Testimonials

Anina and Julia are superbly knowledgeable and detail oriented, and they used their considerable skills and contacts to achieve a sales price well above the expected prices quoted by other agents. Rather than just pushing for a transaction, they know by paying attention to details, they can maximize the value of a property by appealing to the most suitable buyers, all while minimizing the headaches and worries for both the buyers and ourselves.

They really don’t make ‘em like Anina and Julia anymore.  Or, as Tina Turner sang, “Simply the best, better than all the rest.”  My partner and I have dreamed of living in Santa Cruz for many years and we had engaged the services of a local realtor, but nothing much came of it over a long period of time.  Then we connected with Anina and Julia and the whole experience transformed, going from lackluster to Technicolor.  We knew that if we were ever going to find the right house for us it was going to be with this Dynamic Duo.  Anina and Julia are highly professional but totally fun, incredibly knowledgeable, ethical, and full of more vim and vigor than most folks you’ll meet.  That they love what they do is palpable.  And with much skill and enthusiasm, they helped us get the most wonderful house we could have imagined.  Of course they had many clients besides us, but we felt like we were their only ones, they were so fully present through the entire process.  We almost wish that it had taken longer to find our dream home just so we could keep looking at houses with them!

I just completed a real estate sale with Anina and Julia, and I am beyond satisfied with them! Following their recommendations and time-table, we had immediate offers, one of
which we accepted for significantly above the asking price. I had worked with Anina before - she is a seasoned professional with deep knowledge and experience, a fierce advocate for
her clients. It's my first time working with her partner Julia, who also highly skilled and insightful. Together they handled my complicated situation with skill, diplomacy, patience,
and unflagging good humor. I feel most fortunate to have had them on my team, and I would recommend them without reservation for any real estate transaction. Thank you Anina and Julia!

Anina and Julia are amazing Realtors and people. They are so thoughtful and went so far above and beyond what I thought a realtor "needed" to do that they have set a completely new standard for me of what to expect from a realtor. They helped us navigate an area that we weren't familiar with and were able to move so quickly, it was really incredible. My wife and I both loved working with them and would recommend them to anyone.

Anina Van Alstine and Julia Randall are the ultimate power team of real estate. Honestly, I can't imagine having a better experience with realtors. They are lovely people. They are highly knowledgeable and experienced. They work unbelievably hard. They are always available. They always follow through. They CARE. Their advice and guidance were invaluable. They treated our house as if it were their own: They loved it
and took care of every imaginable detail in preparing it for sale. It was quite incredible — and then when it was time to sell it, all the hard work paid off. Let's just say the price
was right — actually, it was a lot MORE than right. And it sold in a snap. My wife and I are delighted to have worked with Anina and Julia. They are outstanding.

Anina and Julia are the best of the best Realtors. With their guidance we converted a near tear down house and garage/workshop into a small dream house in the redwoods. I cannot recommend them enough. The house went on sale November 4 th , 2022 and closed escrow on December 2nd , 2022-amazing! They kept us informed all through the process and guided us on documents we signed. They have a network of contractors for remodel, roof, inspections, painting, staging, and legal help. You cannot go wrong with Anina and Julia.

Anina and Julia are true professionals. I have had the pleasure of working with them on multiple trust and estate sales, and they have always provided the highest level of skill, experience, and knowledge in assisting our mutual clients. They come with the highest of recommendations.

Anina and Julia are the dream team of Realtors. They complement each other, playing off of each other's strengths. Anina with her 40 years of experience, contacts, and knowledge and savvy non-stoppable passionate personality and Julia being tech savvy, hardworking, detail oriented and a sweet persona, made it so easy to work with them and get results. We were looking for a house that would bring us joy, after we suffered the loss of our previous home from the fires in Santa Cruz. They found us our dream home in a market with many challenges. In a time of ridiculous high prices for terrible homes they found us our perfect home. Great location, beautiful details and an enchanting garden in our price range which was no small feat. I would wholeheartedly recommend them!

Anina and Julia helped us buy our first home. This was a dream come true for our little family! They were very professional, warm, helpful and knowledgeable. Anina and Julia guided us through paperwork and deadlines. We are ever grateful for their kindness and expertise!

