Testimonials

Professional Testimonial by Meredith M.

“John came highly recommended to me by a colleague of mine. I needed a Marin agent to handle a very complicated personal real estate transaction and all of the agents I already knew were not a fit. Even though I have been in the business for over 20 years and know plenty of people in the industry, this particular deal required finesse, expertise, patience and professionalism in the extreme. To say I am critical about those in my profession might be an understatement. I’ve long said 10% of real estate agents are excellent – 50% should not be in the business. John is in the top 3% of real estate agents that have that unique blend of experience, warmth, hard negotiation skill and professionalism. I cannot recommend him highly enough. If I could give him a sixth star, I would!”

“John Zeiter recently helped me buy in the Petaluma area. He was friendly, professional, and hard working. He must have taken us to a dozen houses in order to find the right one. I would highly recommend using John for anybody looking to find the perfect home. “

Mary & Evan B

“John was extremely patient with us throughout the process of buying our first home. He spent months helping us, in a very challenging market, and was able to get us in early to see our house before it went to market. His market knowledge and experience in Marin County real estate is impressive, but he was never condescending or pushy. Also, he is just a kind, honest, and likeable guy, which made purchasing our first home a much more enjoyable experience. We really appreciated how diligent and committed he was down the homestretch to ensure everything with closing went smoothly.”

Janella & Brian

“We are so grateful to John. He is a wonderful agent. He is patient, strategic, and kind. He toured us through many properties. He is thoughtful and well-informed. He helped us find our dream home in a highly competitive market when we felt like giving up. We highly recommend him!” 🙂

Danielle & Sean

“Taking into consideration John was a friend of mine prior to him working with me to sell my home in Novato back in 2010, I have to say he is a true professional who is dedicated to his craft and clients. Not only did he sell my home in short order, he help me to procure funding after discovering projects that would increase the value and sell ability of the property. I am beginning the process of selling my present property in San Rafael and wouldn’t trust any agent more than John to be a partner in the weeks and months to come.”

Marc I

“Would you like to sell your house quickly for over asking price? That is exactly what John did for us. John incorporated a fantastic stager, painter, carpet company, and professional photographer that made our house so beautiful we wondered why we were selling it. The result, three offers in one day, two for over asking price. The eventual buyer had seen the house before John prepped it and wasn’t interested. After seeing the prepared home, the buyer presented an offer two hours later and closed the deal in fifteen days. Is John in the top one percent of Marin agents? The results speak for themselves. We highly recommend John. He is truly an exceptional real estate professional!”

Ken & Carlyn

“John helped us our condo in Sausalito and also to buy a new home in Corte Madera. He was a delight to work with; patient, thoughtful and very informed about the market. He gave us sound and realistic guidance and within one week of our condo being on the market we had 7 offers to pick from, all well over asking. When it came to finding our new home, he was thoughtful in everything he showed us and gave excellent guidance once we found the property we wanted to make an offer on. This is the 1-year anniversary of being in our new home and we say almost every day how thrilled we are with it. John would be our first call if we decided to move again!”

Jenny, Stephan & Kai

“John has helped us buy two houses and sell one. He helped us buy our starter home back in 2010 and even though it was a small house (at the near-bottom of the market) he approached our purchase like it was Priority #1. When we sold and moved counties seven years later, John was right there with us after just one email. He worked intently on our behalf all summer (including price negotiations) and we are confident we live in our Forever Home thanks to his efforts. John’s warmth and organized professionalism is a rare combination. He offers candid advice while keeping your unique desires for a home in mind. He’s the realtor we recommend to everyone in the Bay Area.”

Daniel & Andrea

“We are very grateful to have crossed paths with John Zeiter. He recently helped us find our first home. He took the time to go over things with us in detail and was just a pleasant person to work with overall. We never felt uncomfortable asking him questions about things we knew little about. He is incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and sincere. We would not hesitate to recommend John to our closest friends; he made the whole process of finding a home easier for us. Thank you John!”

