I owned a lovely condo in Pacific Heights that was an excellent rental unit for many years. Tenants paid top dollar to live on Pacific and Octavia streets. As the pandemic became a reality, the leasing market dried up and my unit remained vacant for over a year. Eventually I turned to Steve in hopes I would have better luck selling the unit, although I knew the market conditions were challenging. Steve was the consummate professional, and he displayed the highest ethical standards. He was a delight to work with, and had the uncanny ability to remain positive and optimistic during an unstable real estate climate;  at the same time Steve was a "straight shooter" who never glossed over the challenges we were facing. I always knew Steve had my best interests at heart. Steve and his team sold my unit quickly and efficiently at my original asking price. The closing was a smooth process, and I could not be happier. It was nice to work with a highly experienced top professional.

As people who have purchased and sold a few (very different) homes in San Francisco, and in very different climates, it's fair to say Steve can do it all. We have used Steve multiple times to both buy and sell homes in San Francisco and have been blown away by the results each time. Steve has an unparalleled understanding of San Francisco real estate and a deep rolodex of, both, buyers and sellers, that always delivers excellent prices when selling, and often puts you in the door of homes before they even hit the market when purchasing. Most recently, when selling our home in Pacific Heights during a global pandemic, we had not been in the home in almost six months; Steve and his assistant Carol were able to manage the process entirely without us having to return to California once. Their candor, professionalism, and communication was top-notch, and we felt like we were in good hands the entire time, all while being very far away from the process physically. For those of you who have worked with Steve and the team before, you know an exceptional realtor when you see one, and Steve is it.  He is a true professional through and through, and we wouldn't think of going with anyone else. We would recommend Steve to anybody looking to buy or sell a home in San Francisco, and we hope to work with Steve again in the near future.

As anyone who has ever bought or sold a home knows (or done both at once), doing so is not only an unnerving experience, it is also an emotional one. But when I recently did both of those things, the process was made infinitely easier for me by Steve and his assistant, Carol. Like so many real estate deals in San Francisco, I was given nanoseconds to decide whether or not to buy the property I’d identified. Before making an offer, however, Steve initiated several conversations with the seller’s agent in order to glean invaluable information for me to make an informed offer. His due diligence and negotiating skills paid off exceptionally well and resulted in what would not only become my new home but also a very good buy.

Concomitant with the purchase of my new place was the formidable task of getting my then-current home ready for sale. Steve gently guided me through the process, pointing me in the direction of terrific professionals that could help me get the job done -- stagers, painters, electricians, etc. In addition, his marketing efforts were tireless -- an effort that thankfully paid off.

Steve embodies a rare combination of tenacity and kindness; he is unflappable and appropriately assertive, and he remains a patient teacher throughout. All of these are qualities I didn’t necessarily know I wanted in a broker until I worked with Steve. He is the consummate professional who goes the extra distance for his clients and skillfully emerges with positive results.

Steve, our sincere thanks to you and your wonderful assistant Carol for superb management of the sale of our multi-unit property on Russian Hill. Your dedication and follow up with prospective buyers, along with sensitive engagement with existing tenants and overseas owners (us) was outstanding. Your tips on showing and pricing resulted in a sale that was timely for our 1031 exchange. You know the city and its clientele so well - we could fully rely on you from afar. Multi-unit property sales are complex with the ever changing regulations in San Francisco; thank you for staying on top of those developments and bringing us an all cash offer! We would highly recommend you and your team to any seller in the unique and beautiful environment that is San Francisco today.

As two very busy people on the go, we knew selling our place in the Eureka Valley/Dolores Heights area would require a lot of attention to do right, Steve made it easy and efficient. He and Carol boiled everything down to the right level of detail needed, asked the right questions to ensure they knew exactly what we were looking for. In the end, we got exactly what we wanted – great staging, multiple offers, and a strong sale price. We thought selling a house would be a painful process as it had been in the past, Steve changed it all. I have complete trust in Steve, he guided us to make the right choices to ensure we got what we wanted.

As out of town buyers re-locating from the east coast, the San Francisco market is not an easy one. Through a local friend we were introduced to Steve. We viewed a most unique and wonderful property in Cow Hollow, made an offer the next morning and with Steve’s invaluable help navigating a highly competitive multiple offer process, 24 hours later we were in-contract. Steve also suggested we write a personal letter which may have helped secure the property since by coincidence both we and the sellers had a strong connection to Maine. Post-sale Steve has been an excellent resource to help the newbies settle into San Francisco. We highly recommend Steve to buyers or sellers in the San Francisco market – knowledgeable, professional and responsive.

Steve did an excellent job for us as buyers and sellers. He successfully represented us on the purchase of our current home in Pacific Heights and sale of our previous residence in Presidio Heights. Steve’s in-depth market knowledge, intelligent advice, and strong negotiating skills added significant value to both transactions. On the buy side he achieved a favorable outcome we were pleased with and on the sell side, once again his insights and guidance stood out and in addition his management skills with respect to preparation and staging were invaluable. Steve did an excellent job marketing our home in a way that was sensitive to our needs while at the same time achieving a great result in a changing market. Even with a skilled support team and talented assistant Steve remained hands-on all the way, an important attribute we really appreciated. He is a true advocate for his clients and an exceptional real estate professional. We highly recommend Steve.

Working with Steve and his team was a pleasure. The level of professionalism, communication and attention to detail was more than what my family and I could have expected in the sale of our home in Sea Cliff. Steve and Carol made the process of selling with multiple offers straight forward and effortless. Looking forward to working together in the future!

