TESTIMONIALS
“From start to finish, in a complex (Pt Richmond) and also a very competitive and challenging local real estate market (Brickyard Landing), Declan Spring and Denitsa Shopova, The Home Factor, provided us with excellent service.
Our condo was beautifully staged, the professional photos of our property were gorgeous, and open houses were held frequently.
Further, Declan’s deep knowledge of East Bay real estate is impressive and his marketing and negotiating skills are excellent. He guided us through several very complicated matters, always maintaining a sense of optimism while not losing his dry sense of humor. He was patient beyond belief.
We would highly recommend both Declan and Denitsa to anyone looking to buy or sell real estate in the East Bay, and also specifically, inside Brickyard Landing.”
— Karna Hanna
“Declan is a professional of the highest caliber. He is incredibly attentive, responsive, and understanding of clients’ unique needs. His deep knowledge of East Bay real estate is outstanding, and his thoughtful, thoroughly vetted referrals are equally excellent. Declan treats his clients and colleagues with the utmost respect - and it shows in the meaningful and longstanding relationships he has cultivated. Because of Declan, we have been living in our dream home for the last seven years - and he continues to be a valued part of our lives until this day!”
— Mariah Pospisil
“I have known Declan for more than a decade. Over that time, my wife and I received his real estate market updates and market trend analysis. It is one thing to say that you know your market. It is another to have actual proof. Declan can prove to you that he knows his market.
Declan was a great manager of the sale of our long time family home. He understood that the home needed some work and was able to make that happen as painlessly as possible. He reviewed the situation and brought us the right contractor. Declan worked with a home remodeling company to estimate the cost of strategic renovations to ensure that our investment in the renovations would make our home attractive to the buyers and more than return our investment.
We agreed because we had seen how some homes had lingered in the market when they had not been updated. Not only was the house remodel done professionally, and quickly but his estimate for the return on investment was conservative. We were very happy with the final offer we received on the house and the whole process.
His use of social media is impeccable and very direct. His Instagram posts always bring a significant group of realtor interest.
I think Declan is a man of integrity and also someone who cares about his clients. I recommend him enthusiastically and without hesitation.”
— Abiud Amaro Diaz
“We had the pleasure of meeting with Declan in early 2023 and then again in early 2024 to ask for an opinion of value, and we got a lot more than what we were expecting.
Not only did he answer several extra questions regarding the Market in Berkeley, he actually brought to our attention some very relevant trends related to the type of property we were looking at that we had not considered.
Declan is very easy to talk to, very clear on what are facts versus his opinions (a quality I value a lot), and he was also helpful in providing some referrals for some follow up questions/investigations/quotes that we needed.
We highly recommend Declan for his Realtor services in the Bay Area!”
— Claudio Pinello
“We are so pleased with the help we received from Ehsan. He was so patient with us as we worked through our issues regarding what we really wanted. He is a great listener and knowledgeable about the process in the current market. After many years of searching, we found the right person to lead us to home buying success. He goes above and beyond to help you. This was a great experience and we highly recommend him to anyone.”
— Michael Dennis
“This review is a few years late but still very much warranted. Declan is an absolutely stellar agent that helped us find a fantastic home in Oakland in 2021. I think what we appreciated most about Declan was his knowledge and experience, and his directness / great communication, helping us break down what is an overwhelming amount of knowledge for first time buyers. Can’t recommend him enough.”
— Doug Ancey
“Declan and his crew were fantastic to work with. He was always available and responsive when we had questions. He listened to our concerns, gave great advice, helped us prioritize and reassured us throughout the overwhelming process of selling and moving. The results exceeded our expectations. We couldn't have had a better realtor. I wholeheartedly recommend!”
— Laurie Wonnell
“Declan and Denitsa are top notch! They were so patient and helpful throughout the process. My sister and I were trying to assist my parents on finding a house with a view in the East Bay. I’m in Texas, so they visited the properties and videoed the walk-throughs for us. The videos were always upbeat, easy to view and thorough. After looking at different homes in several neighborhoods in the East Bay, my parents decided a condo would better suit their needs. Declan and Denitsa quickly switched gears and found them a great place in Pt Richmond with a fantastic view. Denitsa has a great eye and was helpful pointing out design elements that would need changing/updating and Declan is very focused on structural integrity and any repairs that may need to be managed. They were very knowledgeable about the market value of properties we were looking at and provided great advice for how to approach our offer and navigate the negotiation process. Once our offer was accepted they went above and beyond measuring rooms and answering my parents questions prior to their move from Texas. We are very pleased with Declan and Denitsa expertise, approach and guidance. I highly recommend them! You won’t be disappointed.”
— Anne Peebles
“Declan & Denitsa were tremendous to work with through every stage of the selling of our home in Richmond, CA in August. We were especially impressed about how they completely took the worry and work off of our hands, from correctly pricing our home to arranging for improvements to ready for sale to choosing great contractors to carry out this work. Communication was always quick and clear and tremendously helpful at every stage. Their advice was 100% spot on and we found buyers right at the price they predicted and closing was effortless and flawless. We could not have been happier and I recommend Declan to anyone interested in buying or selling their Bay Area home.”
— Bill Evans
“Working with Ehsan was an outstanding experience. His responsiveness and in-depth local knowledge made the entire process of purchasing a condo exceptionally smooth. Ehsan's expertise provided me with the confidence I needed, ensuring that I felt informed and secure in my decisions at every turn. His dedication to service is truly commendable, and it was clear that he genuinely cared about my needs as a homebuyer. I couldn't have asked for a better partner in this journey.”
