Kathleen & Michael are skilled, smart & enthusiastic about their work & life. This appealing combination of business sense & people skills gives them an edge in an industry demanding both. For nearly three decades, Kathleen & Michael have become the proven experts their clients rely upon to help make the right moves. They're experts in representing buyers & sellers in residential real estate sales & purchases including all aspects of negotiations & risk management. Top to bottom, inside to out, they know real estate.
Michael as your Realtors, it's all about you. Kathleen & Michael are fearless negotiators. They are aggressive in their approach to crafting offers & expert in offer presentation & negotiation. During the transaction they'll sweat the details from contracts to disclosures to inspections, keeping you up to date at every turn.
Kathleen & Michael know buying & selling is an emotional process & they know you have a life, too. They're accessible, quick to respond & very knowledgeable. You can trust they always provide expert counsel allowing you to It's important to Kathleen & Michael they provide the highest make the right decisions. level of customer service at all times. They provide expert counsel to first time buyers & savvy investors alike, across Rest assured, Kathleen & Michael always have your best the residential real estate spectrum. Their approach is interests in mind & at heart. Whatever type of home you're simple: There is no detail too small & every detail gets looking for, wherever you're looking for it, they've got you careful attention. covered. Make no mistake, Kathleen & Michael are your advocates No pressure, no hype, no kidding. before, during & after the sale. A look at their Yelp reviews proves this true. Five star reviews abound & you’re welcome The Smartest Move You’ll Make to search Kathleen & Michael at Yelp.com. With Kathleen &
RN K. San Jose, CA 5.0 star rating
The personal touch she offer is hands down top notch! She truly cares about her clients, she listen to you and takes those extra steps. Kathleen has become our family's friend since she sold our first home back in 2000. She now handles all our immediate family's real estate needs. If you need an agents who will go the extra mile and provide the full service package, Kathleen and Michael are certainly the team for you.
Kathleen is amazing! She was attentive, supportive and knowledgeable! Kathleen and Michael make a good team! They made buying our first home an easy and fun experience. Emails and calls were answered within a heartbeat. Kathleen walked us through each step with patience and kindness. They I am very thankful for all the hard work that Kathleen provided us in selling our were organized, prepared and professional. home. Kathleen is very generous with her availability, she provides thorough explanations on the changing real estate market and really focuses on your I'm grateful to be writing this review in our new home. I highly recommend needs. I sincerely recommend them to others and now to you. Kathleen and Michael if you are looking to purchase property in the Bay Area! Topazskye L. Margaret C. Hayward, CA Novato, CA 5.0 star rating 5.0 star rating This second review and second home buying experience certainly cements the Kathleen and Michael helped us find our forever home and.....they can help you fact that Kathleen and Michael are the best in the business. They know the too! We were living in a very small apartment for a year after moving to the Bay market and give you the best advice. Our experience with them this time Area from Philadelphia. We were ready to buy a home and Kathleen and around includes both selling our home and purchasing a new home. Michael handled everything for us. We fell in love with a place they showed us in beautiful Novato with amazing views. We made an offer that was accepted In selling our home, Kathleen gave sound advice on when to put our home on and have been living our California dream for nearly 6 mos now. The best the market and advised us on the list price. Kathleen and Michael definitely decision we made was introducing ourselves to Kathleen and Michael. Call know marketing and they present it well too. I love that they take the effort to them, You'll be so happy you did! come up with a nicely bound report that provides you with the research of what houses in the area were sold for. They did a great job marketing the home with Ken G. their excellent photography skills, professionally printed flyers and staging. Hayward, CA. Kathleen fronted everything for us and the best part of it was if we met a 5.0 star rating roadblock, Kathleen would problem solve it before coming to us and that helps immensely knowing that she took care of business. Where do I begin with Kathleen. Let's start with detailed knowledge, skill, experience, and a positive "can do" attitude. From the day I met Kathleen I had With our home purchase, Kathleen understood our needs and kept us steady a good feeling about her. She worked methodically, yet sensitively, while selling on our course to find us our new home. She was always reassuring when my town home. This is the 4th home I have purchased in my lifetime, and this steering us through this roller coaster journey. by far is the most pleasant. I have never rated any service as high as I rate Kathleen. I would recommend her to anyone who is serious about selling or As a client, what I appreciated about Kathleen was her accessibility (I could buying a home. always get in touch with her through email, text, and phone to get my answers) and that is excellent customer service. She was also on top of her game and If you want the best, you will hire the team of Kathleen and Michael. was often following up with all aspects of our transaction - whether it was selling our home or ensuring our appointments are set up for house hunting. Mary B. She provides a full real estate concierge experience - hand holding us from the Cartersville, GA initial process right through till the end. 5.0 star rating With Kathleen, we had absolute confidence in her guidance and experience. Kathleen is fantastic to work with on every level! My husband lost his job and I She is a true professional and incredibly sharp in this business. needed to sell our rental income property immediately to supplement our income while my husband seeks re-employment. Kathleen is not only friendly, In sum it up, Kathleen and Michael give you the 3Es - EFFICIENT, she is easy to talk to, and caring. She is very professional, prompt, thorough, EXPERIENCED, EDUCATIONAL and the two important Rs - RESPONSIVE and very knowledgeable in her field. Needless to say, I was deeply stressed not AND RESOURCEFUL. Whether buying or selling a home, Kathleen and knowing how long it would take to sell our rental property. Michael, will be your rockstar team hands down and I wholeheartedly recommend them. Her relationships with others in the industry proved to be a valuable asset. She had an open house the weekend after she listed our home and low and behold Ursula U. I had seven offers all above the asking price! I cannot tell you what a relief this San Francisco, CA 5.0 star rating was. Kathleen stayed in the loop with the lenders, inspectors, loan officers, appraisers, etc. so everything could flow as smoothly as possible. I live in Texas and my home was in Union City, Kathleen saved me the cost of a trip to Kathleen and Michael are two of the most amazing, personable, respectful, California, she took care of all the paperwork via Docusign and was even my hard working, reliable, honest, and (etc) people I have ever met. Our condo in interface with the title company. the Canal was a challenge to sell. They knew how to market it and had connections to do so. They are damn good realtors. They know what they are