Steve, you’re a consummate professional, it was such a pleasure to work with you on the sale of our Russian Hill home. Thank you for your loyalty and dedication! The escrow process could not have gone smoother. Your assistant Carol has been a pleasure to work with as well! What a gem you have on your team.

Steve, I want to thank you and Carol for a terrific job listing and selling our Pacific Heights penthouse. It is never easy handling a sale arising out of a divorce, but you and Carol were able to navigate that potential minefield with ease. I was particularly pleased with the way the two of you handled the staging and marketing - keeping us well informed while at the same time freeing us from the time consuming details. And of course, the proof is in the results, obtaining offers above the listing price and closing just 25 days after it was first listed. Thank you again for a job well and professionally done.

Steve represented me in the selling of my Sea Cliff house in September 2018, having been strongly recommended by a close friend steeped in the San Francisco real estate business. I could not have asked for better representation. A consummate professional; excellent in every way. My house was impeccably staged and intelligently marketed…..handsomely paying off with three offers well over asking. In addition to receiving great advice and guidance, the level of Steve’s personal involvement and availability was remarkable. I would not hesitate to recommend Steve and his team to colleagues, friends, and family.

Steve has helped us both buy and sell homes in San Francisco. On the buy side, he has great connections to help you get in and see homes in a timely matter to be able to be competitive in a hot market. He has a deep understanding and knowledge of the San Francisco real estate market. On the sell side, Steve has a fabulous team that helped get our home prepped, staged and ready for sale in no time. With the help of Steve and his team, we were able to get our house painted, staged and on the market in less than two weeks and it sold within a week of being on the market. Steve and his assistant Carol are super responsive, professional, conscientious, and great to work with. We would highly recommend Steve and his team for anyone looking for a realtor.

I can’t thank Steve enough for his patience, persistence and professionalism!

He helped me purchase a condo in The Golden Gateway in 1996 and when it came time to sell, 21 years later, I called and asked for his advice.  After receiving a very thorough and comprehensive proposal we asked him (and his team) to represent us. They were always responsive, pleasant, courteous and committed to our success! 

When the “right” buyer appeared, without an agent, Steve went “over the top” to assist them and us through the process. His ethics are impeccable and I feel he negotiated a very fair price for both of us.  I trust him completely and can’t recommend him enough.  He’s the Best!

Steve is the consummate professional, providing extraordinary care and attention with respect to every facet of our real estate transactions, including both buying and selling 3 South Beach condos.  He is client-centered, honest, respected, personable, knowledgeable, analytical, organized, proactive, communicative, and responsive.  He and his team have unparalleled command of real estate marketing, timing, negotiating, technology, and documentation.  We highly recommend Steve and his team as the very best in San Francisco.

My children and I decided to hire Steve as our agent after quite a few interviews with other agents. I had a rather large house in Pacific Heights for many years. Steve was recommended by friends who had great experiences having him represent them in the sale of their homes. Steve was everything one hopes for in an agent, outstanding! Professional and helpful in every way, a careful listener and quick responder. His assistant Carol was a delight and always ready to assist. I would say that one is very lucky to be able to have Steve sell your home.

It was smooth sailing all the way with Steve and his talented assistant Carol on the purchase of my Pacific Heights co-op. I had many questions before submitting my offer to the seller all of which were answered in a detailed and timely manner. During the final negotiations on the price I felt I was getting the best advice possible. After getting into contract Steve was hands-on and guided me through the intricacies of getting co-op board approval. In addition Steve was still there afterwards suggesting contractors and other vendors for work I planned to complete. If I ever sell my apartment Steve will be my first choice to represent me.

Working with Steve on the sale of our Inner Mission condominium was a pleasure as our coordination with him and his team was seamless. He and Carol are friendly, courteous, quick to act and respond and totally professional. Navigating the complexities of a sale and its closing were made easy and effortless thanks to Steve. Simply put, Steve and Carol are the consummate professionals and I would only look to them for either a future purchase or sale and easily refer them to all of my friends and associates.

Steve was a joy to work with from start to finish in the sale of our Cow Hollow home. It’s obvious that he knows the SF market as well as anyone and is a deeply experienced agent who’s seen it all. He consistently balanced experienced advice with a willingness to move in whatever direction we chose, making us feel that we had a great partner throughout the process. It can’t be easy to work with clients who can be indecisive and emotional when it comes to buying and selling a home, and we greatly appreciated and benefitted from Steve’s calm and patient demeanor. His broader team, especially his fantastic assistant, Carol, was also super helpful, responsive, and courteous – they are dedicated to their clients and clearly value the service element of their business. We would highly recommend Steve and his team to anyone!

Choosing Steve to handle the sale of my Pacific Heights residence was an excellent decision with a great result. He developed and orchestrated a highly effective program that proved to be successful. Steve’s resources (including moving organizer, stager, contractor, painter, etc.) provided first class service while preparing my home for optimal showing condition with Steve and his team carefully managing the process in a way that felt highly personal, professional, and seamless. What I initially thought would be a daunting undertaking proved to be quite reasonable, efficient, and focused, and I appreciated the consistent updates from Steve. Steve, although supported by a highly competent team, was hands-on from beginning to end as promised, which was important to me. I also appreciated Steve’s marketing strategy, high-quality materials, and over-all approach which resulted in broad-based exposure in a strategic way with consideration given to the house being high-profile and generating considerable tourist traffic. I look forward to working with Steve again and would gladly recommend him to family, friends, and colleagues.

My husband and I have worked with Steve since 2008. We were both experienced home buyers and worked with a number of real estate agents but Steve distinguished himself not only because of his incredible market knowledge, but because he truly wanted to understand our objectives, needs and sensibilities.