Matt & Linda

“John helped with the purchase of my home in San Anselmo after patiently showing me countless other properties. His focus was always on helping me find the right home, regardless of how long that might take. He guided me through every step of the purchase process and I always trusted that he would be my unflinching advocate. Thank you John!”

John S.

“We had the pleasure of working with John to find our dream home in Mill Valley. John is extremely professional and truly has his client’s best interests in mind. His years of experience and knowledge about the Marin County area made us feel extremely confident in the house hunting process. John did an excellent job of educating us throughout the process and was always more than happy to answer any questions we had. We highly recommend John. He’s a truly outstanding real estate professional.”
Katy, Brad & Jaxson

“We really appreciate everything you did for us in the sale of our house. It was definitely a partnership starting with the very first discussions several years ago regarding Ron possibly retiring to the reality of making that decision and putting our house on the market. It was clear to us from the very first meeting that you were the guy we wanted to work with. We were looking for and found a sound advisor who understood our objectives, had a strong sense of integrity, and was able to help us make the right decisions along the way! With you it was not all about the deal but about helping us achieve our goals and about a long term relationship/partnership.

Thanks so much and you know we will refer folks your direction in the future. And please use us as a reference anytime—all realtors should be like you!”

Janet P. & Ron S.

“I would highly recommend John Zeiter as a reliable and informative agent. He not only goes above and beyond, he makes the entire process easy and fun! John asked many questions to find exactly what we were looking for and made me feel at ease when it came to the overwhelming process. He is friendly and made the whole family feel like they were part of the process (even my two year old by asking him questions about what he liked about certain properties…ha ha). If you want to find a house to call a home, I highly recommend John!”

Nicole F.

“When we decided to sell our existing home and purchase a replacement property, John helped us weigh our options. He is very helpful, insightful as well as a good listener and sensitive to the emotional stress that can come of this process. He kept us focused on our goals & timeline without undue pressure. From John’s years of experience, he got a sense of what was important to us and was able to point out items of concern or benefit on the properties we were viewing. The process of both purchasing & selling a home is extremely stressful. John was able to smooth the waters during trying times and kept us from going over the edge. John provided several helpful recommendations for professional services not strictly related to home repair. We highly recommend John to anyone buying or selling a home!”

Ed & Janice L.

“John helped the purchasing process go very smoothly by working with the Seller’s agent. He always returned my calls and gathered information as I needed it. He is very knowledgeable about the tons of paperwork that needed completion to put in the offer. He recommended a great Title Co. who was very easy to work with. He also helped me find a great contractor to upgrade a few plumbing items before I moved in. I would recommend John to anyone no matter the price range who is either selling or buying a home in Marin County.”

Linda W.

“John went above and beyond, even being willing to show us the property on a holiday. We had to close the sale from a distance and he helped us file all the paperwork electronically. Very professional, helpful, and an all-around nice guy.”

Allen & Julia S.

“John helped me purchase the home of my dreams. John’s challenge was that I was only willing to buy a new home if I found the one floor plan that I wanted at a price point I was willing to pay. Throughout this two year odyssey, John was very patient with me and was always there when I needed his advice and assistance.

John is extremely well connected in the community, has outstanding resources and can answer all your questions even if it takes a little research. He timely answered every question providing a historical perspective with each explanation. When we were in negotiations to purchase the house; he walked me through the entire process and stayed on top of every little detail and timeline. He provided excellent advice and counsel throughout because I now own the house of my dreams. John also provided us with excellent advise on how to prepare our old home for resale. We did as he recommended and sold our home right away in this down market.

John has a quiet demeanor and is very accommodating but don’t let that fool you. When he needs to be, he is like a dog with a bone . . . He didn’t let anyone or any obstacle get in the way of me getting my dream house. There were definitely hurdles in the process, tense moments and others who were just not performing timely. John made sure that the deal went through because of the extra work he put into it, even when it wasn’t his responsibility. If you want an excellent real estate partner who cares about you achieving your goal, is knowledgeable and has exception integrity, then John is the person you need on your team.”

Pamela & Hector B.