— Benjamin Reynolds
“As I sit here to write this review, I am smiling out of contentment that we had the opportunity to work with Declan. Where do I start? Declan helped us from a place of care even before he was our realtor. Not only will he work earnestly and tirelessly, but he’s extremely knowledgeable about not only the seasonal market ebbs and flows but also what sorts of sweat equity are manageable and what may need to be delegated. Among so many other things, Declan genuinely cares and has earned our trust. So much goodness will come from working with Declan. We consider him as practically family by now! Thank you, Declan. We couldn’t be more pleased.”
— Joelle Provost
“Honestly we were first a bit critical about a role of a buyer’s agent due to our past experience. Declan has proven us wrong. We now understand how much a great agent can contribute to the success of buying your home. Declan is not someone who does his job just to close the deal. He cares about what he does. From the start, we could feel how genuine he was as a person as he was professional. He looked out for our interests and because of his knowledge of the market and his experience in the field helped us secure the deal. Using his market stats, he successfully guided us with the best bidding. He was very patient and easy to work with which made what was supposed to be a stressful process a lot easier to deal with. We appreciated what he did and recommended him to our friends and everyone we know that needs a wonderful agent.”
— M Lester
“We are so grateful to have worked with Declan Spring while purchasing our first home!
In the beginning we were scared, confused and becoming frustrated with the ever changing market and inventory.
Declan remained patient and diligent with us throughout the entire process.
What makes Declan stand out from the rest, is not only his expertise in Real Estate, but he genuinely cares that you are making the best decision that you are comfortable to live with. No pun intended :)”
— Darrin
“Working with Ehsan to purchase a property in the NOBE area was fantastic! He was super knowledgeable about the local real estate market and able to find many units for my consideration that I had not found in my Zillow searches before starting to work with him. Additionally, he was able to guide me through the offer writing experience, providing valuable insight into how to structure an offer for each unit based on the unique combinations of interest from other parties and time on the market. Lastly, after an offer was accepted he was able to guide me through the various steps and procedures that follow during the escrow period. Throughout the whole process he was able to thoroughly explain every step and give me the background information I needed in order to make the best decisions!”
— Zander Danto
“Declan is an attentive and proactive realtor who is much more interested in building a trust and establishing a sterling reputation than rushing you into a transaction you might not be comfortable with. He also has good taste in music.”
— Samuel Halterman
“Declan is amazing. He helped us buy our first house over a decade ago, and still calls to check on how things are going. Declan is attentive to every detail, and 100% focused on getting the home buyer or seller exactly what they are looking for. I could not recommend Declan more highly!”
— Jason Claiborne
“Declan and Denitsa went above and beyond to help us make our dream of owning a beautiful house come true. They actively listened to our list of wants and needs in a home and helped us find the perfect one for our family. They were so knowledgeable, guided us carefully throughout the entire process, and provided amazing referrals when we needed them. We can’t say enough about them and how much we appreciate everything they did for us — they are incredible all around, and there is no way we’d be where we’re at without their unwavering help and support along the way. Thank you so much, Declan and Denitsa!!!”
— Tina Kushner
“When my husband and I decided to move from our Berkeley home of 37 years, we knew we would need a lot of help from a realtor. We asked a retired realtor friend for a recommendation and she did not hesitate before putting us in touch with Declan Spring and The Home Factor with Red Oak Realty. Declan and his partner, Denitsa Shopova, are amazing and five stars are not enough to represent all the advice and help they offered, nor the successful outcome of the sale of our house. Our house value had increased 10-fold over the many years we lived there. Declan helped us navigate a completely different, extremely hot real estate market. The Home Factor gave us great advice about what to fix and who to hire to maximize the value of our house. Declan is a great listener as well, so that we continued to feel that we were in charge of making the final decision on all matters that came up.”
— Barbara Stebbins
“Declan provided highly professional brokerage services to both our children, guiding each of them in finding and acquiring their ideal homes. Declan is focused, hard working and most importantly he ensures his clients receive his thorough and honest view of each property considered. He knows his markets thoroughly and is a pleasure to work with. We highly recommend Declan for any residential real estate project.”
— Jeff Vines
“This is the easiest Five Star Review for me to write. We highly recommend Declan to anyone who is looking to buy or sell a home. He is honest, knowledgeable, well connected in the community, exceptional follow-up and a great sense of humor. We met Declan during the 2008-2009 recession when we were house hunting in the Bay Area and immediately built a great rapport. Happy to say, we found a perfect home for us and Declan was there every step of the way and BEYOND move-in! We have referred him to several of our friends and family members.”
— Beverley Heslop
“I first met Declan 13 years ago when he was my realtor and he helped me purchase my house. I was very impressed with his responsiveness and diligence in finding me the home that I was dreaming of.
Now, 13 years later, I’ve decided to sell my home and my first call was to Declan. He answered my call right away and remembered me and was very happy to help me now sell my home.
I can’t thank Declan enough. He has made the process so seamless and painless and I feel like I didn’t have to lift a finger to do anything. We listed the house on May 1st and we had multiple offers by May 10th and we closed on June 5th.
If you are looking for a realtor to help you with purchasing a home or selling a home, I highly recommend Declan and his team. You will not be disappointed.”
