Without getting too "wordy", one of the best insights I've had over my lifetime of living here in the San Francisco Bay Area is realizing and appreciating just how special this place is. I don't think I could have really confirmed that had I not traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and Abroad. When you're a kid growing up in the Bay Area, it's easy to take certain aspects of daily life for granted...mild weather, amazing vistas and geography, the Ocean, the Bay, the City, the People, and just about everything you could need or desire right there at your fingertips. As an adult...well, it just keeps getting better every day. We live in one of the most tolerant, educated communities in the country, and I feel privileged to be a part of it.

About me...

I've been helping Buyers and Sellers realize their goals now for over 11 years at Zephyr Real Estate in San Francisco. Although I've sold residential property in every neighborhood of the City, the majority of my business tends to lean toward the "Central Core" of town: (Eureka Valley, Cole Valley...my home neighborhood, Buena Vista, Haight Ashbury, Clarendon Heights, Twin Peaks, Noe Valley, Mission Dolores, Inner Sunset-UC area, Corona Heights, Duboce Triangle). I've also experienced an increased concentration of buyers and sellers in the SOMA, South Beach, Yerba Buena, North Beach, Pacific Heights, The Marina, Russian Hill, and Inner Mission areas as well as some of the "southern" neighborhoods like Bernal Heights and Glenn Park. A couple of key things I think Buyers AND Sellers should know about me are the specific background experiences that brought me to where I am today. For starters, I worked as a residential mortgage consultant for about 3 years back in the late 80"s and early 90's. That experience helped me get my feet "wet". After that, a diversion to "outside" Pharmaceutical sales helped me gain a greater understanding of the pulse and geographical workings of Northern California from a working, and commuter perspective (funny the things you take from working in certain industries). Next on the list was a break from the corporate world and into a life of learning the restaurant business (waiting tables, sous-cheffing, and finally managing). That was definitely the best "drop-out" and "tune-in" experience of all before deciding to get back to the Real Estate Industry. The rest is history. Oh, and along the way, I decided to start a home staging company with two other colleagues with the idea of providing an affordable, value added service to our clients and our fellow real estate community. It was a great success...enough so that we decided to sell the business in 2010 to another stager who wanted to take it to a higher level! These connections over the years have proven invaluable, and I enjoy having the opportunity to share these insights and experiences with each client I work with.

Zephyr Real Estate Ranks in Top 100 Brokerages in the U.S.

Testimonials...

October 24th, 2000. "David was great to work with! He was very open-minded and respectful of my personal house buying schedule and priorities. He was diligent and professional: I told him what I wanted, and I was confident that I would be aware of any opportunities that met my criteria. He always prepared useful reports and he knows his market. When it came time to close, his years of local experience were invaluable. It really gave me confidence, especially in this market, to go into an offer knowing we were prepared. I have dealt with many agents in the past, and David is among that class of Real Estate Agent that really excels at what he does. I have recommended him to my friends, and will continue to do so without hesitation." (Thomas M. Connelly, eBAY)

April 11, 2001. "When we were looking for a home in San Francisco, David was extremely helpful. He familiarized us with the market, even taking the time to explain the real estate maps and codes for the different neighborhoods. He gave us the pros, cons, and history on a variety of neighborhoods and access to a wide range of listings. He helped steer us to the neighborhoods we could afford and told us about the mass transit, schools, and community areas in each location. Once we found a house, he was very responsive and accommodating while we visited the home multiple times. He also carefully guided us through the buying process, which was extremely helpful in this competitive market. We love our home and still receive helpful information from him regarding activities in our neighborhood (as well as tax tips). We were very lucky to have found a broker who is so knowledgeable regarding San Francisco Real Estate". (Chris and Sara Anderson, SF)

October 28th, 2002. "Dear David, Thank you so much for all of your hard work. Andrea and David were delighted with you and very excited about their new home. You are a wonderful "find"." (Pamela Page, Alain Pinel Realtors, Palo Alto, CA)

April 21,2003. "...Wow, the looks great. You guys kick ass, and thanks for everything. We are very much looking forward to closing this deal tomorrow. Thanks again for everything. You did a phenomenal job on the kitchen area." (Javier Perez, Peres Projects Los Angeles, Berlin)

May 13th, 2003. "We recently purchased a home using two of your agents and feel compelled to write you regarding their sterling performance. David Ames and Kevin Koerner, of the 17th Street office, made the intimidating prospect of buying a home in San Francisco enjoyable, manageable, and hassle-free. In January, we learned that we would be transferred from an overseas posting in Asia to SF. David and Kevin immediately assessed our needs and began the process of helping us to select neighborhoods and homes all before we even left Hong Kong. Helpful packages of information and documents began arriving in the mail within days. They were always available to us despite a difference of 6,000 miles and a 16-hour time difference. When we arrived her on a short trip in February to scout houses, they devoted a considerable amount of time to educating us about the market, the Bay Area, and the process of buying a home in The City. I often think David and Kevin intuitively knew what we needed more than we did! With patience and ease, they helped us stay clear of houses that may have become financial pitfalls in the future. They knew ever nuance of the market, and as agents, they did their best to protect our interests at all costs. David did an especially good job when the time came to make an offer. He guided us through the process so that we felt in control, knowledgeable, and most importantly in this market, optimistic. You might imagine that closing escrow from across the Pacific would be nerve-wracking. Not so, thanks to Kevin Koerner. His follow-up and attention to detail was exacting. We would be remiss not to mention the attention they gave us when we arrived here at the end of March. Our personal effects were being shipped from Hong Kong (a six week journey). David and Kevin went above and beyond the call of duty to make sure we had some of the bare essentials available when we arrived...including something to sleep on! They are stellar agents who are a credit to Zephyr and the profession. We encourage you to recognize David and Kevin for the outstanding job they did in helping buy our new home." (Peter Born and Jeffrey Mead, SF)

