Our vibrant leadership, East Bay focus and love of diversity
Red Oak Realty has cultivated an intensely local focus since its founding in 1976. While the company has grown immensely in its four decades, one thing remains the same -- a relentless focus on serving the full East Bay community.
The company has grown to over 100 agents and into one of the East Bay’s largest real estate firms, but it maintains a dedicated local, people-focused commitment.
As it reinvents itself for a rapidly changing real estate era as a new decade rapidly approaches, Red Oak is doubling down on its founding principles of diversity, innovation and community.
The company reflects the drive of its hands-on owner Vanessa Bergmark, who acquired the firm in 2010 from its original founders.
Red Oak Realty directly reflects her drive, energy, passion, innovation and East Bay love. Therefore, to properly introduce the company, we need to introduce Vanessa.
Vanessa Bergmark
A Brooklyn, New York, native, Vanessa landed in Oakland in 2002, and knew she’d never leave. She came to be with her now husband, Brandon, an Oakland native. They live in Upper Rockridge with their two children.
Vanessa Bergmark
As she says, the East Bay is Brooklyn with better weather. And with just as much diversity.
The East Bay’s diversity speaks strongly to her. She deeply values the variety of life that the East Bay supports in thought, ethnicity, sexuality.
She brings that perspective into the company. She built the company like a Crayola box -- staff and agents have an opinion, they disagree, they make the company better. “If I’m going to do real estate, I’m going to do it around these people,” she says.
This diversity makes living here vibrant, interesting and exciting, she says. This feeling partly drives her to keep Red Oak Realty’s focus on everyone in the East Bay community, and not to become a “luxury” brand.
“We don’t specialize in price points, but in people,” Vanessa says.
With a background in criminal justice, the connected nature of real estate attracted Vanessa to the profession. The opportunity to work with dynamic clients in a dynamic city with a dynamic company inspires her, she says, everyday.
She also deeply appreciates the opportunity to go deeper into the community as a leader at Red Oak.
Real estate is not just about selling homes, but about building community, getting engaged politically and geographically to make her home turf a better place. That’s a vital part of her work with Red Oak and vision for it.
Red Oak Real Estate Philosophy
Red Oak Realty’s goal has never been to be the biggest real estate company. It wants to get deep and intimate with clients, to provide them with a level of service tailored to who they are and what they really want.
Red Oak Realty leadership team (left to right): Melissa Bush, senior vp of sales and broker of record; Vanessa Bergmark, owner and CEO; Aman Daro, chief operating officer.
To do that well, consistently, required focus and sacrificing geographic growth for cultivating a business steeped in intimate client relationships.
“We’re not just about closing a transaction,” Vanessa says. “We believe in nurturing the client.”
Technology is important to the process, but a people-focused approach will always be the most important at Red Oak Realty.
“What I most cherish is community,” Vanessa says. “I really do care.”
Sameness leads to stagnation. Red Oak Realty actively works to never let that happen in the East Bay: everyone belongs.
To learn more about Red Oak Realty or how it can help you achieve your East Bay living dreams, reach out here.
