Ben Olsen Real Estate Agent at BrightWork Realty Advocates

Ben Olsen

Real Estate Agent at
BrightWork Realty Advocates

Get introduced
Usually responds in 30 mins

Certifications

  • Realtor for life!
  • Staging / Improvement
  • First Time Home Buyers
  • Investment Properties
  • Relocations
  • Senior / Empty Nest
  • Retirement Specialist
  • New Construction
  • Luxury Specialist

Is Ben the right agent for you?

Answer a few questions to see how well Ben's strengths match your needs

Are you looking to Buy or Sell?

Agent Highlights

Ben sells properties fast - selling more than 68% quicker than the average Moraga agent.
Ben also has Townhome expertise - working with over 96 more townhomes than the average agent.
Ben is a SFH expert - working with over 84% more single family homes than the average Moraga agent.
Best realtor in town. Experienced in high and low markets. Knowledge in our local area gives buyers and sellers the upper advantage. Highly recommended. ...

Ben's Transactions

  • 67 Brookwood Rd 21, Orinda, CA 94563
    Orinda
    Condominium
    2 bed / 1 bath
    Seller
    $535,000
    09/09/2024
  • 2016 Ascot Dr A2, Moraga, CA 94556
    Moraga
    Condominium
    2 bed / 2 bath
    Seller
    $620,000
    07/25/2024
  • 114 Alta Mesa Ct, Moraga, CA 94556
    Moraga
    Single Family Home
    4 bed / 3.0 bath
    Seller
    $1,675,000
    07/19/2024
  • 55 Muth Dr, Orinda, CA 94563
    Orinda
    Single Family Home
    5 bed / 6.0 bath
    Seller
    $2,650,000
    07/19/2024
  • 110 Bales Dr, Walnut Creek, CA 94596
    Walnut Creek
    Single Family Home
    5 bed / 3 bath
    Buyer
    $2,450,000
    06/18/2024
  • 110 Bales Dr, Walnut Creek, CA 94596
    Walnut Creek
    Single Family Home
    5 bed / 3 bath
    Buyer
    $2,450,000
    06/18/2024
  • 181 Calle La Montana, Moraga, CA 94556
    Moraga
    Single Family Home
    5 bed / 3 bath
    Seller
    $2,075,000
    05/17/2024

More about Ben Olsen

Ben is the lead agent for The Olsen Team with BrightWork Property Advocates. Ben was born in Lafayette, raised in Orinda, and now lives in Moraga - a true Lamorinda native, and advocate! Ben has been in the real estate business for 18 years. Ben works with a team, including his mother Sue, who has been a leader in Lamorinda Real Estate for 40 plus years. Ben is a single family home expert, though he and his team sell many townhomes and condos each year as well. We have data on 83 of Ben’s transactions. Ben prefers to work with both sellers and buyers. Here’s a little about Ben’s real estate experience: - Ben recently sold one home for $2,750,000. - this real estate agent is skilled in fast home sales: they have listings that have sold in as little as 0 days. - Ben is an agent who sells homes for top dollar. - HomeLight considers Ben a top negotiator because their homes almost ...
Show More

Achievements

Top Negotiator 2021

Top Producer 2021

Sells Homes Fast 2021

Education

UC Santa Barbara

Other Certifications

ePro, Green Building Professional, Certified Residential Specialist

Awards

2018 Moraga Business of the Year

Other Languages

hebrew, Polish, Thai

License Number

1409268

Ben Olsen's Reviews & Ratings

Tell us about your experience with
Ben Olsen

  • Ben listed and sold my home

      Best realtor in town. Experienced in high and low markets. Knowledge in our local area gives buyers and sellers the upper advantage. Highly recommended.

    • Ben listed and sold my home

        My husband and I worked with Ben on both the purchase and the resale of our home in Moraga. He went above and beyond what we expected when he found us a home that was not even on the market. The home was a complete remodel and he continued to help us even after the purchase with contractor and supplier recommendations. When it came time to sell due to a relocation, there was no question we would use him as our listing agent. The property was very popular and had multiple offers. He helped navigate us through that process and we were very happy with the results. We considered him not only our realtor, but our friend. Would highly recommend

      • Ben showed me homes

          We met the Olsen Team when viewing a house. We immediately clicked on a personal level. They are professional, down to earth, realistic, give you a quick lay of the land and so responsive. They really want the best for you and try to go above and beyond to make it happen. We can only highly recommend and would use them in the future when needed.