In 2016 we decided to sell my parents’ home in Alamo Square and could not think of having any other realtor represent us. We were not disappointed. Steve provided excellent counsel on the sales strategy, including how to showcase the best characteristics of our property and how to price it appropriately. Then, he and his amazing team, flawlessly executed their plan, bringing in the best people to do the necessary work. Their communication was outstanding, which was very important as my husband and I were often traveling. They made the operation turnkey, taking away our stress and giving us nothing to worry about. My husband, my mother and I cannot recommend Steve and his team highly enough and truly believe they are San Francisco’s best.

It is hard to convey clearly what an outstanding residential real estate agent Steve Gothelf is. We have used him twice now to help us personally. First in selling our house in Presidio Heights and more recently in buying a new home in Pacific Heights. Steve is everything that you would want in an agent: 1) He is responsive, always without fail, I don't think we have ever had an email or phone call go unanswered; 2) He knows the market cold, Steve has been working the market in San Francisco for years and knows all the agents, has been in virtually every house on the north side and more importantly knows what might be coming; and can sometimes get you into to see product before others know about it. 3) He is highly respected in the market place and has great relationships with other brokers, also with inspectors, contractors, stagers, appraisers, and lenders. His ability to call on these relationships is key to ensuring a smooth and fair transaction. 4) There is no drama and no pressure ever. Buying and selling a home can be a stressful process, Steve is always focused on making the transaction easier for you and supporting your goals. 5) He operates with the highest degree of integrity. After having worked with him over 5 years we completely trust Steve.   He is an outstanding broker in every respect.

We met Steve through a referral of a friend and business associate. At the time, we were looking to move to San Francisco, and while we had an idea of the neighborhoods we wanted to see, Steve's knowledge and experience were invaluable in providing us helpful insights as prospective buyers. Steve's style and manner in working with us was a perfect fit. He was consultative and always willing to offer opinions, yet took the time upfront to understand our tastes in order to provide more relevant perspectives and make our search more productive. After several months of searching, Steve helped us identify a wonderful home that met our needs and then guided the transaction representing both the buyer and the seller. We always felt we were well represented. Steve is the consummate professional and also very well respected. We wanted to have some minor work done on the house before moving in and we relied on Steve's recommendations for various trades. Everyone was always highly complementary of Steve and his work. We would recommend Steve Gothelf to anyone looking for a real estate professional to represent them, and if the need ever arose for us to do so, we would engage Steve immediately. We couldn't be more pleased!

We first met Steve 5 years ago when we decided to put our house on the market. He put a lot of time, effort and money into marketing our home, and at the last minute we changed our mind and decided not to sell. He was incredibly gracious and professional about our decision. We recently decided to sell again and contacted Steve. He coached us on the best way to present our home, advised us on what would be a fair price and ended up selling our home (for our asking price) before it ever hit the market. He followed through, was professional and a pleasure to work with. We highly recommend Steve to anyone looking to buy or sell in San Francisco.

My wife and I have moved numerous times over the years, each move involving property transactions, either buying or selling. Without reservation, Steve is the single best agent we've dealt with over the years. What impresses us most about Steve is his ability to really listen and his responsiveness. Those traits, combined with his low pressure approach, won us over in the very beginning and ultimately led to a successful and satisfying sale of our Presidio Heights condominium.

It has been truly a pleasure working with Steve. He is professional, cordial and knowledgeable. He and his team did a wonderful job helping us downsizing in finding an ideal condo for us in Mission Bay and selling our old house near Buena Vista Park. He made the whole process smooth and as stress-free as possible.

I selected Steve to help me sell my house in the inner Richmond based on the recommendations of two friends who he previously represented. I couldn't have been more pleased. Steve brings experience, judgment and excellent communication skills to the selling process. He keeps an open mind and a cool head throughout. His recommendations of others that assisted me in the process were terrific. I am happy and honored to make this testimonial on his behalf.

Steve and his team were simply great! (I don't think you can do better.) Steve helped with getting our old Pacific Heights Victorian prepped, staged and sold, coordinating it all in a very pleasant, efficient and professional manner. I hope I'll have the opportunity to use his services again in the future.

Steve and team,

We wanted to say thank you so much for all of your help in selling our condo in lower Pacific Heights. You and your team made it happen during a very busy time for us. We couldn't be happier to have it sold and we sincerely appreciate all that you did. Thank you!!

I've had the pleasure of professionally knowing Steve Gothelf for 23 years. I can personally attest to his professionalism in every facet of residential real estate brokerage. He represented the seller of the condominium I purchased in the Marina District in 1992, just after the earthquake. I was so impressed with his friendly and professional demeanor, I have consulted with him for decades and chose him to list my Marina District condominium. Steve sold it in 2015 at a strong price prior to going to market. Steve was always there with thoughtful counsel, never pushy, and always providing incredible service! His ideas to improve my home's value and marketability and managing preparation logistics which resulted in optimal showing condition were greatly appreciated. I could not be happier with Steve's work!

Steve is first and foremost a really upstanding person and a pleasure to work with. He balanced excellent market and process guidance with a lot of listening to understand and honor our wishes as homeowners. When it came to the transaction his very capable team provided full support in all elements of our sale and made the experience as pain free as possible. We would be thrilled to work with him again.

Steve recently helped me when I decided to sell my Russian Hill apartment in the most personal and ultimately successful way possible. He managed the entire process beautifully including overseeing the staging, the listing, and the sale. He truly puts his clients' interests first in all decisions. Steve's strategic approach accomplished a quick and outstanding sale. I have already recommended him to several friends and am delighted to be on record saying I think he is the best.

