My two decades of work in the housing and real estate brokerage fields prepare me well for serving the every need of my clients. With strong people skills, great familiarity with Piedmont, Berkeley, Emeryville and Oakland neighborhoods, two whole-home renovations under my belt, and a keen eye for detail, I assist my clients as they close one of the most important transactions of their lives.

My job is to inform, listen, analyze, market, and above all close your transaction quickly and at a price with which you are comfortable.

 My work starts and ends outside of the transaction, however.  Sometimes I’ve been talking to clients for a couple of years before they actually make a move.  And after the transaction, I regularly update those I work with concerning value trends in their neighborhoods, tax law changes, finance innovations, buyer preferences, and renovation ideas.  I’m often helping clients track down records at City Hall, referring friends and acquaintances to great realtors in other Bay Area communities or throughout the country, or even running over to a home to let a vendor in while clients are in San Francisco at work, or on sabbatical overseas. 

I'm compensated for my work when you or someone you refer buys or sells a home through me.

I grew up in the Washington, DC area and graduated from Mount Holyoke College and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, where I focused on real estate finance. After working on housing and tax issues in Virginia, Alaska, and in the halls of Congress, I managed the nation's single-family and multi-family rural housing loan programs as a presidential appointee. I also advised HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros on housing and urban policy as his Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy. Throughout these years, I was able to deliver on the big picture by paying close attention to the details, and by staying supremely customer-focused.

My family moved to Piedmont in 1996, so the complex cross-country relocation experience (and price shock!) remains fresh in my mind. My deep contacts in the community give me the insight and intelligence often needed in this fiercely competitive market. I have served in leadership positions in support of Piedmont's schools, and the town's progressive Boy Scout Council. In addition to an East Bay Hills real estate practice, I work in Oakland and Berkeley to match below-median income families with homes they can afford.

Email me (Kennedy@MaureenKennedy.Net) for sample marketing blueprints from previous projects (each is unique!), for my New Buyer package, my links to websites about Piedmont, or just to ask a question.  See my blog (www.tinyurl.com/piedmonthome) for three years of Piedmont market updates and related material.  And ask for a taste of recent marketing projects—whether a studio condo or a $3 million estate, whether a “fixer” or a recently renovated beauty—I love translating the value unique to these homes to a targeted group of potential buyers.

You’ll also find that I listen carefully to buyers as they describe their needs, wishes and preferences.  I’ll offer information and insight, feedback and ideas, an empathetic shoulder and perhaps a suggested tradeoff or two so that you’ll feel comfortable and confident when you’re ready to make an offer.  In addition to firm yet gracious negotiation as we strike a deal, I commit to careful and transparent follow-through during the inspection and closing process.

Most of us buy and sell every ten years or so.  I understand that, and work hard to make sure that instead of surprises, you receive careful and clear advance notice, clarity and suggestions.  Is it surprising that most buyers wouldn’t realize that a personal check won’t work at closing?  No!  Do I work hard to make sure my clients don’t find themselves with only a personal checkbook in hand at closing (or even worse, on their way overseas with no time to spare)?  Yes!

Winner, 2008 Leaders in Luxury Award:  Overall Excellence in Personal Marketing (Institute for Luxury Home Marketing)

Winner, 2007 50 Realtors on the Rise:  RISMedia and Real Estate magazine.