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John Solaegui

San Francisco, CA

Compass

About John Solaegui

I am John Solaegui (say it like So-Leggy) and I have enjoyed being a top residential real estate agent since 2003, consistently ranking in the top 2% in sales production San Francisco. I was named among the top real estate professionals in an annual ranking sponsored by REAL Trends/Trulia, a highly ....

John Solaegui’s reviews (33)

Client review

We had the pleasure of working with John Solaegui and George Whitney during our search for a second home in San Francisco, which took over a year. During that time, they became far more than real estate agents helping us evaluate properties and craft offers aEUR" they became trusted advisors whose judgment we came to rely on completely. In a process that is often defined by transactions and timelines, John and George brought something far more meaningful to the table: judgment you could trust and a partnership you could rely on. Whenever we were seriously considering a property, they moved with remarkable efficiency. They gathered disclosures quickly, prepared thoughtful comparables, and spent time walking us through every nuance of the opportunity aEUR" the risks, the possibilities, and the strategy. The process was always thorough and collaborative. Along the way, we lost out on two condos we had been genuinely excited about aEUR" moments that can make a home search feel discouraging. But what stayed with us afterward was a deep appreciation for the care, responsiveness, and professionalism with which they worked on our behalf. Even in those moments, we felt fortunate to have them representing us. Throughout the entire process, John and George were consistently enthusiastic, patient, and generous with their time. No question ever felt trivial, and no conversation ever felt rushed. They were always available, prepared, and looking out for our best interests. They were also a valuable resource beyond the purchase itself, connecting us with reliable professionals when needed. Over the course of the year, what began as a professional relationship gradually became something warmer aEUR" a partnership built on trust, respect, and shared excitement about finding the right home. For that, and for everything they did along the way, we are deeply grateful to have worked with John and George.

Client review

We started our home search with a lot of anxiety and almost no information about the current market. We knew we needed experts we could trust implicitly. My husband and I worked with Lance Bullerwell and John Solaegui to buy our first home in Marin County, and the experience exceeded every expectation. As nervous, first-time buyers with no experience, we were worried the process would be overwhelming, but Lance and John turned it into an exciting, confident journey. What could have been a stressful ordeal was actually fun. From the beginning, they anticipated every question, handled the details flawlessly, and kept us informed and empowered at every step. Their professionalism, clear communication, and genuine care made the whole process feel seamless and joyful. Were thrilled with our new home and deeply grateful for their support. We cant recommend Lance, John, and The Haven Group highly enough.

Client review

I was one of the indecisive buyers, on and off the real estate market in SF for years. John and his team were extremely kind and patient throughout those times, and tirelessly accommodated me. So when the right time came and my husband and I found a place, without hesitation, I contacted them. They reached out to their networks and helped us pull through an offer letter in less than 48 hours and guided us through the entire journey. No doubt they are experts in their field but they go above an beyond and project-managed all the parties to make sure we were on target to meet the tight turnaround times. It was a seamless process and everyone in the market seemed to enjoy working with them. Thanks John and the Haven Group for finding our first home!

Client review

I cant recommend John, Marcelo, and the team enough! They were instrumental in helping my husband and me find our first home. Their extensive knowledge of the real estate market and keen understanding of market dynamics made the entire process seamless. They were incredibly patient, allowing us to explore options without any pressure to make quick decisions. John and Marcelo consistently reassured us that we would find the right home, and their support made all the difference. If youre looking for a dedicated and trustworthy broker team, this is the group to go for!