Steve and his team are outstanding. We recently moved and wanted to sell our condo in North Beach at the same time launching a startup -- not having a lot of time to get our place sold. We called in Steve and he managed the entire process for us with great results. He recommended we make some improvements (floors, paint, carpet, etc.) and his team diligently managed the process. His pricing and marketing strategy proved to be very successful for us. We had multiple offers before our 1st open house, selling our condo in 3 days.

We were new to San Francisco when we were introduced to Steve. We instantly knew we were in good and capable hands! Steve made the search and purchase of our new Presidio Heights home an enjoyable and seamless process. His knowledge of the market was unparalleled and we always had the "inside scoop" on up and coming listings. Steve is a complete professional and it was a privilege to work with him.

My family has used Steve twice now for sale of a 3-unit and 4-unit building on Telegraph Hill. He brings to the job a unique combination of qualities-an extraordinary emotional intelligence, humor, patience and balance in handling all parties to a transaction, including tenants; a deep knowledge of particular San Francisco neighborhoods; a diligent eye to detail on dotting the "I's" and crossing the "T's"; a trustworthiness that puts the client's interest above his own; competent staff, such as Carol Avila, and professional backup, including his son, Adam; excellent contacts that multiply his marketing efforts; a shrewd sense of negotiating the best price at the right time; and many other qualities that any client would appreciate.
My only regret is not having more properties to sell in San Francisco in which I could use Steve as my agent!

Hi Steve,
I want to thank you heartily for your patience and cool approach in taking us through the sale of our Telegraph Hill property. Your utmost professionalism was noted and greatly appreciated by Daphne and me.
Thank you to your staff, especially Carol Avila who kept things rolling along.

When I met Steve he was representing 'the other side' in a contentious real estate partnership I had inherited but I recognized that he was the better real estate agent involved, in fact he was the best I had encountered, and made note to call upon him in future times. Over the next four years he assisted me in three transactions, two sales and one purchase, all of which were successful thanks to his management of the market, intelligent approach, perseverance, thoughtful analysis, ethics and quiet execution of what had to be done. I trust him completely and would not consider using another real estate person in San Francisco and have delightedly recommended him to others, none of whom have been disappointed in him.

Steve is a best-in-class professional. He defines to us all that a real estate broker can and should bring to the table -- and more. We just recently made an empty-nester move from Marin County into San Francisco. We were unfocused in terms of both neighborhood and property type and Steve had the patience to work with us as we explored a wide range of options throughout the city. You have to be patient and enjoy people to do this job and Steve balanced the part-marriage counselor and part-real estate professional parts of the job well.

He knows the nooks and crannies of the city and gave unbiased and thoughtful opinion on neighborhoods, property value and the bones of each property. He and Adam added value as we explored the city and eventually focused on neighborhoods and property type. At no time did he try to get us to either limit our range or push us to bid or close on specific properties. Once we did identify the property that we wanted on Nob Hill, he again added critical value in the negotiations process to help us make our best deal.

We would recommend Steve and his team to anyone buying or selling in San Francisco. Steve is a smart, sophisticated professional who really adds value at every stage of the process. My wife and I are both real estate professionals, so we set a high bar, and are lucky to have had Steve and his team helping us in this move.

Steve was of invaluable assistance to us in the successful completion of 3 transactions. The first two involved the purchase and sale of our Russian Hill pied-a-terre and the third was the purchase of our full-time Pacific Heights residence. Due to Steve's market knowledge, negotiating skills, and level of experience we recently prevailed in an aggressive and highly competitive bidding environment. Steve's navigation of this process was extraordinary. We could not have had a more professional, trustworthy, and highly skilled agent and have recommended him to all our friends seeking San Francisco real estate.

Steve Gothelf was the absolute perfect agent for an unexpected very complex sale, I know that without his professionalism, calm demeanor, years of experience and invaluable connections in his business our home sale would not have gone through, he was able to keep anxious buyers interested and invested in our property through unavoidable delays in the sale process. His experience and knowledge allowed me to stay calm and confident while he handled the sale seemingly with ease. Steve did absolutely everything he promised and then some to sell my Cow Hollow house. I highly recommend Steve to anyone interested in buying or selling property.

In the last few decades I have bought and sold more than a dozen homes--in San Francisco, the bay area, across the country and around the world. In all of those transactions, I can honestly write that not one agent has ever met Steve Gothelf's professionalism. Steve has excelled from the moment we met. His focus on personal service and attention to detail was outstanding, and his expertise, counsel, and wisdom exceeded all expectations. It would be my honor to recommend Steve to my friends and family, just as Steve was recommended to me by another satisfied client.

We started our home search with Steve in 2011, and finally found the place we were looking for in 2014.   We had a narrow search area and strict parameters, so we knew it would take a while, but still found ourselves feeling hopeless at times.   Steve never gave up, was always available to us (even while on vacation in Europe . . . sorry about that Steve!), and was never pushy in any way.   It was clear to us at all times that his top priority was for us to purchase a home we were thrilled with.    Steve handled the negotiating process masterfully and we were very pleased with the result.   We would not hesitate to turn to Steve the next time we need to buy or sell real estate.

Steve and Adam were instrumental in helping us land the house of our dreams. We started our search expecting it to take several months -- and we ended up sleeping the first night in our spectacular new home just five weeks later!

Steve and Adam handled the competition and resulting negotiations expertly. I truly don't think we would have come out on top as the winning bidder without their professionalism, hard work, and sterling reputation. I actually got the sense that the sellers wanted to do the deal with us because we were Steve's clients. We couldn't be happier with our new Russian Hill home, and have Steve and Adam to thank for it.

After over a year of looking for a home without success, we turned to Steve. Within months he found us a fantastic house in our desired neighborhood -- even down to the street. We have no doubt it was thanks to Steve's years of experience and expertise that we were able to secure our Presidio Heights property in a competitive market.