“Please accept my thanks for the extraordinary efforts you made on behalf of my wife and me in connection with the purchase of our home in Carmel Valley.

This transaction was particularly complex, as the property was part of a double escrow after emerging from a bankruptcy proceeding. Without your knowledge, great judgment and patience, this transaction would never have closed. Indeed, your efforts earned the respect of everyone involved– attorneys, escrow officers, and both the seller and his agent, as well as the undersigned.

Throughout your engagement you exhibited, without exception, an understanding of the type of property we were looking for, and your advice and analysis were invaluable. We benefited greatly from your long experience in real estate– no professional we have ever worked with has shown the degree of care and unselfishness on our behalf that you consistently displayed.”

Daniel & Karen M.

“It was a pleasure working with John given his high level of integrity, non-pushy attitude, knowledge of the overall sale process and follow thru. We would highly recommend him.”
Lisa & Doug F.

“John was extremely knowledgeable and helpful through the whole process of us buying our first home. He patiently answered all of our questions and made me and my girlfriend feel comfortable from start to finish. John works closely with everyone involved and keeps everything on track. We are so grateful to John for his help and attention and we’ll certainly be working with him in the future. We couldn’t recommend him more.”

Gabe & Luisa

“John represented us for the sale of our condo and purchase of our house. It would be difficult to find a broker who knows Marin County better than John. We were particularly appreciative of how responsive he was to our many questions and requests. Often, he was able to provide information that went beyond the scope of the purchasing and selling. His network of the associated professionals that are critical to buying and selling property is extensive. He stays calm when things go sideways and was always very clear on what was needed from us and the other parties involved. We are happy to recommend John.”

Shannon & Kris

“It was a pleasure to work with you on the sale of my house in Tiburon this year. You are the consummate professional. As a former Attorney and Realtor I was awed by the service you provided to make this transaction happen. In less than two months we remodeled the house, staged it and improved it tremendously; you provided painters, rug installers, a stager and a vision to make the house look it’s best. Your advice regarding what to do and what not to do was very valuable.

The negotiations for the sale were complicated and time consuming. You were there for me every time I called you. Your understanding of the market, lead to a sale in a very short time and I am very pleased with the results.

Please feel free to use my contact information as a reference for future customers who deserve the best.”

Gregg E.

“John represented me for both the sale of my house and the purchase of my next house. From our first meeting, John asked me about my personal goals and desired outcome for my transactions, and he made sure that he kept those in mind every step of the way. He listened, he advised, he supported and he made it happen. One thing I really liked about John when we first met is that he said his style was “no drama” and he was right. Real estate transactions, realtors and buyers/sellers can all be high strung and emotional, especially with so much money on the line. But John was always calm, always professional, always ethical and always trustworthy. He never got his feather ruffled. John seems to work seven days a week and was always there for me when needed. He is a consummate professional.”

Christine P.

“We purchased a home in the area and John was very helpful during the entire process. He was extremely patient right from the very first meeting. He was and still is very prompt in answering emails and phone calls. We are new to Marin and John not only helped us with the purchase of our house but also helped make a smooth transition to our house, recommending movers, handyman etc. Months later we still write to him for any recommendation and his response is quick. I highly recommend John!”

Sanjeev & Aarati K.

“My husband and I are extremely grateful to John Zeiter who helped us by our first home last year. He made the process clear, simple and fun with his vast knowledge of Marin real estate and his positive attitude. He is incredibly competent, dependable and strong, without being pushy. He gave us the room we needed to make our own decisions while providing expert guidance to navigate this new territory. We highly recommend him and will use him again in the future.”

Lorraine & Richard P.

“We were in a difficult position in selling our home, and John was a rock star. We had a very complicated transaction and he waded through the details quickly and efficiently. He is very responsive and professional. Plus is a really nice guy to work with. We would use in again in a heartbeat.”

Rhonda L.