Client review

We couldnt have asked for a better team than The Haven Group to help us purchase our first home. As first-time homebuyers, my husband and I worked with John and Lance, who guided us through every step of the process as we found our dream condo in Lower Nob Hill, San Francisco. We were first introduced to The Haven Group through social media and reached out via their website for a consultation. From our very first phone call with John, we knew we wanted to work with him. He and his team were extremely professional, thoughtful, and, most importantly, great listeners. One question John asked early on, aEURoeWhat can we do to make you happy?aEUR?, truly stood out to us and reflected the teams genuine dedication to their clients. Throughout our seven-month search across multiple San Francisco neighborhoods, both John and Lance were consistently patient, communicative, and honest. They took the time to understand our evolving needs / preferences after every tour and always made us feel supported. While we initially focused on the Rincon Hill/downtown area, their insights and guidance helped us discover and ultimately fall in love with an area we hadnt originally considered. When it came time to make an offer, John and Lance eased our uncertainty and gave us the confidence to move forward. They helped us prepare and submit a strong offer within just three days of touring the home, and their expertise, responsiveness, and efficiency were instrumental in securing our condo. Not only did we gain a home through this process, but we also built a meaningful relationship with a team we truly trust. John and Lance made what can be a stressful experience genuinely enjoyable. We are incredibly grateful to have worked with them and look forward to working with them again in the future. We wholeheartedly recommend John Solaegui, Lance Bullerwell, and The Haven Group at Compass to anyone looking to buy a home in San Francisco.

Client review

From his first meeting with us through close of escrow, John Solaegui was prepared and professional, kind, friendly, and calm. He and his team at Haven Group aEUR" we also worked with George Whitney and Chirs Sanchez aEUR" developed a strategy that let us test the market for our house, then rapidly and efficiently adapted to the information gained. The folks they brought into the process aEUR" escrow company, inspectors, and so on aEUR" were reliable and proficient. Haven Group calmly and steadily guided us to a very successful and quick sale that exceeded our expectations. Highly recommended!

Client review

I rarely write reviews, but I feel compelled to share the exceptional service I received from the Haven Group SF? John Solaegui and his outstanding team, Jacob Itsekson and Chris Sanchez. John is extremely knowledgeable, responsive, ethical and patient. He carefully guided us through the complexities of selling a fully rented multi-unit building in San Francisco, explaining all our options in a clear and easy-to-understand manner. During the process, some unexpected and challenging issues arose. John handled each one promptly and professionally, always maintaining a calm and reassuring demeanor. Jacob went above and beyond to help us navigate and resolve the setbacks we faced. His dedication and responsiveness made a huge difference. Chris was consistently prompt, timely, and reliable throughout the entire process. Thanks to the team?s expertise and diligence, the sale stayed on track and escrow closed on time. Kudos to John and his team ? I highly recommend the Haven Group SF!

Client review

Working with John Solaegui was an absolute pleasure from start to finish. His intelligence and deep knowledge of the real estate market gave us confidence at every step, as he provided insightful guidance tailored to our needs. Johns kindness and patience stood out, making us feel supported and never rushed, even when we had endless questions or needed extra time to decide. His thorough approach ensured no detail was overlooked, from property research to paperwork, making the entire process seamless. Above all, John?s professionalism was impeccable?always prompt, clear, and dedicated to our best interests. We couldn?t have asked for a better agent and wholeheartedly recommend John to anyone looking for an exceptional real estate experience.

Client review

John and his team successfully orchestrated a lengthy and complicated sale of my SF home *while I had to be 4,000 miles away the entire time!* They helped me sell items I couldn't move, do all the necessary repairs, stage the place beautifully and finally sell it above asking price. John's knowledge and expertise, calm and respectful demeanor, focus on solutions rather than problems greatly helped the process. I would work with his team again in a heartbeat and will be recommending them to all my friends in SF Bay Area!

Client review

John is a very experienced realtor with extensive knowledge about the San Francisco market and neighborhoods. He is full of integrity and compassion which show in every facet of the work he does. It was a huge benefit to have him on our side when we bought our home in San Francisco.

Client review

John Solaegui and team were very comforting during our sales process. Every step of the way, John and Casey were available to discuss any detail or concern we had. Meeting in person at our property was always offered without hesitation. All the sales materials, website and photos were done quickly and professionally. We sold our place in one day and over asking as well as closed quickly in less than a month. Thank you John!