— Karen Coady
“Declan is an all-around terrific agent, and Denitsa did a lovely job with staging our house. Together they are a great team. Declan was quick, thorough and careful managing the documents. He knows the mechanics really well and gave us good advice to keep the sale moving forward. He responded promptly and helpfully to all our requests, questions and worries. He gave us really good referrals to other services, like the moving company and car movers. He showed remarkable sensitivity from the beginning--when he diplomatically checked whether this move made sense for us--to the end--when he retrieved a wastebasket we left behind and kept it until we could retrieve it. He and Denitsa were creative in their marketing, using an original poem and watercolor of the house in the promo video. From the beginning he had a vision of how to market the house and guided us to a very successful sale. We gladly recommend Declan, Denitsa and The Home Factor team!”
— Louise Specht
“Declan was the consummate professional while also being friendly, trustworthy and never pushy. He let me guide my journey to home ownership and always respected my opinion and listened to what I wanted. When I found my perfect place he was right there helping me secure the deal every step of the way~ I highly recommend him to anyone either buying or selling a home.”
— Edy Elias
“When my husband and I needed to retire to a place without stairs Declan was a brand new realtor, but he showed us the place I've been ever since, for sixteen years now. And recently he helped me donate property to my church, for which I'm grateful, too. He's a very good Realtor, and fun to work with -- he earns those stars.”
— Jane Lundin
“Buying a home is always a big decision, especially for our situation. We were first-time home buyer and about to become first time parents! And buying in the Bay Area is both exciting and stressful. This moment really mattered for us and we wanted a realtor who we could trust and have full confidence in.
Declan was an incredible partner to us in this journey. He is energetic; thoroughly connected across the region and across industries; knowledgable about the "whats" and "whys" (I found this back-and-forth dialogue really helpful to weigh potential risks. Which ultimately mattered to help us decide which listings to bid or pass). When we would express our interest in a listing, he would schedule others like it. When we need his attention. He was very responsive. In hindsight you want someone that is not only personable but strong attention to detail and strong project management qualities. When your realtor is well organized then it allows you to tick down the stress meter in an already stressful process and focus on your goals and dreams. These were the many things Declan is great at!
Few Realtors I met had a podcast. You can check out their podcast, Home Factor, to hear for yourself the unique caliber of knowledge and passion we received and see if its right for you.
Grateful to have Declan represent us in one of the top three largest decisions we will make in our lifetime!”
— Daniel Quon
“My husband and I have enjoyed working with Declan since 2010, both buying and selling local properties. We were new to real estate investing and Declan was always there to help, advise and find the best deal for us; In the process, he became a trusted friend. We have recommended him to a number of friends who also value his professional attention to every detail. I can't recommend him highly enough.”
— Mary Lee Cole
“I believe we would not have gotten as good a result in selling our house if not for Declan's expertise and approach to timing, getting the house ready, and listing it.
His manner made the difficult (to us) experience as easy as possible. We appreciated that he listened to us, respected our decisions, and took our feelings into account when issues arose.
Declan, Denitsa, and their team did a great job overall.”
— Heidi Rand
“I am a probate attorney who from time to time needs to have the family house sold so the funds can be distributed to the family members. I have used Declan to sell several homes in my Probate practice. He has been fantastic keeping my clients apprised every step of the way in the sale process… He helps my clients with staging the house, the marketing, , and with negotiating the contract with the buyers agent.. I enthusiastically recommend Declan as your realtor.”
— Mike Broad
“I was referred a few realtors by a friend, 1 of them being Declan Spring of the Home Factor. My husband and I choose Declan after calls with 3 people. He was immediately the most diligent, present and knowledgeable realtor of the three. I liked him a lot, he is top in his field, experienced and on the pulse. He knew the neighborhoods we were looking in. His business partner Denitsa was also a total joy to work with. They are a great team. We would not have gotten our home if not for them. It was our first offer in a very competitive market. Declan's rapport and expertise with the seller and agent clinched it. The whole process was smooth and seamless, we closed and moved in within 3 weeks. I highly recommend this duo!”
— Tracey Stanton
“As first-time home sellers, we really appreciated and benefited from Declan's expertise in all facets of home selling. We had lots of questions and Declan gave prompt, helpful answers. He took the time and put in the legwork to ensure the best possible outcome for us. Also, he throws great client appreciation parties ;-) Thank you, Declan!”
— Lestivus CCXLVII
“Working with Declan Spring has been an absolute pleasure. I found him to be a very knowledgeable, professional and friendly real estate agent. I've bough and sold property in both Northern and Southern California. And I think this is the most well taken care of I have felt. I am very happy with my Marin county purchase.”
— Jenny Warwick
“Declan has been recommended to me for almost 10 years. He was absolutely the right person to sell our house. He was honest and upfront about his thoughts, process, and timeline. I believe we got the most value out of our home and we are very appreciative of that. We will recommend Declan for any buyer/seller in the future.”
— Danielle Baute
“Declan was an excellent realtor! He made sure that we kept our focus on the house search both grounded and competitive while encouraging us to look at houses he thought could be our dream home! The search paid off, as we found an excellent house that he recommended to us that perfectly fits our growing family. We would highly recommend Declan to anybody looking for their dream home in the East Bay area!”
— Drew Lindgren
“When we were deciding whether or not to purchase a condo in the Richmond Marina we asked for realtor references. Declan came highly recommended by family members. We started the search process working closely with Declan’s partner, Denitsa Shopova, Denitsa was an absolute pleasure to work with even when we decided to withdraw an offer from what initially appeared to be our “dream” condo (alas the spectacular view of the bay did not compensate for the potential pitfalls of that particular condo). Denitsa made sure that there was no question that our initial offer was off the table. She showed us another condo virtually that turned out to be our real dream condo. The Bay Area housing market is anybody’s guess at the moment, however, we felt that both Denitsa and Declan’s advice was the best we could get given the uncertainty of it all and they made the whole offer and purchase process as stress free as possible. We will definitely be return customers should the need arise again. Thank you Denitsa and Declan for all of your hard work!”