“Please be advised that this letter is of the strongest recommendation for Mr. John Zeiter and his service as a real estate agent. Most importantly, he always listened carefully to what I wanted and saved me the time and energy by only taking me to houses that he thought fit my descriptions. Additionally, whenever I would change my mind, he always listened carefully, reminded me of the things that were important to me and then adjusted accordingly. After a few months of diligent searching, John was driving into the drive way, I could feel that, from what I could tell from the outside, this house could be it. When I went inside the house, I knew I wanted it. John made it happen as quickly as possible.

Needless to say, I am very happy with my house and even to this day, when I have a question about insurance or property taxes, he is always willing to give me insight and advice. Obviously, I want to recommend John to anybody who is looking to purchase a home. I have no doubt John will give you his best effort up to and through the closing of the property.”

Mark S.

“John is my real estate agent for life! There are few people I have met that actually exemplify integrity, commitment and passion. He is an outstanding person who listens to what I want, gives me honest feedback and goes after what I need. After working with John on the sale of my condo a few years ago, I knew he was the right person to call for my 1031 exchange. I was 9 months pregnant during the summer and needed someone with patience. John made me feel like I was his only client. He was very detail oriented, so I was confident the trade deadline would be met. John handled everything flawlessly. Needless to say, I am grateful for my continual relationship with John and look forward to our next deal together.”

Tiffany R.

“John helped my wife and I buy our first home and we couldn’t have asked for a better agent. He was extremely patient with our many questions and gave great advise on the home buying process; and homes in general. Being first time buyers we really leaned on John to help us get the sale done. He’s very responsive and helpful throughout the entire process and even after we closed John continued to check in. I would recommend John to anyone looking to buy or sell a home in the bay area as his knowledge is second to none.”

Scott and Sarah

“I was lucky enough to find John when I called about a listing. I had told John my husband and I had no knowledge of the market, the area or if we could even afford a home, much less finance one. Without hesitation, John offered his help. He educated us in every step of the process: from what to expect at an open house to finalizing the paperwork to our very first home. Throughout our journey there were other agents who would come recommended from family and friends. But there was no need. Every single house I’d call him about (there were 15!) he would personally show us. Either on a Sunday, in the middle of the day, rain or shine, it didn’t matter. He was there. So much so that my three year old daughter lovingly refers to him as “John-John”, knows his favorite food, color and Disney movie.

John turned our dream of owning a beautiful home, to raise our beautiful growing family in, a reality. I am certain it couldn’t have happened without him.”

Vanessa, Michael & Avey

“John was extremely knowledgeable and helpful through the whole process of us buying our first home. He patiently answered all of our questions and made me and my girlfriend feel comfortable from start to finish. John works closely with everyone involved and keeps everything on track. We are so grateful to John for his help and attention and we’ll certainly be working with him in the future. We couldn’t recommend him more.”

Gabe & Louisa

“John is personable, knowledgeable, and very accessible. He always accommodated our scheduling requests. John understands real estate in Marin and does thorough research based on what the client wants. We looked for over a year and he stuck through it with us until we found the exact right fit. Definitely would recommend John!”

Sara & Jamie C.

“We would highly recommend John Zeiter as a real estate agent in Northern Marin.  We were referred to John while still living in Salem, Oregon.  I called and gave him a property address that I had found online and asked him to set up showings at several similar properties in Novato & San Rafael.  When we arrived John gave us a great overview of the area and showed us about 10 homes that met our criteria.  We then asked to look at some of the homes a second time and John made himself available to meet our limited window of time in Marin.

Once we chose a house to make an offer on John was supportive and informative but never pushed.  He researched the market and neighborhood including proposed development nearby.  While we negotiated with the sellers he offered an informed opinion but allowed us to decide when to stop and how high to go.  It was very comfortable and we feel satisfied with the resulting price and terms of our sale.

After the close of sale we rented the property and John was very helpful in this process.  He listed the property and handled initial interviews allowing me to come to Novato only when a good prospect was in place.  He then handled the move-in and move-out of the tenants.  He was a great resource for contractors to make those few changes we wanted to make this house our home.

If you are looking for someone with a wealth of knowledge, great personality and willing to be supportive of your choices and decisions, John Zeiter will be the right agent for you.”

