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Katy Straser

Menlo park, CA

Compass

About Katy Straser

Katy Thielke Straser, a native of Silicon Valley, has been a top real estate agent for over 23 years. Her deep understanding of the Silicon Valley landscape, powerful connections, and early industry exposure through her mother's mentorship have been key to her success. Katy began her career with piv....

Katy Straser’s reviews (49)

Client review

Katy Thielke Straser and her team are nothing short of amazing ***** Straser Silicon Valley Team went above and beyond to assist me and my parents to get them top dollar in a short amount of time!!! I was in a position of moving them due to my mothers rapid decline in health and Katy made it happen so we could move them to the Midwest where they grew up and wanted to live their final years in Michigan. I cant say enough about her as well as her team members :-) I am forever grateful for their brilliant leadership, dedication, decisions, and kindnessaEUR| However, I knew this going into the signing of her team as I was fortunate to meet her in 1983 in high school and to witness her brilliance, ethical behavior, and her kindness to othersaEUR| Many thanks to Katy and her teamaEUR|I will be forever grateful for everything you have done for my family!!! Laurie Harms Murray

Client review

FIVE of the BIGGEST GOLD STARS EVER !! This Los Altos Property was a comfortable family home and made a Ozarian transformation. There was no Green Curtain, the success of a miraculous almost 1 million over asking price, to a fantastic buyer and family, was coordinated and negotiated by Katy Straser and the Straser Team. My profound satisfaction was ignited during the in-person interview with Katy, at which time I met team member Nami. I was further impressed during subsequent phone interviews of past clients who professed the character of an agent whom collaborated with you diligently 24/7. We then reviewed the home, focused intently on the Return On Investment, coordinated the outcome, timeline, budget and payments to meet OUR expectations. The transformation, with an amazing Straser Team and swarm of trusted vendors, was incredible and occurred in 3 weeks. Their approach to Design and Staging was breathtaking. In the end what pivotal, Katy Straser and Compass have a unique, innovative and highly effective Marketing and Negotiating approach to Property Sales and Client engagement. THE SALE Peter Oliver Son selling Dad and Moms Home of 60 years

Client review

Way more stars than 5!!! Katy is very clear with explaining what needs to be done and gives a timeline when working with you. I love that about her. Katy and her Team worked fast, answering my questions day and night. Truly impressed with the ease of the entire process that I was unfamiliar with and was dreading. It was amazing to work with Katy and her Team. Thank you so much Katy and well wishes to you!

Client review

We recently had the absolute pleasure of working with the Straser Silicon Valley Team. Over the past 10 years, Katy and her team have guided us through the sale and leasing of two of our beloved Peninsula homes. Their market knowledge, professionalism, and attention to detail are truly exceptional. Every step of the process was handled with care, expertise, and seamless communication. There is simply no one else we would trust to handle our real estate needs, and we recommend them without hesitation.

Client review

Katy and her team are the BEST!!! Katy is very knowledgeable about the constantly changing market. She comes up with a full play game strategy. From timing of on-market date to sales pitching and contract negotiations, she has our home in contract within the first week of on-market. She moves obstacles in the way before closing escrow. Her confidence eases our anxiety. Thank you, Katy and the team. We are very grateful to have you as our realtor!

Client review

Katy and her entire team were incredible with a very challenging sale of a family home because of divorce and on the happier end of helping me seamlessly move into my dream home. The professionalism and kindness were the perfect combination during a tough transition. I cant say enough great things about Katy and her team. I will be forever grateful for everything they did. Above and beyond!!!

Client review

We had the absolute pleasure of working with Katy Straser and her team during our home-buying journey, and I cannot recommend them highly enough! From our very first meeting, Katy demonstrated exceptional knowledge and it was clear that she was a "closer"! Katy and her team took the time to understand our needs and preferences, and guided us through every step of the process with patience and expertise. What truly set Katy apart was the commitment to ensuring we found the home that perfectly met our needs and desires. They were always available to answer questions and provided insightful advice while always being willing to take into account our push backs or concerns. Their attention to detail and excellent negotiation skills helped us secure an amazing deal. Thanks to Katy and her team, we are now the proud owner of a beautiful home that our family absolutely loves. If you're looking for a dedicated, professional, and genuinely caring realtor, go for the Straser team. They are absolutely fantastic!