working with and can adapt to any situation that arises.I cannot compliment the finding Kathleen and Michael. The first agent was good, but there just wasn't two of them enough. that professional chemistry we desired. The second agent was far from on the ball causing us to miss a couple other properties. Though everything happens Given their reviews on Yelp, I think anyone can see they are good at what they for a reason so after the last agent was screwing up I decided to check out do. Not only are they good at what they do, they LOVE what they do! It's easy some reviews on Yelp. That's when I found our winning team, Kathleen and to see that by the enthusiasm they exude. Thank you, you two!!!! We are Michael. They are not only friendly, easy to talk to, and caring, but they were forever grateful for your effort and excitement. A house on the market for only professional, prompt, thorough, and educated. We were in complete chaos 25 days (including escrow and close) is a WIN for everyone!! trying to get ready to move during the holidays and they were available every step of the way...during holidays (which isn't always easy to find). Allyson C. San Francisco, CA Their relationships with others in the industry also proved to be important. We 5.0 star rating needed to close early due to the arrival of our moving truck. Kathleen and Michael stayed in the loop with the lenders, inspectors, loan officers, This year we decided to sell our Victorian flat in San Francisco -- a difficult appraisers, etc so everything could take off as smooth as possible. Not only did decision since we really loved the place and held many memories and happy we close in only 26 days, but those 26 days were smack in the middle of times there. All of the emotions wrapped up in a real estate transaction like Christmas and New Years yet it all went great. ours can make for a very difficult process unless you have professionals like Kathleen and Michael handling the sale. They understood our emotional Lastly, the personal touch these two offer is hands down top notch! They truly attachment to this home and effectively guided us through the landmines of a care about their clients, listen, and take those extra steps. I feel like we not only San Francisco real estate transaction. We achieved all we wanted from the found a great team for our real estate needs, we found friends. If you need sale including the price, the transition to our new place, and minimizing the agents who will go the extra mile and provide the full package, Kathleen and headaches associated with all the paperwork. Plus, they schooled the buyers Michael are certainly the team for you. agent and title company to the point where without them, we're not sure all Topazskye L. would have happened as timely or efficiently. Their real estate knowledge, marketing expertise, and ability to deal with our emotional ups and downs were Hayward, CA 5.0 star rating stellar every step of the way. We give Kathleen and Michael our highest recommendation and will definitely use them for all future transactions! Being totally clueless about buying our first house, Kathleen and Michael were Jessica O. instrumental in helping us to finally find the right house for our little family. They Pinole, CA are both highly organized - I remember at our first open house visits, they 5.0 star rating passed us a folder of all the homes we had shortlisted and she had all the notes penned onto them as well. This made the whole adventure such a If you are reading this, congratulations! You just found the best real estate breeze. agent you could ever wish to have. Kathleen is knowledgeable, efficient and very detailed about every aspect of selling your home for you. Kathleen is very observant and understood our likes/dislikes well and the best part of it all, she was honest and never pushy about any of the homes we saw. I just sold my home in Pinole through Kathleen and I got the price I wanted, the She was always looking out for our best interests and that was what made us time frame I wanted and none of the contingencies I didn't want. She was truly so comfortable with her. my agent, because she represented me with my best possible interests in mind throughout the entire process. She found us the dream house which checked off everything we wanted in our first home - SCORE!!! Wading through the bible of paperwork in a home Not only did Kathleen show the home during open houses, she and Michael purchase can be daunting but whenever we needed some guidance or help, also took wonderful pictures of my home, did a website and fliers especially for she was always there for us and patient through the entire process. us, and made sure that the listing was on all of the sites like Zillow, Trulia, etc. She also presented me with a very detailed folder with all the comparables in Working with them is totally a PLEASURE and if we ever look into buying the neighborhood so that we knew we were asking for the best possible price. another home or selling one, we will be turning to them again. Kathleen always answered my phone calls, text messages and emails within minutes and was always there when I needed her. Do yourself a favor and rely They are just WONDERFUL!!!! on Kathleen and Michael to help you buy or sell your home. Jason W. San Ramon, CA You will not regret it. 5.0 star rating Bethany J. Santa Rosa, CA Kathleen and Michael helped me purchase my first home about 2 years ago 5.0 star rating and were extremely patient and helpful throughout the process. Being a 1st time home buyer I had no idea what to expect, so it was great to have their Kathleen and Michael are a fantastic team to work with on every level! We support. I was impressed by the amount of knowledge they have about the real needed to relocate to Santa Rosa from Texas so we needed someone who estate market. They were willing to spend the time to show me a countless was on the ball to help be our eyes and ears. We had tried two agents prior to number of properties to make sure I felt comfortable and understood what I was
getting myself into. It was also very helpful that they knew the ins and outs with bank procedures for attaining a loan and were in constant communication with my loan officer. I had full confidence and trust that they had my best interest in heart. I still feel like they value me as a client, as they consistently send thank you notes around the holidays to show their appreciation. I would highly recommend working with Kathleen and Michael for any of your real estate needs. They are truly amazing. Chelcea D. El Cerrito, CA 5.0 star rating I am very thankful for all the hard work that Kathleen and Michael provided in purchasing my first home. Kathleen was very flexible with her availability to look at many homes, provided thorough explanations on the changing real estate market and really focused on what was within reason and met my needs. I had worked with two other realtors who pushed properties that were not within my parameters. No mater what I continued to communicated, they still didn't incorporate my feedback or personality into the homes they presented. My house was a short sale with two bank loans. Apparently, that can make the process more difficult. I had no idea on how everything was going to unfold after making an offer. Over the four month waiting period I was educated on each step and constantly updated. I never had to question why I hadn't heard anything from my realtor. They provided a recommendation of a reputable foundation inspector and handled several inspections when I was away. When it came down to closing escrow in 7 DAYS!! Kathleen helped get EVERYTHING signed, sealed and delivered. When complications occurred by the the seller's realtor because of the time crunch, Kathleen fought for what was deserved. Almost a year later, Kathleen took the time to stop by the house to see how I was settling into my new home. Her enthusiasm on some of the changes I made reassured me again on the massive step I took. I constantly recommended them to others and now to you. Romar D. Pleasanton, CA 5.0 star rating
