A SoMa realtor should know more than the neighborhood. The real work is often building-specific: HOA reserves, insurance, litigation, elevator and façade projects, parking rights, rental rules and the resale history of the exact stack. Our top choice is Caley Zheng, our co-founder, for clients who want those details translated into a clear financial decision. The five alternatives below bring other useful San Francisco experience.
SoMa 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 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Alexander ClarkSoMa transaction commentary and buyer strategy | 5/514 · Zillow profile, sales in the preceding 12 months. | Not established | 2/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| James TestaHigh-rise and luxury-condo experience | Not establishedNot established | Not established | 3/5 | 4/5 | Not established |
| Judy Chen PakSoMa Grand transaction experience | Not establishedNot established | Not established | 2/5 | Not established | Not established |
| Matt WoebckeCondo, investment and Millennium Tower work | 5/521 · Zillow team profile, sales in the preceding 12 months. | Not established | 3/5 | Not established | 4/5 |
| Patrick GonzalesCurrent condo activity and property management | 5/511 · Realtor.com recent-sales count; platform scope applies. | Not established | 2/5 | Not established | 3/5 |
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: SoMa 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 SoMa. Caley’s analytical background is useful when the purchase price is only one line in the decision. Compare HOA dues, planned capital work, insurance, rental rules, parking and the building’s resale record before deciding what a unit is worth to you.
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 4/5
- San Francisco homeowner and investor, with Berkeley education.
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 ↗
Willowmar describes Caley as a Hayes Valley homeowner and multifamily investor with renovation experience. Her Birch and Linden project stories document layout, building-improvement and rental-preparation work. Ask her to connect that experience to the condition, ownership documents and budget of the property you are considering.
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 SoMa transaction.
529 Birch Street: Tenancy in common (Redfin classification). Selected transaction, not total production. San Francisco example, not a SoMa 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 SoMa 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.
Alexander Clark
theFrontSteps / Side · CA DRE #01339386
A San Francisco broker who publishes frequent SoMa transaction commentary across lofts, condos and high-rises.
The evidence behind Alexander’s ratings
- Recent experience 5/5
- Public profile activity count; platform scope applies.
Alexander Clark Zillow profile ↗ - Local knowledge Not established
- Selected local work is shown below; residence is not inferred from an office or transaction.
Alexander Clark Zillow profile ↗ - Analytical expertise 2/5
- Public profile describes advisory, pricing or negotiation work.
Alexander Clark Zillow profile ↗ - Education 4/5
- Public profile documents a completed degree.
Alexander Clark Zillow profile ↗ - Reviews 3/5
- Public review profile rating and count.
Alexander Clark Zillow profile ↗
Why consider this agent
- A San Francisco broker who publishes frequent SoMa transaction commentary across lofts, condos and high-rises.
- 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
317 Harriet Street #18 · SoMa
Exact closing date not used · $1,165,000
Transaction analysis published by agent
Public article discusses the closed price and property; represented side is not claimed.
317 Harriet Street #18 transaction commentary ↗
Alexander Clark’s official profile ↗
Alexander Clark Zillow profile ↗ · 317 Harriet Street #18 transaction commentary ↗
James Testa
Compass · CA DRE #01844991
A high-rise-focused San Francisco agent and Millennium Tower resident with business and marketing education.
The evidence behind James’s ratings
- Recent experience Not established
- A comparable 12-month activity count was not established.
James Testa Compass profile ↗ - Local knowledge Not established
- Selected local work is shown below; residence is not inferred from an office or transaction.
James Testa Compass profile ↗ - Analytical expertise 3/5
- Public profile describes advisory, pricing or negotiation work.
James Testa Compass profile ↗ - Education 4/5
- Public profile documents a completed degree.
James Testa Compass profile ↗ - Reviews Not established
- No current Google or Zillow rating and count were established.
James Testa Compass profile ↗
Why consider this agent
- A high-rise-focused San Francisco agent and Millennium Tower resident with business and marketing education.
- 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
301 Mission Street #25E · SoMa
October 9, 2026 · $1,200,000
Listing agent
Realtor.com identifies James Testa as the seller’s representative.
301 Mission Street #25E property record ↗
James Testa’s official profile ↗
James Testa Compass profile ↗ · 301 Mission Street #25E property record ↗
Judy Chen Pak
Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty · CA DRE #01999764
A Bay Area agent with public sales history at SoMa Grand and a substantial Zillow transaction record.
The evidence behind Judy’s ratings
- Recent experience Not established
- A comparable 12-month activity count was not established.
Judy Chen Pak Zillow profile ↗ - Local knowledge Not established
- Selected local work is shown below; residence is not inferred from an office or transaction.
Judy Chen Pak Zillow profile ↗ - Analytical expertise 2/5
- Public profile describes advisory, pricing or negotiation work.
Judy Chen Pak Zillow profile ↗ - Education Not established
- Education was not established in the reviewed profile.
Judy Chen Pak Zillow profile ↗ - Reviews Not established
- No current Google or Zillow rating and count were established.
Judy Chen Pak Zillow profile ↗
Why consider this agent
- A Bay Area agent with public sales history at SoMa Grand and a substantial Zillow transaction record.
- 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
1160 Mission Street #1405 · SoMa
April 10, 2025 · $525,000
Listing agent
MLS record identifies Judy Chen Pak as listing agent.
