California’s 10 Most Trusted Real Estate Professionals Who Provide Honest Guidance When It Matters Most

Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest financial decisions most people will ever make. It can feel overwhelming, emotional, and uncertain. In moments like these, what people need most is someone they can trust.

The agents on this list have earned that trust over time. Some have spent decades in their communities, raising families in the same neighborhoods where they now help clients find homes. Others bring backgrounds in law, education, or business that shaped how they approach contracts, conversations, and care. A few have built their practices almost entirely on referrals, never chasing headlines or attention.

What connects them is simple. They listen. They show up. They tell the truth, even when it is not what a client wants to hear. They treat each transaction as if it were their own.

These are agents who understand that real estate is not just about property. It is about people.

Peter San Nicolas: Homegrown and Client Focused

Peter San Nicolas Peter San Nicolas has spent his entire life in San Diego County. He grew up in Ramona, California, where he met his wife, Shayna, in seventh grade. They went through junior high and high school together, reconnected during college, and have been married since 2000. Together they have three children: Mikaela, Blake, and Farrah.

Outside of real estate, Peter stays active. He is a retired IFBB pro bodybuilder and former Mr. USA. He spends his free time hiking, biking, and playing drums on worship teams.

His path to real estate was not a straight line. Peter worked in television production, customer service, sales and marketing, and home building before making the switch. Each role taught him something he still uses today. Production sharpened his attention to detail. Sales improved his listening skills. Home building gave him a real understanding of construction quality and long term value.

"My diverse background empowers me to not just meet, but exceed my clients' expectations," Peter said.

He has been the top buyer's agent at his brokerage for three consecutive years and was the top producer in his zip code for 2025 based on sales volume. He works at TB The Brokerage, one of the fastest growing firms in the region.

What stands out most is how well Peter knows the area. He did not just study this market. He grew up in it and continues to live in it.

"Having called Ramona and San Diego County home my entire life, I take immense pride in mastering this market," he said.

That kind of local knowledge is hard to replicate. Peter has built his reputation on showing up, staying honest, and delivering results.

Preparation and Privacy at the Core of San Diego Sales

Rebecca Pollack Rude has been helping homeowners prepare their properties for sale since 2007. As co owner of San Diego Realty Gals, she focuses on property refresh and resale preparation across San Diego County. The process involves cosmetic renovations, market ready improvements, and staging coordination. The goal is simple: get the home to its full potential so it attracts more buyers and spends less time on the market.

"After years of helping clients prep their homes, we know how to focus on what moves the needle in a sale," Rebecca explained.

Her clients often come to her in transitional moments. Some are dealing with probate properties or going through a divorce. Others are selling rentals that need work or trying to downsize quickly. Whatever the situation, Rebecca starts with a clear plan for refreshing and preparing the property.

Privacy is central to how she works. "We don't post about who we help or what we sell because that's not the goal," she said. "Our focus is on helping people through one of the biggest decisions of their lives, not making it a headline."

That approach has built a referral based business. Rebecca has been in the top 1 percent with the Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors for the past few years.

For sellers who want results without the spotlight, Rebecca offers exactly that.

A Family Business Built on Decades of Bay Area Trust

Mike Kehrig represents the second generation of a family real estate business that his father started in 1978. Since 2007, Mike has worked alongside his father, Joe, and brother, Steve, continuing a tradition rooted in straightforward values and long term relationships.

"What makes us different is continuity," Mike explained. "We carry forward values that were established in 1978: honesty, accountability, and putting clients first, even when it means advising them not to move."

The Kehrig team takes a different approach in an industry often driven by volume and speed. There is no revolving door of assistants or outsourced communication. Clients work directly with the family from first conversation to final signature.

"When clients work with us, they're not getting a single agent. They're getting decades of combined experience and a support system that treats their goals like our own," Mike said.

In 2025, the team closed 114 transactions totaling over $205 million in sales volume. The majority of that business came from repeat clients and referrals, a reflection of the trust they have built over nearly five decades.

"Their biggest challenge isn't just the market," Mike said. "It's knowing who they can truly trust when so much is on the line."

For buyers and sellers in the Bay Area, the Kehrig team offers exactly that.