Steve is a trusted, deeply knowledgeable partner with great judgment. He is easy to work with and offers steady guidance in a measured, no-pressure manner. We recommend him without reservation.

I had the pleasure of working with Steve recently, as the listing agent on my home in Parnassus Heights, and I couldn't have asked for a better agent. Steve is so easy to work with, and is very knowledgeable in his field. He is very professional, thorough, and conscientious. He gave solid advice when necessary, and I felt in good hands with Steve. I would gladly recommend him to anyone looking to sell their property, and I would want him to be my agent again if there is ever a need.

Steve Gothelf has been our broker in San Francisco since 1985 and skillfully assisted us in 2013 with the purchase of our Russian Hill co-op. He has guided us on both the purchase and sale of properties and has always been a true advocate for us. In touring properties, it quickly becomes apparent that Steve is one of the most respected agents in town. He knows the San Francisco market inside out and his thoughtful, well-researched advice is right on target. He is an analytical thinker who takes the time to understand what his clients want, and then delivers unique opportunities and offers expert advice on negotiating strategies.

Thanks to Steve, we were able to find our dream home in San Francisco during a time when inventory was unusually low and the market very competitive! Each time we looked at a house, our list of "must haves" and "do not wants" got longer. There was even a point where I wondered if we would ever buy in the City. Luckily, Steve kept our hopes up, was patient with every single home tour, listened to all of our feedback carefully and was never pushy.

So, when he took us on a private tour of our dream home before it went on the market, he jumped into action and made it our reality! If it wasn't for Steve's very specific advice on exactly how to make our offer, we would have never gotten our home. Believe it or not, we were not the highest bid (we were one of six!), just the smartest... thanks to Steve.

While we could not be happier in our Pacific Heights home, if we ever do have to leave San Francisco, Steve will be our first phone call!

Steve made it clear that once I listed my mother's condo with him, he would take care of every aspect required to sell.   And by-golly, he did! After my mom passed away we needed to empty her condo, prepare it for sale and then close a deal. The process took one month from start to finish! I can honestly say that Steve attended to every detail with care and class. He masterfully brought in professionals and resources who worked with us to transform our tired, 30 year lived-in Cow-Hollow property into a 2013 showplace. Steve was sensitive to the situation, and he was kind, gentle and wise in his guidance as decisions needed to be made.If you are looking to work with the best, then without question, go with Steve. He is a true professional.

We chose Steve to be our listing broker because we have known him for years, appreciate his style and competence, and value his participation in our city. He helped us purchase our Cow Hollow home in 1987, and twenty-five years later, we turned to him again to help us prepare, market, and sell our home. In both cases, we found him very responsive to our needs, knowledgeable on all elements of the transactions and processes, and a pleasure to work with.

In addition to his transactional expertise, Steve's network includes highly qualified and impressive tradespeople to help with getting the house ready for listing. Each person that Steve recommended was top-notch, and their respect for Steve was clearly evident. It gave us great peace of mind to know that Steve had excellent referrals and a practical solution for any issue that might develop - plus he is very immersed in his listings and takes a personal interest in the repair or resolution. Steve's forethought in scheduling the inspections early and his emphasis on complete and thorough disclosure documents helped us achieve a smooth and quick sale.

We have the highest regard for Steve as a person and real estate professional.

We have known Steve for 15 years and he has represented us on 4 purchases and 2 sales over that time. From our perspective, Steve is the best real estate agent in San Francisco. He is very plugged into the San Francisco market, always puts his clients first and in every sense is a true gentleman. Above all, Steve is a trusted friend who we would unequivocally recommend to anyone who is looking to purchase or sell a home in San Francisco.

Thanks for your guidance and good humor during the sale of our mother's Russian Hill cooperative. It was an emotionally difficult sale for all of us, some more than others, but we are all relieved that it's over and pleased with the result.
Along the way in my life, I run across people I truly have enjoyed and you are one of them. You navigated some very confusing and emotional rivers with grace, never getting impatient or condescending when others may have found it the easier route. You kept the ball on track and encouraged us when there were obstacles along the way and your easy manner in responding to our questions was appreciated. Please feel free to include me as reference should the need arise.

If you ever find yourself up in Calistoga, please call and drop by for a walk in the woods, a glass of wine or a meal. You're always welcome. Thanks again.

Steve was a good fit for us on the sale of our Presidio Heights home. He is well versed on the entire process - from advice on how to best prepare/present the property, recommendations on service people (e.g., general inspection, safety/compliance inspection, pest inspection, chimney service, tank removal, window wash, energy and water conservation inspection), and knowledge of market pricing, to his experience in marketing, negotiation, and finalizing of the contract.

It had been 24 years since we were involved in a sale of a house; the interim growth in the volume of paperwork was daunting. Steve was completely organized in leading us through the process, was quickly responsive to our questions and requests, and calmly supervised the resolution of numerous details. Although, as sellers, we faced the emotional and physical work of readying our home for sale, it was reassuring that Steve was handling the business side of the sale...with his excellent advice, attention to detail, responsiveness, and honesty.

Steve recently assisted our church foundation in selling a significant Pacific Heights property that was gifted to us. His execution was superb, and his approach was creative. Steve was always responsive, gave great advice (sometimes not necessarily in his best interest), did what he said he would do, and achieved a result highly satisfactory to us. We found Steve to be a person of the highest integrity.

I am very appreciative of his efforts on behalf of our foundation and recommend without hesitation Steve Gothelf to anyone looking for the highest quality real estate agent.