Client review

We started on a good note with John Solaegui, who later "delegated us" to his younger colleague, Lance. We trusted them both, but eventually it became painfully obvious how little they care about our best interest or the money we spend. They consistently kept pushing us to "put our best foot forward" and mentioning things along the lines of "if you offer $100,000 above the asking price, you won't even get a call from the seller's agent (we always did). Moreover, they made us overpay on the condo we bought even though they knew we were in a position to negotiate a lower price (they did not disclose this information to us until after we signed the documents). As we were closing, they said they would send a handyman to take care of the repairs that needed to be done. After we closed, we had to keep reminding them for almost 2 months before they were willing to send someone our way. We felt like they cared even less once they got our money. We were also apalled and shocked by Lance's level of unprofessionalism, and his lack of respect for privacy. He spread gossip about other agents . What is worse, after we bought the condo, he published our name, address, how much we paid for the condo, and our life story on his Instagram - without our permission. We regret hiring John and Lance as our agents and are now warning all our friends against them. Please don't repeat our mistake and don't do business with them.

Client review

We give John our absolute highest recommendation. My family and I moved to San Francisco a few years ago and waited for the right time to look to buy our first home here. We were incredibly fortunate to first be connected with John and his colleague George Whitney and to then work closely with them both on finding just the right property for our specific needs. The real estate market in San Francisco can be quite tricky to navigate. I cannot imagine anyone better than John to help when it comes time to buy or sell real estate here in the Bay Area. John has a wonderful, thoughtful manner, precise attention to detail, and deep knowledge of the market. We closed on our new condominium in late May and John and George have continued to stand by us and help as we have had some additional work done prior to our move. John could not be more professional. He is also a genuinely nice person and was a pleasure to spend time with during the many appointments we had together as we looked at a wide variety of different properties. In short, John is just the sort of advocate and sounding board that is needed when looking to buy a home in San Francisco.

Client review

We couldnt be more thrilled with the work that John and his team did to sell our home. They worked with us to ensure that our home was beautifully presented and marketed. The home sold in 9 days, and we received 10 offers! Everything went smoothly, and we actually closed the deal a week earlier than planned. Id highly recommend John and his team to anyone selling real estate in San Francisco!

Client review

I met and worked with Maitri while buying my first condo in SF beginning at the end of 2020. I worked closely with him and John Solaegui throughout the process, but Maitri was my primary point person for viewing properties, thinking about the market dynamics, and zero'ing in on the right property to put an offer in on. His knowledge of our local market and incredibly patient approach in walking me through the offer, disclosure, and negotiation process was impressive and notable. He was ready to answer every question I had and excellent at describing the nuances of real estate transactions and how to think about the finer points. I would readily work with him again and really appreciated his approach and very easy-going demeanor, which can be rare and traits in the real estate world!

Client review

We recently enlisted John's help in searching for a new home in San Francisco. We were very impressed with his knowledge of the local market, his willingness to view a wide range of properties with us to ensure we made the right decision, and his expertise in guiding us through the entire process from offer to close of escrow. His service was top notch in every aspect; we were especially impressed in that we were in the market during COVID when viewing properties was quite challenging, and we were searching from our current city, 300 miles away. Thank you John!

Client review

With COVID-19, it was such a strange time to try to sell our house. With his calm demeanor and industry expertise, John was able to make this process as stress free as possible. I cant say enough great things about John and his business partner, Maitri. Once we moved out, they handled everything and were able to quickly turn our home into a showcase. We received multiple offers over asking and had a swift closing. I highly recommend John and his business partner Maitri without reservation.

Client review

John is The One. Really. He and his team have helped us purchase our home in San Francisco as well as sell our home 5 years later. In both instances, he has gone above and beyond. 1) I cannot say enough about his knowledge about all aspects of SF real estate. Because he has such a detailed, nuance understanding of all aspects of SF real estate, he is able to advise in all aspects: buying, selling, renting, investment. We looked into purchasing investment property which we decided against because we have since moved to a different state, but he was the right person to have on our team in that process as well. 2) He is dedicated. While we were working with him on the sale of our home, he had a very difficult family event occur. He shared with us what had happened. He told us that work helps him to heal. He did not miss a beat. He was super responsive, present, and continued to make us feel that we were his top priority. We were wowed. 3) Most importantly, he really gets to know you. By the time we were done with the purchase of our home 5 years ago, he felt like family. This is so important!! Because he got to know our wants, our hopes for our family. He got to know our communication styles, but also our dysfunctions. My husband and I are Very different. John was able to navigate that respectfully, professionally, patiently allowing us to come to decisions together. 4) He is patient. There was never a sense of rush during the purchase of our home, the consideration of purchase of an investment property, or the sale of our home. This is an incredible plus as we have worked with other real estate agents who seem to want to push you into decisions. We never felt that this was the case with John. 5) His team. We worked closely with George who filled the role of John's right hand person so well. He helped coordinate the cleaning, staging, fixing up of our home before the sale. He even helped us move some of our things! He is kind, smart, and really on it as well. Besides George, John has in his pocket, contractors, stagers, painters, designers. They are all top notch and good people. A find in San Francisco. This is a long review, but it doesn't come close to speaking to all of the love that I have for John and his team. John is the one!