        • Ben helped me buy a home

            Ben and Erin assisted us in purchasing a house in Moraga. The sale closed within 30 days. Erin was able to negotiate with the sellers agent to make our offer the chosen one. She worked with us every step of the way and we always felt that someone was looking out for us. I totally recommend Erin Kelly for your real estate needs.

          • Ben helped me buy a home

              The pandemic presented an interesting set of challenges for my wife and me when looking for a home in Orinda. As first-time homebuyers, we were lucky to have been connected with Erin Kelly! In addition to being a pleasure to work with, Erin has an intimate understanding of the market and is supported by a team of seasoned vets. After our first video conversation, Erin genuinely understood what we were looking for in a home and applied her expertise accordingly. Erin took the time to help us navigate the ins-and-outs of negotiating a purchase in the market and was great at communicating throughout. We trusted her to advise us when to pursue an offer and when it made sense to move on. As a result, we found our dream home! From start to finish, Erin was professional and made the process enjoyable. We cannot recommend Erin enough!

              Show More
            • Ben helped me buy a home

                FYI I worked with Erin Kelly. I was lucky enough that the broker who showed me the first condo I looked at physically (spent much time web hunting) was Erin Kelly from The Olsen Team. She was fabulous; showed me 3 condos despite not having scheduled it, educated me quickly as to the the market, and most importantly guided me to the winning bid and then the closing on the condo I wanted. Not easy in a rising market. The Olsen Team was behind Erin with great service, and the whole thing went smoothly. The night I came home after seeing the first 3 condos , I was a little discouraged. My son sad "Pops, you should hire the Olsen Team, they're world class." Then I looked at Erin's email and realized I had. And now I know he was right as well. Thank you Erin for the hard work, patience and great advice.

                Show More
              • Ben helped me buy a home

                  Erin Kelly was fabulous to work with! We initially contacted Vanguard Properties on a holiday weekend and Erin without hesitation jumped to take us around the area and show us not only houses but all that's Erin Kelly was fabulous to work with! We initially contacted Vanguard Properties on a holiday weekend and Erin without hesitation jumped to take us around the area and show us not only houses but all that's great with the neighborhood. She fought for us when we needed help and supported us with a variety of referrals in their network. Very happy to have closed on such an amazing home with Erin by our side!

                • Ben listed and sold my home

                    After screening a few realtors, we decided to go with The Olsen Team. Here's why: * Ben was honest and upfront. He made it clear that housing inventory was low and we should be prepared for a longer search. * He told us his business incentive. He succeeds in his job through positive referrals from past customers. It is not in his interest to be pessimistic about the market. It is not in his interest to push us into a home that is not right for us. His singular goal is to get us into a home that we love. Note how these two first points are complementary. He made us comfortable with him and his process in about thirty seconds. * He is optimistic and super friendly. * He has an extremely thorough knowledge of LaMorinda, from street to street. For every house we seriously considered, he had great advice about the schools, restaurants, bars, and social scene in the area. He enjoys going out and exploring the East Bay himself so a lot of his information is first-hand. * His real estate advice was impeccable. He got to know us as buyers and tailored the homes and neighborhoods over time. Our search radius started large, shrunk as he adapted to our interests, then expanded intelligently to accommodate practicalities like housing inventory. * He had expert insights into each home, both positive and negative. We avoided a few lemons thanks to him. * He gave us a seamless home purchase experience. We were able to do almost everything electronically and all of the forms, inspections, etc were managed by him. We lived in SF at the time, meaning we weren't losing ground to buyers in the East Bay and our visits were always efficient. * His contacts (such as loan officers and inspectors) were complete professionals. He keeps good company. I should mention that we made several offers on homes that were ultimately not accepted. This is the nature of the Bay Area housing market. Don't get discouraged by it. In cases where a counteroffer was made, Ben gave us exceptional advice, never pressured us, and supported our decision every time. In all, our search took about seven months. I grew up on the Peninsula, and have found myself in heaven in the small town of Moraga. We have an amazing new home and Ben to thank for it. Highly recommend Ben and The Olsen Team.

