Trust Earned One Client at a Time: California’s Most Trusted Real Estate Agents

Few decisions carry more weight than deciding where to live. In California's competitive housing markets, from the Bay Area to Southern California, where prices are high and inventory is often limited, having the right agent can make a lasting difference. The professionals featured here have earned their reputations the steady way: by building trust one client, one relationship, and one successful transaction at a time.

Their experience spans decades, with many bringing more than 26 years to the profession and several surpassing the 30-year mark. Yet no two journeys are the same. One began as an elementary school teacher before discovering a passion for real estate. Another served in the U.S. Air Force and built a career on giving honest advice, even when it means walking away from a sale. One arrived in the United States with just twenty dollars in his pocket, and the impersonal experience of buying his first home inspired a lifelong commitment to making every client feel heard, valued, and supported.

Beyond their different backgrounds, they share a common approach. They listen before recommending a property, prepare clients well before negotiations begin, and offer candid advice, even when it means encouraging someone to wait or walk away. Many have built businesses on repeat clients and referrals, a reflection of the confidence they inspire. Industry recognition has followed, but for these agents, lasting relationships have always mattered more than accolades.

Susannah Montgelas: Personal Service Rooted in Decades of Experience

Susannah Montgelas, known to most as Susie, has spent more than 35 years in real estate. She works in the Mid Peninsula cities of California, including the coastal communities around Half Moon Bay, where she lives with her husband. Susie started as an elementary school teacher and educational consultant before moving into real estate. "I realized early in my life that helping people and doing something of value was most important to me," she said.

After establishing her business in Indianapolis, she relocated to San Francisco in 1994. That move gave her firsthand experience with the sticker shock buyers face when coming from outside the area. She uses that personal understanding to guide clients through the transition with realistic expectations and steady support, often introducing newcomers to friends and local events to make them feel part of the community.

Within five years of starting her real estate career, Susie earned her CRS designation. She is affiliated with Compass, which has been recognized as one of the top leaders in the industry for the past ten years. Her slogan is "Sold on Personal Service," and she means it. For buyers, she focuses on education and preparation. For sellers, she builds a strategy around timing, staging, and negotiation. "Many times, my clients end up being very good friends," she explained.

Joey Reina: A Veteran's Honest Approach to Real Estate

Frank "Joey" Reina III is a Broker Associate and Realtor with Sun Real Estate Team, Inc., and the founder of Reina Homes. He serves clients throughout Auburn, Placer County, and the broader Northern California region. A U.S. Air Force veteran with a degree in Financial Management, Joey has built his business on telling people the truth, even when it costs him a sale.

"My responsibility is not just to help clients buy or sell," Joey explained. "It's to protect their long-term financial interests." That philosophy plays out in ways that sometimes surprise clients. Joey is known for advising people to walk away from properties they love if the numbers or conditions do not make sense. He will recommend sitting on the sidelines when market conditions are unfavorable and moving decisively when the opportunity is right.

Joey holds several NAR designations, including Military Relocation Professional, First Time Buyer Specialist, and Property Management Certified. His focus areas include residential sales, investment strategy, and what he describes as client-focused guidance. But the designations and credentials only tell part of the story. What sets Joey apart is the way he works.

Reina Homes continues to expand as an integrated real estate and property improvement resource. By combining traditional residential brokerage with hands-on construction insight and financial guidance, Joey is responding to growing demand from buyers and investors who want more than just transaction support. The company focuses on helping clients not only purchase or sell, but also strategically improve and protect long-term property value through informed decision-making.

Regina Lasley: 26 Years of Steady, Trusted Real Estate Guidance

Regina Lasley is a full-time real estate agent with more than two decades of experience across residential, commercial, and land sales. She works out of Keller Williams, which was recently recognized among America's Most Admired Workplaces for 2026. For Regina, real estate is a calling. "Each client has a unique story," she explained, "and it is my privilege to help you write the next chapter of yours."

She treats every transaction with the weight it deserves, knowing that buying a home is one of the largest financial decisions a person can make. Her focus is on keeping clients informed and confident, listening carefully to what matters most to them, and helping them find a home that fits both their present and their future.

With over 25 years in the industry, Regina has been consistently recognized as one of the county's top-producing agents and is an annual member of the Master's Club. One of her most significant projects has been representing a $33 million geothermal development spanning 1,182 acres, which includes a 22-room resort and substantial sustainable energy infrastructure.