Thank you for the tremendous focus, determination, and endurance you have demonstrated over the last few months with the listing and sale of our Pacific Heights home. Your guidance, experience, and positive attitude during a "road less travelled" transaction helped to keep the deal together. I appreciated your high level of ethics, integrity, and patience. I will not hesitate to recommend you to any one I know who may be buying or selling their home.  

Thank you again.

Dear Donna and Steve,

What can I say? You two are the best — there for me every step of the way. Orchestrating a masterful job of preparing our long term Pacific Heights family home and then selling it for over the asking price, and then finding the perfect condominium just around the corner. I couldn't be happier with the way things turned out, and I hope you'll be my first dinner guests in my new home.

We were really pleased with the job Steve Gothelf did for us in selling the last two units at the Infinity. His relationship with the city's high end brokers is excellent.

Steve thanks again for all your help, guidance and hard work. You did a great job on the sale of our Presidio Heights home. Happy to be a reference for any listing you want.

In the search for our first home, we worked with Steve for a year. He was a true pleasure, extremely patient with indecisive-us, never pushy, and always happy to share his educated opinion and insights. (Not to mention a good laugh). As a true veteran and total pro in the SF housing market, we had the utmost trust in Steve-it was ultimately because of his connections with so many realtors that he'd heard about a Cole Valley house not yet listed-and moreover, he had a hunch we'd love it. Which we did! But his job wasn't done, he first had to guide us through the negotiating process which he did masterfully. Now, we just need to find a date to have him over for dinner.

Steve Gothelf spent 2 years looking for the "perfect" San Francisco "pied a terre" for us. He understood exactly what we were looking for and always had respect for our time, never showing a house unless he thought the property had a good chance of being right for us. There were "dry spells" during which there was nothing to show us, but he never gave up. Finally a house came along that Steve said we should go see right away. It was perfect. Steve did an excellent job of negotiating with the seller on our behalf. He was very professional and thorough in handling every detail of the transaction. We highly recommend Steve and have already given his name to other people in need of a personable and highly professional real estate broker.

We worked with Steve to make a move from our home in one neighborhood in San Francisco to another. After meeting with several agents, discussing the marketing plans for our home, and describing our goals for the new house, we felt Steve understood our challenge in finding the right house and making the transition as smooth as possible. He worked patiently with us as we looked at properties over many months, and he understood our selective criteria. He helped us to find out about homes before they hit the broader market, which is how we eventually bought our new home in Pacific Heights. His connections within the broker community greatly benefited us on both the buy-side and the sell-side. We sold our house in the Inner Richmond shortly after listing, to one of the parties Steve brought in ahead of the first open house. We went into contract just about a week after the listing, on the day of our first open house - above our asking price with a strong buyer. We would recommend Steve for his marketing expertise, knowledge of and connections in the San Francisco market, and for his easy-going demeanor through the tumults of personal real estate transactions.

Steve has been a delight to work with in searching for a second home in San Francisco and completing the transaction. We found Steve through a mutual friend whose late wife had worked with Steve and had recommended him highly. We now understand why. Steve has a wonderful knowledge of San Francisco neighborhoods, which he shared easily and constructively while helping to narrow the search. He was always patient, encouraging, sensitive to our needs, remembered past conversations and helped steer us to an excellent deal. On a visit with him to a condominium complex, Steve ferreted out the marketing strategy and all other information about sales rate, number of vacancies, price changes, etc. one could hope for. When we eventually decided on a condo in Pacific Heights, Steve worked with us until after 11pm putting together the offer long distance. His reputation in the real estate community and negotiating advice were important factors in successfully completing this transaction against two other bidders. Steve is far and away the best realtor we have worked with. We can't say enough good about him and are pleased to recommend him without hesitation.

Dear Steve,

Thank you for doing such a fabulous job selling our Lake Street house. You made it look easy in a tough market! You got the house ready in two weeks then brought us three offers after only nine days on the market. When the first offer fell through you helped us stay calm. Next thing you know the house is sold. We loved working with you.

Steve did great work on two purchases and a sale. He has strong negotiating and marketing skills and really knows the market. My first purchase was completed before the property ever hit the market, and on a recent sale, Steve brought in a strong offer that resulted in a completed deal early in the listing period. I wouldn't hesitate to work with Steve again as well as refer him to others.

Now that the dust has settled and the sale's complete I am able relax and think back on how grateful I am to have had you as my listing agent for 2090 Vallejo St.

You were so much more than my listing agent. When I needed someone to stage the property you not only provided me with three excellent choices but you set up the appointments, helped me choose the best one for my house and then helped me negotiate a favorable contract.

When the stager said we should trim the trees to improve the view of the bay you suggested an arborist, got us an excellent price and then were there to let him on the property and stood at the window to tell him just how much to cut.

When the city sent us a notice that the trees on the side of our house were causing our sidewalk to buckle, guess what, you were there to suggest a contractor for the job and even helped me choose what color we should try to make the cement to blend in with the sidewalk.

And all of this before you could even begin showing and selling the property. When that stage came you had a broker's open nearly every week and did more showing then one could count. I think you stay so thin because you walk up and down the stairs of the homes you sell so many, many times. Never once did I hear you complain or waver in your enthusiasm that there is the right buyer out there for every house on the market and that it was your job to find them.

Finally, when it came time to negotiate the sale you were indispensable with your advice and guidance as to when to push harder and when we had negotiated the best deal possible, leaving no money on the table.

You are a fabulous real estate agent and please give my name and number to anyone who would like to know all the reasons you are the best listing agent in San Francisco.

Thanks for all you do, Steve. I will miss your updates, our conversations and our strategic discussions.

Moving is a major life stressor! It is particularly so when it involves uprooting one's parents from their life-long home to move them closer to family members in another state. These life-altering decisions weigh heavily in the minds and hearts of all involved.