Client review

John was excellent to work with. Extremely helpful, honest and knowledgable. He knows EVERYONE in real estate. He listened to everything we wanted and I never felt any pressure from him. I truly felt like he had my best interested at heart. I would definitely recommend him!

Client review

We found John through a realtor that we trusted through multiple transactions in Palo Alto. For the next adventure we needed someone who knew the San Francisco market and the recommendation was John, without hesitation. The three best things about John during this transaction: 1) John knows San Francisco. Inside and out. When your goal is "move to San Francisco" there are so many options. John was able to provide guidance about what area we could look in given price and desired amenities. 2) John is committed. Over the course of several weeks we visited several properties and he was always available to discuss new ideas or schedule visits. I'm sure he has other clients but I always thought he had plenty of time for me. 3) John has support. The team at Compass was super helpful. They have a portal where we are able to discuss the different properties available in a dedicated chat. This allowed us to talk through the pros and cons of each of the houses. And there are other people on his team that we could meet with as well. For my next purchase or sale in San Francisco, I will call John Solaegui.

Client review

Based on the recommendation of not one but two trusted coworkers, my husband and I decided to work with John and Maitris team to buy our very first home. Throughout the entire, somewhat daunting process, John and Maitri were knowledgeable, available, and supportive. Working with them was easy and efficient, and throughout the process their rich knowledge of real estate (Maitri also has experience working on the mortgage brokering side) and San Francisco (Johns experience in the city is long and his knowledge of the ins and outs of SF is vast) made us feel comfortable and confident. As this was our first home purchase, we were hesitant to rush in to anything and took our time exploring neighborhoods and open houses to determine where we wanted to live and what we were looking for in a house. John and Maitri did not rush us and emphasized the importance of us feeling comfortable with any decision we made. They were patient with us as we made endless spreadsheets and over time changed our minds as to what we were looking for, what neighborhoods we were targeting, and what our budget looked like. Their support during this period allowed us to narrow in on what actually mattered to us and also to get a much better feel for the rhythm of the SF housing market especially with regards to pricing. All of this culminated in us being completely ready by the time we made our first offer - we had pre-approvals in place from multiple lenders, understood all the terms of the disclosures and the offer letters, and had a very good sense not only for what we wanted in a house but also for how much we thought would be fair to pay in such a crazy market. We were able to make a compelling offer that we felt fully comfortable with on the first try; this level of confidence is not something we would have had on our own and was in large part thanks to the support and patience of John and Maitri. As a result, our first offer was accepted and we are now living in a home we love in a neighborhood that is perfect for our lifestyle, confident that we did not over pay. We are grateful to Maitri and John for their help in this process and would fully recommend them to any other potential San Francisco home buyers.

Client review

This was our Congregation's first experience in working with John and we will certainly work with him again in the SF region. John provided excellent management of the selling process for an Eichler apartment in Laguna Heights that was gifted to the Congregation. He oversaw the minor remodeling and updating of the unit, as well as, hazard removal and staging. We felt John went beyond the call of duty in working with other vendors to prepare for the sale. John also was able to coordinate between the Home Owners Association Board, the seller, and the buyer in executing all the required documents. And throughout the whole process, he did this with a kind, delightful, and upbeat attitude. We were very happy with our final sales prices, and John made the process painless and efficient. Thank you John!