Thank you Kathleen! Your kindness, professionalism, passion, and compassion does not go un-noticed...and I know somehow, somewhere, you will be rewarded at a higher level. Terrie P. Benicia, CA 5.0 star rating Recently, I had the task of selling my uncle's two small, rundown condominiums in Marin County. Not being from the area, I had no idea as to who would be a good candidate to list the two properties. I met Michael Baranowski at a homeowners association meeting for one of the condos. His smart, direct, nononsense, aggressive personality impressed me immediately as the guy you want marketing your property. Michael and Kathleen agreed to come to my house in Benicia to present their thoughts on how to best promote the properties. They were thorough, organized and seemed extremely knowledgeable not only about the real estate market in Marin, but also about both condominium complexes in particular as they had done their homework and researched everything they could prior to meeting with me. The condos sold immediately and (for me) seamlessly for more than we had hoped and Michael was with me every step of the way. He is very communicative and involved and keeps you posted on how the transaction is progressing. Michael (Bulldog) Baranowski will do a tremendous job marketing your property or helping you find your dream home. You also get the HUGE bonus of having Kathleen Murphy working on your behalf so it's really like getting two agents in one. They bring years of experience and tons of knowledge with them and in addition, they seem like they genuinely take an interest in you. I can't recommend them enough! Greg H. Benicia, CA 5.0 star rating As a first-time buyer just over a year ago, my head was filled with horror stories of how difficult buying a home during that time was supposed to be. I can only guess that people who went through such horrors needed Kathleen and Michael working for them.
I arrived for our first - and as it happened, only - day of tours to be greeted by Kathleen and Michael with a clipboard consisting of MLS printouts of all of the houses we were going to see. A year or two prior, I had been out with a large I recently had a transaction with Kathleen on a property in Danville where I online-based broker that sends its clients out with "field agents" to view homes, represent the buyer. I can't even begin to tell you how professional she is to and nearly every day of touring was cut short because a home was occupied by deal with. She has this down! Not only her professionalism shines through, tenants and we couldn't come in, because there was no lockbox at a home, or she's also compassionate and REALLY does care about people! because a home was already sold. That was not to be the case with Kathleen I and Michael. They had already checked them out before I arrived, so I hopped t's really rare to find agents "with heart," like Kathleen, who is not only sym- in their car and we started touring. As luck would have it, we found a house pathetic, but also professional and understanding. It's good to know that there that was almost exactly what I was looking for on that very first day, and I are still agents like her that are not focused so much about "the bottom line," decided I was ready to pull the trigger (and Michael and Kathleen circled back but are truly willing to give good people a chance to purchase a home. so that I could take another look at it.) If I wasn't an agent and I was looking for an agent to buy or sell my home, I would definitely use her! I've been in the business for 10 years now...and I've seen all kinds of agents out there....and Kathleen is definitely in my top percentile that I would do business with again!
After the tours, I began working almost exclusively with Kathleen, who put up with my constant expressions of worry about low appraisals, last-minute mortgage funding failures, and the like. She reassured me that I had nothing to worry about and that she would take care of ensuring that everything would roll along smoothly. And in the end, that is precisely what happened.
Kathleen negotiated a large seller concession for the limited repairs called for in the inspection report and even sought out competitive quotes for some of the work. She helped me line up a sewer lateral inspection, despite it not being required for my area. And for much of the period I was in escrow, I often forgot that the process was moving along, reminded only when Kathleen would request a signature on something or give me an update on one of the processes that had operating which hadn't otherwise needed my attention. When it came time to close (which Kathleen helped me to delay, so that I could attend a wedding) I couldn't believe it had all been that easy. But it was. Kathleen and Michael pride themselves on being professional real estate agents, and my experience is that their pride is well placed and well earned. I don't believe that smooth transactions just happen; someone has to keep the transactions rolling. Mine managed to roll like it was on rails. Julie G. Fremont, CA 5.0 star rating Kathleen is a gift to the real estate industry, she is extremely knowledgeable, organized, patient, helpful and caring with a delightful sense of humor and a smile that brightens up the entire universe. Several years ago my now husband and I decided to sell our condo's and purchase our first house/home together. Kathleen was referred to us by our neighbors who sold their condo in our complex and purchased their first house. Kathleen listened to our ideas about our dream house and the area we were interested in living. The day we put our condos on the market Kathleen took us to look at homes in the area we choose as our number 1 location and found a perfect house on the 1ST DAY, AND she sold our condo in less than 2 weeks. Kathleen completed the required paperwork which could be overwhelming for anyone who is not in real estate making the entire process not only painless but exciting, easy and fun. We were in our new home in six weeks. We have a book of "before and after" photos which we took when we purchased our home, our favorite is the FIRST photo which is of Kathleen opening up the front door with the key to our home in her hand as we walked up the sidewalk greeting us with a hug and her smile that makes me smile whenever I think of Kathleen or look at the book reminiscing. When I drive into our driveway I still marvel every that this is OUR HOME!!!!
