Sara Min Zhao

1/15/24Ying Fang

Google Review

1/6/24Lori Pino

Google Review

We first learned about Sara and her “Ponytail” team many years ago from an acquaintance who highly recommended her services. Since then, we have had the pleasure of working with Sara and her team several times, once with Sara serving as both selling and buying agent demonstrating her versatility. What we appreciate most is her straight-forward yet ebullient nature regarding the process of buying and/or selling a property.

Upon our first meeting, we received a detailed verbal and written description of what to expect from our buying/selling experience. Sara then proceeded to assist us in meeting our goals by outlining a realistic game plan including a timeline for achieving benchmarks given our resources in the current home buying/selling market. Most of all, Sara listened to us, respected our wishes (even if we were off the mark) and gave her honest recommendations.

Sara and her team are accessible and ready to assist in any way possible. From her years of experience in real estate, Sara has forged a vast network of trustworthy (and friendly!) associates—lenders, title agents, notaries, contractors, inspectors, landscapers, etc.—leaving the buyer/seller with a sense of confidence that they are in good hands.

Sara and her team are also very flexible and operate without pressuring you as the buyer/seller even if there’s a hiccup. For example, as we proceeded to sell our house in this current, unpredictable (high-interest rate) market, we found ourselves in a lurch when a prospective buyer backed out at the last minute, no fault from us or the Ponytail team. Sara was as disappointed as we were, but immediately pivoted by presenting us with new options and a positive outlook. She helped us to push the “reset” button and find a new buyer in short order.

Now, we are off to pursue our dream of living in a tropical paradise. Our only advice about enlisting Sara and the Ponytail team would be to be prepared. Working with Sara can be like jumping onto a running freight train. It can be quite a ride so be serious about your intentions and be ready to pull your weight. Overall, our experience has been fluid and fun!

Lori/Raimo

1/5/24Chris Chavez

Google Review

Sara is brilliant, pragmatic and indefatigable. She understood our needs and brought her vision, industry expertise and network, and her talent for marketing and closing the deal to bear to achieve our goal of getting our house to market quickly with just the work and upgrades needed to stand out and sell by year-end, and did it with a very modest budget that was well spent. Throughout it all, she was upbeat and on top of every detail. She smoothed out every bump along the way. I recommend her highly.

10/30/23Ted Arnold

Google Review

Sara is one of the most knowledgeable and well-known realtors in the area. Each time I went to an open house independently all the realtors knew her and expressed respect for how she represented her clients. She has an extensive team that assists in any aspect of the process. You can't go wrong with Sar Min Zhou, Ponytail.

10/15/23Candace Jones

Google Review

Sara was an amazing East Bay realtor for my family. She originally worked with my mother, who unexpectedly passed away early in the sales process. When she died, our family decided to pause the sale. Sara was incredibly patient and understanding throughout that period so there was no question in our minds once we were ready to restart the process. We wanted Sara, the no. 1 agent in the area, to be our realtor! She was compassionate towards our needs and incredibly competent throughout the sale. It was evident why Sara is a top agent. In addition to facilitating normal activities, she connected us with qualified contractors to ready the home for maximum sell potential. In the end, we received a competitive offer for the home and completed the process smoothly. I would gladly work with Sara and her team again for my future real estate needs.

9/27/23Jack Chung

Google Review

Sara did a fantastic job for us. She was efficient and professional throughout the whole process. We received an over asking offer before the first open house and closed in 30 days. She had great suggestions on what would make our home look great for the sale. The staging company she used was fantastic. We would highly recommend Sara for any of your real estate needs.

9/23/23Jane Robertson

Google Review

Sara was great to work with. Flexible, fun and very helpful. We would work with her again for sure. Found us the perfect place.

9/8/23Darla Engelmann

Google Review

Sara and her team took care of everything as I pack my stuff and moved across the country, leaving Sara to take care of making my home ready for listing. Sara and her team are professionals who know their business, the area, the neighborhood and the market. She sold my home at a good price and I can now purchase a new home in a new area of the country.

8/14/23Mark Ledbetter

Google Review

Sara was personally interested in us and our situation, and at the same time the consummate professional, knowledgeable about all the intricacies involved in selling a house. She guided and eased us through the entire process so that a minimum of work was required on our part. Many thanks, Sara!