— Maricela Fernandez
“We are so grateful for the guidance and support Ehsan gave us during the process of purchasing our first home together. Ehsan has vast knowledge of the local real estate market, but more importantly, he is patient and an excellent listener and communicator. We had been searching for a long time for a home to suit our different needs and tastes when we approached Ehsan for help. Ehsan spent time with us at a variety of properties reviewing the pros and cons of each and listening to our concerns. Throughout this process, he gained greater knowledge of who we are and the best way to help us. Ehsan really demonstrated his value during the offer process. We purchased a home that perfectly suited our needs, in the community we wanted to live in at a price that was lower than the appraised value. We whole heartedly recommend Ehsan Habib!”
— Wanda Dennis
“I have known Declan Spring for many years through a mutual business networking group. I was always very impressed with his knowledge and integrity, and would often refer my mortgage-seeking clients to him to look for real estate properties. When I was advised by my financial advisor to purchase a rental property I went directly to Declan. He found a perfect property for me and handled the transaction with great skill and efficiency. I would highly recommend him to anyone looking for an excellent, reputable realtor.”
— Christine Nadeau
“I had a great experience with Declan as my realtor in purchasing a home a few years ago. He is extremely knowledgeable about the geographic areas he focuses on, with many years of experience. Declan is responsive and very pleasant to work with, making sure all details are handled. He also maintains good contact with clients afterwards, always available for questions, recommendations in the local area, or other real-estate related issues. I highly recommend Declan!”
— Gayle Windham
“We had an absolutely wonderful experience with Declan and Denitsa while buying our first home. They took the time to find properties that fit our needs, helped walk us through the homes and their disclosure packets, and guided us through the offer process. They were always available, responsive, and professional. I strongly recommend Declan Spring and Denitsa Shopova to anyone buying a home in the East Bay.”
— Alex Cizas
“I had a wonderful experience working with Declan. He was extremely responsive and responsible. Always the professional and went above and beyond in assisting my sister and I sell two properties that we inherited upon our mothers passing.
He walked us through the process, made thoughtful recommendations as to what we could do to the properties in order to maximize the number of offers and assisted in reviewing and comparing the offers to determine the best overall.
With all that I had going on at the time his "boots on the ground" attitude was invaluable in helping us sell the homes quickly and at a great selling price.
One more property to go and I plan on reaching out to Declan again.
Thanks again Declan for the dedication and hard work!!! Nice to know there are people out there like you!!!”
— Jose & Chris
“Declan is a professional par excellence, and he is kind, funny, and a delight to work with to boot. Like most of us, I'm a busy person. Declan and his partner, Denitsa, were a phenomenal team, and were excellent guides in preparing and marketing my house to sell at an optimal price. Declan is responsive and hardworking, and took the time to walk me through things I didn't understand. He totally merited the enormous trust I placed in him. I can't recommend Declan highly.”
— B. Bigelow-Teller
“Beyond being intelligent, Declan is a strategic and creative thinker, and highly ethical, when it comes to the world of real estate. He's a stand out! You can trust in his guidance among the sometimes complex issues and considerations that arise in the hunt for a perfect home within budget. More, he will let you know if the geographic area you seek is not his specialty and will refer you to an outstanding professional as he did for my daughter. The realtor Declan recommended helped my daughter find a home in just a couple weeks, in the area she loved. Bravo Declan!”
— Jerry Beckerman
“I've known Declan for 12 years, first as a small business owner in the same neighborhood, and then to find us our first home. He was an honest agent, looking out for our interests. We followed his lead in watching the market (8 years ago) and then jumped in when we were ready (12mo later). Got our first home on the first try, thank you Declan. We continue to refer Declan and the Home Factor to our friends.”
— Brian Whyte
“I worked with Declan when he provided assistance in selling and the purchasing a home. Declan is a pleasure to work with and provided excellent customer service. He would always be available to answer questions and we have recommended him to several friends.”
— Jason Hasley
“Declan was an incredible agent! He is trustworthy, caring, knowledgeable, and above all else patient. Between the pandemic and our pickiness, it took us over a year and a half to find what we were looking for. Declan supported us the entire way and when it came time to finally make an offer, he made sure it was the best it could be. We are now living in the house of our dreams! We feel so lucky we found and worked with Declan.”
— Michelle Sahlin
“Declan Spring was a somewhat new agent to my office at the time I decided to retire. I was looking for someone to continue service to my clients. Declan turned out to be an excellent choice. He is a very dedicated and caring individual and is always willing to answer questions and keep clients informed. I would recommend him to anyone who is looking for a dedicated agent.”
— Edna Olmstead
“We could not have asked for a better realtor than Declan. He genuinely cares about helping people to find the perfect home. He is extremely knowledgeable, and he answered all our questions clearly and completely. Our entire transaction went through smoothly and quickly. I continue to recommend him to all my friends and family.”
— Gary Hess
“If there was a way to give 10 stars I absolutely would!! Declan is so knowledgeable about real estate and his advice is on point. He knows everyone and everything about real estate. You need someone to update your bathroom? Declan has someone on speed dial! Need someone to paint, and make your property shine like a diamond? Declan has the perfect guy! JJ's Fine Painting did excellent work! I can't say enough about how much Declan has exceeded my expectations time and time again. If you want your property to get TOP DOLLAR, Declan is your GO-TO GUY!!”