move forward to a brighter future. Anyone lucky enough to have Kathleen on their team will have a winning experience!!! Don W. Fremont, CA 5.0 star rating I love these guys and trust them with my life. I've known Kathleen for a good 20+ years and she has helped me through numerous transactions over that time. Michael brought even more to the table when they teamed up. Here's what I can tell you about the two of them: They are very patient and they know the industry like nobody's business. I can think of few things that can be more stressful than a real estate transaction. There are no words that can describe how comforting it is to let them handle everything and know that they will take care of any issues that may arise. Michael and Kathleen know their stuff and know how to get things done. My wife and I can't thank them enough, as they have saved us time, money and kept us clear of all the headaches that come with the territory. I wholeheartedly recommend them. Kaitain J. San Rafael, CA 5.0 star rating
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I have to tell you, until very recently I had this idea in my head that real estate agents were essentially a necessary evil, these vaguely parasitic people who took a large commission and didn't do much work in the process. Kathleen Murphy disabused me of this notion. She worked proactively and efficiently with me on a short sale that took FIVE MONTHS to complete. That length of time was imposed upon us by the Byzantine setup of the ownership situation: occupants in arrears, two separate banks who owned two separate loans on the property (and couldn't agree with each other), delinquent HOA fees, and ultimately (sadly) the unexpected death of one of the sellers. Circumstance threw the book at us, and Kathleen calmly swatted each obstacle aside, came up with a plan, and dealt with it. She suggested alternate properties to me at several junctures but respected the fact that I did intend to buy this (seemingly ill-starred) place, and after the banks finally came to an agreement with each other, she moved quickly and efficiently to ensure that close of escrow took place well within the time window we had.
I would recommend her in a heartbeat. She was always available, always had sound answers and advice, and steered me through the process of all the various inspections and expected costs. It felt like working with a top-class lawyer who also understood the human side of buying a home. Massive difference from the UK (where I come from) where most estate agents feel like useless chancers with no specialist knowledge or ability. She fought my corner at every turn and the really strange thing is that a story that sounds like it ought Thank you Kathleen, you are an ANGEL! We are thrilled and proud to say that to have been full of screaming and hair-pulling on my part was in fact an oddly you are and always will be a very important person in our lives and a wonderful serene and stress-free experience. It just required patience and time, and at no friend. point did I think that we weren't on top of everything and ready for whatever was around the corner. And she continued to be a source of advice in the Joanna P. weeks after buying the home. I can't tell you that she's the best in Marin simply Fremont, CA because she was the only agent I tried. I CAN tell you that I thought she was 5.0 star rating excellent. I have recommended Kathleen to everyone I know that is interested in looking to sell or purchase a home, everyone fortunate enough to know and work with Kathleen all feel the same way. Kathleen, will take your hopes and dreams and made them a reality, still when I drive into our driveway I marvel that this is OUR HOME!
Kathleen helped my husband and I thru the short sale of our first home. Kathleen was a pleasure to work with, very professional & easy to communicate with. She was extremely thorough & assertive when it came to working with our bank. It was a rough process, but we feel so thankful she was on our team. A huge weight has been lifted & it's a great feeling to be able to
Lisa B. Novato, CA 5.0 star rating I will keep this short & sweet.....Kathleen is the best realtor I have encountered!
I would not hesitate for a second to call on her for any real estate needs. She is thorough, efficient, knowledgeable, detailed, and very pleasant to work with. It was a stress free sale and she handled EVERYTHING! Do yourself a favor and contact Kathleen for the sale of your home. You won't regret it! Simone S. Larkspur, CA 5.0 star rating We met Kathleen and Michael through a co- worker. What a great team. We had Kathleen sell our family home in southern Marin and at the same time she was busy finding us our new place. There was never a time during the frenzy that she wasn't immediately available . Always cheerful and positive . She walked us through inspections and the mounds of paperwork with ease. I recommended her to a client who also was thrilled. If you chose them you won't be sorry !!! John W. Hayward, CA 5.0 star rating I just sold my home through Kathleen. This was the first time I have ever sold a home, so I didn't know what to expect. Kathleen laid everything out very clearly and professionally. It was all quite easy for me. We did almost all the documentation over DocuSign, so that helped make things much easier than it would have been just getting through the 100s of pages that need to be signed. She walked me through the various documents, which would have taken me days to read and understand if she hadn't been on the phone with me, explaining them one by one. Kathleen kept the whole process moving forward at a quick and steady pace. Kathleen made a very well organized and annotated table of all the offers. We went through them together and she pointed out the good points and bad points of each offer. Finally i felt we took the best one, although it was not the highest. Bottom-line, I was very happy with the experience. It was smooth, easy and very professional. Mary G. Katy, TX 5.0 star rating Kathleen is fantastic to work with on every level! My husband lost his job and I needed to sell our rental income property immediately to supplement our income while my husband seeks re-employment. Kathleen is not only friendly, she is easy to talk to, and caring. She is very professional, prompt, thorough, and very knowledgeable in her field. Needless to say, I was deeply stressed not knowing how long it would take to sell our rental property. Her relationships with others in the industry proved to be a valuable asset. She had an open house the weekend after she listed our home and low and behold I had seven offers all above the asking price! I cannot tell you what a relief this was. Kathleen stayed in the loop with the lenders, inspectors, loan officers, appraisers, etc. so everything could flow as smoothly as possible. I live in Texas and my home was in Union City, Kathleen saved me the cost of a trip to California, she took care of all the paperwork via DocuSign and was even my interface with the title company.
