Testimonials

Yasen & Zeynep - Bought in the Cambrian

George and Karen are very experienced real estate agents with an excellent knowledge of the Campbell / San Jose area. They are very helpful and always quick to respond to any question that you might have.

Bought new home in Hollister

George and Karen have been our friends for over 12 years. We started talking about purchasing a home six years ago and finally completed our journey. George and Karen are a great team. Their expertise allowed us to get the best results in our real estate search. We are very happy with our new built home. - Reynolds & Sabrina

Takashi Sato - Cupertino

I first discovered George & Karen’s web site while I was in New York preparing for a move to California. I was impressed with the excellent usability and quality of their web site but even more impressed with the quick and personal follow-ups that Karen provided. 
Although my wife and I were not sure about buying a home at the beginning, when we became ready to start looking around, I contacted Karen without hesitation. We looked at a dozen properties together and found the one we really liked and made an offer. It was a multiple offer situation but with George’s perfect advice, we won the bid without paying any more than necessary. 
From there, the George & Karen team has been phenomenal. We had only three week to close the deal while I was overseas on business half the time. But, thanks to their resourcefulness and dedication we were able to close the deal smoothly. I used to think that services in this country are not up to par but George and Karen completely changed my perception. Their services are top-notch by any standard. And what matters most is that they really care about you.

Joseph & Ana - Lavendar Terrace Townhome

George and Karen were such a pleasure to work with. They are a dynamic duo and experts in their fields. We first met George and Karen as they selling agent to our house when we first bought it. A little over 3 years later, my husband and I are relocating, so we decided to give them a call to help us sell the house (because they did such a great job selling it to us a while back). They both have many years of experience and are very familiar with the market trends. They walked us through every step of the selling process (it was our first time selling a house) and was very supportive of us along the way. Thank you George and Karen for all your hard work. We couldn't have done it without you! :)

Bill & Ann - Lavendar Terrace Townhome

I feel extremely lucky to have worked with what I consider to be the very best realtor team in Santa Clara County, Karen and George Black. I recommend them with great enthusiasm! They are competent professionals, experienced, energetic and resourceful. Their explanations describing what to expect were clearly presented. I particularly appreciated their organizational skills and abilities to effectively handle the many details of a home sale. They were always personable, available and responsive. I felt confident that tasks would get done in a timely fashion and comfortable asking any variety of questions including thoughts on my next home purchase. They made great efforts to keep me in the loop to ensure that each step of the process was seamless. Karen and George were always willing to go the extra mile! It is hard for me to imagine how the process of selling my home could have been any better, gone any more smoothly or with any more good humor. Kudos to you, Karen and George, for your excellent work and wise guidance! I am deeply grateful.

San Jose Condo

I’d like to testify on my house buying experience and how important role my real estate agent played in the dream of owning becoming reality.
As a first time homebuyer I approached house-buying process with a lots of caution, not knowing what to expect. I was glad to find out during our first conversation with George and Karen Black, that there will be somebody looking out for my interests. George listened to what my situation was and then he explain entire house buying process, putting my worries to rest.
I give George a lot of credit for finding right place for me. Seeing what my preferences were when we visited prospective properties, he was able to stir my attention in the right direction. I couldn’t be happier with my final selection.
Thanks to George’s expertise, process seamed seamless from the time I placed my offer till closing. If something stands out in my house buying experience, it would be George’s dedication to meeting his clients’ needs. I would definitely recommend their services to anybody. -Stanislav Mucha

SOLD Campbell Townhome

We are very happy with the services provided by George and Karen Black. They helped us to sell our home quickly for a good price and re-locate out of the US. They helped us through the entire process of getting the house ready for the market, getting the contractors for the required maintenance and painting work and staging the house. They did an excellent job in making the whole process stress free for us.

Sold Campbell Single Family Home

Having to sell your family home as a Trustee after your parents pass away is difficult. Karen and George were very patient and understanding as we went through the process. I relied on them as I was traveling back and forth between there and my home in Southern CA. I trusted them while I was away and they were always keeping me in the loop and responding quickly to my inquiries. I would highly recommend them, I trusted them and they took good care of me and my family.