                    Show More
                  • Ben listed and sold my home

                      From the initial consultation to the hand off of the keys, Ben was professional, courteous, hard working and avaialable any time with a prompt response to any questions and tasks we needed to do to make this work. He helped us find our dream home for our family and we appreciate all he did for us to negotiate a great deal with the sellers. Thank you Ben!

                    • Ben helped me buy a home

                        Very friendly, professional, and courteous. Ben was extremely helpful as we were conducting the transaction from out of state. He helped us find local services when we needed it even after the closing. We do recommend him greatly to anyone that needs an agent.

                      • "Over the years, we have bought and sold many homes and always felt we have worked with good Realtors - until we worked with the Olsen Team! The Olsen Team is the most knowledgeable, hard working, competent real estate team in the Lamorinda area, or for that matter - anywhere. We cannot begin to adequately express our deep appreciation and gratitude for all that Sue, Ben, and Laura did to help us through a grueling house-selling process due to the first buyer who did not perform. Your very high level of expertise, knowledge and professionalism were why we wanted to work with you, but we were also continually grateful for your warmth and heartfelt friendliness during those moments when we got discouraged. You were always available to answer our calls and questions immediately. We are firmly convinced that we got the best representation from initial listing to final closing because we took on the best possible partner to sell our home. Thank you so very, very much for all the guidance and many little extras that you provided. Now that we are almost settled in our new home, we want you to know that we know we could not have done it any better with another partner. Thanks again, a hundredfold! With MUCH appreciation and fondness! Dotti & Don Miller"

                        - The Miller Family, Moraga to Ohio!
                      • The Olsen Team is by far superior to anyone I have ever worked with in real estate. They took a mess and made it sell for more than we ever expected or anyone else expected for that matter. They are experts at knowing exactly what to do and guided us every step of the way. Transforming our home in a few short weeks on a very tight budget, with results that were simply stunning! They helped us work through an impossible situation and for that we are forever grateful. Thank You Ben and Sue!!

                        - Miles M., Moraga, Ca
                      • We had an excellent experience buying a home in Moraga with Ben Olsen, his mom Sue and all the Olsen Team. We found Ben highly competent and professional. At each home (we went to over 20) Ben would give us an immediate evaluation pointing out flaws and defects. We had a trusted advisor and never felt like we were being sold anything. When had a strong interest in making an offer he'd give us a number "I could get excited about". Ben knows the market. When we finally found that right home in a highly competitive seller's market Ben made sure our bid was accepted without overpaying. His negotiation skills even covered most closing cost. The Olsen's knowledge and reputation made a BIG difference before, during and after the sale. We are still relying their advice and network of service professionals for upgrades, maintenance, etc. We would highly recommend Ben and team to anyone looking to buy or sell in the Lamorinda area.

                        - Hoey Family, Moraga, CA
                      • The Olsen Team is truly a full service real estate service. Over the past 1.5 years, Ben and Sue successfully sold my high value home in Sanders Ranch, found me an amazing rental in the Moraga Country Club and also found my permanent home in the club. Let's start this review with my Sanders Ranch home. Ben and Sue remodeled portions of my home to update the property to the current trends. The updates were spectacular! They also had the home painted and staged for the appropriate buyer. They coordinated my moves and made the entire process almost painless. As for the rental, Ben and Sue were very understanding of my needs while recognizing that I was downsizing from a 5,000 square foot home. They found me an amazing home in the country club and it was a smooth transition. My time renting in the club made me certain that I wanted to live in the club. Keeping in mind my lifestyle (I make wine and need a home that can accommodate that hobby), my growing children's needs, my privacy needs and the desire to move into an updated home, Ben and Sue kept their eyes and ears open and found my home before it went on the market. As a prior owner of a high value home, I was impressed with Ben and Sue's marketing strategy including print and television (Ben used my home on Fox news to demonstrate Village Associates use of drones to cover properties), social media, international publications and reaching out to the appropriate professional demographic in the Bay Area. I sincerely cannot say enough wonderful things about The Olsen Team. They are my village!