“We were first-time home buyers seeking our dream home in Santa Cruz in which to grow our family. We had a long list of musts and a seemingly impossible budget! We thought we had a year or more of hunting ahead of us. Anina and Julia made the experience absolutely clear and straightforward from start to finish. They found us our actual dream home, with the perfect layout and in immaculate shape... all in 2-3 months!! We were able to negotiate the cost in a really tough buying market, and were left with some funds to do some minor renovations to make the home “ours” prior to move-in. We are overjoyed with our home - it is truly perfect for us - and have these two savvy, hardworking, compassionate women to thank. Anina and Julia have a remarkable network and reputation. We recommend them without reservation to future home buyers and look forward to working with them again in the future... though we won't be giving up our idyllic spot on the West Side anytime soon!”

I met Anina several years ago when I was helping a friend find her home. Since then she helped me buy one and sell two houses in Santa Cruz with great success. Now with Julia on board, they continue to display expertise and professionalism with the perfect balance between knowledge, experience and energy! Thank you!

We sold our Santa Cruz home with Anina and Julia in the spring of 2021. We were living in Colorado at the time, and there was not much travel because of the pandemic. As a consequence, I was pretty worried about undertaking the whole process from afar. However, Anina and Julia were outstanding. They basically took care of everything—repairs, painting, landscaping, advertising—while we were in Colorado. They got the house ready to sell within less than a month. I didn’t think that was possible, but Anina and Julia have solid connections with many dependable contractors. They also worked incredibly hard once the house went on the market. We had over 10 offers in the first week, and Anina and Julia painstakingly countered each of these offers so that all the prospective buyers would have a seat at the table. Their negotiation skills are extraordinary, as well, and the offer/counter/counter phase was not overly stressful, because of their incredible skills and calm. Finally, Anina is a curious, and interesting soul. She really enjoys real estate and I don’t know anyone who could possibly work harder for their clients than these two. They enjoy their work so much, that it is almost infectious. It turned an experience that I was dreading (because of all the stress and potential complications) into a couple of months that were, dare I say, almost fun, because Anina and Julia are such nice people to be around.

These two get my highest recommendation!

We first met Anina 6 years ago when she was holding an open house in Santa Cruz's Upper Westside! From that very first meeting which resulted in us purchasing that home, Anina has displayed the utmost expertise & professionalism!

Fast forward, Anina has just sold that same property for us! Anina goes the extra mile every step of the way with the ability to produce outstanding results!

She's highly connected in the Santa Cruz community with a reputation for success! She provides excellent personal attention to detail, utilizing her services and support not only to the seller but to everyone involved.

Anina is truly a fantastic realtor, I highly recommend her to anyone looking to sell their property or to purchase one!

Congrats Anina on your continuing success! It's been a pleasure to know you & have you represent us!

Anina is wonderful. She is very dear to us.

My husband is a contractor and Anina has worked with us over the past 15 years on 9 transactions buying and selling real estate for investment as well as for our personal use. Anina understands the market and she is able to handle any situation that arises with intelligence and grace.

Last year she managed to sell our rental property & home at record prices so we could buy our dream home. Anina has earned the respect of her colleagues, so she is exactly the person you want to represent you in any real estate transaction.

Anina assisted us with buying our first home and she was outstanding to work with. My husband and I had been looking for a new home since we found out we were expecting last summer. 2 days AFTER my due date, we finally happened upon an open house in Scotts Valley in a great location (and top notch schools) that we thought could be perfect.

Turns out it was--and we called Anina that evening after a referral from my hub's father, who had worked with her before. We put in an offer the next day and miraculously, it was accepted. When baby was born a week late, we had a house! Just over a month later, it was officially official.

Without Anina we would not have the wonderful family home we have now and we are so thankful. She has a fabulous personality and energy to boot. Thank you Anina! You are the best.

Anina was referred to me by a trusted source to help me figure out whether I should buy my co-owning partners out and stay in the home where I have lived for 9 years or walk away and start over. Anina took the time to meet with me twice and gave me clear advice on the benefits and realities of my situation. With her help, I was able to find a path to negotiate and stay in my home. Thanks Anina!

The house that we (I with Anina's help) went on the market with is just about to close, and working with Anina has been a stellar experience (and the house sold for a MUCH higher price than our listing price).