handles all our immediate family's real estate needs. If you need an agents who will go the extra mile and provide the full service package, Kathleen and Michael are certainly the team for you. I am very thankful for all the hard work that Kathleen provided us in selling our home. Kathleen is very generous with her availability, she provides thorough explanations on the changing real estate market and really focuses on your needs. I sincerely recommend them to others and now to you. Karol K. Novato, CA 5.0 star rating We recently bought a house in Novato. . We have a home in Kansas but wanted a home here in order to be close to our son and his partner. Kathleen and Michael were amazing. They are honest, respectable, and business smart We told Kathleen and Michael our needs and they found what we needed and wanted. We were in Kansas at the time and we were not able to come to California. However, they were able to work out the logistics of a long distance sale.. We were able to put our trust in these two people who were so professional. Never did I have reason to doubt their honesty or integrity. These traits mixed with kindness gave us a happy home. Jean R. Mountain View, CA 5.0 star rating Kathleen Murphy handled sale of my condo. She is the best realtors I have known. She is truly an expert in her field and she really understands what awesome service is all about and delivers. She did thorough market analysis, generated multiple offers, and helped me pick the offer that was best for my situation. It's usually difficult to deal with HOA but she handled that expertly and got the escrow closed in a very short time. I really appreciated her excellent and honest communication style that made me feel that I knew what was going on during the whole transaction period. Thank you Kathleen! E K. Union City, CA 5.0 star rating I can't say enough good things about my experience working with Kathleen. She recently helped me to sell a property in Mill valley. We had a lot of curve balls thrown at us during the transaction, from buyers, agent and tenant, but her advice and experience helped us to navigate well and ultimately sell for the highest price possible. I would recommend Kathleen to everyone. I know she will work hard for everyone of her clients because that is who she is. Thank you Kathleen! Ben A. Pinole, CA 5.0 star rating
We were in the market to buy our first home. We had been working with a real estate agent for the first six months of 2013; we put in several offers, all above asking price, but we weren't having any luck. Low inventory, lots of cash offers, The personal touch she offer is hands down top notch! She truly cares about etc etc... we were frustrated. We were referred to Kathleen through a friend, her clients, she listen to you and takes those extra steps. Kathleen has become and had the pleasure to start working with her. our family's friend since she sold our first home back in 2000. She now
I can't tell you how much of a relief it was working with Kathleen. The experience was short and sweet - within a week of contacting her, we put in an offer on a house that I was SURE was a long shot. It was a great house... great location, move-in ready, etc. Offer accepted. A little over a month later and we moved in. I know things don't always work out like that, but I can tell you there was a lot more than luck involved. From the get-go, Kathleen was super attentive and a superb communicator. She was matter-of-fact honest, available through emails, texts, and in-person visits, and her experience and person ability really shone through in every way. She worked side-by-side with us throughout the process, from the open house visits and the offers we put in with her, to the complexities of the closing process, keeping us in the loop the whole time. Michael joined us for house visits, and his words of wisdom and great sense of humor really added a lot to the experience as well. The first time home-buying process was pretty bewildering for us, and I can't tell you how much it helped to have the level of experience, professionalism, and attentiveness that we got from Kathleen. I feel like that is exactly what we needed in this competitive market, and I will highly recommend her to all friends and family.
John K. Sonoma, CA 5.0 star rating I worked with Kathleen in purchasing a home in Sonoma. Kathleen couldn't have been nicer to work with - knowledgeable in all aspects of home buying/owning - from the purchase, to mortgage, contractor recommendations, and more. She was fun to work with and understanding when things get bumpy. Kathleen was also very responsive and helpful when well after the sale I needed a little professional help in working with the county to adjust my property taxes. I'd definitely work with her again - and would have absolutely no hesitation recommending her. Michelle J. Livermore, CA 5.0 star rating
Jen H. Santa Rosa, CA 5.0 star rating
Kathleen and Michael are two of the best realtors I have had the pleasure of working with. In our industry it is hard to find people that are professional, pay attention to details, and know their stuff like these two.
I bought my first home in Sonoma County with Kathleen and Michael last year and it was a wonderful experience. They walked me through the transaction every step of the way. I was impressed by their knowledge, organization and follow through. Being a first time home buyer I was expecting to be stressed out by the process and all of the paperwork, however, with Kathleen and Michael representing me I was delighted by how easy and stress-free the transaction was. I would most definitely recommend them to anyone looking to buy or sell a home.
They work as a team with the client and loan agent to ensure a smooth transaction from start to finish. Clients come first with them.
Mark D. Fremont, CA 5.0 star rating Kathleen Murphy is outstanding. She has acted as our agent now for two purchases and one sale. In every case she demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the local market as well as a sound understanding of the real estate business in general, and we have always been left with complete confidence and peace of mind knowing that every detail was properly handled and that we got the best deal possible.
I have worked with them in the past and look forward to working with them in the future. Dale R. San Francisco, CA 5.0 star rating Kathleen and Michael did a great job of helping me sell my condo in San Francisco in 2004. They were there to provide guidance and advise at every step, from initial listing, to open houses, and reviewing offers, to the final close of the sale. I always felt that I was in the loop the entire time. Because of their expertise, in 2010, my wife and I sought their advice in helping us refinance out current home. Kathleen and Michael suggested the names of several mortgage brokers for us to consider, one of which we opted to work with. Their recommendation helped us get a significantly lower mortgage rate that resulted in a more than $265K reduction in interest over the life of the loan. Kathleen and Michael make a great team with an eye for detail. I would recommend putting them at the top of your short list for selecting a realtor. You won't be disappointed.
Kathleen's dedication, availability, reliability and thoroughness are first-rate. When we were discussing with her the possibility that we might instead use an online service for our most recent sale and purchase, her final words to us were Richard E. "no one will work harder for you". From our previous experience with her, we knew those weren't empty words, but she made good on that promise over and Pleasanton, CA over again, and we could not have been more pleased with the superb level of 5.0 star rating service she provided. Kathleen has helped us on three real estate transactions. The first was the We have recommended Kathleen to close friends, who were also very happy purchase our home in 1991. She was extremely patient and very helpful with her, and I would not hesitate to recommend her again. throughout the process. She is organized, knowledgeable, responsive and the personification of customer service. She possesses a wonderful sense of humor which made the stressful process of home buying much easier to handle. She helped us sell the first home and assisted us in purchase of our current home. In addition to her knowledge of the real estate, she was a great help in staging our home for sale. When purchasing our second (current)
home, Kathleen exactly what our tastes were and what we were looking for in a potential home. This is a testament to her skill as an real estate professional. In the roughly 20 years that we have known Kathleen, she has proven to be a good friend and resource. Because of her professionalism and knowledge, we have never hesitated in referring her to friends. A friend to whom we recommended Kathleen purchased a home. She was entirely satisfied with the quality of service Kathleen gave her and thanked us for introducing Kathleen to her.
were educated in every aspect of the home, neighborhood, schools and more prior to closing.
Colleen C. Daly City, CA 5.0 star rating
Kathleen and Michael are the best!
