t was such a great pleasure working with Nicole as a first time homebuyer. She is very knowledgeable about the housing market and diligent in meeting the needs and interests of her clients. Being a first time homebuyer in this current market is stressful enough, but having a realtor who can guide you through the process with professionalism, honesty and patience can be dealbreaker in finding your dream home. Nicole delivered in spades, and I am happy to say that I am finally a first time homeowner! If you need an ally and friend in your first time home-buying journey in the Bay Area, then look no further. -- J&T bought a townhouse in Oajland

A steady hand and consummate pro. Proactive and prepared. Nicole earns my highest recommendation. I always felt confident in her decision making and suggestions. -- Rob sold a condo in Emeryville

hardly ever write reviews, but had to for Nicole. To say that she went above and beyond to secure us our dream home is a complete understatement.

For context, we are first-time buyers and completely new to the insanity that is the Bay Area real estate market. It's incredibly important, especially if you're a first-time buyer in the Bay, to partner with a seasoned agent who is dedicated, communicative, transparent, and willing to go above and beyond. Nicole is all of this – and more.

Over the course of 6 months, Nicole toured dozens of homes with us throughout the Bay. We never felt pushed or pressured into making an offer. Additionally, we were those clients who would change their mind last minute about placing an offer, and she was always supportive and validating – it was so clear she wanted us to find THE perfect home just as much as we did.

When we finally found our dream single family home in Berkeley, and placed an offer, Nicole’s expertise and experience truly shined: she helped us craft an unbeatable offer, utilizing all of her tips and tricks as a seasoned agent. Our offer came out on top amongst multiple offers, without even having to go over our budget.

Between offer-accept and close, there were a number of last-minute emergencies, namely due to miscommunications with the lender. Nicole went above and beyond by proactively advocating for us, taking the lead, and putting out these fires. I firmly believe we would have fell out of contract had it not been for Nicole’s leadership and expertise here.

Experience and expertise aside, Nicole is a warm and kind partner. She truly cares for her clients, and genuinely wants them to find their dream home. This kind of authenticity can be rare, and we were beyond lucky to have had her by our side this past year! Thank you Nicole! -- N&L bought a SFH in Berkeley

I recently found Nicole through a family referral and I could not have had a better experience. I am a first time home buyer in Oakland and was new to the whole home buying process. From the first phone call I could tell she was very interested in learning about my specific real estate needs and that she cared about putting me in the right house. Nicole made me feel extremely at ease the whole time by encouraging my active participation in the process and I learned a lot from her during the event. I felt confident and prepared by the time she was able to help me land my dream house, a single family home in North Oakland, and we were able to come in under budget. Throughout the whole process I felt like I was in safe, knowledgeable hands, it felt more like working with a friend than with an agent. I highly recommend Nicole Gruen for your real estate needs. -- Erin bought a SFH in Oakland

Nicole is a fantastic agent who is competent, caring and genuine. She walks you through every step of the process. As a first time seller I am very thankful for the help, expertise and knowledge she provided as I went through the home selling process during COVID. She took every step to get me the best price and explain my options. I trust Nicole and I would recommend her to any of my friends. -- A sold a tonwhouse in Hayward