We recently purchased a home in San Francisco's Inner Richmond with Josh Ortiz and Danielle Lazier's team, and I can honestly say Josh changed my perception of what a great buyer's agent should be.
Before choosing an agent, I spent a lot of time researching transaction histories and interviewing teams. From a previous home purchase, I learned that the difference between an average agent and a great one often comes down to negotiation. Many agents can "win" a house by telling clients to keep increasing their offer. That's easy. The real challenge is helping clients win without overpaying.
From our very first meeting, Josh stood out. We told him our dream was to buy in Inner Richmond, but we assumed it wasn't realistic within our budget. Rather than pushing us toward properties or encouraging us to stretch financially, he took the time to understand exactly what we wanted, educate us on different neighborhoods and market dynamics, and help us build a thoughtful strategy.
Throughout the process, Josh was incredibly disciplined. There were plenty of homes we could have chased, but he never pressured us to make offers that didn't make sense. In a market where homes regularly sell hundreds of thousands—and sometimes more than a million dollars—over asking, that level of restraint and honesty is rare.
About four months into our search, Josh brought us an opportunity before it officially hit the market. The situation was complex, and the sellers ultimately decided to list the property publicly. Josh helped us navigate every step, carefully managing timing, strategy, and negotiations while keeping a close pulse on competing interest.
The result? We ended up buying a home we love in the exact neighborhood we originally thought was out of reach. Even better, the bank appraisal came back significantly higher than our purchase price, confirming that we had secured exceptional value in one of the most competitive housing markets in the country.
On top of that, Josh connected us with a lender who successfully navigated our complex income situation, secured a great rate, and closed our loan in just 14 days.
What impressed me most was that Josh always acted like an advisor rather than a salesperson. At every stage, his focus was on helping us make the right decision, not simply getting us into a transaction.
If you're looking for someone who knows the San Francisco market, negotiates strategically, and genuinely looks out for your interests, I highly recommend Josh and Danielle's team.
Seven years ago, we relocated from London to San Francisco. After starting out in a rental -- options being limited at the time -- we decided to purchase in Pacific Heights. Danielle and her team guided us through the process with patience, giving us the time we needed to truly understand the market and making sure we settled on a place we genuinely loved.
As the years passed, work brought us to Asia, and once it became clear we would not be returning to San Francisco, we made the decision to sell. Holding a property from thousands of miles away carries real complexity -- practical, financial, and tax considerations alike. Despite the distance, Danielle delivered an excellent sale and her team executed a remarkably smooth and swift closing. Our notary signing was conducted entirely online, with my wife joining from Singapore and myself from Paris -- a seamless process across time zones.
Thank you, Danielle and Vivre team.
We had the absolute pleasure of working with Danielle Lazier to sell two of our San Francisco homes, and we truly can't recommend her highly enough.
Most recently, we sold our Sunnyside single family home while living out of area, and Danielle made the entire process completely painless. We were not physically present for a single showing, repair, or walkthrough, yet everything was handled seamlessly. As our San Francisco listing agent, she coordinated all repairs, upgrades, staging, and vendor scheduling with remarkable professionalism and attention to detail. We always felt informed, supported, and genuinely confident that our home was in the best possible hands, even from far away.
The results speak for themselves. Within less than two weeks of showings, we received three competitive offers on our Sunnyside home in a challenging market. We closed within six weeks, despite the Christmas and New Year's holidays falling squarely in the middle of escrow. Her strategic pricing, marketing expertise, and negotiation skills made a measurable difference in both the outcome and the experience.
Danielle's pre-market preparation strategy, including targeted upgrades and professional staging, positioned our San Francisco single family home to stand out at a time when many properties were sitting. That preparation directly contributed to the strong offer activity we received.
Danielle is organized, responsive, proactive, and deeply knowledgeable about the San Francisco real estate market, particularly single family homes in neighborhoods like Sunnyside. She doesn't just list homes, she manages the entire San Francisco home sale process with the kind of care and precision that removes stress from what can otherwise be an overwhelming experience. If you're looking to sell a home in San Francisco and want an agent who handles every detail and delivers outstanding results, she is the one. We are so grateful for her partnership and would work with her again without hesitation.