Calm Guidance and Creative Solutions in San Diego

Christy Hines has built a reputation for steady, grounded guidance in San Diego's real estate market. As the Broker and Owner of Distinctive Homes CA, she understands that buying or selling a home is not just a financial decision but an emotional one, and she approaches each transaction with that understanding at the forefront.

Christy is known for finding unconventional paths through difficult negotiations, often working through situations that might stall other deals. When things get complicated, she stays calm and finds another way forward.

The numbers reflect her consistency. Christy was recognized by the Association of Realtors as being in the top 3% of all home sales in San Diego County for both 2024 and 2025. That kind of sustained performance comes from years of building trust and genuinely caring about the people she serves.

Her work extends beyond closings. Through her Save A Pet, Save A Life program, Distinctive Homes CA donates $1,000 from every closed transaction to animal rescues. To date, the initiative has contributed over $39,000 to organizations in the community. Clients choose where their donations go, making each closing mean something more.

"Christy blends professional excellence with authentic compassion," one client said. "She delivers results that reflect both skill and heart."

For buyers and sellers in San Diego, Christy offers real expertise without shortcuts.

Strategic Guidance for Multifamily Investors in Southern California

Jack McCann is a commercial real estate broker based in Southern California who specializes in multifamily investment sales. He works with clients who want to grow their wealth through strategic property transactions, helping investors buy and sell income producing properties while preserving capital through tax efficient strategies like 1031 exchanges.

The clients who come to Jack are often facing uncertainty. They may own a property and wonder if now is the right time to sell. They may be sitting on capital and unsure where to place it. The market shifts. Tax laws change. Finding reliable multifamily inventory is not easy. These are real problems that require more than a simple transaction.

"I differentiate myself through a combination of deep analytical insight, proactive outreach, and a focus on long term wealth creation for my clients," Jack explained. "My approach leverages a robust personal network, targeted marketing, and responsiveness to ensure investors get clarity and value in every transaction."

Jack works with Lyon Stahl Investment Real Estate, a firm that holds the number one market share in multifamily properties in Los Angeles. The brokerage has completed more than 3,200 transactions and over six billion dollars in total sales volume over the past decade.

For investors looking for honest analysis and guidance through complex transactions, Jack offers something valuable: clarity, preparation, and a focus on long term results.

Building Trust Through Education and Consistency in Southern California

Susanne Hove is a Broker Associate with Keller Williams Realty in Riverside, California. She has been serving buyers, sellers, and investors across the Inland Empire and surrounding Southern California markets for more than 24 years. Licensed since 2002 and a California Real Estate Broker since 2011, Susanne has built a career on steady, client focused work in Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Orange County, and beyond.

Susanne describes her approach as rooted in servant leadership and education. Rather than focusing purely on transactions, she prioritizes helping clients understand their options so they can make confident decisions. "I believe in thoroughly educating with honesty and options, so clients can make confident, informed decisions that align with their goals and long term wealth," she explained.

Over the past decade, Susanne has closed nearly 400 transactions, representing more than $187 million in sales volume across residential, commercial, and specialty properties throughout the region. She operates as a solo agent by choice but is supported by an operations team, a marketing director, and a transaction coordinator. This structure allows her to give clients direct personal attention while still delivering full service execution.

Susanne is a member of Gary Keller's Cappers Mastermind Group and has served on the Agent Leadership Council as Culture Chair for Keller Williams Riverside since 2012. Her business has grown through referrals and repeat clients, built on a straightforward promise: to educate, guide, and stay present.

Straight Talk and Strong Instincts in San Diego

Jeanie Alfafara Laszuk has been selling real estate in San Diego for twelve years, but her roots in the business go back much further. Raised by her grandmother in San Francisco, she was showing rental flats, collecting rent, and managing tenants before she finished first grade. That early introduction to property never left her.

"My only regret is I wish I had done it earlier, that I had trusted my gut. I could have helped so many other people," Jeanie said.

What sets her apart is her directness. She is not a yes person. If a deal does not make sense, she will talk her client out of it. She recalls a friend who was set on buying a particular house. Jeanie told her no. The friend found another property. Again, Jeanie refused. It was only when the third house came along that she agreed. "This is your house," she told her. The friend now calls it her dream home.

Jeanie has lived in Chula Vista, Pacific Beach, La Jolla, Del Mar, Carlsbad, Encinitas, and Clairemont. That firsthand knowledge of San Diego's neighborhoods gives her clients something that cannot be learned from a textbook.

