"I seldom write reviews, so this one is an exception, and that is because Ilan Penson at Red Oak Realty was exceptional as my real estate agent when I recently purchased a house in Montclair, Oakland. I have bought and sold a number of houses over the past 40 years, so I have had many interactions with real estate agents, and it is clear to me what are the essential qualities of an excellent agent. Many agents are knowledgable about the local market, inventory, accurate pricing, etc., and Ilan, not surprisingly, knows the local market perfectly. She is immersed in the Oakland community on many levels and understands it. She also has great relationships with other local agents which is important in this real estate community on both the buying and selling side. Equally important to me is an agent who is really responsive. Over our hundreds and hundreds of emails and texts, whenever I sent one out to Ilan, she would respond immediately. It became so routine that I knew that I would get answers I needed promptly. This was not usually the case with my prior agents. These essential qualities in an excellent agent aside, for me the personal relationship with my agent is most vital. I need an agent that I can trust, with whom I can have genuine conversations as if talking to a long-valued friend. I don't want any nonsense. Ilan was the perfect sounding boarding for my ever-evolving housing plans. So together, with Ilan's superb assistance, I bought a beautiful home in a market that I wasn't sure I could tackle. Ilan managed all the inspections effortlessly with her trusted contacts, and since escrow closed, Ilan has not ditched and moved on. She continues to provide key contacts with tradespeople that I have needed to make my home the way that I want. If you are looking to buy a home in Oakland or Berkeley, I would contact Ilan Penson--my best real estate experience."
"I seldom write reviews, so this one is an exception, and that is because Ilan Penson at Red Oak Realty was exceptional as my real estate agent when I recently purchased a house in Montclair, Oakland. I have bought and sold a number of houses over the past 40 years, so I have had many interactions with real estate agents, and it is clear to me what are the essential qualities of an excellent agent. Many agents are knowledgable about the local market, inventory, accurate pricing, etc., and Ilan, not surprisingly, knows the local market perfectly. She is immersed in the Oakland community on many levels and understands it. She also has great relationships with other local agents which is important in this real estate community on both the buying and selling side. Equally important to me is an agent who is really responsive. Over our hundreds and hundreds of emails and texts, whenever I sent one out to Ilan, she would respond immediately. It became so routine that I knew that I would get answers I needed promptly. This was not usually the case with my prior agents. These essential qualities in an excellent agent aside, for me the personal relationship with my agent is most vital. I need an agent that I can trust, with whom I can have genuine conversations as if talking to a long-valued friend. I don't want any nonsense. Ilan was the perfect sounding boarding for my ever-evolving housing plans. So together, with Ilan's superb assistance, I bought a beautiful home in a market that I wasn't sure I could tackle. Ilan managed all the inspections effortlessly with her trusted contacts, and since escrow closed, Ilan has not ditched and moved on. She continues to provide key contacts with tradespeople that I have needed to make my home the way that I want. If you are looking to buy a home in Oakland or Berkeley, I would contact Ilan Penson--my best real estate experience."
Dan D
"I could write for days about what a great experience we had working with Ilan selling our first home. I don't know where to begin; we have too many good things to say! Absolutely invaluable, always quick to respond to all our questions and was available after hours and weekends with updates and information even when we were half way across the world. Ilan has an amazing eye for what will appeal to potential buyers and provided us with invaluable advice on what upgrades we should prioritize to obtain top dollar. She managed to find the right light fixtures, cabinet pulls, bathroom fixtures and even dropped off a car full of packing boxes to our house on a Saturday afternoon with her husband. Ilan always had our best interest in mind, and her efforts exceeded our expectation when the house sold quickly and above listing price, thanks to an excellent marketing strategy and a thorough understanding of the current housing market. Ilan went above and beyond numerous times and I can't imagine going through this process with anyone else. My family and I are so grateful to have had the privilege of working with Ilan, we would highly recommend her to anyone. I'd give her 10 stars if I could!"