Selecting an appropriate realtor, who has a comprehensive understanding of one's situation and all of the issues which surround the decision for the move, is quintessential! Steve Gothelf and Donna Gothelf, provided this service in a sensitive, caring and professional manner! They listened to the concerns of family members, took into consideration their needs, provided the guidance and direction necessary to prepare the house for the market, provided realistic suggestions to make the house saleable, provided personal on-going supervision during the "on market" process, made sure that all parties concerned were kept in the communication loop, and guided family members throughout this procedure until the sale was completed. Their solid expertise and competent handling of all aspects of the sale eased what would have been an otherwise unmanageable situation.

We are deeply grateful to both Steve and Donna, and Steve's team for their dedicated assistance, which resulted in the successful sale of our parents' home. We highly recommend their wonderful real estate services without reservation or hesitation!

In 1979 I was a brand new and inexperienced home buyer. Steve Gothelf was my guiding light, showing me countless homes until we found just the right one for me. His calm, patient and encouraging approach kept my anxiety at tolerable levels and kept me ever confident that MY house did exist.

In 2007, when I was again a new and inexperienced home seller, and in a "down" market, Steve Gothelf and his associate Jennifer Powers, surpassed my greatest expectations. They were sensitive to my unique needs (Jennifer even found a great home for my aging cat!) and recommended cross-country movers, fine craftsman, stagers, and other professionals necessary to get the maximum value for my home.

Never intrusive, yet always available, for first-time or multiple buyers/sellers, I can give a whole-hearted endorsement to Steve Gothelf and his team.

We have had the opportunity to work with Steve on our home purchases for almost 20 years and we have never failed to be impressed with Steve's diligence and unfailing level of service. We purchased our first condominium with Steve in PacificHeights and then he assisted us in selling it and buying our current North of Lake house at a time when it had not been formally listed. We were able to purchase solely through Steve's efforts and avoid having to compete for the house on the open market.

Over the years we recommended Steve to friends all of whom have been very pleased with his assistance and his availability - literally, on many occasions, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Steve has become our friend as well as our broker and there is no question that when it comes time for us to sell and buy again, Steve will be our representative. I would be glad to be a reference for Steve. Please feel free to call me if you have any questions that I may be able to answer.

Steve's representation twice on the buy side and once as our listing agent has always yielded great results and enabled us to achieve our goals. Whether orchestrating property upgrades prior to going to market, implementing an intelligent and effective marketing plan, or identifying properties as soon as or before hitting the market, Steve delivers an unparalleled level of "hands on" personal service. In 2007 Steve successfully sold our home in Russian Hill and pre-emptively secured our Pacific Heights residence. We have no doubt that we have benefited from Steve's years of experience, market knowledge, negotiating skills, support team and positive relationships with his colleagues in the brokerage community. We look forward to working with Steve should we sell or buy in the future and will continue to refer Steve to family, friends, and colleagues.

We have worked with Steve on a total of seven transactions over the years that have included single family homes, small apartment buildings, and even a mixed-use commercial building. His wealth of knowledge extends into both single family primary residences and rental properties. In each transaction, we felt that we have been extremely well-represented by Steve. He has negotiated the best price possible for us, even in the extremely challenging and competitive San Francisco market. For example, in 1999 we were one of the few home buyers in San Francisco to purchase a quality single family residence at under the asking price, thanks to Steve's negotiating skills.

We would not hesitate to recommend Steve for both buyers and sellers of property in San Francisco. He knows many of the neighborhoods well, and his name is recognized and respected by other agents whenever we mention we're working with Steve.

I have had the pleasure of working with Steve Gothelf on two real estate transactions. Steve spent many days and hours working with me to find a home in San Francisco. The market for the type of property I was looking for was extremely competitive, and I was particular about what I wanted. Having an experienced team working with me, made all of the difference. I believe that Steve's experience gave me the advantage in a competitive, multi-offer situation. When the time came to sell my property, now married, my wife Danielle and I again called Steve to represent our interests. For the second time I was very satisfied with both the process, and the outcome. Danielle and I were both very happy with the transaction, and the way it was handled. In a word, working with Steve made us both feel very, 'confident.' If we ever decide to purchase again in San Francisco, there is no question that our first call will go to Steve Gothelf.

Steve did an excellent job representing us in the purchase of our new home in Pacific Heights and the sale of our previous home in Presidio Heights. A consummate professional and true advocate, Steve delivered on both transactions. We wouldn't hesitate to work with Steve again and look forward to referring friends and colleagues.

We contacted Steve to represent us in negotiating the purchase of a Pacific Heights penthouse. We had an extremely short time frame in which to work. The entire transaction from the first contact with the sellers to the close of escrow was just three weeks. Without Steve's negotiating and transactional skills we would have never secured the property and met the deadlines. He also took over management of all details. The whole experience was amazingly easy and fast.

We are indebted to Steve and truly appreciate his expertise.

Steve was a great asset in both our real estate transactions: selling our 100+ years old Victorian in PacificHeights and helping us locate and acquire a gracious co-op on Nob Hill. He is client-focused, results-oriented and a great negotiator. You'll never find a better agent no matter how hard you search!

When we made the painful decision to leave San Francisco and say goodbye to our dream home in Presidio Heights, we felt confident that Steve was the person to help us. Steve, ably supported by his son Adam, was professional, sensitive, patient and always available throughout the process. His attention to detail in the presentation of the house was almost certainly the reason it was sold in a reasonably short time during a difficult market. We would highly recommend Steve to anyone looking to buy or sell their house in San Francisco.

Thanks Steve for all your help.