Client review

Our house in Menlo Park was on the market for six months, and we ultimately decided to switch to a different listing agent. We researched various agents and, after reading her glowing reviews, we reached out to Katy Straser with Compass. She met us the next evening on her way back from Santa Monica, bringing along her colleague Rachel. Despite their travels, Katy and Rachel came well-prepared, presenting us with a comprehensive portfolio of comparable listings and a detailed schedule outlining the next steps, including hiring vendors to enhance our property. Their confidence was infectious; they assured us that our house wouldn't stay on the market for more than two weeks. At that point, feeling hopeless, we decided to trust their process. Katy and Rachel wasted no time taking charge. They coordinated with vendors, arranged for our previous stagers to remove their items, and brought in their own stagers to completely revamp both the interior and our spacious backyard. Remarkably, within less than two weeks, our house was transformed into a vibrant, inviting space just in time for the open house. When we officially listed the house, we received three offers on the first day of the open house, which fell on a Friday. To our amazement, Katy secured an offer that was $455K above our asking price! We are incredibly grateful to Katy, Rachel, and their fantastic team for taking care of everything from day one to the closing. Living an hour away, we only needed to stop by once to drop off the keys the day before closing. They worked tirelessly and effectively to ensure our house was ready for the market and sold for the best price. They made the entire process effortless for us and truly earned our trust. Christopher & Jackie Fey

Client review

"Katy, in partnership with Butch Haze, another top agent at Compass, took on the important role of preparing and selling my families beloved childhood home. Together, they leveraged their expertise and passion into every step of the process, transforming the property in ways that truly brought it to life. Their attention to detail, market knowledge, and sheer dedication sparked an incredible surge of interest, drawing in qualified buyers and generating remarkable activity in an impressively short time. Within just seven days, they successfully sold the home for nearly $200,000 over the asking price. I couldnt be more grateful for their unwavering support, skillful guidance, and seamless orchestration! Their professionalism and heartfelt approach made all the difference, and I am beyond thankful to have had them by my side throughout this process."

Client review

Lena and Katy are very professional and excellent on negotiate for your best interest. I have worked with them multiple times, and they exceeded on my expectation every time. They are very detail oriented as well, like they care about all the potential flaws that might impact on the sale value and help me addressed all of them before going on the market. In general, I'm very satisfied with their service, and will continue working with them for sure!

Client review

I'm so delighted to write this five-star review and share my lovely experience with the Straser Silicon Valley Team of Compass Menlo Park. I was helping a friend who lives cross-country to settle her father's estate when he passed away and felt so daunted by the process -- Katy and her team just made the whole experience so much easier and smoother, and got my friend and her family a great selling price well above their asking number within less than a week. They were professional, kind, personable, responsive, and fun to work with. I can't recommend the Straser team enough! ????????????

Client review

I am thrilled to pen down my experiences with Kathy, Lena and her exceptional team who have demonstrated top-notch expertise and dedication in real estate. We recently had the privilege of working with Lena during a house purchase that required a bit of sprucing up. Their commitment to our project was truly extraordinary. They excelled in every step of the process, operating far beyond our expectations, and made it a point to help us comprehend all the available options, necessary disclosures, and potential issues associated with the house. Their proficient guidance was crucial as we ventured to remodel the house, which has resulted in an impressive 20% appreciation in equity right off the bat. Katy and her team were instrumental adjusting the sails just right for us to benefit the most from this venture. It's rare to find a team with such a diverse set of expertise and a singular focus on their clients' unique needs and aspirations. Therefore, I wholeheartedly recommend Lena and her team for your real estate endeavors. Their unparalleled professionalism, insight, and diligence guarantee a seamless journey as you venture into the world of property ownership or investment. In fact, we are so satisfied with their stellar performance that we are eager to engage in future business endeavors with Lena and her team. If you desire success in your real estate transactions, you need not look further than Katy, Lena's extraordinary team. Exceptional service is their prerogative, and amazing results are evidently their specialty. Highly recommended!