— Angel L
“Team D&D really came through for me. They found me a wonderful home in a wonderful community. They didn't just go through the motions. They were there to facilitate and guide every step of the way from viewings around the bay area, to narrowing down the options based on what is important to me, right through to greeting me at the front door of my new home with keys and love and celebration. They negotiated and advocated on my behalf throughout the closing process. I would highly recommended working with these two complimentary people who double their skills by sharing them with you as a team.”
— Kamaljit Bains
“As both a buyer's and seller's agent (and he has done both for us), Declan was and is a phenomenal realtor.
As a buyer's agent, Declan has a keen ability to dissect the market and identify, with great accuracy, the type of offer that is competitive if not outright successful. He takes time to go through many issues on properties and sets his clients up for success.
As a seller's agent, Declan marshaled resources and had our house on market in 17 days and in contract after 9 days. He took care of all sorts of details and is highly communicative.
Lastly, Declan is a very genuine person who cares about his clients on a personal level. When needed, we anticipate continuing to utilize Declan's expertise (and he is an expert!), and would recommend him to anyone in the East Bay looking to buy or sell property.”
— Eric Reeves
“Declan Spring expertly shepherded us through two home sales and one home purchase. He is a pleasure to work with, as well as being knowledgeable, experienced, smart, calm, and ethical. In each transaction, we felt our interests were well understood and protected. If ten stars were available in this review format, we'd award them all.”
— Linda Aldridge
“Declan helped two naive first time home buyers and turned us into confident home owners. Initially we weren’t even looking in his area but because he was a family friend he had volunteered to talk us through the big picture and connect us with an agent in our chosen area. Well it ended up that we fell in love with a neighborhood in his area and his expertise came full circle as he was the only one we wanted to help us buy a home there. He was right on target with every piece of advice he gave us and thanks to his guidance and hard work we got the home of our dreams even though there were five bids at the same price.
Declan is kind, very smart and has a great reputation/integrity in a business that can be brutal here in the Bay Area. I have recommended him to several friends who have been grateful for him as well. He’s the perfect combination of sales talent and thoughtful humanity that you want in an agent by your side. Highest recommendation.”
— Mariko Blakemore
“We recently completed a transaction with Declan Spring and cannot recommend him and his team at Red Oak Realty highly enough. I've worked with good agents before, but Declan is the best of the best. In addition to being friendly and kind, he is responsive, available, and extremely knowledgeable about not only the market but homes and construction. He goes above and beyond to make sure his clients are happy and get what they need. Our budget was a challenge and we played the long game, bidding on homes but never overextending. He never pressured us, and never shamed us for having a lower budget and big dreams, or taking a lot of his time. He even got up early the day we were to sign our counter offer to run the comps one more time, just to make sure we had all the information we needed to make the right call. It is clear from start to finish that Declan wants his clients to walk away 100% satisfied with their experience. We could not have been happier with Declan's help, he exceeded our expectations in every way.”
— Amelia Schmale
“Declan's handled the sale of our house with efficiency, courtesy and common sense. I particularly appreciated his attention to keeping up to date on local market dynamics to help set the pricing strategy. He conscientiously also managed the cost and projected related to getting the house ready for sale. Would use him for future real estate transactions in the market and recommend him to others.”
— Bob Chlebowski
“Declan Spring and the Red Oak Realty team did a great job of working together in a tough market to ensure we did everything we could to sell our home. Declan and his team are highly skilled, friendly, and professional. They have a wide and deep network that serves as a massive benefit to clients when working with other realtors and providing guidance when navigating the biggest purchase of your life. We highly recommend Declan Spring when purchasing, selling, or investing in real estate.”
— David Schoenthal
“Declan Spring is an outstanding Residential Realtor I've gotten to know over the past few years. He is someone I trust for advice on property matters and would refer him to my dearest friends or family without hesitation! He's shared some of the processes that he offers to his clients, and with his diligence and hard work, he successfully closes many deals, even during a highly competitive marketplace and the COVID19 Pandemic. He's a very thoughtful, hard-working individual, such a pleasure to talk to, and always responsive, even if just for a question.”
— Kim Baur
“The Home Factor's dynamic duo of Declan and Denitsa really shines in terms of professionalism, positivity and real estate savvy. They know their markets in and out, and are connected to all the key professionals to assist you in selling or buying your property with ease, even when the market is tough.”
— L Miles
“Declan helped us find our current home. And although shopping for a home can be huge undertaking, he made the experience feel effortless. This was because he was very detailed oriented and he made sure that all of our wants and needs were taken care of during the process. That was 11 years ago but he has since continued to provide support to us as homeowners. We have found that he is always available to recommend professionals when we need them, for example. Even after all these years he still reaches out occasionally just to see if we need anything. Declan is a great Realtor. We have recommended him to several friends and relatives and they have always been satisfied as well. I know you will be too.”
— Timothy Kahn
“I had the opportunity to work with Declan and Denitsa getting ready the properties for sale. I'm a licensed painting contractor and let me tell you this, before they put a house for sale The Home Factor Team inspect and perform with the help of many tradesman professionals the necessary repairs to the house, so the new owners don't have to stress about hidden defects.”
— Javier Davila
“I met Declan Spring in beginning of April in 2022, when I decided to sell one of my properties in the SF bay area. Declan was recommended to me by family and I can't express enough how pleased I am with Declan's professionalism in handling this ("now challenging") market. If you are looking for an experienced realtor, who understand the current market, you can't not go wrong with Declan's services.”
