About Arlene

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berkeleyrealtors-DavidArlene

With my husband David at the 2012 Installation and Awards Ceremony

Arlene has been representing buyers and sellers of East Bay properties for more than 20 years. She cares deeply about her clients’ success as well as their experience of buying or selling their home. She is an unusual agent: someone who combines true expertise about architecture, current market conditions, and providing caring guidance to her clients. It’s both high-tech and high-touch!

The amazing diversity of cultural activities, the natural beauty and exceptional architecture, make this an area to be passionate about – and Arlene is! She considers this area the ideal setting to satisfy the physical and emotional self! Ask Arlene for her very personalized tour of Berkeley and Oakland markets and restaurants, bookstores and other favorite places!

I am proud to say that on December 8th, 2012, I was awarded The REALTOR of the Year, the highest award of my Association. I am deeply honored to receive this award. I was pleased to hear:  “Arlene was selected for her integrity and knowledge of the Real Estate profession plus countless hours given in support of numerous BAR committees and projects. . . Arlene has proudly served our Association, our community and the real estate industry with grace, passion and dedication. We proudly present our 2012 REALTOR® of the Year award to Arlene Baxter of Red Oak Realty.” Here is the link to the press release. (Wondering about the look above? The party was a Madmen theme and yes, it’s a vintage fur!)

Arlene came to Berkeley to study English literature at UC Berkeley, and she’s never wanted to leave. Arlene’s professional experience includes ten years as a manager and career counselor on the Berkeley campus, as well as 13 years as a business manager of scientific research institutes.

Arlene considers herself not a salesperson, but a counselor. She will be your guardian angel and your devil’s advocate. She will share with you her extensive knowledge of the East Bay and her expertise in the complexities of real estate transactions. Her goal is for her clients to be satisfied, informed consumers.

“Arlene Baxter successfully worked with us pursuing and purchasing our new home, as well as marketing and selling our previous home. In a word, her work was exemplary. Arlene demonstrated integrity, honesty, communication skills and attention to detail to a degree that significantly reduced our stress and avoided many potential pitfalls.”
– A. & A., Berkeley buyers & sellers

Arlene has represented buyers and sellers of homes and income properties throughout the East Bay, from modest bungalows to multi-million dollar estates, condos to historic landmarks. Regardless of the property, the highest priority for Arlene is that her clients feel listened to and well cared for. She strives to see the real estate transaction through her clients’ eyes. She has a special passion for homes in the styles of the Arts & Crafts movement: bungalows, brownshingles and Prairie homes. The proud owner of a 1911 Julia Morgan home, Arlene is intimately acquainted with the issues facing both buyers and sellers of older properties. She is part of a group of local A&C afficianados who are actively involved with the revival of the Arts & Crafts movement and its aesthetics. She will happily share her expertise of period style and details, and is able to refer her clients to local tradespeople and artisans for period-appropriate fixtures, furnishings and renovations. She is proud to have represented homes designed by some of the finest East Bay architects, including Julia Morgan, John Hudson Thomas, Henry Gutterson, Walter Ratcliff and others.

“You are so different from the other real estate agents we worked with before meeting you Arlene.  You are our realtor for life and we hope to continue deepening our friendship with you over the years. Thank you so very much.”
– G. & K, Oakland buyers

Arlene believes in giving back to the real estate community, and has been very active with the Berkeley Association of Realtors. She was the 2007 President, and has been a Director since 2004. She also has served as a Director at the State level, serving on the Environment and Land Use Committee of the California Association of Realtors. Arlene is proud to have been chosen one of twelve Realtors state-wide to serve on the GreenTask Force of CAR. She was also honored to have been one of only four Realtors nation-wide to serve as an advisor in the planning of a Green Realtor designation program for the National Association of Realtors. She founded a Green Council within the Berkeley Association of Realtors, as well as a Regional Green Council. In 2017 she became Chair of a new Climate Action Committee within the regional Bridge Association of REALTORS. Locally she is also an active member of the Local Government Relations Committee and former Chair of the MLS and Technology Committee. Arlene was an active participant of the Women’s Council of Realtors, having served as the 2011 President. During that year she helped rekindle her local Chapter, more than tripling the membership.

Arlene with the announcement for the two GREEN panels on which she served at a Calif. Association of Realtors convention in 2009

Arlene is also an active member of the Hillside Club, serving as First Vice President, as well as the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association and a life member of the California Alumni Association.

“Our experience with Arlene was a pleasure and an education in what a good realtor can and should do for clients: engage with them enough to get beyond the superficial in understanding what they want and need; save them time and effort; keep them abreast of rapidlychanging market conditions; strategize on offers, financing, timing, comps, and other issues; help to interpret for them what they are seeking, and generally provide good counsel as they make their way. At all junctures, Arlene was cheerful, calm, knowledgeable, witty, and seemed always to have plenty of time to talk with us.”

– R. & T, Oakland buyers*
*and subsequently repeat buyers, and repeat sellers

Arlene regularly serves clients in Berkeley, Albany, Kensington, El Cerrito, Oakland, Piedmont and Alameda, and occasionally ventures into other surrounding communities at her clients’ request.

Arlene and friends at the National Assoc. convention in Las Vegas

“. . .I’ve read the other letters of recommendation for Arlene, and I agree with the many specific examples given about her knowledge, honesty, care, and special efforts. The whole process had such a happy ‘ending,’ and I hope you will consider choosing Arlene as your real estate agent.”
– L. N., Berkeley seller

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