Client review

Katy helped us find and buy our new home. She had a really good eye for what we wanted and found us our dream home. It was great working with her through the process. We love the new house and are definitely looking forward to working with her in any future housing adventures!

Client review

We had a wonderful experience working with Lena, Katy and the Straser Silicon Valley team. I dont think we would have ever been able to buy a house without their help and support throughout the whole process. They were on top of the inventory and helped us find a house that was within our budget and also met our specifications in what we were most interested in. They helped us with every step in the process from putting an offer in to going through the contracts and even afterwards with some of the furnishings in the house, flooring, all sorts of stuff. They really hold your hand throughout the whole process which is really the best part of working with them. Youre important to them and they really want to help you with every single aspect of buying a house. We now own a house and its the best feeling ever and we are really grateful to both Lena and Katy for getting us there!

Client review

I couldn't be more thrilled with the exceptional service provided by my real estate agent, Katy Straser. Her expertise, dedication, and professionalism made the entire process of selling my house and purchasing our new home smooth. Katy has a deep understanding of the local market and a strategic plan to ensure a successful sale. My house was sold over asking price in just three days! Katys attention to detail, effective marketing strategies, and outstanding negotiation skills truly made a difference. Within about one month, I was settling into a new place that exceeded my expectations. Her knowledge of the market enabled me to make an informed decision quickly. Throughout the entire journey, Katy demonstrated professionalism, prompt communication, and a genuine passion for her work. She went above and beyond to ensure I felt supported and informed every step of the way. Her ability to navigate challenges with ease and provide creative solutions showcased their expertise and commitment to client satisfaction. I highly recommend Katy to anyone seeking an exceptional real estate agent. Their exceptional skills, unwavering dedication, and remarkable results have made them a true standout in the community.

Client review

Without Katy, we never would have been in a position to buy our dream home. She took care of us from Day 1 - giving us advice on things we could do to enhance the value of our home, then connecting us with her resources to get the modifications completed quickly. Katy has A LOT of connections and when she snaps her fingers she gets things done. For example, she was able to get our floors sanded/finished and fixtures/hardware replaced around our house in a week (while we were on vacation) - then got our bathroom remodeled another week. When we came back, the house looked incredible and in one of the most challenging times to be marketing our home, she found us a buyer and not only negotiated a great deal but simultaneously found our dream home (an off market deal) and I can't even begin to tell you what an incredible job she did negotiating the purchase for us. Katy is absolutely fearless, is well respected and is EXACTLY who you want in your corner when its time to negotiate a deal (which is her strength). We have worked with RE brokers before who take a reactive approach to their clients that you quickly forget. Katys is the opposite: her phone is never off, she's an absolute savage (in the best way possible!), and she gets___done. If your experience is anywhere near ours, you will be glad you have Katy representing you. We recommend her 1000%.

Client review

Lena and Katy were off-the-charts exceptional. My property required a unique buyer, which they not only found, but were able to solicit multiple fair offers. Any buyers of my property were pretty much limited to builders, and they have an extensive contact list which they effectively leveraged. They also went above and beyond any resonable efforts in getting the property ready for sale. You would have to be crazy not to use Lena and Katy. Seriously.

Client review

My husband and I have bought and sold several homes over the years. But when my brother passed away unexpectedly, we were faced with having to sell his house while going through probate--all while living in Texas! You can imagine our relief when we met and hired Katy. She and her concierge team arranged for experts to do everything: deep-cleaning the house, garage and spa; rotor-rooting the plumbing; replacing the front door lock; just to name a few of the many tasks that needed to be done. Her marketing skills were second to none, having first-rate knowledge of the housing market on the Peninsula. We even had a few nibbles before the house was officially listed. She then got us a great offer within a week at a price we were very pleased with. We would recommend Katy and her team to anyone who wants to sell their house quickly and at a fair price!

