What our clients say…

“Cherie and Elena represented my interests in a very professional and satisfying manner. As a licensed broker myself, I appreciated their attention to the transaction and would very enthusiastically utilize their services in the future.” Mark Sork, Sork Company, 2010

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“I was referred to Cherie, Elena and Conscious Realty through a friend who had a wonderful experience with them, and I’m so glad she did!  Cherie and Elena made the process of buying my first home a calm and comfortable experience.  They were patient and attentive, answered every question I had kindly and thoroughly, and was constantly preparing me for each next step.  Their extensive experience was indispensable in highlighting all of the potential areas that could be stumbling blocks, things that could have caused concern or anxiety, and tricks/shortcuts that saved me time and money.  And now that I’m in my home, I find they are totally amenable to help as I navigate the uncharted waters of home ownership.  In short, Cherie and Elena are the best guides one could want when traversing the home buying process, and they made it an easy and fun experience!”  Spencer Perry, UC Berkeley Media

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“Cherie and Elena were invaluable to us as first time home buyers.  They were efficient, professional, supportive, and gave us information that other realtors had not that assisted us with making better decisions during our home search.  If we had found them sooner, are search for a new home would have been so much smoother and faster.  They continue to provide us with excellent information that makes our transition to homeownership more rewarding.  If you are first time home buyers, let Cherie and Elena guide you to your new home.” Dawn Ingram, 2010

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“I really appreciate the way you both handled my real estate transaction and the (relative) ease of the process. I never for a moment felt pressured, and you were both so supportive throughout that it made buying my first place (completely on my own), such a breeze.  I will definitely refer you both to my friends. The icing on the cake was you thinking of me for that mortgage protection plan. It was such a nice touch.  Thanks again!”   Zelda Pusey, 2009

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“My past experiences with realtors had been unpleasant - to put it mildly.  That changed as soon as I met Cherie and Elena, they were honest and ethical.  Ethical is the word I would stress- everything in the transaction was explained thoroughly and clearly.  The loan agent that they recommended was knowledgeable and kept me “in the loop” all during the transaction.  Buying a condo with Cherie and Elena was one of the most enjoyable experiences I had - I wish I could buy another house just to have the pleasure of dealing with them again.” — Rosanna Poret

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“We would probably have given up on buying a house if it hadn’t been for Cherie and Elena. The requirements on our loan were stringent and what we wanted was very specific. Through the process of looking for a home, they were always positive and optimistic that we would find what we wanted but were very honest if they felt a particular property was not the right choice. Through the escrow process they were on top of the paperwork and kept us informed throughout the entire process. They are honest, straight forward and completely on top of all the details, which is exactly what one expects from a real estate agent. We highly recommend them to anyone looking for a home and would happily work with them again!” Ann Dentel & Mike Ray, 2008

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“Working with Cherie Carson and Elena Ronquillo of Red Oak Realty was a wonderful and rewarding experience. They were positive, pro-active, knowledgeable, supportive and creative in their helping me pursue my dream of being a homeowner in the Bay Area. As an artist, I really appreciated the fact that Cherie is an artist herself, and could ease my mind about buying property for the first time. It was also great that Elena is a longtime supporter of the arts. They are an amazing team!”

“I am ELATED to be back home (SF). This is where I am supposed to be. Thank you for helping me get here.”

–Carla Lucero, Composer, Artistic Director, Tenth Muse Presents
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“Cherie and Elena made my first home-buying experience easy and enjoyable. Cherie learned quickly what I wanted, what I would like, what I wouldn’t like, and what my comfortable price range really was, which I appreciated. They were both easily accessible and available by phone and email, and always returned my calls immediately and were happy to answer all of my questions. They took the time to explain things thoroughly, to answer my questions, and to keep me calm about the whole process, which can be a little overwhelming! I always felt well taken care of. Cherie and Elena make a great team, and I appreciated knowing that I had both of their skills and experience on my side. I would recommend them to anyone buying a house in the area!”

–Leslie Radin, Stage Manager for Berkeley Repertory Theatre

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“With trepidation and a good dose of doubt, we entered the world of looking for a home in the Bay Area. Our savings were insubstantial and our incomes modest, and we felt our pursuit was somewhat foolish. Despite all this, when we met with Cherie, she assured us that we would find a good place to own with zen-like calm. She gave us many great resources to help us along, and was readily available at every step of the process. Along the way, Elena starting working with us as well, which was a happy addition. We dare anyone to find a pair of realtors more intelligent, hard-working, trustworthy, and charming than these two. In the end, our purchase exceeded our expectations, and we’re stunned and incredibly grateful to have a home of our own.”

– Laura Schatzkin and Kevin Stamps

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“I was having a hard time figuring out where I wanted to live, and whether to buy a house or a condo. And as first time homebuyer, the process and paperwork seemed daunting.

Elena took the time to answer all my questions, warned me of the pitfalls, and gave me honest, straight-forward advice. And more than that, she knew what I wanted before I did.

With her help, I moved into a beautiful new townhouse in North Oakland. I couldn’t have done it without her.” 

–Joseph Ferrucci, Attorney at Law 

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“Cherie was great to work with in purchasing my first condo. She was very reliable and responsible, and really did her homework. She handled so many details that would have been overwhelming for me, and did so with a cheerful, positive attitude, despite some unexpected bumps in the road.

Cherie was supportive and understanding, and really kept in mind what my needs were as a first time home buyer. She acted as an advocate and a resource for me, providing me with lots of helpful information, and conducting herself with honesty and integrity. I am fortunate to have found her!” –Louisa Stone

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“Working with Cherie and Elena was so easy and comfortable.  They stepped us through every stage of the process and made sure we were making decisions we were comfortable with.  It is so important to trust the people you work with and I trust them both implicitly.  Mostly we felt taken care of and safe which was extremely important for us while purchasing our first home.  I recommend them to my friends and would be thrilled to work with them again in the future, except we love our home so much we don’t plan to move for a long long time.”   –Chandra Elcar

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“Cherie and Elena accomplished what my partner Amy and I still consider a small miracle -  they sold my small, one bedroom condo in Oakland during the height of the real estate slump in about a month!  We’re still pinching ourselves.

Cherie and Elena provided excellent advice on pricing and were a tremendous help in getting the unit re-carpeted, painted, staged, and ready-for-sale.  They make an excellent team!” Kenya Briggs, City of SF, Public Utilities Commission

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“Thank you [Elena] so much for all your help in finding my sweet little condo. You were so knowledgeable, supportive and helpful. I was very apprehensive to buy my first place and you made the process manageable. Now that it’s all over, I’m thrilled with my decision and know I’ll be happy in my new home. Thanks so much.”

–Marit Sonstelie
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“Cherie Carson is a beacon of light in the challenging and sometimes confusing world of real estate. Her dedication to her clients is steadfast and determined. She serves those who choose to enter into a relationship with her in the utmost sincerity, honesty and fidelity. We should all be so lucky as to have Cherie on our side when embarking on one of the most intense and momentous passages of our lives. Purchasing a home is a big deal. The stable and nurturing influence of Cherie will prove not only helpful; she will be downright restorative during the process.”

–Vanessa Kuemmerle (Viriam Kaur), Vee Horticulture

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“Right out of the box, (Cherie) found me exactly what I was looking for! It was as if by magic.”

– Shawn Dubin, Women Walking Tall