6/5/23Peter Nervo

Google Review

Very professional, sold my condo within a month.
thank you...

4/5/23Capri Roth

Google Review

Sara's team was great to work with and really took the stress out of selling our house.

4/4/23Carl M.

Google Review

Sara Zhao did a fantastic job helping us find the harbor front Marina Bay condo of our dreams and negotiate and close the deal for a great price and minimum of drama, thank you Sara you and your team are the best!

3/21/23mike Stough

Google Review

Sara and her team are the best. Very communicative throughout the process. Sara made several recommendations on how to prep our home for sale which would provide most bang for our buck and interest buyers. Boy was she right. We listed our property and after 1 showing, we received multiple offers. We couldn't be happier working with Sara and her team.

3/13/23Paula Van Der Zwaan

Google Review

Sara and her team were awesome, Sara makes sure to do anything she can to get you your dream home. It was such a pleasure having her as my realtor. I would recommend her and her team to anyone who is looking for a realtor!

1/20/23Luisa Tsang

Google Review

Sara was wonderful! She is so knowledgeable and well connected in the Marina Bay community. I wanted a particular house in Marina Bay and she referred me to a loan broker who was great to work with and quickly got me preapproved. After that, Sara dealt with the negotiations and inspections very efficiently. We closed within 15 days! And below listing price after some tough negotiations! Sara had all the connections to call for such a quick turnaround time. It has always been my mom’s dream to own a SFH in the Bay Area and I have always wanted to make it happen for her. Thanks to Sara and her team, our dream became a reality!

1/16/23Mohammad Taheri

Google Review

My wife and I were extremely lucky to have Sara as our realtor. Sara was on top of every single details including preparing the docs, scheduling for house visit, reading and reviewing many documents provided by the listing agent to make sure nothing is missing, and many more. She is available to discuss odds and ends with you during the day or weekend, early in the morning or night! she is available for you to clarify real estate related things.
We strongly recommend Sara to anyone who wants to buy/sell a property.
Thank you Sara for everything and finding us our dream home :)

1/4/23Lunar Onovakpuri

Google Review

Sara and team were amazing communicating every detail of the home selling process every step of the way.

11/11/22Claire Ortalda

Google Review

Sara handled both the purchase of my new home and the selling of my property in Berkeley. I purchased at a time of great upheaval in my life and it's only in retrospect that I realize that Sara subtly guided to me to the absolutely best housing/living/thriving solution for me. Now I wake up every morning in my gorgeous home and say, "Thank you, Sara!" On the selling end, I was a co-owner and we had a rather unique situation. Sara and her team went out of their way to handle our issues and shape up our property to get the best price possible and a very quick sale, well above the original offer(s). Again, thank you, Sara! I think we all must realize that home purchase and sale are beyond business transactions (which, by the way, Sara is a whiz at.) It's about our lives, past, present and future, and it's great to have a wise and experienced guide like Sara to help us through the transition. Thanks, also, to David, who went above and beyond the call of duty!

11/6/22Tiffany Chou

Google Review

Sara helped us sell our condo in Marina Bay. We have seen her signs in the neighborhood for years and knew that she has extensive knowledge and experience in dealing with properties in this area. We contacted her right away after deciding to sell our condo, and it was the best decision we ever made. She walked us through the process of listing a house, offering suggestions on listing strategies and repairs to make. After we moved out of the condo, she took over basically everything for us. We used the services and teams she recommended for repairs, move-out cleaning, and staging, and everything was done perfectly. The house was sold quickly and at full price at a time when the housing market was not as hot as before. We couldn't be happier with the results! Sara, Kevin, and the rest of her team deserve our most sincere thanks for their efficient and excellent work. We are so appreciative and glad that we used her as our selling agent.

10/28/22Tae K

Google Review

My journey with Sara had been very personal from the beginning. I have gone to Sara’s open houses for several years in the past and met her there. She was very pleasant to talk with. She was very fierce and was very driven. I was hesitant about what to do with my current situation and when I approached Sara, she gave me assurance about my decision. She said I have to try first. She always carried a positive attitude and drove me to never give up hope and to grow patience in the process. My journey with her was more challenging because I was selling and buying at the same time, but with her and her team by my side, I was always assured with, “I got you.” With long years of experience, she was very trustworthy. She was very knowledgeable about the market. She was always on schedule, always knew what to do next if there was hindrance. She was 2-3 steps ahead of me to resolve any issues and was constantly working with her team and her peers to get things done on time. She was transparent and professional in her way of communication. She gave me emotional support when needed.