— Robert Thiel
“Declan helped us purchase our very first home back in May of 2021 (this review is embarrassingly overdue) and we quite literally could not have accomplished that milestone without his help. We entered the market while both COVID and the housing market were spiraling out of control. As we watched more and more neighborhoods rising above our budget, my wife and I felt lost and hopeless. All that turned around once we were introduced to Declan. He helped open up our search, showing us new neighborhoods we hadn't yet considered that still checked all our boxes. We made offers, lost, and moved on. It was easy to feel down or pessimistic about our search, but Declan always helped us pick ourselves up and move on to the next one. His optimism and perseverance allowed us to finally accomplish what we had previously felt was completely impossible. Thanks so much for all your help and professionalism, Declan!
PS. Sorry it took so long to sing your praises, you more than earned these 5 stars.”
— Zach Graham
“When I retired from selling real estate, I needed an agent who could help my friends and clients with their future real estate needs. Declan has provided guidance that has resulted in many successful real estate transactions and many happy people. Thanks Declan!”
— Judy Boe
“Declan was professional, responsive and knowledgeable. I enjoyed working with him on buying my new home. I recommend him highly to all my friends.”
— Gayle Peterson
“Hi highly recommend Declan and always tell people about him, even if it's an overheard conversation. Declan is a great realtor and a wonderful person. My girlfriend and I have relied on his professionalism and market knowledge for several years. He is extremely easy to contact and very responsive to questions. Now that he's teamed with Denitsa, the service level will only improve.”
— Richard Lossing
“Declan genuinely wanted things to work out in MY best interest. While it is his job, I never felt that he was self-interested. He wants you to find your home that will make you happy. And I did. Declan is also knowledgeable about the area I was looking in and provided honest insight. And, he was amazingly supportive and patient with my times of getting cold feet. I'm so glad he got me through the process.”
— Dyanna Christie
“Declan, together with Seth Franklin, handled the sale of a home owned by a church. It was a complicated transaction in a declining market, and Declan and Seth were both patient and enterprising. They gave good advice, without ever being pushy, and got a good result in the end.”
— Jack Petranker
“My husband and I were first time home buyers and felt apprehension about the competitive and complex Bay Area. Declan and Denitsa provided exactly the balance of expertise and reassurance that we needed, and we feel extremely lucky to have found our first home with them. Could not recommend them highly enough!”
— Cyndi Chung
“Declan helped us find, close and move into our new home in less than month. I called Declan when we were thinking about moving, to help figure out if it was feasible for us to move from our San Francisco Condo, and to buy a house in the East Bay. We didn't even have a location, but with Declan's guidance we narrowed in on a beautiful neighborhood which was in our budget. We bid on our first house and got it! Declan was with us every step of the way, and even after move in (20 day close) he has been checking in with us. We moved in yesterday and are thrilled so far. I cannot praise Declan enough for his diligence and care during the whole process.”
— Fiona O’Shea
“Declan is a complete professional. He is on top of the trends, does great research on every aspect of the market, and understands the ins and outs of the home-purchase process from beginning to end. Working with him provided enormous confidence. I would highly recommend him.”
— Bradley Vines
“Not only does Declan knows his stuff, he's friendly and very helpful! He expertly guided us through the competitive East Bay market and his instincts and insights are spot on! He provided great connections to resources when we did move in from painters and electricians, to heating/cooling. Definitely recommend!”
— Steve Kuzminski
“DECLAN was absolutely wonderful to work with! He searched extensively for houses within the parameters we were looking for. When he showed us houses he thoroughly checked them out for us. He also had wonderful referrals to folks that could help us do the work on the house. He is a joy to work with. Even though it’s been I think six years he continues to check in with us to see how we’re doing and if there’s anything he can do.”
— Deborah Erickson
“Declan is a really phenomenal real estate agent. He recognizes buying a home as a quality of life project and blends that with complete conviction of the truth of the old adage, "location, location, location". Then he listens with zero judgement, but a keen interest in what makes you, his client, feel happy, comfortable and secure and he follows through on what he learns in a very trustworthy and responsive manner. His communication is open and receptive. His attention to detail begins with vastly informed explanations of the plusses and minuses of available properties and extends through shepherding his clients through closing documents is invaluable. His knowledge of real estate and the local area is impressive as is his network of highly skilled colleagues working at title companies, etc.! Only the best good things to say about Declan Spring!”
— Amy Sletteland
“I couldn’t have gotten my dream home without Declan! He was incredibly knowledgeable about the East Bay market and I could tell he really cared about getting me into the perfect place. His guidance helped me beat out multiple offers on an amazing property and I truly trust his expertise.”
— Nikki David
“I never thought I'd ever say "I have a personal realtor" but now I do. Declan stepped in for colleagues when we were buying a home about 7 or 8 years ago and helped us beat out other bidders. He was religious about staying in touch and we asked him to help us buy our current house and sell the prior one. I refer him to everyone and consider him a personal friend!”
— Paula Aeillo
“Declan Spring of the Home Factor is the person you want working for you in the bay area real estate market. He goes above and beyond to understand the kind of home you're looking for - and then goes to work to make it happen - which is exactly what he did for us.”
— Stephen Cohen
“It has been 8 years since Declan helped us to find and buy the home we love. Declan remains the number 1 "go to" guy for us in all matters Real Estate related. He is wise, prompt, thorough, good-humored, and tops for integrity.”
— O Makower
“Declan is amazing to work with! He's both very professional and easy to talk to. He has great vision but isn't pushy. I highly recommend working with Declan for your real estate needs.”