"I could write for days about what a great experience we had working with Ilan selling our first home. I don't know where to begin; we have too many good things to say! Absolutely invaluable, always quick to respond to all our questions and was available after hours and weekends with updates and information even when we were half way across the world. Ilan has an amazing eye for what will appeal to potential buyers and provided us with invaluable advice on what upgrades we should prioritize to obtain top dollar. She managed to find the right light fixtures, cabinet pulls, bathroom fixtures and even dropped off a car full of packing boxes to our house on a Saturday afternoon with her husband. Ilan always had our best interest in mind, and her efforts exceeded our expectation when the house sold quickly and above listing price, thanks to an excellent marketing strategy and a thorough understanding of the current housing market. Ilan went above and beyond numerous times and I can't imagine going through this process with anyone else. My family and I are so grateful to have had the privilege of working with Ilan, we would highly recommend her to anyone. I'd give her 10 stars if I could!"
Anita P.
"As a first-time homebuyer, I am truly grateful for Ilan's personalized approach and professional style. When meeting, Ilan took the time to ask what we were looking for and what specific support we needed on our journey. One of the things I relayed was my need for clear and proactive communications (e.g. understanding each item and knowing what would be coming next) so I could feel more comfortable with this process. Consistently, Ilan provided thorough updates and timely responses while generously sharing her market expertise, knowledge, recommendations, and professional network. Thank you, Ilan!"
"As a first-time homebuyer, I am truly grateful for Ilan's personalized approach and professional style. When meeting, Ilan took the time to ask what we were looking for and what specific support we needed on our journey. One of the things I relayed was my need for clear and proactive communications (e.g. understanding each item and knowing what would be coming next) so I could feel more comfortable with this process. Consistently, Ilan provided thorough updates and timely responses while generously sharing her market expertise, knowledge, recommendations, and professional network. Thank you, Ilan!"
Corissa V.
"We worked with Ilan on our recent house purchase and couldn't have been happier with how smooth the process went and the expertise and service that Ilan provided. We were moving from out of town to a new area, and Ilan's insights and guidance on the local area and nuances in the purchase process that came with buying in the Bay Area were invaluable and really gave us confidence throughout what can be a very stressful process. We were thrilled with Ilan's partnership and highly recommend her to anyone looking for their next move in the Bay Area!"
"We worked with Ilan on our recent house purchase and couldn't have been happier with how smooth the process went and the expertise and service that Ilan provided. We were moving from out of town to a new area, and Ilan's insights and guidance on the local area and nuances in the purchase process that came with buying in the Bay Area were invaluable and really gave us confidence throughout what can be a very stressful process. We were thrilled with Ilan's partnership and highly recommend her to anyone looking for their next move in the Bay Area!"
Nicola F.
"Working with Ilan to purchase my family's first home was the best decision I could have ever made. She provided all the information I needed to move forward in this market and was diligent throughout the entire process. I could not be more grateful for all that she has done for my family, and I know she will continue to do so with all of her clients. Thank you, Ilan."
"Working with Ilan to purchase my family's first home was the best decision I could have ever made. She provided all the information I needed to move forward in this market and was diligent throughout the entire process. I could not be more grateful for all that she has done for my family, and I know she will continue to do so with all of her clients. Thank you, Ilan."
Arnoldo & Maria G.
"I met Ilan a few years ago in a business setting, and ever since then she has helped me in every way she could with my real estate needs. As an experienced real estate investor and homeowner, I have worked with many real estate professionals over the years, so I understand how important honesty, knowledge, and integrity are in a realtor.
Ilan is honest, fair, and always has her clients’ best interests at heart. What really impressed me was that when I was trying to sell a property in a different area, she referred me to another agent who was more familiar with that neighborhood so I could get the best possible outcome. That level of honesty and professionalism says a lot about her character.
