NoPa looks compact on a map, but a Panhandle-facing condo, a Divisadero flat and a tenant-occupied Victorian are three different assignments. Our top choice is Caley Zheng, our co-founder and a NoPa resident, for buyers and sellers who want the building documents, financing, renovation questions and resale case considered together. The five other agents below each have public San Francisco experience worth discussing.
NoPa realtors compared
Five categories, scored 1–5 where evidence is established. Reviewed . Recent sales cover the preceding 12 months; team totals and visible transaction counts are labeled.
Swipe to compare or use the arrows
| Realtor / best fit | Recent experience | Local knowledge | Analytical expertise | Education | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caley ZhengOur top choiceOur co-founderCondo, TIC and small-building analysis | 5/59+ visible on Homes.com | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Allison ChapleauMulti-unit and complex seller assignments | 5/531 · Zillow profile, sales in the preceding 12 months. | Not established | 4/5 | 4/5 | Not established |
| Bonnie SpindlerVictorian and historic-property expertise | 5/511 · Zillow profile, sales in the preceding 12 months. | Not established | 2/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Brendon KearneyCondo listing and marketing experience | 5/513 · Zillow profile, sales in the preceding 12 months. | Not established | 2/5 | Not established | 5/5 |
| Declan HickeyCondo preparation and team execution | Not establishedNot established | Not established | 2/5 | Not established | Not established |
| Jean-Paul SamahaMultifamily and planning background | 5/537 · Realtor.com recent-sales count; platform scope applies. | Not established | 4/5 | 4/5 | Not established |
How the 1–5 scores are assigned
Recent experience
Not established: no verified recent activity count; 1: 0 verified closings; 2: 1 closing; 3: 2–3; 4: 4–5; 5: 6+ documented closings in the last 12 months. Selected histories are lower bounds; team figures are labeled.
Local knowledge
Not established: no verified residence or university tie; 2: Bay Area residence; 3: San Francisco residence or Bay Area university attendance; 4: both; 5: NoPa residence plus Bay Area university attendance. Work addresses do not prove residence.
Analytical expertise
Not established: no verified analytical practice; 2: pricing/valuation services; 3: investment or development work; 4: documented complex transaction practice, such as TICs, probate, mixed-use buildings or prior legal practice; 5: explicit financial-modeling work plus complex transaction evidence.
Education
Not established: education not verified; 2: postsecondary certificate; 3: college attendance outside the Bay Area; 4: completed degree outside the Bay Area; 5: Bay Area university attendance. This reflects our local-education preference, not a university quality ranking.
Reviews
Not established: no verified review rating and count; 2: verified profile below 4.0 stars; 3: 4.0–4.49 stars, or fewer than 5 reviews; 4: 4.5+ stars and 5+ reviews; 5: 4.8+ stars, 5+ reviews and a dated review within 3 years. Team attribution stays visible; brokerage-selected testimonials do not substitute for Google/Zillow evidence.
Caley Zheng
REALTOR® · San Francisco Real Estate Company co-founder · CA DRE #02231888
Make a smarter move in NoPa with an agent who lives here. Caley combines day-to-day neighborhood knowledge with condo, TIC and small-building experience, plus an analytical approach to financing, renovation and long-term value. That is useful where two similar-looking flats can have very different ownership documents, shared costs and resale constraints.
Talk with Caley ↗The evidence behind Caley’s ratings
- Recent experience 5/5
- Homes.com visibly dates at least nine sales between November 26, 2025 and October 26, 2026. This is a lower-bound count of visible transactions, not the five-year profile total.
Homes.com agent profile ↗ - Local knowledge 5/5
- NoPa resident and UC Berkeley graduate. Residence confirmed by the company owner on November 2, 2026; the linked biography supports her Bay Area education and professional background.
Caley Zheng at Willowmar, biography and selected client testimonials ↗ · Caley Zheng public biography ↗ - Analytical expertise 5/5
- Public financial-modeling practice and a documented local TIC transaction.
Caley Zheng public biography ↗ · 529 Birch Street sale history and agent attribution ↗ - Education 5/5
- UC Berkeley Haas business degree.