— Catherine Marden
“I began working with Declan very early in 2018 to buy a house. Initially I was worried I wouldn't find anything even okay in my price range, but he was so positive and well-grounded in the market I found the process of looking to be so less mysterious and confusing than I'd feared. I was impressed with his knowledge of buildings, but even more his willingness to find out what we'd need to see to know if a property was worth pursuing. I mean, how often do realtors actually find the crawlspace access and stick their heads down in the dark to check what might be under there? In the end, I got very lucky. He found me a sweet deal and with the equally helpful mortgage lender, helped me navigate every twist, turn and requirement needed to receive, just after Valentine's Day, the keys to my own, sweet little home. Even after the whole deal concluded, we've stayed in touch--he brought me groceries during the early days of the pandemic--and it's lovely to have a business deal result in a friendship.”
— Danamaya Gorham
“Declan served me very well while I was buying a home, has kept in close touch since then, and continues to help me understand the market as it changes around us. I recommend Declan without reservation and in the highest possible terms.”
— Peter Richardson
“Declan is all that you can ask for in a realtor. Attentive, smart, very tuned in to what is happening in the East Bay....and most of all, kind. He is aggressive without being pushy which gave us the utmost confidence that we got the best deal when we bought our home. 5 stars for sure. Declan is a star!”
— Beth Tudor
“I worked with Declan (in partnership with another realtor) when I purchased my Laurel District home a few years ago. Buying real estate in the Bay Area is always a rollercoaster ride, but getting over the bumps is easier with a partner that you can trust to be competent, calm, and communicative.”
— Jean-Anne Fitzpatrick
“If you are looking for a realtor in the East Bay look no further. Declan has his finger on the pulse of the East Bay housing market. He is responsive to questions and concerns and my wife and I could not have been more impressed with his services. Even after he helped us with the search and escrow process he continues to check in with us. 3 years later we can rely on him for recommendations on local trusted service providers.”
— James Meikle
“Declan would always be my choice for north east bay real estate. He’s very communicative, and never promised more than he could deliver, but delivered more than he promised. Good communication, nice personality, easy to work with.”
— Stefani L
“If you are looking for someone to help with your East Bay home search, look no further...Declan is the best. Many thanks for your help with our house purchase Declan, It was a pleasure working with you.”
— D McA
“Declan did a great job finding me my first house! He and Denitsa make a wonderful full-service team.”
— S Morrison
“Declan is very personable and professional. We felt he really listened to us and he is full of information. He responds very quickly and is very easy to work with. We highly recommend him.”
— Jaime Vines
“Declan and Denitsa are the most professional and thorough realtors I have ever worked with, after buying and selling 5 different homes in the east bay these last 35 years!”
— Tony Warwick
“I have worked as a realtor with Declan many times helping both buyers and sellers. He has my respect and my trust.”
— Seth Franklin, DRE#01947142
“Not only professional, very personal too. Understand and takes care of your needs consistently.
Being a first time home buyer 8yrs ago, he answered all the questions we had and worked together till we found what we were looking for.”
— Dolma Yangzom
“Declan was a dream to work with. He was honest, forthright, and kind. I can’t recommend him highly enough.”
— Robert Pursell
“Thanks Declan for everything. We are enjoying our house very much. You are the best. Declan is very professional and patient.”
— Tenzin Wangchuk
“Ehsan was our realtor in the purchase of a house in the N&E section in Richmond. Ehsan worked with us patiently through a year and a few offers until the right opportunity came to close on our house that we very much liked. Ehsan is a delight to work with, going the extra mile when needed. Part of our interactions were while we were in the east coast and he took the time to take videos of his walk through, the neighborhood and driving around the area. He has many suggestions on reading through the inspection reports, visiting different properties and neighborhoods, and he has access to many skilled workers which is a plus when you first move in. We worked with the mortgage and insurance brokers that Ehsan recommended, and closing was smooth and easy. We highly recommend Ehsan as a realtor.”
— Eduardo Kamenetzky
“Declan has everything it takes to be an excellent realtor. He worked with us on the sale of our house. He is not only a very pleasant gentleman to work with, he is very conscientious, methodical and smart throughout the process from the first meeting with us, to the close of the transaction and beyond. In a very difficult real estate market, we sold our house in a very timely fashion and for the best possible price thanks to Declan's diligence and excellent advise. We will continue recommending Declan to our friends and colleagues.”
— Katerina Z
“I have the utmost respect for Declan and cannot recommend him highly enough. I met Declan many years ago when I was looking for a home in the East Bay. I looked for a home on and off for several years in the Bay Area, but eventually decided to purchase a home in the place I hope to retire to. During the time I was searching in the Bay Area, Declan always made himself available to me, and spent many hours showing me homes and advising me about the market here, which was a challenging market for me, a teacher, to break into. He is highly professional and personable, full of integrity and knowledge about this market, and will work very hard for you.”
— Lola B
“Declan recently helped my family purchase a home in the East Bay. We had many requirements, which put a lot of pressure on him to come up with viable options. He was a great support throughout the process - very knowledgeable and also personable. With his guidance, we managed to negotiate successfully with a challenging seller and, more generally, to navigate the tumultuous Bay Area property market to end up in a home meeting our needs. His expertise regarding the East Bay housing market is very impressive (and reassuring as a buyer) and his extensive experience made the process as smooth as possible, including working seamlessly with my chosen mortgage broker, etc. I would highly recommend choosing Declan as your agent. (Notably, prior to meeting Declan, I worked with another agent who didn't do a good job, so I know for sure that not just any agent will do. That experience made me particularly appreciate Declan's professionalism and excellent work.)”