1160 Mission Street #1405 MLS record ↗
Judy Chen Pak’s official profile ↗
Judy Chen Pak Zillow profile ↗ · 1160 Mission Street #1405 MLS record ↗
Matt Woebcke
Vanguard Properties · CA DRE #01831584
A San Francisco native with condo and investment-property experience and a recent Millennium Tower listing sale.
The evidence behind Matt’s ratings
- Recent experience 5/5
- Public profile activity count; platform scope applies.
Matt Woebcke Realtor.com and Zillow profiles ↗ - Local knowledge Not established
- Selected local work is shown below; residence is not inferred from an office or transaction.
Matt Woebcke Realtor.com and Zillow profiles ↗ - Analytical expertise 3/5
- Public profile describes advisory, pricing or negotiation work.
Matt Woebcke Realtor.com and Zillow profiles ↗ - Education Not established
- Education was not established in the reviewed profile.
Matt Woebcke Realtor.com and Zillow profiles ↗ - Reviews 4/5
- Public review profile rating and count.
Matt Woebcke Realtor.com and Zillow profiles ↗
Why consider this agent
- A San Francisco native with condo and investment-property experience and a recent Millennium Tower listing 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
301 Mission Street #5H · SoMa
September 1, 2026 · $575,000
Listing agent
Public MLS record identifies Matthew Woebcke as listing agent.
301 Mission Street #5H MLS record ↗
Matt Woebcke’s official profile ↗
Matt Woebcke Realtor.com and Zillow profiles ↗ · 301 Mission Street #5H MLS record ↗
Patrick Gonzales
KW Advisors · CA DRE #02050639
A San Francisco native with condo and property-management experience and a recent SoMa Grand listing sale.
The evidence behind Patrick’s ratings
- Recent experience 5/5
- Public profile activity count; platform scope applies.
Patrick Gonzales Realtor.com profile ↗ - Local knowledge Not established
- Selected local work is shown below; residence is not inferred from an office or transaction.
Patrick Gonzales Realtor.com profile ↗ - Analytical expertise 2/5
- Public profile describes advisory, pricing or negotiation work.
Patrick Gonzales Realtor.com profile ↗ - Education Not established
- Education was not established in the reviewed profile.
Patrick Gonzales Realtor.com profile ↗ - Reviews 3/5
- Public review profile rating and count.
Patrick Gonzales Realtor.com profile ↗
Why consider this agent
- A San Francisco native with condo and property-management experience and a recent SoMa Grand listing 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
1160 Mission Street #1708 · SoMa
July 30, 2026 · $963,500
Listing agent
Compass property record identifies Patrick Gonzales as a listing agent.
1160 Mission Street #1708 Compass record ↗
Patrick Gonzales’s official profile ↗
Patrick Gonzales Realtor.com profile ↗ · 1160 Mission Street #1708 Compass record ↗
How to interview a SoMa real estate agent
Interview for the building, not just SoMa.
A loft on Folsom, a full-service tower near Market and a newer condo near the ballpark do not share the same buyer pool or expense structure. Ask the agent for transactions in the same building or the closest true substitute, then make them explain the differences.
Read the HOA package as a financial statement.
Reserves, insurance, pending assessments, litigation, elevator work, staffing and delinquency can matter more than a renovated kitchen. Ask who will review the documents, which issues need specialist advice and how each item changes your offer or list-price strategy.
Use resale history from the exact stack when possible.
Views, floor height, orientation, parking and monthly dues can produce large spreads inside one address. Start with the same building and stack, then widen the search carefully. In SoMa, a citywide condo median is context, not a pricing answer.
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 ↗
SoMa market data: what it means for buyers and sellers
SoMa is too varied for one building-blind neighborhood number to guide a decision. Compare the exact building, stack, floor plan, parking rights, dues and recent resale history before widening the search.
SoMa 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 SoMa
Who is the best realtor in SoMa?
Caley Zheng is our #1 recommendation for SoMa buyers and sellers who want an analytical review of the unit, building finances and long-term value. She is also our co-founder. Compare her approach with the five other agents on this page.
What should I ask a SoMa realtor?
Ask for recent work in the same building or a true substitute. Have the agent explain HOA reserves, insurance, assessments, litigation, rental rules, parking rights, planned capital work and the resale history of the exact floor plan or stack.
Why does building experience matter so much in SoMa?
Monthly dues, staffing, insurance, elevators, façades, amenities and pending projects vary widely. Two similar units can carry different risk and resale prospects because the buildings are managed and financed differently.
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 SoMa realtor charge?
Fees and services are negotiable. Compare written proposals using the same price assumptions, preparation or inspection 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
Matt Woebcke · 7 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
- Matt Fuller: California DRE license history ↗ · Checked
- Matt Fuller: public client accounts ↗ · Checked
Agreements and consumer resources · 42 sources
- 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
- 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
- Alexander Clark Zillow profile ↗ · Checked
- 317 Harriet Street #18 transaction commentary ↗ · Checked
- James Testa Compass profile ↗ · Checked
- 301 Mission Street #25E property record ↗ · Checked
- Judy Chen Pak Zillow profile ↗ · Checked
- 1160 Mission Street #1405 MLS record ↗ · Checked
- Patrick Gonzales Realtor.com profile ↗ · Checked
- 1160 Mission Street #1708 Compass record ↗ · Checked
- Matt Woebcke Realtor.com and Zillow profiles ↗ · Checked
- 301 Mission Street #5H MLS record ↗ · Checked
What’s new
- : Published with neighborhood-specific interview advice, six sourced agent profiles, selected local or nearby transaction examples, and Caley Zheng as our featured company recommendation.