Caley Zheng public biography ↗ - Reviews 5/5
- Google profile snapshot: 5.0/5 from 12 reviews. Jonathan Greer praises professionalism and expertise; Melissa Yeung describes a smooth selling experience. The supplied screenshot shows their reviews as one and two months old. Received October 27, 2026; exact review dates are not shown.
Caley Zheng: Google profile and reviews ↗
- Portal-reported closed sales
- 36
- Portal-reported sales value
- $67.3M
Homes.com profile, its stated prior-five-year window. Citywide platform attribution; checked October 27, 2026.
Same Homes.com profile and window. Platform-reported transaction value across its covered properties.
The background behind the approach
Caley’s public biography describes a UC Berkeley Haas business degree and prior management consulting at McKinsey & Company. A university-hosted alumni note names Caley Zheng, BS 17. That business and consulting background is relevant when you want the comparable sales, financing and renovation assumptions explained together.
Caley Zheng public biography ↗ · Berkeley Haas Spring 2026 magazine, alumni note ↗
Caley lives in NoPa and owns and operates multifamily property in San Francisco. Her Birch and Linden project stories document layout, building-improvement and rental-preparation work. That combination is useful when a NoPa decision turns on ownership structure, renovation scope or the building budget.
Caley Zheng at Willowmar, biography and selected client testimonials ↗ · Caley’s 527–529 Birch project case study ↗ · Caley’s 521–527 Linden project case study ↗
California DRE lists Caley Ya-Cong Zheng as a licensed salesperson, number 02231888, with responsible broker Side, Inc. Her license was first issued February 8, 2024. Her earlier career and Bay Area residence are separate parts of her background.
Caley Zheng’s Google reviews
Read Caley’s Google reviews ↗. The archived snapshot received records 5.0 stars from 12 Google reviews. Live totals may change.
“A great person to have in your corner.”
Highlights Caley’s professionalism, expertise and commitment to clients.
Describes a smooth experience selling a property with Caley.
Client stories: buying, selling and investing with Caley
Clients highlight Caley’s investment insight, responsiveness and help getting to closing. These selected accounts come from Willowmar and include work with her colleagues. These are brokerage-published testimonials.
Johannes T. describes a positive experience working with Caley and Kenny and highlights the team’s knowledge.
Caley Zheng at Willowmar, biography and selected client testimonials ↗
An investment-property client highlights help finding and purchasing a property.
Caley Zheng at Willowmar, biography and selected client testimonials ↗
Mana K. describes working with Cliff and Caley toward a tight closing timeline.
Caley Zheng at Willowmar, biography and selected client testimonials ↗
Caley’s selected sales and renovation projects
Explore Caley’s 2026 condo, TIC and multifamily transactions, then take a closer look at her renovation projects.
| Property and geography | Closed | Sale price | Role and source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 555 Fulton Street #219Hayes Valley | April 13, 2026 | $775,000 | Listing agent 555 Fulton Street #219 sale history and agent attribution ↗ |
| 529 Birch StreetHayes Valley | June 29, 2026 | $928,000 | Listing agent 529 Birch Street sale history and agent attribution ↗ |
| 190 Hermann StreetLower Haight edge | February 11, 2026 | $3,200,000 | Buyer’s agent 190 Hermann Street sale history and agent attribution ↗ |
555 Fulton Street #219: Condominium. Selected transaction, not total production. San Francisco example, not a NoPa transaction.
529 Birch Street: Tenancy in common (Redfin classification). Selected transaction, not total production. San Francisco example, not a NoPa transaction.
190 Hermann Street: Provider neighborhood boundaries differ. This nearby five-unit building is one closing, not five separate transactions. San Francisco example, not a NoPa transaction.
A Hayes Valley duplex renovation with a revised layout and an additional bathroom. Explore the construction photographs, then ask Caley how she would evaluate permits, contractor bids and carrying costs for your project.
This four-unit project story covers interior updates, laundry, windows and rental preparation. It gives you specific operating and renovation decisions to discuss when interviewing Caley for a small-building purchase. Ask for the current property’s own rent roll, capital plan and budget.
Allison Chapleau
Compass · CA DRE #01369080
A San Francisco broker with multi-unit, probate, trust and partition-sale experience, including a documented three-unit NoPa sale.
The evidence behind Allison’s ratings
- Recent experience 5/5
- Public profile activity count; platform scope applies.