Kings Court in Campbell

The Blacks helped and acquire and resale my property on Kings Ct. I was impressed by their ability to market and get multiple offers on my property. Look forward to working with them again and of course I recommend them to you

Andrew & Andrea Jensen

We have used George and Karen 3 times. 2 sales and 1 buy. Each time we experienced professional and personal service. They work well together as a team. The entire process can be stressful but George and Karen are calm in their approach, responsive to questions and concerns, and open about what to expect. Should we ever desire to move back to the South Bay we would use them again

Ramya - San Jose Townhome

I first met George as a selling agent at one of the properties I was exploring. We connected immediately and I requested George to be my buying agent as I began the search for my first home. Both George and Karen were great to work with and it's awesome that we're still in touch more than a year after the purchase. Highly recommend! In fact, I referred the Blacks to a friend who also bought his first home with their guidance.

Sandeep & Priyanka

George & Karen helped us buy our first home in the bay area. They are both very knowledgeable and patient and were always available to answer any questions or concerns we had. They took the time to explain every little detail about home-buying and we were surprised to find out how much we did not know about the process. Their experience, negotiation skills and good advice really helped us secure the home we loved in a tough market, not to mention how smooth the process went. We continue to be in touch with George & Karen and hope to work with them again in the future. We highly recommend their service to anyone looking to buy/sell property.

Liza Swift - Oakland

"Thanks for making my dream come true! A lesser agent had told me I couldn't afford my new house, but your knowledge of the area, the industry and how to get things done has put me in my house of dreams! One of my friends, a stay-at-home mom, was running a similar transaction and was amazed that a single girl like me could be so calm in the face of all the complicated details. She wondered how I did it and I told her that a team of trained professionals makes the difference. Boy, was she jealous when I told her that I found my new house from one email and you sold my old house in nine days at full price! What a difference you two made! During the holidays, my new place was the hub for my close friends and family. As you will see from the attached photo, even my mom was impressed (and that never happens!).
Thanks, Karen and George! Without you I never would have tried to do this, let alone have gotten it all done! " -Liza Swift

SOLD Berryessa Single Family Home

George and Karen were very instrumental from staging to the open house. They went above and beyond to help us sell our home for a great price. I would recommend to them to anyone that needs a real estate team that not only cares but gets the job done quickly. Whether you are a buyer or a seller, they will take care of you from beginning to end. Don Liffengren

Another Sold Berryessa Home

George and Karen are true professionals who know their business. They are down to earth, honest, knowledgeable, easy to get along with and respectful of buyer's and seller's issues and concerns. The sale of my house went so smoothly and was so stress free, I was amazed... 1st meeting to close of escrow in 5 weeks. My experience is very positive because of these seasoned veterans of the real estate industry who knew exactly what to do and when. They also have a stable, in-depth support team for every step of the process. Highly recommended.

Ramesh & Harini - Santa Teresa

George and Karen are absolute delight to work with. They are upfront with the details of the property and things to look out for while making the decision to bid. Their guidance and expertise helped immensely, making our purchase process so smooth and comfortable. I was surprised and happy that they frequently connected with us, even after moving into our new home, to check and make sure we are settled in and comfortable. Wholeheartedly would recommend George and Karen for buyers out there in the Bay Area.