Anina was amazing in every respect: she helped orchestrate and coordinate what needed to get done, and she anticipated things in a truly effective way... and her instincts (based in deep knowledge and experience) were spot-on.

I had thought that our being in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis would prove to be a difficult time to sell, but Anina's marketing strategy and sense of timing made the process easy and very productive. Anina cultivated a relatively large group of highly motivated bidders/potential buyers, and we ended up with a very strong offer and an equally strong backup offer. The whole process couldn't have gone more smoothly and profitably.

This is the second time I have worked with Anina, and would not hesitate to go for a third.

My husband and I have completed 12 successful real estate transactions in which Anina Van Alstine represented us. During each transaction, sometimes selling and sometimes purchasing, we have been thankful to have Anina on our team.

Her understanding of the marketplace, acumen at negotiation, extraordinary attention to detail and understanding of & compliance with real estate laws are all extraordinary. After we sold one large residential property, the buyer attempted to bring legal action against us (claiming we owed them a sizable financial settlement for a non-disclosed issue). When we consulted the esteemed real estate attorney, David Baskin, he requested we bring him a copy of the sale agreement. Before we ended the meeting, he asked which real estate agent had drawn up the sale agreement. We told him it was Anina and he responded by saying, "if she represented you, I don't even need to see the agreement. She doesn't make mistakes!" and, indeed, she did not!

We have found this to be true in every transaction. Anina's extensive experience, intelligence, and willingness to go to the mat for her clients make her a rare professional!

If you need a realtor, Anina is as good as it gets. She is extremely knowledgable, has probably come upon every sort of situation in her long history in the business, has done lots of 1031's (which is what I was doing), is attentive to both seller and buyer and is a total detail person. Isn't that what you want when you are dealing with large amounts of money? Anina helped me with a sale in San Francisco and a purchase in New York. She has so much experience. I never doubted that making me happy was her goal, and negotiating the best price is her idea of fun.

What if, when you were ready to sign a listing agreement with your real estate agent, she said "DON'T SELL NOW!" That's what Anina Van Alstine said to me. Forgoing a commission temporarily, she showed that she was most interested in my welfare. I followed her advice, rented my home with the rent not only covering all expenses but also the interest on my new home loan but also showed a gain. When I did sell a year later, the sales price and my financial return increased significantly. If you desire knowledge, experience, and integrity in a real estate broker, choose Anina Van Alstine.

Anina is the Best. Stop looking because she's got it! So attentive and knowledgeable in every area of selling and buying a home. She sold our condo in no time! No stress, no hassle, no worry. All professional and kind and forward thinking. No hick ups, no mistakes, and we even gained a new friend! She's perfect for every situation!

Anina was instrumental in helping my parents sell their house in SC. She communicated effectively, gave all her energy to the process, and helped them sell their house for a good price. Most importantly, she cared about helping my parents and it showed! Highly recommend Anina!

Anina has been my real estate broker for both buying and selling property in Santa Cruz for over twenty years. She has represented me to sell my home and buy a home as well as several investment properties. She is incredibly smart about all aspects of real estate transactions. She taught me how we could use 1031 Exchanges and installment sales for the sale of commercial properties. I can honestly say that everything Anina has helped me do in real estate has been golden. I recommend Anina without reservation and with a good deal of enthusiasm.

Anina is incredible (and smart!). When my wife and I relocated back to the Santa Cruz area she was our first call. We knew we had the inside track with Anina and ended up right where we wanted to be, close to town, the water and on the West Side. Professional, yet she gets the culture as well as the market with no wasted time.... and that can be huge when you are looking for a home and/or selling. Yes, we would call her again and thanks Anina!

Anina has been my agent for three purchases over the last 20 years, each quite different with their own unique challenges; she was an outstanding agent for each one. She was originally recommended by a local attorney with a background in real estate law, and we later learned that she has family connections in construction. This combination of skills means she is well versed in all aspects of real estate; this knowledge allowed her to identify potential benefits and problems that were critical for each purchase. She is attentive, energetic, patient, and totally hands-on; in short, a real tiger, exactly the kind of person you want on your team. I can't recommend her highly enough!

Anina did a great job helping my wife and I find our first home in Santa Cruz. She'll be our "go to" again if we move. She's the Realtor you hire when you are serious about buying or selling a home and want to work with someone who really knows their stuff.

