Experience, Integrity, & Personalized Service
I've lived in Santa Cruz County for almost 40 years and have been a licensed California real estate professional for more than 25 of them. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of helping clients buy and sell homes across our beautiful coastal communities—and many of those clients have become friends. Much of my business comes from referrals, which I see as the highest compliment.
Before I began my real estate career, I was a homebuyer and seller myself. I remember how it felt when my needs didn’t seem to be a priority—and I promised myself that when I ever became an agent, I would do things differently. That experience shaped the way I work today: with a strong focus on listening, clear communication, and always putting people first.
Whether you’re buying your first home, preparing to sell a place you’ve loved, or simply exploring options, I’m here to make the process as smooth and manageable as possible. I believe that thoughtful planning, attention to detail, and mutual trust make all the difference.
Clients often tell me they feel supported and well-informed every step of the way. I take the time to understand what matters most, and I work at a stressless pace—offering guidance, asking questions, and coordinating all the moving parts so you don’t have to.
Real estate can be complex, but with the right partner, it doesn’t have to feel that way. I’m here to help you navigate it with clarity, care, and confidence.
I am so thrilled to have been recently been a part of the inaugural first class of C.A.R. Leadership Academy. This was a transformative program designed to empower the next generation of California REALTORS® to unlock their leadership potential and make an impact in the real estate industry. With a mission to foster excellence, diversity, and collaboration, the Academy offered immersive learning experiences, strategic mentorship, and access to top thought leaders.
CA DRE #01299747
Carol helped us when we bought our home in 2004 and she listed it when we sold it in 2021. Throughout those 17 years, she kept us apprised of all the developments in the area real estate market. Her synthesis of the information out there is unparalleled. Needless to say, her advice on how to get the best price was invaluable & she handled the entire process in the most professional way. I would encourage anyone in the market to contact her.
— Ann and Adel from NC
Thanks Carol, I have to went above and beyond with handling of the sale of my home. The advice you gave on what and how to improve the appearance of the property in preparation for the sale really helped. I loved that you hired someone to stage the place to give it a warm feeling when people came to look at it. I know doing a short sale takes a lot of work on your part and the multiple phone calls you had to make to the bank was really appreciated. I would certainly recommend you to my friends and hopefully some day you can help my husband and I find a new place to buy when the time comes. I found you to be very personable, professional in every way and responded to me in a very timely manner whenever the need arose.
— Roxanne from Watsonville
This was our second buying experience with Carol and again one that she has made seem effortless. Her friendliness, knowledge of the market and attention to the small things helped us find an accessible, comfortable house for Donna's elderly but independent mother in an unbelievably short time. It's a real pleasure to know such a truly nice and professional individual.
—Jim and Donna from Nevada
Carol was wonderful serving as our listing agent, and financial planner always navigating the landmines in a short sale. She held our hands in negotiating and then proceeding to the next step with the bank to get them to accept the offer. We couldn’t have done it without her.
— Moira and Peter from Tennessee
I was expertly guided through the sale of my brother’s home by Carol and her team. As an out of state seller, I was not familiar with the California real estate market so I had to trust Carol to lead me through our transaction. She provided all the necessary information to me so I felt comfortable with the process. Our overall experience working with Carol was excellent. She kept us informed throughout the entire process, and all communication was timely, clear, and professional. She consistently looked out for the best interests of my family and me, and we never experienced any issues with negotiations or problem-solving.
After preparing the house with staging and for listing, we had an accepted offer in 4 days and closed in 21 with a price over asking, what more could you ask for. I would highly recommend Coastal Dream Realty for your buying and selling needs. Carol is definitely an expert in her field and I appreciated that so much.
— Melissa S, North Carolina
I am not sure where to begin with the effort Carol put forth to sell my brother’s house. Absolutely, her deep knowledge of the Santa Cruz area and strong familiarity with the neighborhood provided a great starting point for us to ready the house. Her vision to show the home was prescient and she tirelessly worked with her broad network of contractors to address numerous issues. Her success is evident with multiple offers being extended the first week after the open house. Even more impressive is Carol compassion and empathy she provided my brother and I throughout the showing and selling the home. She was both a high performing realtor and a true friend to our family. She navigated significant hurdles knowing the time sensitivity of the sale extending herself way beyond what I had expected to support us. I can’t thank Carol enough for where we have landed with the sale of the house. I strongly recommend her with no hesitations.
— Ray N, Palo Alto
We had a great experience working with Carol. Our property had been our home and then become a rental when we moved out of the country. Carol ensured we knew what was happening in our local market, coordinated with our property manager to gain access to the property and ensure everything that needed to be done for getting our house on the market was scheduled and taken care of. Her tenure as a REALTOR and Broker meant she had greater connections and her level of technology skills made completing a real estate transaction while we were outside of the country seamless and easy. She knows her stuff, is a great negotiator, and is extremely proactive and responsive. She really looks out for her clients and builds long-term relationships with those she serves. We highly recommend her for selling your home or helping you buy one. She helped us to purchase this home in 2006 and because she kept in touch, kept us in the loop about the local market regularly, there was no question that she would be the one to help us sell it when the time was right. Thanks Carol!
— Micah & Jim