Kathleen has been our agent for 4 purchases and 4 sales. Our first time using Kathleen was 1990 and I just finished moving in to my current home a month ago. I have complete trust in her that she will have my best interest in what ever transactions take place. Kathleen is honest, ethical and a really good person. She puts her clients first and stays on top of the process all the way through. She obviously has the experience necessary to do a great job, but she also keeps up on the latest trends and technology so she can be as efficient as possible. Once my latest home purchase was complete, I was a little sad that I wouldn't get to hear from her every day. Michael was indirectly involved in the latest sale and purchase and was also supportive and helpful. I recommend Michael and Kathleen without reservation and would never think of using anyone else! Luba M. Sonoma, CA 5.0 star rating Kathleen helped us with our last three real estate transactions (with added bonus of Michael on third transaction).I cannot imagine anyone better than Kathleen in this job. She is incredibly responsive, organized and helpful. She usually knows the answer, but if not, she will find it. No detail or matter is too small for her. In the last transaction, Kathleen and Michael went to all the homes were potentially interested in before taking us, to make sure it was really something we would like. Prepared is just an understatement. And they both have the attitude that their job is to serve their client and it shows in all they do. John D. Fremont, CA 5.0 star rating Kathleen and Michael are as good as it gets when it comes to representing both buyers and seller in the real estate market. When you look at the industry as a whole, there is a much larger population of listing agents vs. buyer's agents. Why? Because representing buyers requires much more effort and time than working with a listing. You need to prepare reviews and inspect multiple homes rather than just the one that is listed, you need to gauge markets and selling points for various areas and you need to have a keen eye to protect the buyer and properly advise them as they go to purchase their new home. As good as they are at being a listing agent, Kathleen and Michael are superb buyer's agent's. The highest compliment I can give them is that they treat each purchase as if it was their own. Nothing short of the best when it comes to inspections, education and advice - the always leave the buyer knowing that they
When I buy a home, I expect my agent to protect mine and my families interest and they do this as well or better than any I have worked with. It is so nice to know that you have a counselor out there that will take care of you in every way when you go to make the biggest purchase of your life -
Dennis W. San Francisco, CA 5.0 star rating I am writing to provide my highest recommendation to Kathleen Murphy and Michael Baranowski of Bradley Real Estate. They are assisting us with the sale of our condo and have helped us every step of the way with professionalism and the expertise gained only after years of working in the real estate industry. In addition to their knowledge, they are a heck of a lot of fun too! Whether you are in the market to buy or sell, Kathleen and Michael are truly a dynamic team to help you with your real estate needs.
When is a Real Estate Agent a REALTOR?: The term REALTOR® is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS® & subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. Code of Ethics: The Code establishes time-honored & baseline principles that come from the collective experiences of REALTORS® since the Code of Ethics was first established in 1913. Those principles can be loosely defined as: Loyalty to clients; Fiduciary (legal) duty to clients; Cooperation with competitors; Truthfulness in statements & advertising; & non-interference in exclusive relationships that other REALTORS® have with their clients. Real Estate Broker: The broker is a higher level license than a real estate agent & would be authorized to hire real estate agents to work under broker's supervision. Certified Residential Specialist / CRS: The Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) is the highest Designation awarded to sales associates in the residential sales field. The CRS Designation recognizes professional accomplishments in both experience & education. Since 1977 the Council of Residential Specialists has been conferring the CRS Designation on agents who meet its stringent requirements. Today, only the Top 4% of all Realtors in the United States have earned this designation, the highest in the industry. Accredited Staging Professional/ ASP: An ASP Real Estate Agent is a real estate agent that has completed a rigorous training program covering specific techniques & concepts in home presentation & Staging. This includes classroom training & staging of homes that will soon go on the market using the skill they learned in class. An ASP Real Estate Agent will help the home owner properly prepare their home for sale & get the home sold faster & for more money. Graduate Realtor Institute/ GRI: Buying property is a complex & stressful task. In fact, it's often the biggest single investment you will make in your lifetime. At the same time, real estate transactions have become increasingly complicated. New technology, laws, procedures & the increasing sophistication of buyers & sellers require real estate practitioners to perform at an ever-increasing level of professionalism. So it's more important than ever that you work with an agent who has a keen understanding of the real estate business. The GRI program has helped the best & the brightest in the industry achieve that level of understanding. GRIs are: Nationally recognized as top performers in the real estate industry Professionally trained Knowledgeable Dedicated to bringing you quality service A GRI can make a difference When you see the letters "GRI" after an agent's name, you can count on receiving the knowledge & guidance you need to make your transaction go
smoothly. In short, you can count on the best service available from a real estate professional. Accredited Relocation Expert: Assisting major corporations relocate their valued employees & families through out the US. According to Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, being a relocation expert proves "they have a working knowledge of thebasics of relocation & the policies & procedures. Relocation Coordinators feel more confident in placing referrals because it indicates that their transferee will receive quality service & that they can expect proper, prompt & professional service. Certified Short Sale & Foreclosure Expert/ CSSFE: A Certified Short Sale & Foreclosure Expert has a thorough understanding of complex issues in today’s turbulent real estate industry & knowledge of foreclosure avoidance options available to homeowners. CDPEs can provide solutions, specifically short sales, for homeowners facing market hardships. Homeowners regularly proceed without guidance of any kind through the often financially & emotionally devastating prospect of foreclosure. Speaking with a well-informed, licensed real estate professional is the best course of action for a homeowner in distress. Through comprehensive training & experience, CDPEs have the tools to help homeowners find the best solutions for their unique situations & to avoid foreclosure through the efficient execution of a short sale. Living through financial difficulties poses a challenge for any family, so why make the process of finding a qualified real estate professional difficult too? Select an agent with the CDPE Designation to ensure you have a trained professional to address your specific needs. They don’t merely assist in selling properties, they serve & help save their clients in need.