SOLD Campbell Townhome

I contacted George and Karen Black on September 22nd 2004 regarding the sale of my town home at 544 Valley Forge Way in Campbell. It had been a rental for the past twenty plus years. I requested and received a market analysis via fax the next day. My CPA had advised me not to sell until 2005. I also spoke with two other agents in the area. The Black Team always got back to me quickly and their knowledge of the local market was incredible. The agent that I would eventually choose had to be able to handle everything. My wife had just recently had surgery and I did not want to be traveling from the North Bay to Campbell for any reason.
After giving notice to the tenant, I listed my rental with George and Karen on December 7th. Since, I did not live in the area and George and Karen did, I was depending upon them to handle all the necessary remodeling and preparation before marketing my town home. After the tenant moved out on Dec 16th, they handled all of the remodeling and put the home on the market on January 1st 2005.
They hired all the necessary contractors during the last few weeks of December to perform the following repairs: New texture on the walls, new paint, new flooring (carpet, linoleum in baths, wood laminate flooring in kitchen and entry). New counters, sinks, mirrors, and lighting in all three bathrooms. New kitchen tile counter top, sink, faucet, stove hood, and dishwasher. New blinds through out mirrored closet doors, landscaped patio. I gave Karen complete control over all the upgrades and after an investment of just over $20,000 the home looked great. I was kept up to date every step of the way over the phone and also via digital pictures of the progress. The home was listed on the MLS on Jan 3rd, and was on the Campbell Brokers tour on Friday, Jan 7th, followed by an open house on Sat and Sunday. They invited all the neighbors to stop by the open house. We looked at offers on the following Tuesday. The home was listed at $500K. We received five offers and, it sold for $526K. The whole transaction went off without a hitch. I was very impressed.
George and Karen thanks for all the time and effort that you put into the successful sale of my property. To think that I could sell my property of twenty plus years and never have to go to the property for any reason was amazing to me. Keep up the good work! If you ever need me to speak to anyone in regards to your professionalism and “get it done” attitude, please feel free. Thanks again. I couldn’t have done it without you. Best regards! - Don French

Sherlyn, Menlo Park

My mother passed away and I had to sell the house quickly because of a reverse mortgage. I called George and Karen to handle the sale. They were very caring and worked very hard to get me an offer within a week. They helped me with the estate sale and other details all the way to closing. They are not just my agents but new friends.

Santa Clara Townhome

George and Karen, I wanted to take a moment and commend both of your for the exceptional services you provided to me during my quest to find housing. I call it a quest, because that is what it seemed like, a true quest! As you know, I was relocating from the East Coast to the Bay Area. I was totally unfamiliar with this area and the housing market overall. Needless to say, I was in a state of sticker shock! You took the time to get me familiar with the area, and to also focus in on the type of housing I needed. As a single parent of three small children, I had specific criteria that had to be met before the perfect home could be identified. You were so patient and kind throughout the entire process.
Once we found the “ideal” home, things got hairy. A second party was involved in the purchasing process that was located on the East coast. Even with all the crazy, you stuck with me, and for that I will be forever grateful.
I will definitely refer your services to friends and colleagues who are in the market to either purchase or sell a home. -Kimberly A. Faiola

Blossom Valley Single Family Home

George and Karen have been a wonderful team to work with! They helped us buy our first home in this very competitive market. Being first time home buyers, we were clueless but they were extremely knowledgeable and helpful with every question and concern we had. They are very familiar with the areas/neighborhoods we were looking in and had great advice. They have been very quick to respond to us either via text, email or phone call. They have also been a great source of support, even after the sale was complete. We hope to work with them more in the future and highly recommend using George and Karen for buying/selling property!

Relocation to San Jose

George Black assisted us in buying a home in the Silicon Valley in 2000. We were in the process of relocating from Southern California and George not only showed us homes, but also made it a point to give us some information about different neighborhoods, schools, shopping and restaurants throughout the area. In addition, he was most patient in dealing with our loss of expectations as we came to realize just how expensive buying a home in the Silicon Valley would be.
Even before we had actually moved to the Silicon Valley, George helped us narrow our selection of a home. He provided regular updates of available homes via e-mail during the hectic real estate market of Summer 2000. He was always available to show properties to us as our scheduled visits allowed.
George was candid about the pros and cons of different houses and locations we were considering before making an offer on our final selection. Then he walked us through the entire purchase process by providing contacts for various services such as a Loan Broker and Home Inspector, his contacts, then provided us with other contacts, so we felt as if a team of individuals had helped he secure our home. So, in moving to the Silicon Valley we felt as if we had a network of associates already in place.
George has since been recommended to a co-worker when another agent failed to listen to their needs and requirements. George was able to help this family find a home in a short period of time, often going out of his way to meet at late hours or at the office to accommodate work schedules. I recommend George to anyone in need of a Real Estate Professional. George is the best! -Bob Beane