It was an investment as well as an emotional decision when I decided to sell the family flats in San Francisco's Marina District in the fall of 2006; the flats had been in the family for more than 60 years and working with a realtor who understood Marina District flats was very important to me.  

As an absentee landlord I needed to depend on a realtor to schedule the required property inspections, accurately list and advertise the flats, consistently hold open houses and respect the rights of the tenants living in the upper flat. After interviewing realtors from three well known companies with offices in The Marina District, I knew you were my 'realtor of choice'.

You were a valuable resource, Steve, in coordinating all the property inspections and arranging interviews to help me select a stager, painter and professional cleaner to prepare the property for sale. Your understanding of the neighborhood and your marketing strategies were excellent. I appreciated that you and your assistant, touched base with me several times a week to update me regarding open houses, private showings, questions, concerns and feedback from potential buyers, as well as emailing all necessary paperwork in a timely manner. It was due to your efforts that the flats sold within the listing period and at the agreed upon market rate. It was a pleasure to work with you.

Dear Steve: Now that things have settled down, and Sara and I are (somewhat) settled into our new home out in Moraga, I want to thank you for your outstanding work in the sale of our condo in the Marina.

I must admit, I still get really excited when sharing the story with friends and family about the over asking, no contingency sale less than a week after listing! And the fact that you made the process so easy for us by coordinating the touch up paint, minor repairs, and staging made a potentially stressful experience relatively smooth and painless. With the young baby at home, we really appreciated it.

Reflecting on our experience, we couldn't be happier with our choice to have you represent us. I am grateful to our mutual acquaintance for the referral to you. As you may recall, we had an existing relationship with two [other well-known San Francisco realtors].... we didn't seem to get the same sense of diligence and commitment from them. And in our experience over the years, we usually bumped into their assistants at their listings. Your unequivocal commitment to be personally involved every step of the way was an important selling point for us, and I firmly believe it made the difference in the spectacular result you produced.

As a commercial real estate broker myself, I valued and appreciated your business-minded approach to the supply/demand economics of the local real estate market. The rest of the average brokers that produce average results are just salespeople without the business acumen. You've got both sales ability and a business approach that seem to enable you to produce above market sales.

Thanks again, and if I can ever serve as a reference, I would be happy to help in any way I can.

Transitioning from the East Bay and finding the ideal home in San Francisco for our family seemed like a daunting task. Steve's skillful management of our search process yielded a wonderful result and even made it enjoyable. He truly listened, quickly understood what we wanted to achieve, and efficiently assisted us in reaching our goal.

In addition to being a wonderful person, Steve is a dedicated professional. Thanks to his vision, market knowledge and expert counsel, we prevailed in an extremely competitive offer situation and were able to purchase our ideal home in West Clay Park. We are deeply grateful to have benefited from his services and look forward to the opportunity to work together in the future. It is our pleasure to refer our friends and family to Steve.

We've looked for years for the right house for our family of five, including three children and a dog, and Steve helped us find our home in Pacific Heights soon after we began working with him. We wish we had been working with him sooner. His knowledge and insights about the market and the kind of property we were looking for were instrumental in helping us identify the right property. His professionalism and integrity were evident from the start, giving us great confidence that the process would be both efficient and correct. The personal service and attention to detail Steve and his staff provided were a nice surprise that made the process actually easy. And Steve's pleasant manner and courteous approach make him a joy to work with - a true gentleman.

Steve Gothelf helped us sell a very unique single family home on Telegraph Hill. We were very impressed with his professionalism, his attention to detail, and his confident and engaging manner, as well as his experience in the field of real estate. He listened carefully to our needs, he made us feel that he had our best interests at heart, and he helped us make improvements to the property to maximize its resale value. To this end, he had an impressive, wide-ranging rolodex of contractors and property-oriented professionals who he had worked with personally, and who helped us make our property look its best. Through the process of working with Steve, we felt that he became a caring partner in helping us sell our property...

He has always been happy to help us with whatever issues we have brought to his attention. We enthusiastically recommend Steve as a real estate agent to anyone who is buying or selling a home! You would be hard pressed to find a better real estate agent to work with than Steve Gothelf.

It is a distinct privilege to offer a testimonial on behalf of Steve Gothelf. Over the last 20 years Steve has represented me on four high end residential real estate transactions in San Francisco.

In every instance Steve had delivered a superb result with integrity, market knowledge, creativity, perseverance and good advice. On the most recent purchase of an extraordinary co-op, I was more than willing to increase my bid to assure that I would prevail. Steve's sound advice and integrity led me to purchase the property without an increase saving me a significant amount of money. In short, Steve is a consummate professional. I hold him in high esteem and he has my unqualified endorsement.

Steve-
Thank you so much for all your time and hard work to help us find the perfect home! It was always such a pleasure working with you and I really appreciate all your patience with our changing needs over the years! Your breadth of knowledge and years of experience made me extremely confident in our purchase. I can't thank you enough for always making us feel as though we were a priority.  

We have known Steve Gothelf for over 20 years. As investors of residential rental property in San Francisco, we have called upon Steve on many occasions to discuss market conditions, valuations of various properties and potential investments. He has consistently proved to be knowledgeable, professional and responsive.

But there are many knowledgeable, professional and potentially helpful realtors in San Francisco. What has set Steve apart from the others is his ability to find properties for us that were not on the market and, over time, to convince the owners to sell those properties to us. Steve's patience and understanding before, negotiating ability and follow-through during, and service throughout the various transactions has been exceptional.

We are trained and licensed to do many of the things Steve has done for us, but we have always acted as Principals and let him represent us, confident that his representations for us would be in our best interests. Steve is, literally, 'A Broker's Broker.