Anina is an extraordinarily proactive agent. She did such an outstanding job as our agent in Santa Cruz, that we asked her to assist in the sale of a property in San Carlos. We were again, extremely pleased with the results.

To purchase our home in Santa Cruz, we described our wishes: to live in a narrow area of Seabright, hear the water and see the ocean. She explained that people often kept that type of house in the family for generations. However, she was committed to work with us for as long as it took. At first chance, she had us out looking at houses.

While at a property she set up - not on the market yet - we saw the house of our dreams. Although it was a little out of our planned price range, she used a balanced approach to get the best price and make sure to not lose the house. We ended up with the home of our dreams!

Anina also shines on the sales side. She begins by reviewing several pricing strategies. She develops the best approach to match the current market conditions. She puts together an impressive, multi-tiered marketing program, maximizing the exposure of the house, and getting the best price.

Anina conducts what can best be described as an almost always open, 'open house'. And it works! She helped us sell a house in the down market of 2008, at what we considered an extremely good price. And again, she helped us sell our house in San Carlos early in 2013, well above our expected price.

The buying or selling of a house can be extremely stressful. Anina has the experience to provide a balanced, long-term outlook and is always available to answer questions and discuss alternative approaches, that get the job done.

Anina has been our family realtor for many years. She has handled both sales and purchases on our behalf, always ensuring that we got the best price for our properties and that we found other properties that were ideal.

The most important transaction was the sale of our Palo Alto home. Anina teamed with a Palo Alto Coldwell Banker agent to sell our home in order that we could successfully tee-up our retirement. Through her methodical preparation and adherence to her effective strategy, we sold our home for 34% over the asking price.

Anina is a true professional. Under her watchful eye, contingencies are removed and escrows are smooth. She listens carefully to her clients' dreams and commits to make them a reality.

Whether buying or selling in Santa Cruz or Silicon Valley, Anina Van Alstine is the real estate professional who can make it happen.

When I decided to move from Palo Alto to Santa Cruz, I was referred to Anina van Alstine. We had a very thorough telephone interview, and then on the day I could come over the hill to look at houses, she had an open house. So she organized a self driving tour of houses which met my criteria. On the day I could come look at houses, I got stuck in traffic and was over an hour late in making my appointment, but she was still waiting! She had listened so carefully and had asked the right questions, so the first house she showed me was perfect. Closing and all were smooth.  I bought it and have lived there happily ever after. But, I have continued to rely on Anina and her knowledge of the neighborhood, of service providers and general savvy; she is skilled in negotiating and hardworking. She is THE expert on Santa Cruz; I would recommend her to anyone who is interested in buying or selling property in or around Santa Cruz.

I have had only positive experiences with Anina both in working with her as a mortgage banker and having her respresent me in the sale of my condo in 2013.  I founded Network Mortgage in 1998 and was in lending for 25 years.  I got to see many realtors and how they operated and Anina always stood out as a total professional. Anina works both hard AND smart, so when it came time for me to list my condo the choice was easy.  My unit sold quickly and for over $40,000 more than the last sale in the complex!  When my husband and I get to buy back into the Santa Cruz market in 2015, Anina will be right there to represent us.  Do yourself a favor and when you interview agents, give Anina a call.  You'll be as impressed as I am.

We would be hard pressed to find a better agent anywhere. Anina helped us sell our house of 21 years and buy a beautiful new place. We met her at an open house and were immediately taken by her knowledge of proposition 60 and many years of real estate experience in the area. Working with her quickly became like working with a close and trusted friend. Honestly, she's a bit of a character and a pure joy to work with. For the sale of our house, she instructed us to get all the inspections up front and make certain minor changes in order to better prepare the house for a quick sale. We were able to select from several offers and again, we relied heavily on her opinions and experience. We sold our house at asking price in 1.5 weeks. On the buy side, several times she dissuaded from buying a house that wasn't quite what we were looking for. She was way more patient than we were and willing to work as long is it took to find the right place. On many occasions, she was the calm voice of reason that helped us get through this very emotional process. She was also resplendent with hugely helpful contacts to very loyal movers, cleaners and painters and foundation, engineering, electrical, pest, and spa experts and so on. She's a tough, fearless and talented negotiator and an incredibly hard worker.  We would go with Anina again in a heartbeat.