That attorney background is not just a credential. It shapes how I prepare, negotiate, and protect my clients’ interests.

"Trained as an attorney, she has a real edge in negotiation. On one sale she used a strategy that got me a better price than I thought possible."  Livio P.

I am a Santa Cruz County REALTOR with over eleven years of experience and a background as an attorney. I bring strategic negotiation, advanced digital marketing, and trusted, personalized guidance to buyers and sellers across the county. My clients rely on me for clear advice, strong advocacy, and a steady, strategic approach that helps them move forward with confidence.

I did not enter real estate by chance. After remodeling my own home, the top one percent REALTOR who helped me sell it noticed my attention to detail and the strategy I brought to the whole process, and encouraged me to join his team. With a legal career rooted in negotiation and advocacy, the move made sense, and real estate let me put those strengths to work in a more personal way.

For sellers, my edge comes down to two things that genuinely move the outcome: engaging marketing with broad reach, and strong negotiation. I run paid video ads and targeted campaigns that put your home in front of more serious buyers, many of them from over the hill in the Bay Area. Then, when the offers come in, I negotiate hard for every dollar, because that is where the result is won.

I listed one of my Aptos listings at $1.388 million and asked every agent at broker tour to guess the final sale price. More than twenty entered, and the best guess was $1.4 million. The winning buyer opened only at asking. I negotiated the sale to $1.53 million, beyond every estimate in the room and $142,000 over that buyer's first offer.

Especially for those coming from the Bay Area, I bring clear market insight, full transparency, and strong negotiation when competition is fierce. I help you understand your options, move quickly when the right home appears, and craft offers that protect your interests while staying competitive. My clients consistently mention my responsiveness and follow through, and I stay involved well after closing.

I partner with Compass for tools that give my clients an edge. Compass Collections let us track and compare homes efficiently, including opportunities not visible on public sites. For sellers, Compass Concierge can fund home preparation upfront and be repaid at closing, and bridge loan solutions can ease the gap between selling and buying.

"If it weren't for Helen's negotiating skills, we would not have been able to purchase our perfect home. She helped us come out on top of eleven offers, without pushing past our comfort zone."  The Kelly Family

"Helen excels at strategizing and negotiating. I don't think we would have been able to buy our new house without her."  Emily and Scott

Read more client reviews

Not sure how to compare agents? Use my REALTOR Interview Checklist.  Personality matters, but it should not be the whole decision. The checklist helps you evaluate strategy, preparation, negotiation skill, communication, and fit before choosing who will represent one of your largest financial decisions.

Whether you are downsizing, relocating from the Bay Area, investing, or buying your first home, I bring the same care and strategy I would use for my own move. Let's find your next step together.