David Higgins

Local Knowledge

Process Expertise

Responsiveness

Negotiation skills

ZillowVERIFIED

Lauren helped my husband and me buy our first home in Oakland this year, and I cannot say enough good things about her. I would absolutely recommend her! As first-time homebuyers, we felt incredibly supported by Lauren from start to finish. She prepared us for the process from every angle--sharing educational materials, connecting us with multiple reputable local lenders, interpreting disclosures so we could understand the true cost of a home (considering needed updates or repairs), and guiding us in crafting a competitive offer. Even after we closed, she continued to support us by connecting us with trusted vendors for work on the house. We always felt genuinely cared for throughout the journey. We were fairly picky and toured about 30 homes before finding "the one." When we were ready to make an offer, Lauren helped us put together a competitive bid that ultimately got us the home--without overpaying. This was no small feat in the Oakland market! Her strategic guidance included more than just price--she helped us consider things like how much to put down, which lenders had the best reputations for fast closings, and what terms would make our offer stand out. When it came to choosing an offer price, she provided a wealth of data and helped us feel empowered to make the right decision--never pushy, never fear-mongering. Lauren's deep knowledge of the Oakland market, her smart use of data, and her strong relationships with other agents were major assets. She often got us useful inside info on homes we were interested in--like how many offers were coming in or what the seller's mindset was around pricing. Home buying is stressful, but Lauren made it significantly less so. We had complete confidence in her ability to help us find the right home, at the right price, and to negotiate effectively on our behalf. Finally, I just want to say--she's so fun to work with and seems like she really loves her job. We genuinely enjoyed spending time with her and laughed a lot during the process. She also instill a lot of trust in her because she is is knowledgeable, responsive, and reliable. Even though I know she had many other clients she had a way of making you feel like you were her #1 priority. We always heard back from her quickly and whenever she said she was going to do so something, I was amazed by how quickly she got it done. Many times we had a question about a home and 20 mins later we'd hear back -- she'd already called the other agent and learned what we wanted to know and more. She's honestly the best!

Local Knowledge

Process Expertise

Responsiveness

Negotiation skills

ZillowVERIFIED

If youre looking for a realtor, look no further than Lauren Kilbourne. Wed been house hunting on and off since 2020 and met Lauren at an open house in 2023. Of the nearly 100 open houses we attended, Lauren stood out as one of the most experienced, competent, and kind agents we met. Fast forward to August 2024: on a whim, we visited an open house and fell in love. Offers were due in two daysaEUR"and we didnt even have a realtor. We reached out to Lauren, who wed only met once a year earlier, and she dropped everything that day to walk through the home, pore over disclosures, and advise us. Though we ultimately didnt submit an offer in time, we were blown away by her generosity, responsiveness, and care. From there, Lauren spent the next several months learning about usaEUR"our tastes, our priorities, our dealbreakers. She made us feel like we were her only clients, which is no small feat considering shes among the top 15 highest-volume agents in the county. Lauren brings deep expertise in everything from construction and safety to electrical, insurance, and compliance. The number of times she crawled under a house or across a rickety retaining wallaEUR"in heels, no lessaEUR"still blows our minds. When we finally found the one, Laurens strategy was unbeatable. In a hyper-competitive market, she helped us write a winning offer without overpaying. She was tactical, measured, and completely in our corner. Thanks to her, were now living in our dream home. But what really sets Lauren apart is everything after the close. She stayed by our side through a complicated financing process, helped us negotiate with our mortgage broker, and has continued to support us post-closeaEUR"with contractor referrals, handyman recommendations, and helpful follow-ups that most agents would consider aEURoeabove and beyond.aEUR? If you get the chance to work with Lauren, consider yourself lucky. Youll be in the best possible hands.

Local Knowledge

Process Expertise

Responsiveness

Negotiation skills

ZillowVERIFIED

I cannot recommend Lauren highly enough. What started as a standard home sale became a complex legal matter requiring litigation, and Lauren went far above and beyond anything I could have expected from a real estate professional. From the beginning, her market advice was spot-on and helped us navigate a challenging situation with confidence. When our transaction became complicated and required legal proceedings, she stepped up without hesitation. She spent countless additional hours on our case, testified professionally in legal proceedings, and maintained her composure and expertise in front of mediators, attorneys, contractors, and opposing agents. Throughout this stressful process, Lauren remained our steadfast advocate. Her professionalism, sharp attention to detail, and unwavering commitment to our interests were evident to everyone involved. She provided service that went well beyond what her commission could ever justify, treating our case as if it were her own family's transaction. If you want an agent who will fight for you when things get tough and has the expertise to handle complex situations with grace and skill, Lauren is the only choice. She turned what could have been a nightmare into a successful outcome through her dedication and professionalism. Plus, her advice is gold, because it is informed by very specific experience in our area. I would trust her with any future real estate needs without hesitation and recommend her to anyone seeking truly exceptional representation.

Local Knowledge

Process Expertise

Responsiveness

Negotiation skills

ZillowVERIFIED

I'm sure that reason I got my house was because of Lauren's skill and expertise. It was a very competitive property (10 offers!) and she made sure that we were in touch with the sellers at every step, checking in and getting as much information in the process as possible. She communicated clearly and consistently with me so I understood what was happening every step of the way. Lauren was also very helpful in the closing- she found me a insurance rate that will save me thousands of dollars a year, and could recommend contractors for various small bits of work that needed to be done on the property. I'd highly recommend her to anyone looking to buy a house.

Local Knowledge

Process Expertise

Responsiveness

Negotiation skills

ZillowVERIFIED

I feel very lucky that I found Lauren. My husband and I were looking for a part time place in Oakland to be near family. We went back and forth on buying a house or condo and finally settled on a condo (for now). Lauren was extremely professional, responsive, knowledgeable, and a pleasure to work with. She spent lots of time creating videos of potential homes that she thought we might like (with her commentary) - which I really appreciated. Coming from out of state, Lauren's knowledge of the neighborhoods and the market really helped us find the perfect place!