Simon Black

My parents bumped into Simon by chance at an open house earlier this year and then put us in touch. I can't say enough about how thankful I am that they did! He helped me purchase my first home ever this month in Berkeley, CA and was an invaluable resource throughout the entire process. He was consistently insightful, professional, and caring. He knows the market and the region in and out and seemed to have a genuine interest in my personal happiness and well-being. I trust his judgment entirely, cannot recommend him enough, and will certainly seek him out should I need help in real estate again in the future.

Searching for a dream house can be a very exciting but also a daunting experience. Therefore, my partner and I wanted to choose the right realtor for it. We planned on interviewing several agents, but after meeting with Simon (our second interview) we chose him because he seemed an extremely honest, refreshingly direct, and knowledgeable professional. There was a "quiet confidence" about him, which we really liked as we did not want to work with a pushy broker of a "car salesman personality". Our choice turned out to be right. Simon has the patience of a saint who really let us take the lead in any decision-making. He was very attentive to our likes and dislikes in our search. He listened and took a lot of time to find the houses that were the right fit for us. In fact, we were quite surprised how perfect his suggestions were for us. Simon's knowledge base is much more extensive than what I imagined a realtor would need to know, which added immeasurably to his helping us in our search. We did not once feel intimidated or pressured by him. He shared his knowledge and experience about the Bay Area housing situation, which is an extremely competitive marketplace. He spent a lot of time showing us houses in private showings beyond regular hours (early mornings & evenings) as we work long hours. Simon is one of the most devoted professionals we have ever worked with. We would highly recommend him to anyone looking for an agent in a tough house market and we would use him again in a heartbeat.

Buying in this sellers' market is no fun! Simon helped me buy exactly the house I had fantasized about, and his partnership, rock-solid reliability, and sense of humor made the process genuinely enjoyable. He comes from a family with deep expertise in real estate and really knows his stuff. I particularly valued Simon's former expertise as senior corporate executive. He brings that topnotch professionalism that those of us in the business world expect to his work as a realtor, which makes interacting with him super easy. Seeing the bigger picture, tracking the details, following up on every outstanding question or task, and knowing how to collaborate and communicate effectively with agents and escrow staff are second nature to him. Simon is patient and committed to seeing his clients happy in their new homes. He listened carefully to my criteria, prescreened properties, and always respected my decisions and opinions with no pressure to consider something that I didn't feel was a fit. He works extremely hard. He would often suggest another visit to a property if I was uncertain, persisted in getting answers when others dragged their feet getting back to us, and was very timely in responding to my communications. This was also true after I moved in! He continued to offer referrals for services and helped me resolve those last few questions I had about how things work in the house.

Simon is as good as it gets! He is patient, humorous, and made shopping for a home in one of the most competitive markets - FUN. He is incredibly efficient, and does not waste anytime in helping achieve your goals. He really knows so much about the market, and his experience shows. His work does not end with helping you find a home either; he's genuinely interested building relationships with in his clients which is a breath of fresh air in this market. We thought we'd be house hunting forever, but Simon helped us find our dream home in such little time. We were in awe of how much he went above and beyond to help us, and are so grateful to have him as a resource.

We highly recommend Simon Black. Real estate transaction is a very stressful process and he made it look seamless. He is a fantastic realtor with a wonderful personality and great attitude. It was great pleasure to do business with him. Simon is extremely knowledgeable and efficient, very kind and attentive to all your needs. We can't thank him enough for his assistance with the purchase of our home. Simon managed to close the transaction within 3 weeks, which is incredible if you take into account the fact that we were overseas for 2.5 weeks in the meantime. Thank you Simon, wishing you all the very best!

Simon far exceeded all of my expectations when he represented me in my purchase of an investment property in Berkeley. From the beginning he was a step ahead of the process in making sure all our ducks were lined up. Whether it was scheduling the right inspectors, working with the lenders or interfacing with the escrow officer, Simon was on top of it all. He was there to provide steady guidance to a process that doesn't always run smoothly. His utter professionalism and calm demeanor made me feel confident that the deal was going to be completed. Simon's focused attention made me feel like I was his only client, even though I'm sure he was juggling several deals at the same time! I will call upon Simon again in the future and highly recommend him to anyone who wants a true professional as well as a gentleman.

Simon was so amazing throughout this whole house hunting process and we highly recommend him to anyone! We were first time home buyers and he made us feel supported and informed the entire time, patiently answering all of our questions to the best of his knowledge. Simon was so professional, diligent, personable, and hardworking. He is very attentive and responsive to calls/emails, and we felt like we were his only clients, though we know he has many. He was able to solve unexpected issues with poise and ensured us that everything was going to work out. We praise his excellent communication and we always felt as though Simon could help us through any other bumps in the road. We love how genuine and sweet he is, always making sure to keep our best interest in mind. In the very competitive bay area real estate market, it is so rare to find an agent that won't pressure his clients into making uncomfortable bids for personal gain. With Simon's expertise, our offer was accepted even though we weren't the highest bid. We truly can't think of a better realtor to help us find our perfect home! Thank you so so so much, Simon, we will refer you to all our friends!

I met Simon by happenstance as he was filling in to show a property that I was interested and I am so glad that I did. As a first time homebuyer, I had SO many questions and worries and not only did Simon make himself available for me whenever I needed, he also gave me a clear understanding of the entire home buying process so I was never in the dark. He also went to bat for me and counseled me on crafting the best offer package, ultimately helping me get my first home!!Simon is an incredible real estate agent and I am so lucky to have worked with him!!

Simon was excellent, fast, informative, and, unlike most buyers in this market who put multiple offers down only to be denied, we purchased our first home the first time we put an offer down. We highly recommend Simon and enjoyed the speed with which he functions and the candor he provides.

Simon is the absolutely best realtor we have met! He is professional, hard working and a pleasure to talk to. He was always available to discuss any questions and help us with the process. Thanks to Simon we own the house of our dreams and we could not be happier. He is an incredible realtor and a wonderful person. We highly recommend him to anyone who wants to buy a house in this market!

Simon was a pleasure to work with, and became more than our agent but also a friend. He is detail oriented, professional, and knows all the tricks of the trade. He helped us navigate one of the hottest properties in Oakland, and I know for certain that our offer would not have been accepted if not for his expertise and negotiation skills.Thanks to Simon, we are living in our dream house! We would very highly recommend him!