USING E-SIGNATURES IS EASY AS CHECKING EMAIL
Here are some of the benefits of using DocuSign:
DocuSign is the fastest, most secure way to sign, send, and store documents in the cloud. Whether you need to close a sales contract, buy a home or approve a project estimate, trust DocuSign, the most widely used eSignature. With DocuSign, you can sign anytime, anywhere on any Internet -enabled device. What is an electronic signature? An electronic signature, or eSignature, is an electronic indication of intent to agree to or a prove the contents of a document. More specifically, the U.S. Federal ESIGN Act defines an electronic signature as an “electronic sound, symbol, or process, attached to or logically associated with a contract or other record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the record.”
Time and money saved – Eliminate the need to print, fax, scan, and ship documents. Faster results – Send documents for signature and get a response in minutes, not days. Increased efficiency – Store and access all documents from your secure cloud account. Legally binding documents – Get a complete audit trail and tamperproof virtual seal of the signed documents. Flexibility to work on the go – Sign, send, and track documents from anywhere on any Internet-enabled device.
Are digital signatures the same as electronic signatures? Though the terms digital signature and electronic signature are often used interchangeably, they are not the same.
Electronic signature: An electronic signature, or eSignature, is an electronic indication of intent to agree to or approve the contents of a document. More specifically, the U.S. Federal ESIGN Act defines an electronic signature as DocuSign enables you to sign with your mouse, upload a scanned image of an “electronic sound, symbol, or process, attached to or logically associated your signature, or type in your name and select from a variety of signature with a contract or other record and executed or adopted by a person with the styles to sign a document. With the DocuSign Ink mobile app you are able to intent to sign the record.” sign with your finger. Whichever option you choose, your signature is a valid electronic signature. This signature will be associated with a unique identifier Digital signature: A digital signature is one form of electronic signature, and it so that every document you sign will be recorded as signed by you and you refers to a specific technology. Digital signatures use asymmetric alone. cryptography specifically to enable users to ensure the authenticity of the How does DocuSign eSignature work?
What are electronic signatures used for?
signer and to trust that a signature is valid through the use of a public and private key pair.
Electronic signatures are used for many kinds of documents and transactions, for both personal and business use. Here are some examples of how electronic signature is used:
About DocuSign. DocuSign is the fastest, most secure way to send, sign, track, and store documents in the cloud.
Sign contracts, invoices, and work orders for signature Approve project estimates and change orders Sign school forms and permission slips Complete and sign leases and rental agreements Sign NDAs and client agreements Sign bank documents and insurance forms
Are electronic signatures legal? Yes, electronic signatures are legally binding in the United States and in many countries around the world. Read more about the legality of electronic signatures. What are the benefits of electronic signature? Using electronic signature can help save you time and money, whether you’re a large company, a small business, or an independent freelancer.
Security – Highest level of security assurance (ISO 27001, SSAE 16) International capability – Sign with DocuSign in 39 languages
SINGLE PROPERTY WEBSITES BRING UNIQUE EXPOSURE TO EVERY HOME The real estate industry has moved on-line with good reason -- that's where today's tech-savvy & Internet oriented homebuyers have gone. Real estate sales methods are being redefined, as people increasingly rely on search engines to locate precisely the house they want. An ever-increasing percentage of buyers (53 percent) search the Internet as part of their house hunt; & 75 percent found the agent they used on-line. Technology improvements that help buyers find the perfect fit keep getting better & better. By comparison, yellow page ads & newspapers are declining in usage. Those preferences have fundamentally changed the way Kathleen & Michael tell the world about the listings we have. Homes that aren't easily found on-line are likely to be missed -- & sell slowly. Expect Internet reliance for real estate to increase further, because computer& Internet-savvy buyers find answers that way (no matter what they're buying). Studies show web searchers tend to have higher education & incomes, & are more likely to buy. Novel exposure for a listing is hard to come by. Firms employing effective online methods out-perform the rest, by delivering answers in the way buyers prefer: ample pictures, simple & direct facts, & easy-to-find online information. There's an easy answer that avoids a property being lost. Kathleen & Michael provide their home sellers their own totally unique website, (in addition to our usual top shelf service), entirely devoted to one particular property. The domain name? It's location, of course: www.1122MainStreet.com. Take a peek. No question about where it's located. The home stands out in a high-impact way. People notice & its front yard sign sends passers-by to the unique website for all the particulars. The website stays up until the home is sold. It seems like a lot of trouble & expense for just one home. But advances in technology & new solutions mean it's not. Kathleen & Michael can provide such high-impact exposure to every listing, not just the million dollar ones, at no cost to the seller. Any property offered from its very own website rates extra attention -- & gets it. Each property appears under its own domain name (the street address) & provides a comprehensive resource about a single listing. Each seller receives their very own website, for the duration of the sales process. It is also important to deliver convenience in a way that appeals to both sellers & buyers. To the oft-quoted real estate phrase, "location, location, location," add "convenience, convenience, convenience." Now days, that's what everyone looks for. As improbable as it would seem, individual sites for each listing are convenient & simple. Kathleen & Michael’s unique marketing strategy gives your property a
competitive advantage. 
Convenience for Sellers:
Sellers want their property to sell quickly & easily. They expect their agent to make their property stand out from similar homes. Providing maximum Internet exposure guides buyers directly to their property 
Convenience for Buyers
The address takes them to the website, with numerous pictures & all the property specs. No need to click through numerous listings that don't interest them. It's much easier to find the home that "rings their bell," without needing to visit the property initially. When it comes time for a seller to choose which agent brings "something extra," offering Sellers their own buyer-oriented website (for no cost to them) like Kathleen & Michael always do, counts as a noteworthy listing tool.
HOW YOU TAKE TITLE - ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS: Title to real property in California may be held by individuals, either in Sole Ownership or in Co-Ownership. Co-Ownership of real property occurs when title is held by two or more persons. There are several variations as to how title may be held in each type of ownership. The following brief summaries reference seven of the more common examples of Sole Ownership and Co-Ownership.