Looking back, I feel like my journey had been some kind of a miracle. It was a very stressful and tough journey for sure, but Sara and her team’s hard work led to a happy ending for me. It was so worth a try, like Sara had told me. I am very grateful for the property I got to own because of them. I would recommend Sara and her team to anyone who wants to sell or buy real estate. I promised Sara to work with her again in the future for my next house.

10/26/22Joanne Palmisano

Google Review

We could not have asked for a more attentive and professional agent than Sara. It is not easy to both represent the buyer and the seller in a real estate transaction, but Sara did just that with the most ethical balance to provide each of us with the best opportunity to reach our goal for a fair price and prompt settlement. Her staff is top notch. Sara exceeded our expectations and we highly recommend her.

10/17/22Ivan

Google Review

Sara and the AskPonytail team helped us sell our home of 19 years and brough our next house. Here is the quick summary of our experience.
1.Deep knowledge of real estate market
2.Trusted advisor
3.A great team and a network of high caliber experts
Sara was the third realtor we have worked with in the past 12 months. We connected with Sara via her ad in local advertisement. Unlike the two previous realtors who preferred phone call or set up Zoom introductory meeting, Sara dropped by our house and discuss our plan. Once we finalized the plan, Sara provided her inputs and contacts to help prepare our house for target buyers. This is a critical aspect of putting a house for sale in the Bay Area. Sara’s expertise in interior design and a deep understanding of buyer’s mindset had a direct influence on the final selling price of the property. Our property was listed for sale on September 20th and we accepted a competitive offer by the 23rd. Please keep in mind that this was the time when mortgage rate was around 6.5%, many home prices dropped, and listings stayed on market for more than 30 days. Sara also helped us strategized the offering for our next home and ultimately purchased the house. Sara is also a great communicator. She is a know-it-all when it comes to real estate, yet she’s never once forced her ideas on us. She is more like a trusted advisor who develops a plan based on client’s reference and comfort level. Her team acts the same way, and her referrals are also high caliber experts in their field. The quality of communication and speedy response are consistent in every step of the selling and buying journey. We are fortunate and grateful to have known Sara and follow her charted course to very satisfactory outcomes!

10/14/22April Nguyen

Google Review

I have worked with Sara on multiple properties and her performance is always outstanding!

8/4/22Rachel Powers

Google Review

I cannot recommend Sara and her team enough. Having seen her open house signs throughout the Bay Area she was the first realtor I contacted to sell my condo. I was not looking forward to the selling process, however after speaking with Sara on the phone and then meeting with her in person I felt excitement and relief. She explained the process, inquired about my goals, and shared her approach. Sara and her team followed through with everything they told me they would and more.

7/24/22G Hanna

Google Review

Sara and her entire team did a fantastic job managing the recent sale of our Marina Bay condo! She has an exceptional understanding of the Marina Bay market and was able to quickly find a buyer and negotiate the sale. From start to finish, communication was excellent, and Sara and her team were extraordinarily knowledgeable and helpful. We will definitely want to have Sara handle our future real estate needs!

5/17/22Stanley Mak

Google Review

Sara and her team did a great job selling our condo. From the staging service to her vast knowledge of the Marina Bay market, Sara and her team made the sale of our condo, quick and stress free.

5/16/22David Karosick

Google Review

Sara and her team made what could have been a complicated and stressful selling process so clear and smooth. Selling property in our area can be tricky, and we were prepared for the worst. Luckily we decided to go with the BEST! It really helps to have a knowledgeable realtor like Sara to navigate the process. She and her team bring a lot of experience to bear on behalf of their clients, and, as first time sellers, we really appreciated them always being easy to get in touch with and walking us through every part of the process. We cannot recommend Sara enough!!!