Allison Chapleau Compass profile and DRE record ↗ - Local knowledge Not established
- Selected local work is shown below; residence is not inferred from an office or transaction.
Allison Chapleau Compass profile and DRE record ↗ - Analytical expertise 4/5
- Public profile describes advisory, pricing or negotiation work.
Allison Chapleau Compass profile and DRE record ↗ - Education 4/5
- Public profile documents a completed degree.
Allison Chapleau Compass profile and DRE record ↗ - Reviews Not established
- No current Google or Zillow rating and count were established.
Allison Chapleau Compass profile and DRE record ↗
Why consider this agent
- A San Francisco broker with multi-unit, probate, trust and partition-sale experience, including a documented three-unit NoPa sale.
- The selected neighborhood example gives you a concrete transaction or practice area to discuss in the interview.
Best fit and what to ask
Ask for two or three recent assignments that match your property type and building, then confirm the agent’s exact role, day-to-day involvement, written scope and fee.
See the local work
1671-1673 Hayes Street · NoPa
March 1, 2026
Seller representation shown on agent property page
Three-unit building sold in March 2026; the public page reports multiple offers.
1671-1673 Hayes Street property page ↗
Allison Chapleau’s official profile ↗
Allison Chapleau Compass profile and DRE record ↗ · 1671-1673 Hayes Street property page ↗
Bonnie Spindler
Corcoran Icon Properties · CA DRE #01175723
A historic-home specialist with decades of San Francisco experience and recent public reviews involving Panhandle properties.
The evidence behind Bonnie’s ratings
- Recent experience 5/5
- Public profile activity count; platform scope applies.
Bonnie Spindler official and Zillow profiles ↗ - Local knowledge Not established
- Selected local work is shown below; residence is not inferred from an office or transaction.
Bonnie Spindler official and Zillow profiles ↗ - Analytical expertise 2/5
- Public profile describes advisory, pricing or negotiation work.
Bonnie Spindler official and Zillow profiles ↗ - Education 4/5
- Public profile documents a completed degree.
Bonnie Spindler official and Zillow profiles ↗ - Reviews 5/5
- Public review profile rating and count.
Bonnie Spindler official and Zillow profiles ↗
Why consider this agent
- A historic-home specialist with decades of San Francisco experience and recent public reviews involving Panhandle properties.
- The selected neighborhood example gives you a concrete transaction or practice area to discuss in the interview.
Best fit and what to ask
Ask for two or three recent assignments that match your property type and building, then confirm the agent’s exact role, day-to-day involvement, written scope and fee.
See the local work
560 Lyon Street · NoPa
Exact closing date not used
Listing agent
Public property record identifies Bonnie Spindler as the listing agent; exact closing date is not used.
560 Lyon Street property record ↗
Bonnie Spindler’s official profile ↗
Bonnie Spindler official and Zillow profiles ↗ · 560 Lyon Street property record ↗
Brendon Kearney
Compass · CA DRE #01350213
A long-tenured San Francisco agent with a current NoPa condo sale and a large public review history.
The evidence behind Brendon’s ratings
- Recent experience 5/5
- Public profile activity count; platform scope applies.
Brendon Kearney Compass and Zillow profiles ↗ - Local knowledge Not established
- Selected local work is shown below; residence is not inferred from an office or transaction.
Brendon Kearney Compass and Zillow profiles ↗ - Analytical expertise 2/5
- Public profile describes advisory, pricing or negotiation work.
Brendon Kearney Compass and Zillow profiles ↗ - Education Not established
- Education was not established in the reviewed profile.
Brendon Kearney Compass and Zillow profiles ↗ - Reviews 5/5
- Public review profile rating and count.
Brendon Kearney Compass and Zillow profiles ↗
Why consider this agent
- A long-tenured San Francisco agent with a current NoPa condo sale and a large public review history.
- The selected neighborhood example gives you a concrete transaction or practice area to discuss in the interview.
Best fit and what to ask
Ask for two or three recent assignments that match your property type and building, then confirm the agent’s exact role, day-to-day involvement, written scope and fee.
See the local work
932 Broderick Street #3 · NoPa
June 30, 2026 · $1,554,000
Listing agent
Compass property record identifies Brendon Kearney as listing agent.
