and Jen Ronan teamed up to help us buy our dream home in Pacific Grove. My husband and I recently moved to a rental home in Pacific Grove, and had been reviewing home listings for a year before that. After our move here, we sought out a realtor. We heard such positive reviews about Amber and she lived up to our high expectations. She was extremely responsive in setting up an initial meeting with us and in arranging showings to properties of interest. Her warm and friendly style was engaging and made the home search process much more pleasant. She collaborated with her colleague Jen Ronan, who is also a delightful person and helpful resource. When a small, historic home in the Retreat neighborhood came on the market, we attended the first day of open house, loved the home, and we let Amber know we wanted to write up an offer. She and Jen were nearby and offered to come right over to our home and discuss and prepare an offer. We submitted it that night, and were delighted to have it accepted the following day. Amber offered wise counsel throughout the process. We utilized the mortgage broker she recommended who was also very proactive, and even with a solar lease transfer, we made it through escrow in 25 days. We highly recommend Amber, Jen and Over the Moon Realty! read more

We knew we wanted to purchase a family vacation home in Pacific Grove, but were quite intimidated by how competitive the housing market is there. Living out of state and not being as familiar with the nuances of the area, it was clear that we needed the very best realtor we could find to help guide us through the buying process. I knew immediately after meeting with Amber that we had found our realtor. She exudes warmth, kindness, graciousness and confidence. Amber is incredibly knowledgeable about the entire region which was essential to us finding the home that would best suit our family's unique needs. We weren't in a hurry to buy and instead wanted to ensure that we waited for the right fit. Amber never rushed us or put pressure on us to move quicker than we wanted to. That said, once we found the home we loved, she was organized and decisive in guiding us through making an offer. With Amber leading us we always felt like every detail would be attended to and followed up on. She is an invaluable resource for referrals which has been essential to us coming from out of state. We are so grateful to have had Amber working with us throughout our home buying process and wholeheartedly recommend her! read more

Amber Russell (Over the Moon Realty) was recommended to us because she had close access to trades & suppliers that could turn our "lived in" house full of the debris of our continuous 38 years of occupancy into an attractive property. She did just that. All our friends & family who viewed her listing photos were specifically impressed with her taste & skill. She was also able to obtain favorable prices on many rehab services. Amber is an impressively hard worker & excellent communicator. She kept us closely informed on all matters & ensured our approval on any questionable decisions. We never had any problem contacting her with a question or discussion. She has great market knowledge & a keen sense of buyer appeal. We felt very secure in her recommendations & they turned out to be accurate. Upon listing, Amber conducted open houses at our property over two successive weekends, which generated five offers, four of which were over our asking price. This was no small feat, considering rising interest rates & marginal weather. We closed the sale a month later. This far exceeded our best expectations & we feel Amber is largely responsible. We recommend her most highly. Harry & Amy Wareham read more

Amber Russel is an AMAZING real estate agent! We listed our Mobile Home unit in the Monarch Pines complex with her. She listed the unit for more than we expected, and then the unit sold for more than the listing price. She kept us very well-informed during the entire process and made the entire process run smoothly and without a hitch. She is a great communicator. Amber is also a great listener. Working with her felt like a real partnership. She had great ideas, but also took the time to make sure she understood what our goals were. Amber was very proactive. She had great ideas on how to stage our home and what changes to make to maximize our proceeds from the sale. She had great contacts to make any repairs or alterations. She really took time to develop a plan to stage the unit and to present the unit in the very best light. Amber was very knowledgeable. She has sold many homes in the Monarch Pines Park and knows the market very well. She is the top agent for the park and before listing our homes we had heard much about what a great job she had done with other properties. If I knew someone who was selling a home, I would recommend that they list their home with Amber Russel. read more

We recently had the pleasure of working with real estate agent Lisa Michelle Masteller with Over the Moon Realty, Inc. She provided us with professional services to sell two homes in Pacific Grove. Throughout the process, Lisa was very responsive to our many contacts, and provided excellent support and advice. She quickly coordinated any inspections or services that were required during the escrow process. In the rare instance she did not know the answer to our question, she was able to quickly get the needed info from her broker. We were very impressed with how well the paperwork process went and Lisa assisted every step of the way. Lisa's assistance with doing a comparative market analysis, to ensure that the best possible selling prices were achieved, was greatly appreciated! We felt during the entire process that she had our best financial interests in mind, and we knew that we could count on her to be there for us! We really appreciated her positive and friendly attitude throughout the process. We would highly recommend using Lisa Michelle Masteller for your real estate needs! We would certainly use her services again. Consiglio Family, Pacific Grove, CA read more

