The Diamond Group

★★★★★
"We highly recommend Lisa and Ellen for anyone looking to find their dream home in the Oakland area! From the very start, these two real estate maestros demonstrated the perfect balance of professionalism, knowledge, and genuine care. Navigating the housing market in Oakland can be a daunting task, but with Lisa and Ellen by our side, every step felt manageable and clear. Their intimate knowledge of the area combined with a deep understanding of our needs made us feel confident in every decision we made. It was evident they weren't just trying to make a sale; they truly wanted us to find a home where we'd be happiest. What struck us the most was their unwavering patience and commitment throughout the process. Buying a home is a huge decision, and there were times we felt overwhelmed, but Lisa and Ellen were always there to reassure, guide, and support. In the end, they helped us secure our dream home in a competitive market, and we couldn't be more grateful. If you're in the market for a home in Oakland, do yourself a favor and reach out to Lisa and Ellen. They're not just agents, they're dream-makers. "

★★★★★
"I can't overstate how grateful we are for Ellen and Lisa. They were kind, communicative, thoughtful, and knowledgeable--everything you could possibly want from realtors. Home-buying is such a stressful and often frustrating process, but it was so much easier--and even fun--for us because we had such incredible people in our corner. They did video-walkthroughs when we couldn't see properties ourselves, reassured and counseled us through every step of the buying process, and always respected our hopes and needs. We recommend them unreservedly and enthusiastically. " - Ed Yong

★★★★★
"We had a wonderful experience working with Ellen and Lisa to buy our first home. They walked us through every stage of the home-buying process -- from how to read disclosure packets efficiently to making competitive offers. They were incredibly patient and caring with our process, which included multiple pivots and changes. Ellen and Lisa were very knowledgeable - helping us gauge realistic prices in a wild market - yet never put any pressure on us to stretch beyond our limits. They were fantastic coaches (and occasionally therapists), and were available whenever we needed them for questions. Ellen and Lisa landed us in a beautiful home well-below our maximum budget -- we couldn't be happier!" - Xander

★★★★★
"I have worked with Lisa and Ellen on two purchases and will soon be working with them to sell a condo. They are both extremely helpful and trustworthy and always went above and beyond on my home search. They work to make sure they understand what you're looking for and don't pressure you into anything that isn't the right fit. They have a ton of experience working in the East Bay and are very patient and knowledgeable. They walked me through the process from search to closing, including providing recommendations for contractors or any work that needs to be done. On top of that they are genuine and easy to talk to. I will continue working with them and recommend them to anyone looking for an agent. " - Alice Freda

★★★★★
"I've now worked with Lisa & Ellen on 2 purchase transactions and 2 sale transactions (all in Oakland, different parts). They are fantastic to work with, and I recommend them wholeheartedly. I was a first-time homebuying for the first transaction, and L&E were very patient with me, helping me get to know the market and the process. They have good instincts about pricing (for both sales and purchases) and know a lot of people in the industry, which is helpful, for example, when you're trying to get a comp that is pending. For both of the purchased houses, they spotted ones that I didn't see, despite me scouring MLS every hour. And they often know about houses before they hit the market. On the seller side, they took care of prepping 2 properties for sale, and they did a great job with both (ask about the Compass Concierge). They work with a few different tradespeople, all are quick and reliable and have reasonable pricing. One of them was always free to come join me on a walk-through, or go out with a home inspector, really any time of the week. I'm so grateful for their expertise and would recommend their services to anyone buying in the East Bay. " - Evan W.

★★★★★
"It has been a pleasure working with the DC Group as they are both seasoned professionals in the real estate industry. Renovations were needed before listing and were coordinated and inspected by Ellen & Lisa. The lines of communications were kept open, and we knew exactly what was happening and when. We did not live locally, so this was critical, and they delivered. This attention to detail took a lot of stress off. We were referred to Ellen & Lisa by a Compass agent we used to sell another property in the peninsula a couple of years back during the height of the Covid lockdown. That agent took care of all the details and because of that experience, we didn’t bother interviewing any other agents in the East Bay. We highly recommend the DC Group as they are first class agents! " - David W

★★★★★
"Ellen and Lisa are a fantastic team. They are kind, yet incisive and have real time knowledge of the housing market. One or both of them were always available for showings or discussing offers, comps, etc. With the discrepancies between Bay Area list and sale prices, their advice and experience were critical in helping us to make the right offer on the right house. After they sent us off with the keys and a bottle of champagne, I found myself missing our weekends of seeing listings and laughing about staging and architectural mishaps. I wholeheartedly recommend Ellen and Lisa to anyone looking to buy or sell a home. " - Arjun K

★★★★★
"Another great benefit was that Lisa and Ellen know the area so well, that they were able to recommend features of each neighborhood we toured like good local restaurants, whether or not there was a reasonably located grocery store in the area, etc. They helped us find a beautiful home in Oakland that was in our acceptable price range. They were open and honest, gave us great advice, and did I mention they’re both kind, genuine, lovely people? They are. They even saw fit to give us a bottle of champagne and a lovely housewarming gift when we moved in. If you are looking to enter the shark-infested waters of the Bay Area housing market, you should look no further than Lisa Cartolano and Ellen Diamond. " - Connery & Traci W

★★★★★
"What a dynamic duo! Ellen and Lisa represented me as a seller, and I am so thankful for them. They are thoughtful, and always had time to answer all my questions. I appreciated their expertise in the Bay Area market, and their connections/advice for updating my home for sale. They also helped my navigate complicated HOA requirements and regulations. Ellen and Lisa made the sale a breeze, and helped ease my anxiety through the process. " - Krista T

★★★★★
"Lisa and Ellen are fantastic and can't recommend them highly enough. We spent a few months during Covid and were out to Oakland what seemed like everyday. So it feels like we really got to know them both! Besides being knowledgeable and patient, they are very warm and enjoyable people." - C Stafford

★★★★★
"ILisa and Ellen are amazing! They really take the time to make a really stressful life event much less taxing. Very detail oriented and always working to make sure their clients are taken care of. " - Stacey S.