Eileen & Brad C

“John worked with us for over 2 years to help us find our first home – we couldn’t have done it without him.  He was very patient with us and always had answers to our many questions.  He is very knowledgeable about the Marin market and we will recommend him to all our friends.”

Katherine & Patrick G.

“As a first time home buyer, there’s a lot of hand holding involved (at least for me) and John was always there to lead the way.

From the first handshake to the hand-off of the house keys, John was part of the process every step of the way – including taking numerous phone calls at odd hours and answering a mountain of emails that never got lost in the exchange. No matter how many clients he has or how busy he was, John makes you feel like you’re his #1.

I highly recommend John whether you’re a first time home buyer or selling a multi-million dollar home. He is a true professional and someone you can trust!”

Jenny & Ken C.

“Please accept my thanks for the extraordinary efforts you made on behalf of my wife and me in connection with the purchase of our home in Carmel Valley.

This transaction was particularly complex, as the property was part of a double escrow after emerging from a bankruptcy proceeding. Without your knowledge, great judgment and patience, this transaction would never have closed. Indeed, your efforts earned the respect of everyone involved– attorneys, escrow officers, and both the seller and his agent, as well as the undersigned.

Throughout your engagement you exhibited, without exception, an understanding of the type of property we were looking for, and your advice and analysis were invaluable. We benefited greatly from your long experience in real estate– no professional we have ever worked with has shown the degree of care and unselfishness on our behalf that you consistently displayed.”

Daniel & Karen M.

“We are finally feeling like we actually live here as opposed to just visiting somewhere. We want to thank you again for all your work in helping us to find the right home for us. We are very grateful and truly appreciate all that you do to help so many people.”

John, Kathy & Will

“Thank you for being our Realtor and our friend. Both played an important role in the sale of our house. Your expertise and our great clean-up got the house sold in record time. We made it to Seattle to begin our new life together as a family. Thank you for always being at the other end of my phone calls and stopping by when needed. We couldn’t have done this with anyone else.”

Greg & Rene D.

“Just a small token of our appreciation for all the time and effort you put into finding us a home. We got the best deal possible on a house we really enjoy making our own.”

Keith & Cynthia

“This letter is a testament to the incredible service I received from John. He did a tremendous job helping me with the purchase of my home. I will recommend John to anyone within earshot.”

John R.

“I can’t thank you enough for helping me realize my dream. You were so patient taking me all over the east bay each week, answering my often dumb questions about financing and reassuring me always that the right home was out there waiting for me. It was a pleasure having you for my real estate agent. Thank you for all your efforts. You did a great job!”

Kathy S.

“John recently helped me purchase my first home. I had never dealt with a real estate transaction and didn’t know what to expect, but through a process that took several months, John was with me every step of the way. He listened to me, was honest with me, and always gave everything he had. Having had the experience of working with him and feeling the commitment he has shown to helping me realize my dreams, I know that I will call upon John when it comes time for me to buy my next home, and I heartily recommend his service in helping you with the same.”

Tim K.

“We first contacted John 2 years before we were ready to purchase a home. Even though he knew we had to wait to actually buy a house, he patiently showed us house after house as we learned what would be the best location for us. When we were ready to make a move, we were under a time crunch and John rose to the occasion. His advice was spot on and we ended up with an amazing home in the perfect location. I loved working with John. Trusting him for his guidance made a very emotional experience comfortable for me. I would recommend him to anybody!”

Terry and Linda

“We worked with John in 2019 when we started looking for our first home in Marin. We were connected with John through a random listing we saw on Zillow, and boy are we glad we did! John worked tirelessly to find us listings within our budget, in Marin, and check the boxes on our wish list. A few months and a handful of offers later, we finally landed our perfect fixer-upper in an extremely competitive market with John’s help. While the process was overwhelming, especially as first-time buyers, he easily navigated us through the entire process. On top of that, his knowledge of the area and experience in the market taught us so much about being homeowners before we took the leap. We would HIGHLY recommend John to any new or seasoned home buyers.”