                        - Anne C. - Moraga, CA
                      • We bought our first home last year, located just outside of Walnut Creek. It was quite the process, but could not have been done without the help of the Olsen Team. We worked one-on-one with Ben to help negotiate the sale. Ben's knowledge of the area and his excellent people skills helped see the sale through from beginning to end. He helped us make sure all the requirements for sale were met by the seller and paired us up with the a great team to help set up the mortgage loan. Post-sale, Ben has continued to be a great source of information. As first time homeowners, we have had questions from time to time, some of which we send to Ben to see if he can assist us with. Ben has gone above and beyond the call of duty, responding to these calls and emails with very helpful responses. We will be returning to the Olsen team when we decide to sell this home. I recommend them highly.

                        - Olson Family (no relation) - Concord, Ca
                      • Ben and Sue are a fantastic team. They have a great amount of experience, are very easy going but are very adept negotiators. Ben helped us sell our old home and buy a new one. We were done with both within 2 months largely due to their efforts in ferreting out the opportunities in a thin market and being aggressive with those that were of real interest. I highly recommend The Olsens.

                        - Drue Family, Happy Valley, Lafayette
                      • My husband and I knew Ben Olsen through our sons school. He, initially, provided us with an excellent recommendation for a contractor to convert a room in our home. We were looking to sell our existing home in Moraga to move into a larger home, however we were hesitant to be displaced from our home while looking. Ben took the lead and started showing our home privately to prospective buyers over a 6 month period of time. During this time, our home was not listed and we were able to enjoy a hassle free life. All the while, we were looking at home to purchase. Ultimately, we received a wonderful offer on our existing home, however there were no homes on the market that would fit our family. We were talking with Ben, and I mentioned a home that I was disappointed we did not purchase that was on the market 4 months previously. I was under the assumption that this home sold. However, when Ben heard the home I loved, he knew this home did not sell, but was taken off the market. He immediately contacted the homeowners and asked if the home was still for sale. The owners were in fact still interested in selling their home, and we were able to put in an offer. This transaction was incredible. We were able to sell our home and purchase our dream home without any hassle or bidding wars. The entire process was smooth and worry-free. Ben was at our side every step of the way, and a true advocate for us! We are so thankful to Ben that we are now in our wonderful home and did not have to hold multiple open houses and worry about contingent offers. This was truly wonderful experience! Ben Olsens personal knowledge and involvement in this community makes him the perfect choice for a realtor. He readily responds to any quest and has a wonderful list of referrals that he will quickly share. We enjoyed his enthusiasm and excitement over our home purchase and felt that he was the reason we are in our home today.

                        - Hawkins Family, Moraga
                      • We just finished with the purchase of our first home with Ben Olsen as our agent. Ben was a phenomenal buyers agent. He definitely has his finger on the pulse of the housing market, no doubt in part because he seems to know everyone in lamorinda. He gave us invaluable insight as we looked at homes and definitely went the extra mile (dropping off boxes for our move, recommending top notch inspectors/contractors, continuing to work extremely hard even after everything closed.) His work ethic is amazing; he was always prompt in responding to our questions and seemingly worked all hours. Besides being good at what he does, he is a genuine, good person

                        - Happy Buyers! Moraga, CA
                      • "Amazing experience. Absolute professionals. I am still amazed, months after selling my folks' home in the MCC, how easy it was to do (for me, at least!) given I live in Portland, Oregon. Ben and the Olsen Team not only made that possible, but painless:> Instant face to face help when we needed initial advice. Made my Mom (now with us in Oregon) feel better too, just sitting down and talking to them. > The right counsel on market price and timing. We got our price and sold it fast. > Phone calls/emails returned with answers or updates in minutes, not days. I'm still amazed at how they were able to help me update the house in prep for sale, given there was a lot of things in the house that needed updating. They designed it (based on what would sell) then lined up the contractors and did a ""home makeover"" for me! I viewed samples, and the ""new"" home online from my PC, 583 miles away. It was spectacular, I didn't lift a finger (mouse clicks aside) and it absolutely did the job.Still have several friends with homes in the Moraga area, and I will certainly let them know about the Olsen Team - they turned a daunting task (in a tough time for my folks and our family) into a real success story."