932 Broderick Street #3 Compass record ↗
Brendon Kearney’s official profile ↗
Brendon Kearney Compass and Zillow profiles ↗ · 932 Broderick Street #3 Compass record ↗
Declan Hickey
Compass, Mollie Poe + Declan Hickey · CA DRE #01356209
A San Francisco agent whose team publishes a detailed seller account involving renovation, staging and sale of a NoPa condo.
The evidence behind Declan’s ratings
- Recent experience Not established
- A comparable 12-month activity count was not established.
Declan Hickey official profile ↗ - Local knowledge Not established
- Selected local work is shown below; residence is not inferred from an office or transaction.
Declan Hickey official profile ↗ - Analytical expertise 2/5
- Public profile describes advisory, pricing or negotiation work.
Declan Hickey official profile ↗ - Education Not established
- Education was not established in the reviewed profile.
Declan Hickey official profile ↗ - Reviews Not established
- No current Google or Zillow rating and count were established.
Declan Hickey official profile ↗
Why consider this agent
- A San Francisco agent whose team publishes a detailed seller account involving renovation, staging and sale of a NoPa condo.
- The selected neighborhood example gives you a concrete transaction or practice area to discuss in the interview.
Best fit and what to ask
Ask for two or three recent assignments that match your property type and building, then confirm the agent’s exact role, day-to-day involvement, written scope and fee.
See the local work
NoPa two-bedroom condo · NoPa
Exact closing date not used
Team seller representation described by the client
The public team testimonial describes the assignment but does not publish an address or closing date.
Mollie Poe and Declan Hickey client testimonials ↗
Declan Hickey’s official profile ↗
Declan Hickey official profile ↗ · Mollie Poe and Declan Hickey client testimonials ↗
Jean-Paul Samaha
Vanguard Properties · CA DRE #01485512
A longtime San Francisco agent with planning and public-service experience and a documented NoPa apartment-building transaction.
The evidence behind Jean-Paul’s ratings
- Recent experience 5/5
- Public profile activity count; platform scope applies.
Jean-Paul Samaha Vanguard profile ↗ - Local knowledge Not established
- Selected local work is shown below; residence is not inferred from an office or transaction.
Jean-Paul Samaha Vanguard profile ↗ - Analytical expertise 4/5
- Public profile describes advisory, pricing or negotiation work.
Jean-Paul Samaha Vanguard profile ↗ - Education 4/5
- Public profile documents a completed degree.
Jean-Paul Samaha Vanguard profile ↗ - Reviews Not established
- No current Google or Zillow rating and count were established.
Jean-Paul Samaha Vanguard profile ↗
Why consider this agent
- A longtime San Francisco agent with planning and public-service experience and a documented NoPa apartment-building transaction.
- The selected neighborhood example gives you a concrete transaction or practice area to discuss in the interview.
Best fit and what to ask
Ask for two or three recent assignments that match your property type and building, then confirm the agent’s exact role, day-to-day involvement, written scope and fee.
See the local work
618-622 Broderick Street · NoPa
May 1, 2026
Seller-side transaction attribution
Five-unit Victorian apartment building; one property transaction, not five sales.
618-622 Broderick Street Compass record ↗
Jean-Paul Samaha’s official profile ↗
Jean-Paul Samaha Vanguard profile ↗ · 618-622 Broderick Street Compass record ↗
How to interview a NoPa real estate agent
Start with the ownership structure, not the finishes.
NoPa has condos, TICs, single-family homes and small apartment buildings on the same few blocks. Ask the agent to explain what you own, how repairs are approved, what the insurance covers and which lenders will finance it before treating two listings as comparable.
Price the block and the building separately.
The Panhandle, Divisadero and Masonic create very different light, traffic, parking and daily routines. A useful pricing opinion should show the closest matched sales, then explain the adjustment for floor level, parking, outdoor space, condition and the quality of the HOA or TIC records.
Current NoPa market report ↗ · San Francisco pricing strategy ↗
For a Victorian flat, inspect the shared building plan.
Fresh paint is easy to see. Roof work, foundations, windows, insurance, reserves and unpermitted changes are where the expensive questions live. Ask who will read the disclosures, who will inspect the property and how the agent turns those findings into an offer or preparation plan.