Client review

As first-time home buyers navigating a difficult San Francisco real estate market, we interviewed a number of real estate agents recommended by friends and colleagues. Immediately, we were impressed by John's patience, deep knowledge, and friendly demeanor - it was an easy decision for us to move forward with him. Both of us are lawyers, and consequently we like to ask a lot of technical questions about the process, the market, and the offer process. John methodically answered all of our questions and made sure we were satisfied. He took time to visit many places we were interested in, even when it meant meeting up at odd hours to see listings. And when we toured places on our own, other agents always knew John and had positive things to say about our choice of agent. He helped us navigate the offer process and made sure we put together competitive packages. And when we initially lost out in multiple-bid situations--as is inevitable, its seems, in this market--John helped us keep our resolve to find a place that was perfect for us. He ensured we had a smooth closing process, even when small hiccups came up, which kept our anxiety about the process to a minimum. We're now happily settled in our new place, and couldn't have asked for a better experience. John came to us via word of mouth, and we've since paid that forward, recommending him to a number of different friends and colleagues.

Client review

We completed a real estate purchase with John Solaegui several years ago and had terrific results. We've stayed in touch with him and been happy to refer him to friends recently who also have been very happy with his results. John not only is a consummate professional with a deep understanding of the San Francisco real estate market but he is also an especially congenial person to do business with. He is always available to us to bounce ideas off of as we continue to explore real estate opportunities. John works hard to negotiate the best deal possible in this very competitive market. We highly recommend John for your real estate needs in San Francisco

Client review

Purchasing a home in the current San Francisco market is a daunting task, and we are so grateful to have had John by our side. Throughout the process, John was extremely patient and calm, which made him very pleasant to work with, while at the same time he worked incredibly hard and quickly to help us succeed in finding our new home. It feels like these two traits should be incompatible -- being simultaneously so calm and pleasant but also extremely tenacious -- but somehow they exist together in John. What you can expect if you work with John: He will really take the time to understand what your priorities are and what you're looking for in a home, both in the initial meetings and while touring properties with you; he will maintain great communication with seller's agents so that you have the best information about a property and are able to seize any opportunity that may arise (he is well liked and respected by other agents!); he will help you craft a winning bid while making sure you're not overbidding; he will always maintain prompt and clear communication with you; he will always be honest, while never losing optimism in your search; he is very personable and enjoyable to spend time with. Almost two months to the day from when we first contacted John we're so excited to have closed on our new house. For a real estate transaction in San Francisco, you could not do better than working with John Solaegui.

Client review

In a nut shell, JOHN SOLAEGUI is the perfect person to be your realtor on the buyer's side or the seller's side.....he is on top of all areas of the profession. on our behalf.....buyers....John was professional, professional, professional, that should tell it all. He is the MAN for San Francisco !!! We recommend him with 10 (TEN) stars. If any one can do the job for you, JOHN SOLAEGUI will do the job!!!