Client review

Katy helped us buy and sell. She was extremely persistent and generous with her time as we looked for a house over a lengthy period, and managed to get us into opens at an early stage. She also moved very fast to help get our existing house quickly ready for sale and had great connections to help us do some painting and other improvements!

Client review

Katy and Virginia are amazing, they help to buy the home at good deal and sell the home at top price, negotiating on our behalf, their insight, guidance and advice are spot on. I continue to recommend Katy and Virginia and will always trust them.

Client review

We had the pleasure of working with Katy as our buying agent and and we cannot recommend her highly enough. Katy knows the area really well and she has been really responsive, easy to communicate with. The whole process was super smooth and we are very happy about our purchase. It was great working with her!

Client review

Katy is The Bomb! Highly recommended if you want to sell your house ! A true gem to work with! Her whole team was very helpful. Very responsive, knowledgeable and just a treat to work with. She sold my house within a matters of hours! I got the price I wanted and she negotiated a deal where I could stay beyond closing to give me time to find my next house. Her team even helped me look for a place! Thanks Team Katy!

Client review

Lena transformed our home from top to bottom in time for our open house, creating a favorable bidding situation in what would be a current challenging market and secured a highly qualified buyer. After we conducted our initial search Lena & Katy were the very first team we called (based on their backgrounds and prior record home sale in Almaden Winery), and we invited them both to our home for the initial screening. We were very impressed with their presentation, pricing strategy, and the fact that they toured the home taking photos ready to get started which made our decision that much easier to select their services. It was a pleasure to cooperate with them throughout the sale process and later the purchase of a new property. I'd recommend anyone to cooperate with Lena for a real estate professional, based on our very pleasant and professional experience.

Client review

We had the pleasure of working with Katy as our buying agent and I cannot recommend her enough. Not only is she one of the best knows the local market, but she's also a close friend who provided us with strong negotiation skills and very responsive throughout the entire home buying process. Katy was incredibly knowledgeable and understood the local market inside and out. She guided us through every step of the way and was always available to answer any questions or concerns we had. One thing I truly appreciated about Katy was her transparency. She was always upfront and honest about answering any of our questions and checked with the seller and disclosures thoroughly to ensure we were fully informed before making any decisions. I cannot express how grateful I am for all her help and support when we finally got this fantastic home. If you're looking for a buying agent who is not only knowledgeable but also honest and transparent, then I highly recommend Katy. She is simply the best!

Client review

Katy is an efficient, professional, well-connected agent. She listened to what I was looking for in a home, did not waste my time trying to show me properties that do not fit that profile, and was able to show me many properties before they hit the market. She was communicative yet not pushy. Above all, she was very warm in her approach, always advocated for me, and showed a high level of patience throughout my search. I highly recommend Katy if you want to get the perfect house at your comfortable price range.

Client review

Katy and Zoe were an attentive, well-resourced team whose tough negotiating skills yielded extremely favorable results in the sale of our townhome. The Straser Silicon Valley experience exceeded our expectations and we would definitely turn to Katy and Zoe again for future real estate needs.

Client review

I have nothing but praise for Katy and her amazing team who provided thoughtful and loyal advocacy throughout the marketing process and took the time necessary to achieve a successful sale of my San Francisco home. Katy is a special person... she has never met a challenge she cannot solve. Even with the added complexities of this project (including the pandemic and having a remote client), she stayed positive and optimistic. Katy is honest and straight-forward, and she truly loves what she does. I'm fortunate to have had her represent me. Katy also helped me on another project and did a spectacular job refreshing that property efficiently and effectively so it could be evaluated for sale. She has my highest recommendation.

Client review

I'm really happy to meet Lena Gustafsson. She is a member of the Straser Silicon Valley Team. While we were buying this house, she always responded to me immediately when I asked questions . Her team helps me solve some problems, such as house prices, repair, dealing with utilitiesaEUR| Thank you - Lena Gustafsson and her team.

