Ilan is an amazing realtor. I'm so glad we met her. Really felt like she was a friend that was just helping us out. :) Professional, knowledgable, responsive and guided us along the way. This is our first time selling and Ilan made everything easy. Thank you Ilan, for making this an amazing experience.

I seldom write reviews, so this one is an exception, and that is because Ilan Penson at Red Oak Realty was exceptional as my real estate agent when I recently purchased a house in Montclair, Oakland. I have bought and sold a number of houses over the past 40 years, so I have had many interactions with real estate agents, and it is clear to me what are the essential qualities of an excellent agent. Many agents are knowledgable about the local market, inventory, accurate pricing, etc., and Ilan, not surprisingly, knows the local market perfectly. She is immersed in the Oakland community on many levels and understands it. She also has great relationships with other local agents which is important in this real estate community on both the buying and selling side. Equally important to me is an agent who is really responsive. Over our hundreds and hundreds of emails and texts, whenever I sent one out to Ilan, she would respond immediately. It became so routine that I knew that I would get answers I needed promptly. This was not usually the case with my prior agents. These essential qualities in an excellent agent aside, for me the personal relationship with my agent is most vital. I need an agent that I can trust, with whom I can have genuine conversations as if talking to a long-valued friend. I don't want any nonsense. Ilan was the perfect sounding boarding for my ever-evolving housing plans. So together, with Ilan's superb assistance, I bought a beautiful home in a market that I wasn't sure I could tackle. Ilan managed all the inspections effortlessly with her trusted contacts, and since escrow closed, Ilan has not ditched and moved on. She continues to provide key contacts with tradespeople that I have needed to make my home the way that I want. If you are looking to buy a home in Oakland or Berkeley, I would contact Ilan Penson--my best real estate experience.

Ilan is an amazing realtor. I'm so glad we met her. Really felt like she was a friend that was just helping us out. :) Professional, knowledgable, responsive and guided us along the way. This is our first time selling and Ilan made everything easy and without stress. Thank you Ilan for making this an amazing experience.

As first-time home buyers, my partner and I are incredibly grateful to Ilan for helping us navigate the competitive San Francisco bay area market and secure a new home. It was cleat from very early in our search that Ilan is very experienced, has great relationships with lenders, agents and contractors and had our best interests at heart. She was patient and helpful throughout the entire process, always being available to answer questions even when she was travelling. Her advice and work on our behalf put us in the best position possible when making offers and we would thoroughly recommend her to any first time home buyers, especially in the east bay region.

I met Ilan a few years ago in a business setting, and ever since then she has helped me in every way she could with my real estate needs. As an experienced real estate investor and homeowner, I have worked with many real estate professionals over the years, so I understand how important honesty, knowledge, and integrity are in a realtor.Ilan is honest, fair, and always has her clients’ best interests at heart. What really impressed me was that when I was trying to sell a property in a different area, she referred me to another agent who was more familiar with that neighborhood so I could get the best possible outcome. That level of honesty and professionalism says a lot about her character.Whenever I need a contractor or other professional, she recommends people she personally works with and trusts. Everyone she has referred me to has been honest, dependable, and hardworking.I completely trust Ilan and highly recommend her to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and trustworthy realtor.

I met Ilan a few years ago in a business setting, and ever since then she has helped me in every way she could with my real estate needs. As an experienced real estate investor and homeowner, I have worked with many real estate professionals over the years, so I understand how important honesty, knowledge, and integrity are in a realtor. Ilan is honest, fair, and always has her clients' best interests at heart. What really impressed me was that when I was trying to sell a property in a different area, she referred me to another agent who was more familiar with that neighborhood so I could get the best possible outcome. That level of honesty and professionalism says a lot about her character. Whenever I need a contractor or other professional, she recommends people she personally works with and trusts. Everyone she has referred me to has been honest, dependable, and hardworking. I completely trust Ilan and highly recommend her to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and trustworthy realtor.

As first time home buyers, choosing Ilan as our real estate agent was the best decision we made. Her vast knowledge of all aspects of the home buying experience was invaluable to us. Ilan is a great listener. I really appreciated her communication, expertise, and thoughtfulness.

As first time home buyers, choosing Ilan as our real estate agent was the best decision we made. Her vast knowledge of all aspects of the home buying experience was invaluable to us. She helped us purchase a home in Oakland, guiding us through the process from start to finish.Ilan is a great listener, always keeping our goals and preferences top of mind. I really appreciated her communication, expertise, and thoughtfulness as we navigated a tricky buying market. She was very attuned to the nuances of the east bay which proved vital.I would love to work with Ilan again in the future - although I’m not sure when that time will ever come since she helped us find our dream home! Very grateful to have Ilan as our advocate during our home search and beyond.

Ilan was a fantastic agent to work with! She's very knowledgeable, friendly and easy to work with. She went above and beyond to quickly get us into our new home, beating out 2 other offers. She also got our home sold very quickly with a price that was more than we expected - the highest price per square foot in the neighborhood! It sure saved us $$ and stress. I would highly recommend Ilan to anyone looking to buy or sell their home.

Really enjoyed working with Ilan and appreciated everything she did to manage the entire process from start to finish. She did a great job with everything, kept me informed at the right level, and did what was needed when there was a hiccup at the end when we learned the sewer lateral I replaced 10 years ago was not properly permitted. Very happy with Ilan’s service, recommendations, and guidance.