When clients lose a home they love, Regina reminds them to trust the process. For her, this work has always been about lasting relationships, not quick transactions.

Hugo F. Chinchay: Three Decades of Service in Southern California Real Estate

Hugo F. Chinchay is a real estate professional based in Southern California with over three decades in the industry. He serves families across the region through his practice, Exceed Real Estate | eXp Realty Luxury, where the majority of his business comes from people who already know him or were sent his way by past clients. Hugo arrived in the United States from Peru more than 40 years ago. He was young, newly married, with a pregnant wife and twenty dollars in his pocket. The circumstances were modest, to say the least. He built a life from there, and at 27, he purchased his first home. That experience stayed with him, though not for the reasons one might expect.

"That process made me feel like just another transaction," Hugo explained. "I ended up being pushed into a different deal than what was described."

That feeling of being handled rather than helped shaped the way he approaches his work today. He made a decision early on that no family he worked with would ever feel that way. His focus is on understanding why someone needs to sell or buy and what problem they are trying to solve.

Some clients are taking their first step into homeownership. Others are relocating, navigating a probate or trust sale, or searching for the right place to enjoy retirement. For Hugo, understanding the emotional moment and the financial goals behind each move is what builds the trust that defines his client relationships.

Kimberly Olbrich: Steady Guidance Through Life's Transitions

Kimberly Olbrich is a real estate agent based in San Dimas, California, working out of the oldest Century 21 office in the region, which was established in 1972. She has called Southern California home since 1998 and lives there with her husband, several dogs and cats, and within close reach of their three grandchildren. "I believe life is best lived with intention, gratitude, and a little adventure," she said. "I carry that spirit into everything I do."

Kimberly treats every client as uniquely as they are, avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach. Many of her clients are navigating significant life transitions, whether downsizing after decades in the same house or relocating for family or career. She breaks the process into manageable steps, offering a clear plan, trusted resources, and honest guidance through both the logistical and emotional sides of a move.

"My clients want peace of mind," she explained. "They want to feel confident in their financial decisions, proud of how their home was represented, and reassured that they moved forward thoughtfully."

Her results reflect that care. Kimberly has been an award recipient since 2015 and has been her broker's number one agent for eight consecutive years. In 2025, she ranked 25th in California and 121st in the nation. She has earned the President's Award every year since 2018, a recognition built on client testimonials rather than sales alone.

Jessica Hooley: 25 Years of Honest, Client-First Real Estate

Jessica Hooley is a top-producing real estate agent based in the Bay Area, representing both buyers and sellers across Northern California. With more than 25 years of experience, she has built her career on genuine relationships and a steady commitment to understanding what her clients actually need. Jessica grew up in the Bay Area, surrounded by real estate from an early age, which gave her a practical understanding of what the business demands.

"At the end of the day, we view our successes by the results," she explained. "Build it on our commitment to and relationship with our clients, and success will come."

For Jessica, buying or selling a home is a significant life event, and she treats it that way. She listens carefully, limits home viewings to carefully chosen properties rather than overwhelming clients, and sees herself as more of a counselor than a sales agent. In a competitive Bay Area market with low inventory, she widens search areas when appropriate and reads the market closely. "I have only lost out in multiple offer situations one or two times max," she noted.

More recently, Jessica has expanded her practice as a Senior Real Estate Specialist, helping older adults and their families through difficult transitions. She has been recognized as part of the International Presidents Circle for Coldwell Banker Realty Northern California. 

Summary

A home is far more than a purchase, and the professionals featured here have never treated it as just another transaction. Together, they bring well over a century of combined experience serving communities across California, from the coast near Half Moon Bay to Placer County and Southern California. Though their careers have taken different paths, they have arrived at the same conclusion: people matter more than deals.

Their diverse backgrounds have shaped a shared philosophy: every client deserves to feel valued, not treated as just another transaction. That approach matters in California, where high home prices and limited inventory leave little room for costly mistakes. Instead of creating urgency, these agents bring clarity. They prepare thoroughly, educate patiently, and encourage decisions that serve their clients' long-term interests rather than simply reaching the closing table.

Their success is measured not only by years in the business but by the relationships they have built along the way. Most of their business comes through repeat clients and referrals, and many of those professional relationships have grown into lasting friendships. That is the kind of trust that cannot be earned overnight; it is built one client, one family, and one home at a time.