Client review

Katy Thielke Straser is a real estate agent who is hands above all others. Katy goes above and beyond to work for you in both selling and buying your home. We have used her for both and we are speaking from experience when comparing her to other agents. Katy is bright as a whip, has integrity in all her transaction, and creativity in negotiations. While insuring highly ethical relationships, she is also willing to go the extra mile for her clients. While being very professional, Katy brings with her a personal warmth and confidence that instills a sense of security and trust. Whether you are buying or selling your home, we definitely recommend Katy. She works for you in getting you what you want and need.

Client review

Katy and the Straser team went above and beyond to help us move out of our home, get our Palo Alto townhouse ready to go on the market (it looked amazing, by the way), and all the way through to a smooth sale. I highly recommend this quality team.

Client review

Katy, once again rose to the occasion. We have had multiple sales and purchases with Katy over the last ten years. Our latest transaction was nothing less than amazing. Katy was such an advocate for us on negotiating a winning offer which settles us into our "forever" home. We can not recommend Katy enough for her professionalism and persistence to get you the best out of the offer whether you're the seller or buyer. Go with Katy...She is a "HOME" run!!

Client review

We met Zoe at an open house in Menlo Park and immediately saw that the home was a perfect fit for us. She walked us through everything, including reviewing disclosures and negotiating a great price. We were competing with a few other offers, however Zoe made sure that we got the house we so much wanted. Having a responsive, friendly, and helpful agent was so valuable to us. We really felt we were in the best hands with the Straser Silicon Valley Team. Our family highly recommends Zoe for your Bay Area Real Estate needs!

Client review

Zoe helped me buy my first house, she was lovely and really helpful.She explain to me how the market works and how to put the best offer together. I would highly recommend her and the Straser team.

Client review

Katy and Richard are the BEST! Literally, any time we talked to others about the process of buying our new house and selling our old one, their response is, "Wait, your real estate agents did that for you???" Just a few of the ways they made this whole process awesome: * Actively searched off-market houses that met our needs and took us to see them as SOON as available* Helped us move decisively and quickly (without feeling rushed or pressured) at every turn* Navigated tricky negotiations with professionalism and confidence* Answered our calls, texts, and emails promptly, no matter what day or time* Connected us with all the vendors needed for appraisals, inspections, clean-up and maintenance, etc.* Were authentically friendly and kind to us, our 3 small kids, and our neighbors at every step of the way*Overall, got us a great price on the house we purchased and a neighborhood-high price on the house we sold! We'd recommend Katy and Richard, hands down!

Client review

We have used Katy exclusively for the past 10 years. She's truly amazing at what she does. Most recently she helped us sell a home on the Peninsula. It was a wonderful home in a great location but hadn't been updated for decades. She went in with a team of professionals and transformed it into a showpiece. It was absolutely gorgeous and staged to perfection. It sold quickly and for over asking price. She and her team are professional yet warm and friendly. They were quick to respond to any of our questions. She's a true professional and an absolute delight to do business with.

Client review

Julie listed our condo for sale. Because of her Bay Area real estate knowledge and advice on when to list, how to market, dealing with offers, and other valuable input, we maximized our gain. We had multiple offers. She took care of everything (coordinating with the staging company, handyman, etc.). We didn't have to do anything. On top of it, she gracefully handled a very unprofessional buying agent from beginning to the end. I highly recommend her.

Client review

Always a pleasure to see and work with Shaun. He's very professional and kind in person, phone, email and text. If any issues need to be addressed, he has responded in a timely fashion.

Client review

Shaun is outstanding! Our family feels incredibly fortunate to have been introduced to Shaun when we moved from Boston to the Bay Area in 2018. 3 years later, Shaun is still a great friend and an invaluable resource.