SOLE OWNERSHIP
A man or woman who is not married. Example: John Doe, a single man. An Unmarried Man/Woman: A man or woman, who having been married, is legally divorced. Example: John Doe, an unmarried man.
and Mary Doe, husband and wife. Example: John Doe, a married man. Joint Tenancy: Joint and equal interests in land owned by two or more individuals created under a single instrument with right of survivorship. Example: John Doe and Mary Doe, husband and wife, as joint tenants. Tenancy in Common: Under tenancy in common, the coowners own undivided interests; but unlike joint tenancy, these interests need not be equal in quantity and may arise at different times. There is no right of survivorship; each tenant owns an interest, which on his or her death vests in his or her heirs or devisee. Example: John Doe, a single man, as to an undivided ¾ ths interest, and George Smith, a single man as to an undivided 1/4th interest, as tenants in common.
Trust: Title to real property in California may be held in trust. The trustee of the trust holds title pursuant to the terms of the A Married Man/Woman, as His/Her Sole and Separate Property: trust for the benefit of the trustor/beneficiary. When a married man or woman wishes to acquire title as their sole and separate property, the spouse must consent and The preceding summaries are a few of the more common ways relinquish all right, title and interest in the property by deed or to take title to real property in California and are provided for other written agreement. Example: John Doe, a married man, informational purposes only. as his sole and separate property. There are significant tax and legal consequences on how you CO-OWNERSHIP hold title. We strongly suggest contacting an attorney and/or CPA for specific advice on how you should actually vest your Community Property: Property acquired by husband and wife, title. or either during marriage, other than by gift, bequest, devise, descent or as the separate property of either is presumed community property. Example: John Doe and Mary Doe, husband and wife, as community property. Example: John Doe
While you are considering the purchase of a new home or exploring new financing on your current home, you need to be aware of what things might adversely affect your loan. Your credit, income and assets are verified after you submit your application and in some instances right before closing. Following these tips throughout the loan process can be very important. The key is to call us if you wish to make any changes to your financial picture, even it seems like a simple, logical thing to do. To have your loan commitment or your preapproval remain valid, please pay close attention to the Do’s and Don’ts below: DO CALL YOUR MORTGAGE CONSULTANT: If you are unsure if something will impact your loan, call. EMPLOYMENT: Employment stability is a big factor in the underwriting process. Quitting, changing jobs or even changing positions in same company can greatly impact your loan approval. Inform us immediately of any changes to your job, position or income. DOCUMENTATION DO KEEP ORIGINALS: Keep originals of all paystubs, bank statements and other financial documents.
DON’T CONSOLIDATE DEBT TO ONE OR TWO CARDS or CLOSE CREDIT CARD ACCOUNTS: This may change your qualification ratio of debt to available credit which also affects your credit score. You want to keep an active beneficial credit history on your record. If you really want to do these things, do it after you close your mortgage loan. DON’T RAISE RED FLAGS: Don’t co-sign on another person’s loan or change your name and address. The less activity that occurs while your loan is in process, the smoother the process. ASSETS DON’T MAKE LARGE UNEXPLAINABLE DEPOSITS INTO BANK ACCOUNTS: Deposit amounts exceeding past history will be questioned by an underwriter unless the deposit is a documented gift. If you are getting a gift, call (gifts require specific documentation) your Mortgage Consultant to discuss. DON’T MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS OR TRANSFERS IN YOUR ASSET PICTURE: Don’t change investments, move positions, close, open or transfer any savings or other asset accounts without contacting us first.
DO KEEP AND PROVIDE ALL DOCUMENTATION FOR THE SALE OF YOUR CURRENT HOME: Provide all documents for the sale of your current home if selling it. Examples: sales contract, closing statement, employer relocation buyout program, etc. CREDIT DO STAY CURRENT ON EXISTING ACCOUNTS: Late payments on current accounts like mortgage, car payment, charge cards, etc. will impact your credit score which identifies your likeliness to repay your debts. Make your mortgage payments on time but call us before you make any payments that are scheduled within two weeks of closing.
LENDER CHECKLIST: WHAT YOU NEED FOR A MORTGAGE
W-2 forms — or business tax return forms if you're self-employed — for the last two or three years for every person signing the loan.
Copies of at least one pay stub for each person signing the loan.
Account numbers of all your credit cards & the amounts for any outstanding balances.
DO CONTINUE TO USE YOUR CREDIT AS YOU NORMALLY WOULD: Red flags are easily raised within the scoring system. If it appears you are diverting from your normal spending patterns, it could cause your score to go down. For example, if you’ve had a monthly service for cable billed to the same credit card for the past two years, don’t change that now. Make any changes after loan closing. DON’T APPLY FOR NEW CREDIT OR INCREASE ANY CURRENT LIABILITIES (credit cards, signature loans, etc.): Avoid making major purchases such as cars, lines of credit for furniture, appliances, computers, etc. If you receive an invitation to apply for new lines of credit or to increase existing credit, don’t respond. If you do, that company will pull your credit report and this will have an adverse effect on your credit score.
Copies of two to four months of bank or credit union statements for both checking & savings accounts. Lender, loan number, & amount owed on other installment loans, such as student loans & car loans. Addresses where you’ve lived for the last five to seven years, with names of landlords if appropriate. Copies of brokerage account statements for two to four months, as well as a list of any other major assets of value, such as a boat, RV, or stocks or bonds not held in a brokerage account.
DON’T PAY OFF COLLECTIONS OR CHARGE-OFFS: Generally, paying off old collections causes a drop in the credit score. Don’t pay off any collections unless we specifically ask you to in order to secure the loan.
Copies of your most recent 401(k) or other retirement account statement.
DON’T MAX OUT OR OVER CHARGE EXISTING CREDIT CARDS: Running up credit cards is the fastest way to bring a credit score down. Try to keep credit cards below 30% of the available limit.
Documentation to verify additional income, such as child support or a pension.
Copies of personal tax forms for the last two to three years.
Kathleen & Michael support: Audubon Canyon Ranch– MGP TOCC Surfrider Foundation ARF Orca Rescue Marin Food Bank Hospice by the Bay The Marin Humane Society Kathleen & Michael give back to the community through volunteering. They regularly cook for the REST Homeless project, Mill Street & Ritter Center. They attend St. Luke Presbyterian Church.
You can find them here, too