Client review

In the real estate industry, where relationships and interpersonal skills are of utmost importance, yet where financial conflicts of interest abound, it is no easy feat to find a genuine, attentive, professional who will always truly have your best interest at heart. However, we were very fortunate to find just such an agent in John Solaegui. What makes writing a recommendation for John so difficult is that no prolific words one may commit to paper could truly capture how wonderful it is to work with John and how masterful he is at his craft. Having closed on our new home in San Francisco after a long and very particular search, we know that we could not have possibly found such a perfect home for us to start our family without Johns guidance every step of the way. First impressions are often everything. We first met John at an open house randomly browsing in 2009 when my wife and I just started dating. John left such a positive impression on us that we knew then that John would represent us when we would be shopping for our next home. Five years later, in the Spring of 2014, we decided to purchase our next home and reached out to John. We were not going to be easy clients. We each had our own properties we wanted to keep, which made structuring financing more esoteric than for first time buyers, and were very particular in our target property, from neighborhood and condition to year built and architectural style. Over the course of the subsequent year, John made introductions to incredible colleagues in the industry who helped us navigate numerous complexities and prepared us to put together an offer package that won over a higher all cash bid aEUR" unheard of in this market. Buying and selling a home is a very personal, intrinsically driven process that many people, much to their detriment, relegate to the exclusive realm of dollars and cents. Johns approach is holistic and exhaustive, which wins over sellers and their brokers on every level. His reputation for integrity, unwavering work-ethic and utmost pleasant disposition opened doors with listing agents, bankers, inspectors and everyone else we encountered in the process. We were always welcomed with open arms by those who knew John (practically everyone we met throughout our search) in the same warm manner John welcomed us as his clients. Representing buyers who are laser focused on exactly what they want is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, you have decisive clients. On the other, you have clients who arent going to settle for anything other than what they want, requiring patience and time to seek out that right home. From the inception, John established an impressively clear understanding of what we wanted and never steered us to any property he did not feel we would agree was perfect for us. In many cases, John steered us away from properties he knew we would not love in the long run and kept us grounded at points when we were losing faith that we would find what we had endeavored to acquire. Johns responsiveness, wonderful attitude, and ultimately amazing friendship was the number one factor in us being able to acquire our newest home about which we are positively thrilled. We are deeply grateful to John and are honored to wholeheartedly recommend John to anyone looking for the best, uncompromising representation in the San Francisco real estate market. Marilyn and Greg

Client review

John listed and sold my home in Glenn Park in 18 days when I unexpectedly found another home that I wanted to buy in another part of the state. He clearly mapped out the process from the onset and quickly contacted all the needed people for staging , inspections, escrow, etc. He was always available when I had questions or suggestions and brought in other agents when necessary to help with open houses. John loves real estate and approaches the process as a personal interaction with his clients not just a business transaction. San Francisco is a fast-paced market, and John was able to get things done quickly to get the house sold to the right buyers. I would highly recommend John as a realtor.

Client review

John has helped us buy two houses and sell one. John has provided outstanding guidance navigating San Francisco's complex housing market. He really understood how to find what we were looking for and helped us find properties that were a good fit. He is extremely well connected with all aspects of the real estate industry (from contractors and pest control, to stagers and decorators).

Client review

John is a spectacular real estate agent. He's extremely genuine and transparent. He set's modest expectations and outperforms. He gets back to clients ASAP and makes the selling of a home easy and convenient. I hope to buy another place in SF soon, and I can't wait to work with John again. Highly recommended!

Client review

The professional standards exhibited by John Solaegui should be the norm by which all agents and brokers conduct business. Johns knowledge of the market, of market trends, and of the legal and ethical requirements involved in marketing or selling property is impressive. John uses this knowledge to provide his clients with the most current information, and through collaborative interaction assists clients in making decisions regarding timing, price, location, etc. While working with John I never felt that he pressured me one way or the other, but engaged with me to arrive at decisions that were best for me. I would without hesitation recommend John Solaegui to buyers or sellers and can guarantee that Johns clients will receive aEURoehands onaEUR? representation throughout the process of buying or selling property.

Client review

John is kind and considerate to everyone. He helps others with his knowledge and integrity. He always answered our questions and concerns. He put our minds at ease more than once. He was there for us. He also knew the best people for making our home look magnificent! He is the best!! We are so happy with all the results. He is close to perfect!!!! Sincerely, Thelma Damele, Denise & Stan

Client review

John was the best. He had our complete trust and was always available to us for whatever question we had. This was our first home purchase and it was a difficult process due to the huge rush on houses and crazy price inflation. John helped us to keep confident and calm despite being outbid on several homes. John never pushed us to increase our house bids nor did he try to "upsell" us by only showing homes at the top end (or beyond) our price range.We actually had an offer accepted earlier in our housing search, but my fiancee and I decided to rescind the offer. John supported our decision 100% and gave us terrific advice through that process. He never once pushed us to go through with the offer even though it was going to mean more work for him and a delay in any commissions he would receive. We were very impressed with the amount of attention he gave us and how well he got to know us. Our first meeting was mostly just to learn about us as people and once he got to know us, he helped us to find the home that would best suit our personalities and our stated needs.I cannot say enough great things about John. I would recommend him to absolutely anyone who is looking to purchase a home.

Service areas

San Francisco