Bring the same brief to every interview
- Your property type, block, price range, timing and renovation constraints.
- Three relevant closed comparables and the agent’s represented side.
- A written scope, direct point of contact, fees, third-party costs and termination terms.
- A plan for financing, disclosures, pricing, offers and the first setback.
- Recent references for a similar assignment, with an explanation of team involvement.
NAR consumer guide: listing agreements ↗ · NAR consumer guide: negotiating a buyer agreement ↗
NoPa market data: what it means for buyers and sellers
Redfin NoPa · All Home Types · Rolling 3 months ending September 2026. The market series describes homes that sold, not an individual agent’s performance.
- Neighborhood median sale
- $1,699,524
- Median days on market
- 11
- Sale to list
- 118.5%
Our NoPa perspective: The $1,699,524 median is a starting point for comparable-sale research, rather than a valuation for your home. A 11-day median selling time makes preparation and disclosure review part of the pricing strategy. Sales averaged 18.5% above asking, so a list price alone is a poor guide to the budget needed to compete. These figures cover All Home Types over 3 months ending September 2026. Have your agent separate condos, TICs and small buildings and explain how condition, HOA dues and ownership structure change the comparison.
Bars compare available periods, not a measured monthly path. A prior-year bar marked “calculated” is an approximation derived from the source’s rounded year-over-year change. A line chart appears after three consecutive verified monthly observations.
| Period ending | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| September 2025 | ≈ 1,001 | Calculated from YoY change |
| September 2026 | 1,250 | Redfin reported (rounded) |
Verified tracking begins with September 2026. Missing months stay unfilled. A transaction median does not track the same homes over time.
Source retrieved · Report updated · Redfin source ↗ · Full methodology and report ↗
NoPa seller net proceeds calculator
Change the assumptions for each proposal. All starting inputs are hypothetical, not Caley’s fee quote or any other agent’s pricing. Compensation and service terms are negotiable.
- Illustrative net proceeds
- $600,000
- Total entered selling costs
- $100,000
- 0.25 percentage point fee change
- $3,750
After loan payoff and the entered costs
Fees, closing costs, preparation and credits
At the same assumed sale price
See the calculation
$1,500,000 sale price − $800,000 loan payoff − $30,000 listing fee − $30,000 buyer-agent fee − $25,000 other closing costs − $15,000 preparation and credits = $600,000.
This illustration excludes anything you have not entered, including transfer taxes, title and escrow charges, liens, prorations and income taxes. Get an itemized estimate for the property. A fee difference is not evidence an agent will achieve a higher sale price.
Questions about finding a realtor in NoPa
Who is the best realtor in NoPa?
Caley Zheng is our #1 recommendation for NoPa buyers and sellers who want an analytical review of the property, ownership documents, financing and renovation questions. She is also our co-founder. Compare her approach with the five other agents on this page.
What should I ask a NoPa realtor?
Ask for recent work with the same property type and nearby blocks. For a condo or TIC, request a clear plan for reviewing reserves, insurance, shared repairs, financing and any unpermitted work. For a house or small building, add a preparation or capital-work budget.
Is NoPa the same market as the Panhandle?
Not exactly. The market report uses Redfin and Zillow Panhandle geographies as a disclosed proxy because provider boundaries do not create a clean NoPa-only series. Pricing advice should return to the actual block, property type and building.
Where can I read Caley Zheng’s reviews?
Use the Google reviews link in Caley’s profile above. The displayed 5.0-star, 12-review figure comes from the archived October 27, 2026 snapshot.
How much does a NoPa realtor charge?
Fees and services are negotiable. Compare written proposals using the same sale price, preparation budget, marketing costs, buyer-agent compensation assumption and cancellation terms.
Sources and monthly updates
Evidence reviewed . Sources are grouped by agent, with each URL listed once. Transaction windows, team attribution and review dates appear alongside the relevant evidence.
