Herman Chan - Berkeley, California

Alexander Wells

Herman is an exceptional realtor. He guided me, a first time home buyer, through what could have otherwise been an extremely stressful and frustrating process. He’s incredibly responsive (the man does not sleep!) and patient. He’s deeply knowledgeable about the areas in which he works and is always willing to offer strong and honest opinions about prospective homes and neighborhoods. Herman helped me get a great deal on an off market home in the perfect neighborhood and I couldn’t be happier with my purchase. I’m looking forward to working with him again next time around. Thanks, Herman!

Andrew Jaru

We were referred to Herman from a friend who was referred by their friend and so forth. We ended up finding a home we loved in less than a month and were able to close on it due in no small part to Herman's name recognition. Herman's prolific and more than half of the listing agents we talked to recognized his name or worked with him. As first time home buyers, we were wet behind the ears and really appreciated Herman's insight and pragmatic approach to homebuying. Herman's not pushy in the least and is candid with feedback, even if it means giving you a bit of a reality check. His input really helped shape our approach. It was especially valuable when we didn't know what to make of the disclosures. Herman would highlight the factors that affected what mattered to us: move-in timeline, cost, location. Herman's thorough with his work and was available at practically every hour. We sincerely do not know when/if he sleeps.

Overall, Herman's no doubt at the top of his game and blazes a path forward with a personality that makes the process fun yet reassuring. We'd love to work with Herman again the next time we're on the market.

David Rodriguez

Herman helped me with my first home purchase, and I cannot recommend him highly enough. My wife and I initially reached out to Herman for a home three years ago. We repeatedly announced our readiness to buy, only for our circumstances to change, causing us to call off the search. Throughout this period, Herman provided exceptional support each time, never making us feel pressured despite our fickleness.

What I loved most about Herman was his unparalleled knowledge of every aspect of the home market, from renter laws to neighborhoods, home insurance, and value-increasing upgrades. His warm and engaging personality, combined with his direct approach to the realities of home buying, ensured we felt empowered by his expertise rather than pressured to close a deal.

When we finally found our dream home, things moved swiftly. We stumbled upon an open house and fell in love. Within an hour of reaching out to Herman, he sent us the disclosures and provided his initial impressions. Within 24 hours, he personally toured the house to give us more detailed thoughts. Eighteen days later, we had the keys to our dream home.

Achieving such a short escrow was due to Herman's professionalism, responsiveness, and extensive network. His connections facilitated every step of the process, and everyone he introduced us to shared his level of professionalism.

One thing that sets Herman apart from other realtors is his genuine passion for his job. It's evident that for Herman, it's not about the money. He loves helping people, navigating tricky situations, and excelling in his field.

When choosing a realtor, my wife and I briefly considered going with an agent with a lower profile. We thought we might receive more hands-on attention. I'm so glad we didn't. Knowledge, experience, and connections are critical when navigating the home-buying process, especially in the Bay Area market, where pitfalls are everywhere. Herman excels in all these areas. Whether it's easements, fire insurance, market trends, schools, or unexpected issues that might kill the deal (and there will be at least one!), Herman is an expert. Having him in your corner provides invaluable peace of mind.

Despite our three-year search, Herman provided seemingly unlimited personal attention. I don't know if he has access to a time-turner, but the real answer is that he is simply great at every aspect of what he does.

Finally, and most importantly to me, I feel strongly that Herman is an ethical person. My wife and I trusted him and he validated that trust throughout the three years we worked together.

Marisa Levinson

Herman was a complete pleasure to work with. He’s extremely responsive, proactive, and flexible. He’s not pushy, but gives great advice. He helped us through the whole process and made things a lot easier for us by connecting us to lenders, brokers, etc. It’s clear he truly understands the East Bay market. With his guidance we were able to pull together a winning offer we felt great about.

Whenever we’d attend an open house and the selling agent would ask who we were working with, they were always so happy to hear it was Herman. We’d recommend him to anyone!

Adam S

Herman was an amazing partner in our home search. He came highly recommended and lived up to the hype. We met him over 3 years ago and he patiently worked with us on and off over this time until we found a great fit for our family home!

Tiff Kanegawa

Herman is a fantastic real estate agent, and I would absolutely recommend him to anyone who is looking for a house in the bay area/surrounding areas. His decades of experience and friendly, positive personality really make the house buying process easier and less daunting. Herman works to truly understand home buyers' needs in order to find their perfect home - whether it takes 1 month to many months or whether they are looking at multiple cities in the bay area or they have no idea where to start location-wise. From answering questions about the buying process to providing guidance on the numerous forms and legal docs to sharing insider information on bay area cities, Herman is there to support his buyers. I will be eternally grateful to Herman for helping me find the perfect home for me and my family.

Yumay Chang

I have had the pleasure of knowing Herman for over 20 years, and I can confidently say he is an exceptional real estate agent who truly cares about his clients. My journey with Herman began when he helped me purchase a condo in San Francisco when I was working for Microsoft. We initially bid on a home in the Rincon Tower, but I got cold feet and changed my mind. Herman didn't try to convince me otherwise; instead, he immediately reassured me and backed out of the deal without hesitation. This experience left a lasting impression on me, showcasing his integrity and client-first attitude.

Years later, I considered buying a house with my then-boyfriend. Herman, sensing that our relationship was unstable, advised me against it. He would rather forgo his commission than see me in a difficult situation, financially entangled with someone who wasn't good for me. His honest and caring approach was incredibly touching and reaffirmed my trust in him.

Most recently, Herman assisted my husband and me in selling two investment properties—one in Silicon Valley and the other in Redmond, WA. Both transactions were complicated. In Silicon Valley, we faced a buyer who attempted to harass us for money, but Herman skillfully navigated us through the situation and successfully closed the deal. For the property in Washington, we initially hired a local agent who turned out to be less competent. Herman guided us through our options, leading us to find a new, skilled agent who managed to sell our home just in time. We later discovered that shortly after our sale closed, the HOA levied assessments that caused other deals to fall through.

There are many real estate agents out there, but few are as intelligent, ethical, and genuinely caring as Herman. His ability to cut through complex problems and provide a clear path forward is unmatched. His integrity is beyond reproach, which explains his meteoric rise in the real estate world over the past two decades.

It is an honor to know Herman. Despite the challenges he has faced in his personal and professional life, he remains fair, compassionate, and dedicated to his clients. If you're looking for a trustworthy and competent agent, Herman is the one. For him, making money is secondary to doing the right thing for his clients, and he demonstrates this through his actions time and again.

Herman's combination of intelligence, integrity, and client-first mindset sets him apart from the rest. I highly recommend him to anyone seeking a real estate agent who truly has their best interests at heart.

Linda Gee

Herman was wonderful to work with on selling our house! This is our fourth deal with him--we didn't consider going with anyone else. He was correct with all his advice as usual, but he also listened to our concerns. We never felt pressured into doing anything we didn't want to. And things went just how he planned them to. If we do buy another property, we'll be calling him again.