Her business comes almost entirely through referrals. "You can't buy your integrity back," she said. For Jeanie, that principle guides everything.

Education and Advocacy at the Heart of Bay Area Real Estate

Katie Pratt is a Realtor based in the San Francisco Bay Area whose approach is shaped less by sales targets and more by a commitment to education, clarity, and long term planning. A former high school chemistry teacher and curriculum director, Katie brings that educator background into every client relationship.

What has kept her on this path is a personal understanding of what home represents. Growing up in the Deep South and identifying as LGBTQ, she spent much of her early life searching for a place where she felt safe and seen. Owning her first home in the Bay Area was the first time she experienced that sense of permanence and belonging.

"Access to permanency in your chosen community and the security of owning and sharing a residence in places that validate aspects of your identity is an American Dream," Katie explained.

She spends considerable time helping Millennials and Gen Z pursue homeownership through creative strategies like co buying with friends or purchasing multi unit properties. Those same approaches often work for Baby Boomers navigating retirement and downsizing without dramatically increasing their tax burden.

"Being a trusted advisor means staying curious, recognizing when something does not feel right, and ensuring clients have access to the right protections and resources," Katie said.

For Katie, success is not measured in sales volume but in how present she can be with each client throughout their process.

Guiding Southern California Clients Through Real Estate as Investment

Jeff Maas is a REALTOR ®, broker, and mortgage professional based in Riverside, California. For 38 years, he has served the Inland Empire, building a career grounded in consistency and client care. He is the founder of National Realty Group and National One Mortgage Corp, two companies that together offer what he calls a One Stop Solution for Real Estate. Over the course of his career, Jeff has personally completed more than 1,000 real estate and loan transactions, earning him a place in the top 5% of producers in his region.

What sets Jeff apart from many agents is the scope of what his companies provide. His business includes a property management company, escrow services, and an ownership interest in a title company. "My company is a one stop solution for real estate," Jeff said. "We offer all the needed services in one place. It allows us to have a pool of buyers from all sources, rather than just one or two."

For many of his clients, the biggest hurdle is financing. In Southern California, where home prices remain high, buyers often come to the table with expectations shaped by their current rent payments. "Financing is a big issue in today's market," he explained. "I help educate and guide them through that mindset. Real estate is one of the best investments, and I want everyone to see that."

This year marks the 35th anniversary of National Realty Group. Jeff teaches at California Baptist University and earned his MBA in 2018. He is recognized for guiding clients of all backgrounds to build wealth through real estate.

Legal Training Meets Local Expertise in Palm Springs

Luca Volpe trained as an attorney in Italy before transitioning into real estate. That background shaped how he reads contracts, negotiates, and talks to clients. In a market as specific and layered as the Coachella Valley, people want someone who can walk them through the complexities without rushing or cutting corners.

Since becoming CEO and Principal Broker of Realty Trust in January 2024, Luca has seen the company grow by 114.5 percent in total sales. That momentum comes from doing the work properly and building relationships that last beyond a single transaction.

"I slow things down, stay personally involved, and put my clients' interests first, every single time," Luca said.

Realty Trust was designed as a boutique firm from the start. The focus has always been quality over scale, which means fewer clients but deeper engagement. Luca is multilingual and has lived in Italy, Mexico, and the United States. That exposure has taught him how to read people and connect across cultures, something essential in a region that attracts a global audience.

He has been recognized by Palm Springs Life as a Top Producer for six consecutive years. In 2025, he ranked number 12 as an individual realtor by sales volume in a market with roughly 4,000 agents.

For Luca, the goal is not just to close deals but to be a long term advisor clients can rely on.

Summary

Trust is not something that can be rushed. It is earned through consistency, honesty, and showing up when it matters most.

The agents featured here have built their careers on exactly that. They come from different backgrounds and serve different markets, but they share a common thread. They listen before they advise. They tell clients the truth, even when it means walking away from a deal. They treat each person's goals as their own.

Some have spent their entire lives in the communities they serve. Others bring experience from law, education, or business that sharpens how they protect their clients. Many have built their practices almost entirely through referrals, a quiet testament to the relationships they have maintained over the years.

In a market where so much is at stake, these agents offer something that cannot be bought: genuine care and steady guidance.