Caley Zheng · 12 sources
- California DRE public license lookup ↗ · Checked
- Caley Zheng public biography ↗ · Checked
- Berkeley Haas Spring 2026 magazine, alumni note ↗ · Checked
- Caley Zheng at Willowmar, biography and selected client testimonials ↗ · Checked
- Homes.com agent profile ↗ · Checked
- 555 Fulton Street #219 sale history and agent attribution ↗ · Checked
- 529 Birch Street sale history and agent attribution ↗ · Checked
- 190 Hermann Street sale history and agent attribution ↗ · Checked
- Caley’s 527–529 Birch project case study ↗ · Checked
- Caley’s 521–527 Linden project case study ↗ · Checked
- Archive: Caley Google review screenshot received October 27, 2026 ↗ · Checked
- Caley Zheng: Google profile and reviews ↗ · Checked
Agreements and consumer resources · 49 sources
- Matt Fuller: Compass official agent profile ↗ · Checked
- Matt Fuller: Fuller biography ↗ · Checked
- Matt Fuller: Fuller Team Hayes Valley guide ↗ · Checked
- Matt Fuller: 388 Fulton building guide ↗ · Checked
- Matt Fuller: 388 Fulton #204 closing and agent attribution ↗ · Checked
- Jennifer Rosdail: Official biography ↗ · Checked
- Jennifer Rosdail: Team and license information ↗ · Checked
- Jennifer Rosdail: 55 Page #220 sold case study ↗ · Checked
- Jennifer Rosdail: Active and sold listing archive ↗ · Checked
- Erin Thompson: Compass official agent profile ↗ · Checked
- Erin Thompson: Official team profile ↗ · Checked
- Erin Thompson: Official team overview ↗ · Checked
- Erin Thompson: 47 Octavia sold case ↗ · Checked
- Jason Hoffman: Compass official agent profile ↗ · Checked
- Jason Hoffman: Official biography ↗ · Checked
- Jason Hoffman: 276 Page official marketing presentation ↗ · Checked
- Jason Hoffman: 276 Page MLS attribution ↗ · Checked
- Lisa Zahner: Official biography ↗ · Checked
- Lisa Zahner: City Real Estate profile ↗ · Checked
- Lisa Zahner: 877 Hayes sold case ↗ · Checked
- Lisa Zahner: DRE license lookup ↗ · Checked
- NAR consumer guide: listing agreements ↗ · Checked
- NAR consumer guide: negotiating a buyer agreement ↗ · Checked
- Matt Fuller: California DRE license history ↗ · Checked
- Matt Fuller: public client accounts ↗ · Checked
- Jennifer Rosdail: California DRE license history ↗ · Checked
- Jennifer Rosdail: public client accounts ↗ · Checked
- Erin Thompson: California DRE license history ↗ · Checked
- Erin Thompson: public client accounts ↗ · Checked
- Jason Hoffman: California DRE license history ↗ · Checked
- Jason Hoffman: public client accounts ↗ · Checked
- Lisa Zahner: public client accounts ↗ · Checked
- Erin Thompson: USF education on Homes.com ↗ · Checked
- Jennifer Rosdail: education field on LoopNet ↗ · Checked
- Lisa Zahner: Marquette education on public professional profile ↗ · Checked
- Jennifer Rosdail: Zillow sales and client reviews ↗ · Checked
- Erin Thompson: Zillow sales and client reviews ↗ · Checked
- Jason Hoffman: Zillow sales and client reviews ↗ · Checked
- Lisa Zahner: Zillow sales and client reviews ↗ · Checked
- Allison Chapleau Compass profile and DRE record ↗ · Checked
- 1671-1673 Hayes Street property page ↗ · Checked
- Brendon Kearney Compass and Zillow profiles ↗ · Checked
- 932 Broderick Street #3 Compass record ↗ · Checked
- Bonnie Spindler official and Zillow profiles ↗ · Checked
- 560 Lyon Street property record ↗ · Checked
- Declan Hickey official profile ↗ · Checked
- Mollie Poe and Declan Hickey client testimonials ↗ · Checked
- Jean-Paul Samaha Vanguard profile ↗ · Checked
- 618-622 Broderick Street Compass record ↗ · Checked
What’s new
- : Updated Caley Zheng’s NoPa profile to reflect her owner-confirmed neighborhood residence and 5/5 local-knowledge rating.
- : Published with neighborhood-specific interview advice, six sourced agent profiles, selected local or nearby transaction examples, and Caley Zheng as our featured company recommendation.