Whenever I need a contractor or other professional, she recommends people she personally works with and trusts. Everyone she has referred me to has been honest, dependable, and hardworking.
I completely trust Ilan and highly recommend her to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and trustworthy realtor.
"
"I met Ilan a few years ago in a business setting, and ever since then she has helped me in every way she could with my real estate needs. As an experienced real estate investor and homeowner, I have worked with many real estate professionals over the years, so I understand how important honesty, knowledge, and integrity are in a realtor.
Ilan is honest, fair, and always has her clients’ best interests at heart. What really impressed me was that when I was trying to sell a property in a different area, she referred me to another agent who was more familiar with that neighborhood so I could get the best possible outcome. That level of honesty and professionalism says a lot about her character.
Whenever I need a contractor or other professional, she recommends people she personally works with and trusts. Everyone she has referred me to has been honest, dependable, and hardworking.
I completely trust Ilan and highly recommend her to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and trustworthy realtor.
"
A N
"As a first-time home buyer I needed some extra handholding through the process. Ilan did a terrific job of guiding me through every step. She was very proactive in explaining how everything worked and was always available to walk-through the various documents answering any questions that came up. Ilan is also a great communicator she constantly provided updates letting me know where things stood. And she worked great with my lender as well as the seller's real estate agent to ensure everything went smoothly through the offer process and a very quick close. I would not hesitate to recommend Ilan to anyone looking for a great real estate agent."
"As a first-time home buyer I needed some extra handholding through the process. Ilan did a terrific job of guiding me through every step. She was very proactive in explaining how everything worked and was always available to walk-through the various documents answering any questions that came up. Ilan is also a great communicator she constantly provided updates letting me know where things stood. And she worked great with my lender as well as the seller's real estate agent to ensure everything went smoothly through the offer process and a very quick close. I would not hesitate to recommend Ilan to anyone looking for a great real estate agent."
Harry O.
"When we started our search in Manhattan, we didn't realize how important it would be to have our own agent versus working with the listing agent selling the properties we were looking at. After speaking with Ilan, the value of having our own agent who was looking out for our needs and interests became clear. She was able to tap into her network of agents from across the country and match us with an agent here in NYC. Regardless of what city you're in, I would highly recommend Ilan as a knowledgeable real estate resource and someone who is well connected to other agents all over the country. Most importantly, she's super responsive, helpful and on top of everything!"
"When we started our search in Manhattan, we didn't realize how important it would be to have our own agent versus working with the listing agent selling the properties we were looking at. After speaking with Ilan, the value of having our own agent who was looking out for our needs and interests became clear. She was able to tap into her network of agents from across the country and match us with an agent here in NYC. Regardless of what city you're in, I would highly recommend Ilan as a knowledgeable real estate resource and someone who is well connected to other agents all over the country. Most importantly, she's super responsive, helpful and on top of everything!"
Alli K.
"Ilan is an amazing realtor. I'm so glad we met her. Really felt like she was a friend that was just helping us out. :) Professional, knowledgeable, responsive and guided us along the way. This is our first time selling and Ilan made everything easy. Thank you Ilan, for making this an amazing experience."
"Ilan is an amazing realtor. I'm so glad we met her. Really felt like she was a friend that was just helping us out. :) Professional, knowledgeable, responsive and guided us along the way. This is our first time selling and Ilan made everything easy. Thank you Ilan, for making this an amazing experience."
Lindsey C
"Ilan is an absolute gem! She helped us understand and maneuver through every step of the home buying process, making us feel comfortable as we made the biggest purchase of our life. We're glad to call her our agent and our friend!"
"Ilan is an absolute gem! She helped us understand and maneuver through every step of the home buying process, making us feel comfortable as we made the biggest purchase of our life. We're glad to call her our agent and our friend!"
Silas C.
