Sarah and Mike, longtime homeowners in El Cerrito, faced a dilemma: two children in two different school systems — El Cerrito and Albany. That can be tricky with daily schedules and vacations that don’t mesh. The couple decided in the early fall of 2024 that it was time to find a home in Albany, so that both children could attend school there.

 

What came next made juggling kids in two different school districts feel like… child’s play.

 

The couple diligently interviewed several agents, settling on Rachel Melby of the Little Hill Team at Red Oak Realty. Sarah immediately felt a strong connection with Rachel, confident that she was the perfect fit from the start.

 

Since the couple would be purchasing a house while still owning another, Rachel connected them with a lender to get a home equity line of credit (HELOC). They would need that to help them make a down payment on the new home and prepare their old home for sale, as well as renting another home during the repairs.

 

Then began their home search in Albany for more space and a second full bathroom. Five discouraging months of searching for a “needle in a haystack” with a limited budget left the couple feeling hopeless. They began to consider staying put, believing their only options were either to make their current situation work, or to downsize to a much smaller home in Albany.

 

Albany’s competitive housing market, fueled by its sought-after school district, shows no signs of slowing — 27 homes have sold this year as of late May, similar to last year’s 28. The median sales price remains around $1.34 million.

 

Unlike the broader East Bay, where increased inventory has eased competition for buyers in 2025, Albany homes, like those in Berkeley, consistently attract multiple offers. In the first quarter of 2025, homes sold for an average of 35% over the asking price, a trend continuing into the second quarter at 31%. The challenges were exacerbated by the scarcity of homes for sale in Albany.

 

Fortunately for Sarah and Mike, not only was Rachel Melby actively looking for them, but so was her new team member, Rachel Sheftel. As luck would have it — for them — Rachel Sheftel saw that a 3-bedroom, 2-bath home in Albany just north of Solano Avenue fell out of contract and was returning to the market, at a transparent price. The listing agent was from out of the area, and the home was owner-occupied, presenting challenges. But both Rachels recognized the urgency of the situation.

 

Within 90 minutes, Rachel Melby had Sarah and Mike inside the home, and an inspector scheduled for a walkthrough that same afternoon. The home was filled with two decades of belongings, it needed work, and there were no reports or photos available. Despite the awkwardness of inspecting the home with the sellers present, Sarah and Mike were able to look past the cosmetic issues. They got a verbal thumbs-up from the inspector, and considered making an immediate offer.

 

Sarah was nervous, “I was very scared that we wouldn’t be able to sell our home — we were bootstrapped.” She knew they had to sell their El Cerrito home for a certain price for this plan to work, and that would require significant prep work. They were on a tight budget, it was mid-January, and the market was volatile.

 

But other agents were making arrangements to show the Albany property that same day. Sarah and Mike needed to move fast. Fortunately, their agent had educated them on market dynamics, pricing strategies and the home-buying process, so they could recognize this rare opportunity.

 

They were in contract within eight hours.

 

The Little Hill Team knew that for the couple to renovate enough to achieve top dollar for their El Cerrito home, they would need to move out right away. Sarah and Mike moved their kids and cats into an Airbnb. With their agents’ local vendor contacts, recommendations, and a trusted contractor, they were able to efficiently work on both properties simultaneously.

 

Within a month or so, it was time to market their first home. The modern staging included artwork from local artists (who cross-promoted the property), a fun, engaging video, and digital marketing tools to ensure broad exposure. The Little Hill Team expertly transformed the home’s challenges, like close proximity to BART and a busier street, into selling points. The open houses were busy and their El Cerrito home quickly garnered six great offers. It sold for more than Sarah and Mike had ever imagined.

 

Within months the family moved into their Albany home with a new kitchen and in a much better location for the family. The children are now in the same school. Sarah and Mike are thrilled.

 

“The best decision I have made in the last eight years was hiring Rachel. She’s absolutely incredible,” Sarah said. Despite the fast pace, excitement, and nerves, "she stayed calm the entire time; we were scared, but we trusted her, and it all worked out in the end.”

 

Sarah’s advice to others: “Hire a local agent — the Little Hill Team has literally changed our lives!”