About Debi

If you are buying or selling in the East Bay Hills communities, you should be asking tough questions of prospective agents: How well does the agent know the area, the schools, the idiosyncrasies of the town and the building department; How much business have they done in the area; Who is buying and selling now; Why did such-and-so property bring such a high price — or why didn’t it? Ask Debi these questions, and you will quickly see what a local expert she is. It’s no accident. Born and raised in Piedmont, Debi has lived in the area all her life, her mother and grandmother were involved in real estate investing, and real estate was part of dinner-table conversation when she was growing up. She and her husband of over 30 years are local real estate investors who raised their three children in Piedmont. As a dedicated environmentalist, she is active in local and national environmental organizations.

After graduating from college, Debi began working with her mother buying, rehabbing and selling East Bay homes. When interest rates skyrocketed in the early 80s, she and her mother sold their last investment properties and started the first home staging company in the area. Several years later, she got her broker’s license and embarked on her successful real estate career. She started with a bang: right off, she was named Rookie of the Year among hundreds of agents at her company. This doesn’t come as a surprise, as real estate is in Debi’s blood. With her wide-ranging experience, Debi understood real estate from the get-go and immediately worked successfully with buyers, sellers, contractors and other real estate professionals.

Debi has an excellent reputation, terrific office support—and a wonderful partner, Anna Bahnson. A licensed broker, Debi was a founding member when Pacific Union Residential Brokerage opened in Oakland. Now that Pacific Union has merged with Compass, Debi and Anna provide unparalleled service to buyers and sellers alike.

Since she’s a part of the local community, Debi gets information early and often. Friends and past clients call with leads about houses that are coming on the market. She always has her “ear to the ground” and often learns of potential listings in advance—a key advantage for buyers in the highly competitive East Bay market.

Debi’s experience is a key advantage. Her wisdom, engaging personality and ever-present sense of humor will guide you through what can be a stressful process. From market preparation, through pricing strategy, to negotiations when offers come in and guiding you through escrow, Debi will be your trusted associate.

Debi´s success in real estate has lasted more than 35 years—through boom cycles and flat ones alike. Satisfied clients return to her time and again, and they refer their friends and associates. Debi’s high ethical standards and professionalism are the keys to her peerless reputation with other agents—and for clients as well.

““Before deciding to work with you, we interviewed other realtors both within Piedmont and in nearby communities. We selected you because we believed that your intimate knowledge of the local market, your commitment to personal support and our common vision of the value of the house would create a strong relationship and ensure a successful sale transaction. We were not disappointed. ”

— Vicky & Bill

“After buying and selling several homes throughout the U.S., I can say it was far and away the best experience during what was a difficult time given our circumstances of Mom’s illness. It was truly a pleasure to work with Debi and her team.”

— Caroline

“Over the years, I knew that if I ever needed a realtor, she was the one. Not only did everyone in town know her, she had a sterling reputation. But most importantly, I trusted her: she would give me the best advice, and she was genuine.”

— Karen