Assisted in the purchase and sale of two homes

In the spring of 2001 we hired George Black to be our real estate agent, to sell our townhouse and buy new house. Right from the beginning George exhibited the knowledge of his field and personal attention to every details of selling and buying transactions. He started with right on the mark assessment of the townhouse price based on the resent sales in the neighborhood and then helped us with selling tips, open house preparation clues as well as taking care of all the financial mishaps which happened between me and my lending broker.
George Black made the transaction smooth and painless, took all worries and problems under his own management and allowed me to concentrate on my work instead of worrying about all the real-state details. Information, Inspection, Contract, Moving, Bank, Lending, Negotiation - all these and many other different steps in the process of selling and buying property were arranged, supervised and ultimately presented to us by George Black in the efficient and courteous manner.
We decided to sell our townhouse in the buyers market. It means that property like ours could have stayed on the market for a couple of months and would go through intense negotiation with the buyer's side. Instead it was sold within a week. It happened because George Black correctly determined the asking price, and more importantly, he was able to go through his personal contacts and find the real-estate agent who was representing the people looking for property just like ours.
Many can master the technical side of the real-estate business, but connections and personal relationship with the other agents in the industry requires special talent, years of experience and respect from ones own real-estate pals. This is the most important thing any buyer or seller can wish from his real estate agent. George Black defiantly has it.
I just want to finish by saying that we love our new house and when the time would come, we will be happy to use George's expertise again. -Alexander & Lana Peysakhovich

First time home buyer

I appreciated all the help from George in my search for my first home. From the very beginning, he explained the process of buying a home, emphasizing advantages and disadvantages. His thorough searches of available properties were excellent. There was a point in time when I became very frustrated with the whole idea and process, but he remained positive. George was also very receptive of all the questions my family posed on my behalf. For his patience, I am thankful.
Even down to the last wire, when it looked like everything was going to fall apart, he was positive and helpful and made sure the transaction was complete. With George working on my behalf it enabled me to remain somewhat confident in a field I hardly understand.
Despite all of the frustrations, I now own my own home. The purchase closed as George had planned, especially surprising with a 30-day close, and I was proud to receive my keys from George. Of course, my sister has a picture of that too!
George's name will remain at the top of my list if I am ever asked to recommend a real estate agent and for all of my future real estate transactions. -Jason M. Yee

Sunnyvale Single Family Home

"George was key to my family obtaining our dream. During an incredible housing market, we decided to put our townhouse on the market and attempt to purchase a single-family home in Sunnyvale. Although we were discouraged by the cost of home prices and the added stress of selling our townhouse, George always made us feel at ease. In the end, we sold our townhouse for well over the asking price and purchased a beautiful single-family home below the asking price. I firmly believe that this couldn't have happened if it weren't for George. George is truly the hardest working Agent around. He is an aggressive agent who will ensure that your dreams come true as ours did." -Jim Fussell

First time home buyer - Santa Teresa Townhome

Ian and Lailani Dalhuisen didn't really know if they could afford a home, but they were hoping. "I was surfing the Internet and found George's site ... and really liked it," Lailani recalled. "It was easy to use, not a lot of ads and lots of good information and listings. But it wasn't the only site I looked at. I sent e-mail requests to three or four agents. But George was the only one to respond and he did so right away."
The couple was living in an apartment at the time and weren't really sure they could afford a home. Ian said he was half-hearted and apprehensive. "Frankly I was a bit skeptical," he said. "But George was awesome. He was a very hard worker. He did so much research even though we weren't sure we could even qualify for a mortgage. There was no pressure, no stress. He then put us in contact with a loan officer. It wasn't until then that I finally realized owning a home was in reach."
George helped the couple narrow their search by sending them properties that matched the couple's criteria via e-mail. A month later, after looking a several homes, Ian and Lailani found their dream home and bought it. The couple was so happy with George's service that he's already received two referrals from them.
-Ian and Lailani Dalhuisen