4/21/22Bryan Parsons

Google Review

Sara and her team were top notch from the beginning and throughout. Sara helped us strategize about selling well before our home was listed- including timing, pricing, and recommended home improvements. Getting in touch with Sara was always easy- and I really appreciated her timely responses. One of the things I appreciated most was that she had vendor recommendations for every project we decided to do- both big and small. In our case we moved out of the property (moved cross-country) and felt totally comfortable that Sara would keep our home safe and secure in our absence. Even after we closed, Sara's team continued to be incredibly helpful- a package was delivered to our old address and her team picked it up and sent it to us- "above and beyond" is how I would describe working with Sara.

3/14/22Randal Lane

Google Review

We started our house search 6 months ago with Sara and her team at Ask Ponytail. We heard about Ask Ponytail from a friend’s Realtor. Among all of the referrals we had from friends and family, we decided to work with Ask Ponytail because of the references they had online.

As first-time homebuyers, our options seemed limited. Our hope was to find a 3+ Bedroom 2 Bath home for less than 900k in a market where some 2 bedroom homes were going for over 1 million in the area we were looking at. Finding a home that was within our financial reach was difficult given that homes are being overbid by hundreds of thousands of dollars and some of those homes needed more than 100k in foundation or other work to make them qualify for a loan.

Despite incredible odds, Sara was able to find us a home for 800k (only 100k over asking), with practically no issues found during the inspections, in the area that we were looking in. The house looked too good to be true, but Sara advised us to go all-in on this particular property.

To our delight, the bid was accepted and we were off to the races! As first-time home buyers, we had to learn a lot very quickly about the escrow process. At every turn, Team Ask Ponytail was there to give us answers to any questions we had. Kevin was a huge help in answering our questions and also keeping the process moving when things felt stuck.

We could not be happier about our 4 bedroom 2 bath home! We would not be here if it were not for the thoroughly professional and knowledgeable team that Sara has put together! We would highly recommend working with Ask Ponytail!

2/27/22Patricia Welch

Google Review

Professional, friendly, efficient Realator. She understands the market. Gets fast results.

1/17/22Sharon Herbert

Google Review

My landlady would not let me out of my rental agreement early, and Sara offered to waive her commission to help cover my closing costs, so that I could pay my rent. This was a huge help and if it wasn't for her generous offer, I wouldn't be in my new house! Sara is willing to work with both the seller and buyer to ensure each party gets what they want and need. I would definitely recommend her to other people!

12/8/21Charissa Bautista

Google Review

We’ve worked with Sara and her assistants to buy our very first condo then sold it with her then lastly, purchased a single family home. So let’s just say, we’ve worked with her a lot from being a first time home buyers to selling. Sara and her assistants are very helpful and responsive. Given this was our first time - Sara did not hesitate at all when it came to explaining every step of the way for us to understand. Also, they were all very flexible when it comes to viewing houses and open house schedules!

2/26/21Ellen Conners

Google Review

YOU WANT SARA TO BE YOUR REALTOR!!

We contacted her initially just to sell our condo in Marina Bay, and area she specializes in (seriously, her listings are all over the place because she is SO good), but we figured we'd need to hire a separate agent to buy a new home because we were looking in Concord & Martinez. But we ended up using Sara to buy a home too because she gave us her all, and really is so knowledgeable about the greater East Bay real estate market.

We did our entire selling/buying search during the pandemic and she was always so professional and cautious, showing up masked and helping us feel safe showing our home.

Sara is warm, friendly, and makes you feel like you are her only client. She is responsive, quick, and will always go the extra mile for you! I would ask her to be my realtor again in a heartbeat!

12/15/20Adah Cerminara

Google Review

We hired Sara to list and sell our house in Marina Bay. She came highly recommended by our neighbors and we had seen her signs all over Marina Bay. She was quick to set up a meeting with us, and we liked her from the start. She was friendly, knowledgeable, and offered us good ideas for prepping for sale. She provides lots of services, and we were able to select the ones that made the most sense for us. At this time, we were also getting ready to move across the country (and did so right before listing), and Sara made the process as easy as possible for us. She picked up where we left off in having our garage door replaced, she had all of the necessary updates and inspections taken care of, and she did the staging and photos. Basically, after we hired Sara, she did everything. She kept us posted on important updates after we moved, and she even sent us a housewarming gift when we settled into our new place. Our house in Marina Bay sold quickly and at full price. The process was so much easier than we imaged it would have been, and Sara and her team were excellent every step of the way. We highly recommend them!