— Bradley V
“Declan recently helped my family purchase a home in the East Bay. We had many requirements, which put a lot of pressure on him to come up with viable options. He was a great support throughout the process - very knowledgeable and also personable. With his guidance, we managed to negotiate successfully with a challenging seller and, more generally, to navigate the tumultuous Bay Area property market to end up in a home meeting our needs. His expertise regarding the East Bay housing market is very impressive (and reassuring as a buyer) and his extensive experience made the process as smooth as possible, including working seamlessly with my chosen mortgage broker, etc. I would highly recommend choosing Declan as your agent. (Notably, prior to meeting Declan, I worked with another agent who didn't do a good job, so I know for sure that not just any agent will do. That experience made me particularly appreciate Declan's professionalism and excellent work.)”
— Bradley V
“Declan was great to work with. He's very knowledgeable and calm. These are great qualities to have in an Agent assisting you with what is often a stressful process.”
— Coco C
“Declan Spring is a stellar agent with a pleasant manner. His pro-active responsiveness was a welcome contrast to lackluster 'point-and-click' agents.
His wisdom, patience and good cheer educated and guided us to a perfect match. When competition was keen, the clock ticking and the chips were down, Declan was there for us.
My highest professional recommendation.”
— Dave R
“Declan recently helped us put in an offer on some income property. His thoroughness and attention to detail were much appreciated! He was patient and calm through the entire process. We will definitely use his services on the next one!”
— Sheila C
“With the exception of the house that came out of it, Declan was the best part of the entire home buying process! As a first time buyer, I was anxious and full of questions and doubts, which Declan dealt with very patiently and often with a great sense of humor. With each step of the process, as we looked at more houses and wrote offers, he gave great advice and really challenged me to think about what I wanted in a home. He was always available and responsive, which was the one reliable thing in the uncertainty that comes with trying to buy in this Bay Area market!
Once we got in contract, Declan really fought for me when it came to dealing with less than professional listing agents and managed to get the deal done while also assuring a very worried and increasingly frustrated buyer (me).
More than anything, though, Declan understood how much this investment meant to me and my partner, and his actions and tireless efforts made me feel like it was important to him as well. It was really a pleasure to have him as my agent and I can't wait to recommend him to others.”
— Sylvia B
“Despite what you may think, caring customer service is not, in fact, dead in America, it's simply imported from Ireland.
Declan's patience and knowledge are really superb, he took such good care of us and despite this being our first home (translation: MILLIONS of questions and NO solid idea of what we wanted or could afford), Declan left us feeling confident and satisfied after each meeting we had. We knew when to sit back and when to push full steam ahead. We got a lot of great candid information from him as well. All-in-all, a really great experience. He works hard for his clients, and you'll leave feeling like you've got a friend in the business - because you do. He has great follow up and really seems to care about his clients.
Thank you, truly Declan for being great, I'll recommend you as often as I can! We love our new home. :)”
— Mariko H
“Declan was recommended to me by a close neighbor and friend, who used to work out of the same office as him before she retired. First let me tell you that I was in the (awful and painful) process of going through a separation/divorce, was emotionally wiped out, and really didn't want to deal with listening to different realtors pitch me on why I should list with them. I really didn't even want to sell my house (get your prenuptial agreements homeowners), but I didn't have a choice as the market had skyrocketed since I bought the house and wouldn't be able to afford to buy out my soon-to-be-ex-wife. I called Declan and he pleasantly agreed to meet me at my house the following day to discuss listing it. He arrived a few minutes early and waited (worked) in his car until the agreed upon time. I was immediately drawn in by his kind, calm demeanor. He spoke in a low yet confident tone, he listened to my story and was very empathetic to my situation. He laid out his approach to selling real estate in a straight forward, no nonsense way that I really appreciated. He explained how he markets, showed me some examples of brochures and digital media of other houses he currently had listed (which were first class). He explained the current market climate, the good and the bad about my house, exactly what he offers to his clients, what it would cost me, and what he thought I'd get for it based on comps he pulled and his extensive knowledge of the area. I could tell he was no hack. He didn't come across as a pitchman, desperate for a listing, or as a douche superstar "everybody wants me because I'm the best". He came prepared to answer my questions, not to pressure me into listing with him. By the time we were done talking I had already made up mind to list with him. I have friends that sell real estate and I felt more comfortable listing with Declan. Sorry guys! He worked with an excellent staging company (I can't remember her name) that made the place look like a model home, worth every penny. He even paid to have the house and windows cleaned, and had a guy that hauled away all of my garage throw-away's for a couple hundred bucks. I left the garage a mess! The house was on the MLS for a total of 10 days (3 open houses) before I excepted an offer, which happened to be the first offer, a solid offer(buyer) and was 60K over the asking price, 20K over what Declan believed was my high mark. The 25 day escrow closed in 22 (with my permission). Declan handled scheduling all of the inspections with top notch inspectors, and even fronted me $700 (as times were tough) to fix something on the termite report that was required to close. He kept me in the loop throughout the whole process, usually through text or email, which I prefer. Signing documents was simple using a simple online service, a couple of clicks and it's done. It was about as painless a process as I could have imagined. Declan far exceeded my expectations in every way possible. He definitely sets the bar when it comes to realtors, and is an all around good human being. If you find yourself in need of a realtor to buy or sell, even if you have "a friend that can help you out", you should give Declan a call.”
— Steve B