We fortuitously connected with Amber on Zillow the minute we saw the listing for our oceanfront home in Pacific Grove, CA and are so grateful we had her local expertise and incredibly patient, kind demeanor to guide us through the process.  She was exceptionally responsive, supportive and understanding and worked with us around the clock to respond to our various questions and issues. This level of customer service and true partnership has continued beyond close in a way that we would have never expected as she has helped us work through temporary furniture options, secured the right talent to fix known issues, offered excellent suggestions to help us better understand our new local community and more.  So many things about this home felt right to me from the very start including having Amber as our real estate agent and broker. I am a hard woman to please yet she was able to surprise and delight throughout the last few weeks while always communicating with the proper dose of clarity and reality.  Anyone would be blessed to have her as their real estate agent and broker in Pacific Grove and the surrounding communities-Amber is top notch quality all around! read more

The Best Realtor Ever - A True Professional - Amazing Level of Service. Amber Russell was the best realtor I have ever worked with, and I have worked with many. I was going to do a For Sale by Owner and was looking for a stager. I saw some listings by Amber and loved the staging. I called her and asked who staged for her and learned that she did her own staging (free of charge!). She was so knowledgeable and experienced in my unique situation (cumbersome HOA rules for one) that I decided to hire her. I am soooo glad that I did! She is all about service. First, the staging was gorgeous, just perfect, very professional. And her husband and other family moved much of my furniture, stored it, hung drapes, and so much more. She provided a level of service we would all wish for, always there for me, guiding me through every step, providing great resource options (home inspection, termite inspection,etc.). She returns texts and phone calls very quickly. Her knowledge and skills are excellent. She helped me price my home perfectly and helped me negotiate when we received an offer. My house sold in 6 days for above the asking price. A superb experience! read more

Amber did an outstanding job in the selling of our family home in a very desirable area of Pacific Grove. After our first meeting and a tour of the house, she had many great ideas regarding giving the house a fresh new look in order to attract buyers and get the best listing price. Since we live out of state, we felt very confident leaving the work in her hands and we were not disappointed. With her network of painters, contractors, etc., she achieved quite a beautiful transformation in a matter of weeks and along the way kept us updated on every step of the process. Several offers were received within days of the listing. Amber thoroughly explained and summarized each offer and helped choose the best one. The house actually sold for quite a bit more than the list price, no doubt due to Amber's updating ideas. Throughout the selling process, from our first meeting with Amber to the close of escrow, Amber went above and beyond. She was extremely knowledgable, kept us updated every step of the way, and quickly responded to any questions. We would highly recommend her to anyone thinking of listing their property. read more

""February 25, 2021 Our previous experiences with the real estate community have been generally unpleasant and annoying. Nothing could be further from the truth concerning our working together with Amber! We can't say enough good things about her. Amber was extremely easy to work with. She knew precisely what our top selling price should be, and the house sold for precisely that amount in three weeks flat. She expertly and smoothly guided us through the selling process, which can be a minefield of problems if you're not dealing with an expert. She dealt with some truly difficult issues professionally and calmly, letting us know that she would work them out - and she did. Amber is the penultimate expert! Throughout the experience, she was unfailingly pleasant, helpful, professional, knowledgeable, prompt, proactive, reliable, and thoroughly organized. She is an excellent communicator; Amber kept us apprised of progress on a regular basis, answered our questions thoroughly, and returned our calls quickly. If you need to buy or sell a house, you need to hire Amber Russell. We will!`` -- Steve and Cecilia Elias read more

We are incredibly fortunate to have found Amber Russell at Over the Moon Realty. From the moment we met her, we knew we were in competent and caring hands. Amber took the time to really listen to us. This, combined with her extensive knowledge of the Pacific Grove/Monterey real estate market, made her an ideal guide during our search for our perfect home. We really appreciated Amber's timely and informative communications. She went above and beyond, coordinating multiple showings for multiple homes that met our criteria until we found a match. Above all, Amber is a fundamentally kind and thoughtful person. You can tell that it truly makes her happy to see buyers find their new dream home. Amber quickly answered our multitude of questions no matter the day or how trivial the question. She was always considerate and patient as we navigated arranging financing and selling our original home. Amber continues to be helpful as we move into our new home and get established in Pacific Grove. We highly recommend Over the Moon Realty if you are interested in buying or selling a home in the Pacific Grove / Monterey area. read more