Client review

As first time home buyers in the US, we were a little intimidated by the process but Katys knowledge, professionalism and efficiency were reassuring. We felt like we were in good hands right from the start. We fell in love with the first house she showed us and although our initial offer was not accepted, Katy persisted until we eventually got the house. Katy was awesome throughout the entire process and was a pleasure to work with.

Client review

We bought a property and our experience with Katy was really great, without Katy we wouldn't have had our offer accepted by the seller. Katy gave us a lot of tips all along and was working with us with the same spirit the day we met her till the close of the transaction. We highly recommend Katy if you are looking out for a property!Thank you, Katy!

Client review

Katy and her team were fantastic. At the beginning, Katy provided a detailed plan and aggressive timeline for the sale of our Menlo Park house. The team was extremely organized and was able to bring in bids for repairs/staging all serially lined up in two days. Katy and her team organized all of this and we only had to authorize the work. Her stager presented the house beautifully, and the marketing was excellent. The result - we sold the house within one week of listing. This was critical for us as we also bought a house (with Katy's team). Katy was always very responsive, calm, professional, and her advice on pricing/timing/strategy was spot-on reflecting her deep experience in the Bay Area market. I highly recommend Katy and her team.

Client review

Working with Katy and her team are exceptional! I work a lot of real estate agents up and down the Peninsula and Katy is one of the most professional, knowledgeable, and delightful to work with. Katy represented us as the buyer on Camino de los Robles in West Menlo Park and the entire process from beginning to end went as we hoped it would. Katy is quick to answer questions, knowledgeable of the market, and was always super responsive. Weve completed multiple transactions with Katy and all of them have gone as planned. I highly recommend Katy and her team.

Client review

Working with Katy and her team has been nothing short of wonderful! Katy represented us as the buyer on Camino de Los Robles and the entire process from beginning to end went perfectly. Katy is quick to answer questions, knowledgeable of the market, and was always very responsive. Weve completed multiple transactions with Katy and all of them have gone as planned. I highly recommend Katy and her team

Client review

Working with Katy and her team has been nothing short of wonderful! Katy represented us as the buyer on Camino de Los Robles and the entire process from beginning to end went perfectly. Katy is quick to answer questions, knowledgeable of the market, and was always very responsive. Weve completed multiple transactions with Katy and all of them have gone as planned. I highly recommend Katy and her team

Client review

Katy is a wonderful agent. She partnered with us during the midst of the great pandemic. My family was looking to relocate to the Bay Area from Washington, and we were unable to travel to view property as a result of the quarantine measures. Katy was amazing & patient as she would take us on virtual facetime tours of properties in the area. She was a wonderful evaluator of neighborhoods and helped us understand the pros/cons of each property we were evaluating. As we were looking for a new build, Katy utilized her extensive realtor network to identify properties that fit our criteria and were fresh to market. Her relationships created an advantage during negotiation process as our personal touch was a differentiator for us within a market that was increasingly competitive. I would highly recommend to any prospective buyer.

Client review

Jena made my home purchase an enjoyable experience. Her knowledge and professionalism helped me negotiate a deal which was better than I imagined. She also assisted me in finding a good lender and was with me through every step of the process.If you are looking for a wonderful agent who will help you with all your real estate needs, you should go no further!

Client review

Katy was immediately responsive, highly knowledgeable (Katy grew up in the area, her mother was in real estate for 20 years in the area, Katy has been in real estate for 20 years in the area...), has deep relationships in a market where relationships are king, and was very well informed in market trends and process. Definitely recommend!

Client review

Katy was immediately responsive, highly knowledgeable (Katy grew up in the area, her mother was in real estate for 20 years in the area, Katy has been in real estate for 20 years in the area...), has deep relationships in a market where relationships are king, and was very well informed in market trends and process. Definitely recommend!

Client review

A true professional who will bend backwards to address your needsShe believes in excellence in all aspects of her life and her work. I believe she will try her utmost to make any transaction go as smoothly as possible without skimping on any details. she is a tireless worker and also fun to be working with.

Service areas

Atherton, Los Altos, Menlo Park, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Carlos