Sold Berryessa Single Family Home

Godsend! Our scenario was this: relocate my elderly parents from their San Jose home of 50 years to a new home, close to family and care, in Southern California. On an earlier visit, I happened to take a picture of their Real Estate sign in front of a similar/neighboring home (for the phone number and to track it's sale). They got fast and top dollar for that one! Before serious shopping commenced a meeting with my parents and the Blacks was set up. They made a great first impression with the commitment to only move forward if their heart was truly ready to move. Fast forward a month or so. A new home was found but in a price range that the sale of their home was required. A time and place where contingency offers make selling agents a bit nervous. One phone call to George cleared all that up. His profession assessment was all that was needed...and for the Blacks to sell the house. Here's where it gets fun. Contract signed with Blacks and Folks on a Thurs or Fri, House prep'd for listing pictures Mon and Tues, pics taken Wed, Listed Thurs with Open House visits only for Sat and Sun (100+ signed in visitors) and offers to be made by Mon. 10 made. A substantial amount over asking was accepted on Tues! Here's what should really impress you, during this whole whirlwind process, the Blacks were stopping by on almost a daily basis with docs for their new home to be reviewed and signed. With Parents not having a computer, I would email everything to them, they would print, have signed, scan and send back. From start to "new start" this could not have happened without the professional and personal efforts of both George and Karen. Parents now see Grand-kids daily!!!

SOLD Condo in San Jose

Thank you so much for an outstanding job in handling the sale of my condominium in San Jose. When we met for the preliminary interview, I was most impressed that you asked for, and listened to, my needs and handled the marketing and sale accordingly. As you know, I was commuting 125 miles per day and did not want to have weekend showings and/or open house events. Even though I understand many buyers are available only on weekends, you did not let this deter you.
I am most appreciative of the personal issues you handled. Knowing the difficulty of overseeing such issues as having the unit cleaned, you took time out of your day to accompany the cleaner to the home after I relocated and made sure that the job was professionally done. Above and beyond the "call of duty", Karen forwarded mail (by overnight delivery) that had been erroneously left at the door of the vacant unit. Words cannot express my appreciation for the efforts made by both of you.
The sale of the San Jose property was the fourth transaction I have undertaken. I can honestly say that I have never had a more professional team working with me. I will contact you when I am ready to buy in the East Bay, and will whole-heartedly refer you to anyone seeking help in buying or selling residential property.
-Callie Struggs

First time home buyer in Sunnyvale

"We decided to start looking for a house on the Internet last August after getting married in June," said Brad McGoran. "We looked at a lot of sites and talked to many, many people. George was by far the most personable and responsive. He was totally accommodating, even before we committed to him. We are very picky. We wanted to control the search. George understood completely and set us up on an e-mail system that notified when homes matching our criteria came on the market."
"We must have looked at 100 homes before we found the right one," Brad laughed. "But George was the perfect guide and liaison throughout the entire process. He was just tremendous. I used to question the commission structure for agents, but George earned every penny. Finding the right agent makes all the difference." -Brad McGoran

First time home buyer in Burbank area of San Jose

Hi George and Karen,
Thank you so much for everything!!!! This process has been ridiculosly painless, and we attribute that to your knowledge and expertise in real estate, and most importantly, your fantastic personalities.
You and Karen have been absolutely wonderful/amazing, and we will recommend you to anyone who will listen .
Thank you again for such a great experience. -Sara and Bob

SOLD Duplex in the Cambrian area of San Jose

I found my dealings with George and Karen Black concerning the sale of my house to be a real pleasure. They were both very good at answering any questions I had and they kept me informed about everything that was going on. I like the way they took the time to make sure I understood every aspect of the sale and all that was involved with what was going on. If I had to sell or buy a house in their neck of the woods I’d definitely want them handling the deal for me. -Patte Hempel

First time home buyer

"I initially contacted George and Karen Black in July of 2007 as a young and completely clueless person who wanted to buy a home. I contacted George about a mobile home listing of his. He was very friendly, easy to talk to, and very honest. George told me to stay away (far away!) from mobile homes at this point in my life. I knew then and there that he was someone I could trust. George and Karen worked with me from July of 2007 until roughly March of 2009. Throughout this time, they taught me a lot about the home buying process. We looked at hundreds and hundred of homes and filled out more contracts than I can count! Eventually, I decided to buy outside of the area. Without hesitation, George referred me to another excellent Realtor. Even after I stopped working with George and Karen directly, they continued to stay in touch and offered their personal support until the keys were in my hands. We continue to keep in touch to this date. They will most definitely be my realtors again. It is an honor (and my pleasure) to recommend George and Karen Black to anybody in the market of buying or selling their home!" -Anthony & Brianna