Matthew and Torrey

“We had an amazing experience with John buying our first home. John was friendly, knowledgeable, courteous, and helpful. He answered ALL of our questions (there were many) and was always able to set us up with the viewings we wanted, when we wanted. John was responsive and we really felt supported by him throughout the process (even after months of viewings and two near-misses when offers were rejected). Thank you, John, for making our dream of owning our own home a reality.”

Jonny and Laura

“John was fantastic to work with, and really took the time to not only guide our process as first-time home buyers. He educated us on each step of sale. His expertise gave us the confidence to make informed decisions and ultimately purchase our dream home. John is also native to Marin, so his local knowledge was invaluable!”

Nathaniel & Marissa

“John was remarkable to work with. He helped sell our home and was integral in the purchasing of our new home. He is thoughtful, engaging, and really understands the market in Marin. While he is incredibly easy going, he demonstrated a strong commitment to get the work done well and in our favor. I highly recommend him.”

Brian and Kate

“John lived up to the Rotary ideal of “Service Above Self”. He helped on items that I am sure no other realtor would handle. For instance we needed help with the city. John went down to the building department time after time to help with a permit. He did so even after the sale. John was truly a partner.”

Tim and Debra

“Highest praise for John’s work. He was instrumental in my new home purchase. He showed us many properties, as our requirements evolved. We looked at many properties and found the perfect place.”

Peter A

“I was connected with John after several failed attempts to connect with other “recommended” referrals using the Zillow app. He quickly responded and from my first open house to the close of my purchase was thoughtful, proactive, and extremely knowledgeable. Not only did I appreciate his expertise, but I think I actually learned a little while working with him. I highly recommend his services and will contact him again when it is time for me to upgrade into a new home.”

Travis L

“I was connected to John through Zillow, and I couldn’t have been happier with the home buying experience. I had been trying to prepare myself to buy property for ten years with no help, and I got easily overwhelmed by the process. John was thoughtful, courteous, and patient with me. He helped me put together a team to buy my first property at a price I could afford in a part of the Bay Area I loved. John helped me make my dream of owning a home a reality. I highly recommend him to anyone.”

Marissa G

“John found the perfect home for us six years ago. He did a great job guiding us through the purchase process. I recently asked him to help us establish the replacement value of the house for insurance purposes. Six years after the sales process was completed, John did not hesitate to help us obtain this important information to compare with figures we received from another source. I have purchased and sold several homes in the past; John is the best agent I have ever worked with. I highly recommend John.”

Kris and Shannon

“I typically do not write a review for anything or anyone, but the outstanding service I received from our Realtor John Zeiter Golden Gate Sotheby’s calls for an exception. The entire Zeiter team made selling our house a smooth and pleasant experience. They knew exactly what to do at every step of the process and gave us excellent guidance along the way. Specifically, our realtor John Zeiter. He was extremely helpful and responsive. We could not have been happier working with him! He remained confident, calm, and caring when we encountered challenges and always kept us on target. He was extremely quick to respond. If he didn’t know the answer, he’d find out and get back to us immediately! John put quality over quantity when it came to helping us sell our family home. What I mean by quality is we were not just a “number” to him, he genuinely cared to get to know us and familiarize himself with what we were comfortable with when selling our home. A bonus is that he took care of all the selling details, as we live out of state, making our home sale that much easier and that much faster! John was always 100% professional, patient with our asks, and knew when to be aggressive in order to get us under contract! He is a valuable, trustworthy, loyal, realtor and we greatly appreciate everything he did for us. I would highly recommend John Zeiter’s group to anyone selling or buying a house. They are the ultimate professionals! Thanks again John! ”

Joanie & Nook

“John and his assistant Sarah were excellent to work with! John was knowledgeable and super helpful and attentive in helping us purchase our first home. Could not recommend him enough! ”

Rachel and Taylor

“John was incredibly smart about Marin County homes and condos. He was very helpful during covid and did video conferencing live showings for us while we moved to the bay area. Would highly recommend him in Marin County. ”

Saima & Ali