"Really enjoyed working with Ilan and appreciated everything she did to manage the entire process from start to finish. She did a great job with everything, kept me informed at the right level, and did what was needed when there was a hiccup at the end when we learned the sewer lateral, I replaced 10 years ago was not properly permitted. Very happy with Ilan's service, recommendations, and guidance."
"Really enjoyed working with Ilan and appreciated everything she did to manage the entire process from start to finish. She did a great job with everything, kept me informed at the right level, and did what was needed when there was a hiccup at the end when we learned the sewer lateral, I replaced 10 years ago was not properly permitted. Very happy with Ilan's service, recommendations, and guidance."
Andre G.
"We worked with Ilan this fall, along with Marissa Harrison. Of course, Ilan was an extremely competent professional: she had a very detailed knowledge of the market and the neighborhoods we were interested in and was always available to view a new home. However, Ilan's human touch really helped lower the stress of the home-buying process. Ilan was genuinely excited about all of the homes we considered and even offered her own design and remodel ideas for each space. But even in the quick timeframes we had to make decisions, Ilan encouraged us to slow down and make sure the choice was right for us. After weekends looking for homes with Ilan, our toddler was sad to learn Ilan didn't come with the home!"
"We worked with Ilan this fall, along with Marissa Harrison. Of course, Ilan was an extremely competent professional: she had a very detailed knowledge of the market and the neighborhoods we were interested in and was always available to view a new home. However, Ilan's human touch really helped lower the stress of the home-buying process. Ilan was genuinely excited about all of the homes we considered and even offered her own design and remodel ideas for each space. But even in the quick timeframes we had to make decisions, Ilan encouraged us to slow down and make sure the choice was right for us. After weekends looking for homes with Ilan, our toddler was sad to learn Ilan didn't come with the home!"
Ollie
"As first time home buyers, choosing Ilan as our real estate agent was the best decision we made. Her vast knowledge of all aspects of the home buying experience was invaluable to us. She helped us purchase a home in Oakland, guiding us through the process from start to finish. Ilan is a great listener, always keeping our goals and preferences top of mind. I really appreciated her communication, expertise, and thoughtfulness as we navigated a tricky buying market. She was very attuned to the nuances of the east bay which proved vital. I would love to work with Ilan again in the future - although I’m not sure when that time will ever come since she helped us find our dream home! Very grateful to have Ilan as our advocate during our home search and beyond."
"As first time home buyers, choosing Ilan as our real estate agent was the best decision we made. Her vast knowledge of all aspects of the home buying experience was invaluable to us. She helped us purchase a home in Oakland, guiding us through the process from start to finish. Ilan is a great listener, always keeping our goals and preferences top of mind. I really appreciated her communication, expertise, and thoughtfulness as we navigated a tricky buying market. She was very attuned to the nuances of the east bay which proved vital. I would love to work with Ilan again in the future - although I’m not sure when that time will ever come since she helped us find our dream home! Very grateful to have Ilan as our advocate during our home search and beyond."
Dillion C.
"As first-time home buyers, my partner and I are incredibly grateful to Ilan for helping us navigate the competitive San Francisco bay area market and secure a new home. It was cleat from very early in our search that Ilan is very experienced, has great relationships with lenders, agents and contractors and had our best interests at heart. She was patient and helpful throughout the entire process, always being available to answer questions even when she was travelling. Her advice and work on our behalf put us in the best position possible when making offers and we would thoroughly recommend her to any first time home buyers, especially in the east bay region.
"
"As first-time home buyers, my partner and I are incredibly grateful to Ilan for helping us navigate the competitive San Francisco bay area market and secure a new home. It was cleat from very early in our search that Ilan is very experienced, has great relationships with lenders, agents and contractors and had our best interests at heart. She was patient and helpful throughout the entire process, always being available to answer questions even when she was travelling. Her advice and work on our behalf put us in the best position possible when making offers and we would thoroughly recommend her to any first time home buyers, especially in the east bay region.
"
Bob M.