First time home buyer in Willow Glen

To Whom It May Concern:
This letter of recommendation is a deep and sincere show of appreciation for George and Karen Black, two magnificent Real Estate agents.
We met George at an Open House back in summer of 2010. By that time we had been looking at houses on our own for a few months, but until then our search lacked structure. We ventured into this open house looking confident, but in reality we were as clueless as any first-time buyers are. George probably “smelt” our newbie scent and was quick to greet us and proceeded to explain in detail the situation of the house (its pros as well as its cons.) We spoke to him for close to half an hour, and felt very comfortable with him. Not very often you find an agent that is willing to go over the “101 of being a home buyer”. Both Anand and I immediately liked George: He was friendly, funny, and I personally was amazed at his honesty, for he was not hesitant at all to tell the truth.
After that day it became very clear that if we wanted to find a house we needed an agent. We had met multiple agents before, but no one had really convinced us. We wanted an agent, but not any agent; rather we wanted somebody honest, with expertise, able to deal with our demands, but most importantly, someone who treated us as real people. George and Karen were an obvious pick.
Before I go on explaining why it is that George and Karen were amazing agents, let me give you a bit of a background about myself and my boyfriend. I am a philosopher and sociologist by training, which means that I am a person heavily driven by data. Houses do not “excite” me unless I have a clear understanding of the macro details of the area: the local economy, the age of the house, the school district, the practicalities of the house and so forth. Anand on the other hand, is an engineer and so he is more focused on the small and practical details: the space in the garage, the light in the bedroom, the construction permits and so forth. Our opposite and complementary approaches can drive anybody mad, especially if you add my boyfriends “slight” OCD when it comes to legal documents and transactions. We are very nice people, but believe me, we are also very tough clients.
For any other agent our concerns and demands may have sounded like too much, but George and Karen understood our situation and went out of their way to provide all the tools and resources we needed. Because of them we were finally able find the right house, feel comfortable with our decision, and embark ourselves in the process of buying it. Karen and George stood next to us throughout the process and advised us at every step. George and Karen are extremely professional; they provide a service that goes beyond any expectation, but at the same time, they are so earnest and approachable that working with them is a delight.
I firmly recommend George and Karen Black, they are outstanding Real Estate Agents, but most importantly, they are splendid people.
Sincerely, Sofia

Sold East San Jose Single Family Home

I can't even find the words to describe how thankful I am to have had George and Karen as my Agents.They made the whole home buying experience so much easier for me. I love the fact that whenever i had any questions or any concerns, they were always available to help, even 3 years later I know they are still there should I need them. I like that. They are honest and trustworthy individuals.

Sold West San Jose Single Family Home

Karen and George are very nice people to work with. They are super responsive and patient with our requests, which we had a lot as we were buying our first house through them. They are very helpful in navigating us through the process, and between the two as a team there is always one available, which is nice.

Gilroy Single Family Home

I had a very positive experience with both George and Karen, and I consider them good friends. They make a great team! I would refer Karen & George as trusted & knowledgeable agents to anyone looking to buy or sell a house.

North San Jose Single Family Home

Me and my wife wanted to offer 380k and George said don't go over 340, that was 5 years back. The housing market was bad in 2009 and we needed a home. For couple just starting out we didn't have much and had zero experience in the housing market. When we saw the house we wanted and it was a short sale; we knew there would be multiple competing bids. So we panicked and wanted to drop big dough. To this day I am still grateful that George didn't let us make fools out of ourselves.

Belmont Hills Single Family Home

George and Karen are great to work with! They are very knowledgeable in the real estate industry and are very helpful in gathering information for us as buyers. They are very responsive, and are always there to answer our questions during the home purchase process. George and Karen listened to our needs and expectations, and actively looked for homes that would meet our requirements. In the hot market, their market analysis was very helpful. They helped us to understand and digest information relating to a particular home, and let us make decisions that we would be most comfortable with, which we greatly appreciate. After we closed the home purchase with their help, George and Karen followed up with us to see if we have any questions or concerns. We will definitely recommend George and Karen to other buyers.

West San Jose Single Family Home

I am almost blind and George and Karen helped me out so much by taking the time to read the documents to me and explain what they meant. They were also very personal and friendly, often bringing lunch and other goodies. (Karen is a good cook!) They helped me find good packers and movers and came over during the packing to make sure I was comfortable with the whole situation. I thought they were great!