February 6th, 2004. "...As always, thank you for taking care of Laurie, Hector, and Ariana Medina. They are thrilled with you! I appreciate it." (Liz Rhodes, Alain Pinel Realtors, Palo Alto, CA)

March 1st, 2004. "...Sorry this proper 'thank you' was so long in coming, but THANK YOU so much for all your help and hard work in getting Clementina SOLD and for such a great price. We truly enjoy working with you and will do so again if we strike it rich and move back to SF! You are the best! Thank you!!" (Edward and Heidi Killeen, Oakland, CA)

March 10th, 2004. "Phil and I are thrilled with our new place and can't tell you how much we enjoyed working with you. You are the bomb! Thanks for sharing your neighborhood :-)" (Phil and Ann Oravetz, SF)

March 18th, 2004. "...I wanted to convey my deepest appreciation for your efforts and dedication in getting me into my first home. I still wake some nights asking myself, 'how did I pull this off?' My co-workers continue to tell me I pulled a coup to purchase a home in San Francisco. Well, it certainly helped to have you guys on my side of the fence. I appreciate your support and confidence when other real estate agencies believed it wasn't possible. Your professionalism and your organization was top notch. You can join my security squad anytime." (Joseph Leake, SF Sheriff's Dept.)

December 4th, 2004. "Dave/Kev...just wanted to send you a quick note and thank you for all of your help over the last year. You guys have no idea how excited I am (OK, yes you do) to be in my first home. I got your Christmas calendar and got a few chuckles out of it. What you wrote is exactly why I picked you guys...two people who could keep a long process fun and in perspective (Dave, your comments had me rolling!). It was fun to work with you both. The guidance was invaluable, and our new friendship will be the best part of it!" (Scott Claypool, SF)

February 2005. "Kevin and David not only sold my home for the best price but more importantly to me, found the perfect home. They listened to my needs and my wish list resulting in finding my new home in just 3 showings. They are a terrific team that made both the selling and buying experience a pleasure." (Lou Adissi, SF)

June 10, 2006. "Kevin and David are the reason I'm living in my dream place today. They're not only amazing agents, but great therapists at the same time! Heart, caring and intelligence is what these guys embody. They've been a true blessing to work with." (Michael Woo, SF)

May 21st, 2007. "The DKSF team represented us in the sale of our condominium in March 2007. We had a fabulous experience from start to finish.
First, the team provided immeasurable help in getting our place ready for the market. The condo looked fabulous, thanks to their staging and know how. I couldn't believe how quickly they worked and tackled the project -- there was very little time between our decision to sell and having a staged place to sell. We believe that their expertise in staging is what allowed us to seek top dollar for our place. (And truth be told, after seeing the place staged, we kind of wanted to stay there!)
Second, the team has terrific real estate agents. David had multiple offers for our place, even before the first open house. It was amazing to be in a position to choose our buyer, and at top dollar. The process of accepting an offer, getting a sales price over offer in this market, and negotiating the terms went unbelievably smooth. We felt extremely lucky to have such a great team working for us. David is a terrific negotiator and definitely someone that you want on your side. Third, the inspections and everything that followed went extremely well. We were able to close within 21 days. You can count on the team to be reliable and to dot the i's and cross the t's." (Heather and Mike Blumenthal)

May 10th, 2008. "DKSF did an amazing job selling my Potrero Hill townhome during the recent down market. They staged the place beautifully and made it look fantastic for the online listings and open houses. David was always available to answer my many questions as a first-time seller and to provide expert advice. Several other units in my complex were for sale at the same time as mine, and I'm happy to say that mine was the first to sell!" (Scott Stocker, Stanford University)

September 20th, 2008. "My recent buying experience was made especially easy through DKSF! Who could imagine that a beautiful property in one of the best parts of San Francisco could be purchased while residing in a foreign country? DKSF made it all happen and with professional advice and expertise all along the way." (Antonio Ploszay, Tokyo)

May 31st, 2008. "We've purchased 2 houses and sold 1 with David and Kevin. David understood our needs each time finding us the perfect house. Remarkably,even though my husband and I were on MLS ALL THE TIME, we wouldn't have found either house without him." (Sarah and Jim Rose, SF)

January 5th, 2010. "We have been so lucky to work with David and Kevin on four real estate transactions and we're hoping for #5 in the near future. David and Kevin have helped us make smart decisions and seize opportunities as we've moved from first time home buyers to growing our family to investment-seekers. They are not just smart about SF real estate; they really listen to the desires and concerns of their clients. They don't just present listings that meet your stated criteria and try to rush through a sale. They ask the hard questions to make sure that you end up with the home that you really want and an investment that pays off. And, on top of that, David and Kevin are just awesome people and they make the real estate process FUN. I can't imagine buying or selling property in SF without them." (Carol and Peter Carrubba, SF)

March 20th, 2011. "David, Thanks for all you hard work and dedication to us. Jeanne's as happy as a clam. Best regards, Don"