                        - Allee Family - From Portland, OR
                      • "We never would have found our house without The Olsen Team. At the time, inventory was down 40% and competition was fierce. But thanks to their wealth of experience and hard work, they helped us find a home that far exceeded our expectations.Sue and Ben Olsen have deep roots in the Lamorinda community and are extremely knowledgeable about this real estate market. Their expertise proved critical in our search, as we were relocating with young kids and needed to find a home as soon as possible. During our search, they made sure that we did not waste time on properties/areas that werent a good fit for us, and never tried to sell us on a house. With each property, they gave us a succinct but detailed critique--from the overall location of the house to the quality of its construction. Throughout the entire process, The Olsen Team was in constant communication with us and remained the voice of reason when we needed it most. When things looked a little bleak, Sue convinced us to hang in there and not settle for just any house. And were glad that we listened to her. She was not in a hurry to check us off her list and move on to the next client; she really wanted us to be happy with our home. Its been several months since we closed on our house, and I am so grateful to The Olsen Team for lending us their expert support each step of the way--from helping us find the right house to negotiating a great price. Thank you, Sue and Ben!"

                        - Ellery Family, Fernwood Manner, Moraga
                      • Ben is one of those few real estate agents who doesn't just want to process a transaction, but actually get you into the right home for you. He talked us out of a house that was a mistake, and we are thrilled with the home he found for us instead. He has deep local knowledge and he uses it to protect his client's interests. He is highly recommended.

                        - Bower Family, Camino Woods
                      • Ben Olsen helped me find a great deal on a Moraga townhome. Not only was he patient with my changing search parameters, but he found the contractors, inspector and loan agent. This place had been neglected for years, but Ben thought it could be a jewel. He was right! My home is perfect for me and my boys. My favorite room is the kitchen. Over the past few months we've hosted many dinner parties and playdates.

                        - Garcia Family, Moraga
                      • Ben Olsen helped us purchase a house in Moraga, CA and we have been very happy with the purchase. Ben is very professional, knowledgeable with the Lamorinda housing market especially Moraga, and pleasant to work with. He responds to our emails and phone calls quickly and was patient with our losing bids or not bidding. Unlike many agents out there who would like to make quick moneys, Ben is a down-to-earth, no-non-sense guy with his clients' interests in his heart. We are extremely happy with Ben and will recommend him to anyone who is either buying or selling in Lamorinda.

                        - Shen Family, Moraga
                      • Ben sold our house in March 2017. We had the house listed last year with a different agent, and that was a mistake. Ben took care of everything, from minor upkeep to a small remodel, mainly more neutral colors. He staged it and it sold for a fair price. We highly recommend Ben and the Olsen team.

                        - Zaki Family, Moraga Country Club
                      • The Olsen team is very knowledgeable in the Lamorinda market. They understood the unique location of my house in Moraga. The marketing and staging of the property were excellent. The process from home open to close of escrow was very efficient...I couldn't be happier with the outcome of the real estate transaction.

                        - A. Granger - Moraga
                      • So grateful to Ben and his team, he found us a great home in Moraga. His local knowledge, approach and professionalism made it a much easier process than we had envisaged. His guidance through the various buying/negotiation stages helped us get the right deal. The Olsen Team provided access to excellent contractors, inspectors and a loan agent. I highly recommend using Ben and the Olsen Team for anyone buying or selling in Moraga, you are in good hands

                        - Prizeman Family, Moraga Country Club
                      • As I sit here writing this, my nine year old son is riding his bike around the neighborhood, visiting friends, and my seven year old is bouncing happily on the trampoline out back. I smile to myself as I reminisce on how far we've come from our two bedroom/one bath apartment in Brooklyn. Settling down in the neighborhood and house that we love brings us so much joy and Ben Olsen was integral to getting us here. Ben understood our family's needs from the very first time we spoke over the phone while still in New York City. He assisted with our initial move into a rental home, making the process seamless. His staff provided gracious welcome packages as we arrived into both homes. Ben generously shared his contacts with us and all of his recommendations, down to my sons' pediatrician, were excellent. I can't speak enough to the professionalism and expertise of Ben and his staff. Luckily, we had time on our side and our flexibility served us well. We bought in the winter and Ben was able to broker an off market deal for us - which in hindsight turned out to be of great value. Ben is attuned to the emotional aspect of home buying and was able to guide us through the ups and downs with integrity. We highly recommend his services for home buying and selling and will definitely use him for any of our future needs.

                        - HIlla Ifrach