Client Testimonials

“Being a first time home buyer in the South Bay area, it is very difficult to find anything, and everything when looking for a home as markets are super competitive and fast-pace. As a person that’s quite picky and have certain needs, Melissa was VERY patient with me and worked endlessly to find the home I’ve been in search for. She exceeds expectation on how much information she provided me with on a home and will never steer you wrong. With her knowledge and expertise, we were able to rise above a whopping 19 offers!! 19!! Once the offer was accepted is when she shines the most! Every step of the way during escrow was explained and executed ever so smoothly. It helped me feel like I’ve bought a home before. She is very professional, friendly, and positive about any outcome. It was a pleasure working with her and we are very happy with the purchase. I can’t think of anyone else to work with when finding a home.”

“Melissa and Alta properties made our selling experience so smooth! From the highly professional photography/videography and marketing tha helped get our property at the forefront of buyer’s minds to the deep knowledge and care she brought to the table in order to answer every possible question we had, we couldn’t have asked for a more straightforward selling experience.
We had a pretty complicated set of constraints that she had to work with and she handled it all with grace and confidence. Our house sold after less than 5 days on the market with a whopping 12 re-qualified offers to choose from! We wish we weren’t moving out of state so she could help us with our next purchase! ”

“Melissa first began assisting us with the home buying process with a fantastic first time buyers’ seminar in Fall 2017. The following year, we jumped into the search headfirst. Melissa did a wonderful job of pinpointing various South Bay homes for us to tour. Ultimately, we struck gold in Rancho Palos Verdes, as she found us our dream home.

Melissa was instrumental in helping us negotiate an offer under the asking price of the home, along with a sizable credit from the sellers, especially since the home ultimately appraised at a significantly higher value than the negotiated price! Start to finish, Melissa was extremely helpful in guiding us through whole process and essential in helping us achieve our dream of home ownership. ”

“Melissa Okabe is the perfect combination of strong work ethic, sweetness, and sincerity. If you are looking for someone to help you purchase a home with your best interests at heart, please look no further. My husband and I purchased our first home in April 2021! Despite the crazy twists and turns of the highly competitive seller’s market, Melissa guided us through and kept our spirits high! From answering our multiple calls whenever a question or concern popped into our heads to working with the seller’s agent to ensure our voices were heard, she mitigated the most stressful parts of buying a new home with ease and always gave us well-versed advice. We are over-the-moon excited to be moving into our first home and we could not have gotten here without her! We plan to work with her again in the future because we trust her completely and highly recommend her to anyone dreaming of their next home!”

“My husband and I began house hunting with Melissa in January 2021, the beginning of what became one of the most competitive, fast-paced housing markets in the South Bay. We knew we were in excellent hands from the get-go. Despite our lack of knowledge as first-time home buyers, Melissa was there every step of the way to answer our questions and help us find the right home. Her enthusiasm and elegance would light up any room, and Melissa’s extensive knowledge on the Torrance and Gardena real estate was instrumental in making our home buying process smooth. We are so thankful for everything she did for us, and we highly recommend her for anyone looking to purchase a home in the South Bay area!”

“Melissa Okabe, my real estate agent and a friend who was always honest and supportive through my journey in purchasing my first home. I loved how she always kept everyone on their toes to getting things done and was always on top of everything. She was there for me even on late nights going through large stacks of documents I could never have gone through without her. It being my first home, I had no idea what to do, but Melissa made everything go very smoothly. I would love to work with her again for the next houses to come.”

“I really enjoyed working with Melissa when purchasing my very first home. After months of searching and being outbid by flippers/all cash offers, Melissa found me a wonderful off market home and helped me negotiate a great price. Melissa guided me through every step of the home buying process and I couldn’t be more thankful for her expertise. I would highly recommend Melissa to any prospective buyer because not only is she a pleasure to work with, but she won’t give up until she helps you find the perfect new place to call home.”

“As first time home buyers, we enjoyed Melissa’s honest guidance and encouraging advice in finding a home that worked for our family. She has great attention to detail, clear understanding of the competitive market, and integrity to help people find their home without pushing beyond their limit. She is quick to find solutions and will stick with you to the end. She’s the best realtor to have in your corner!”

“As a first time home buyer, there’s nothing more comforting than having a knowledgeable and trustworthy agent by your side throughout the entire home buying process. Melissa is exactly that person for us and more. Not only did she work with us to find our lovely first home, but she helped us understand the buying process from A to Z. She made the buying process and accompanied paperwork much easier to digest! We truly could not have undergo the buying process without her by our side. We will continue to work with with Melissa for any future real estate needs and highly recommend her to all.”

“Melissa and Alta Properties worked tirelessly to find the home that fit all of my requirements. This is my 2nd property brought with Alta Properties- they helped me find my first townhouse that was unlisted, as well as this great off market SFR find [my forever home]. Highly recommend you call them for their expertise and professionalism”

“As a first-time home buyer, Melissa was instrumental in finding, negotiating, and ensuring that all the paperwork and funding was completed to successfully get me into my first home. Prior to working with Melissa, I had utilized the generic agent connection tool found on real estate apps such as Zillow and Redfin. Unfortunately, the “marketed” agents (since I was bombarded with many emails from various realty companies) provided by those sites, were far less personal and did not provide me with the confidence needed for such a big life-changing transaction.

Melissa’s organizational skills (i.e. scheduling viewings, providing a list of reputable lenders/insurance agents, etc.), communication skills, and ability to simplify ALL the paperwork, truly separated her from the previously mentioned “marketed” agents. She is knowledgeable of the real estate market and provided valuable insight throughout the whole process. This was especially, helpful in negotiating the price down by over $15,000 from the listed price. Lastly, her overall personality and organized professional demeanor, ensured that my first home purchase was as stress-free and enjoyable as possible!”

“When my wife and I wanted to start our search for a home, Melissa was the first person that came to mind. I reconnected with Melissa via Instagram since she put together a helpful first time home buyers guide. After reviewing the guide, we set-up an initial meeting with Melissa to review the guide and go over the home buying process. As first time home buyers, we had no idea on what we were doing, what we wanted, or anything about the home buying process. Melissa was patient and thorough in guiding us through the entire process, answering all our questions whether it was over the phone, email, or before/after home viewings.

Each week as we viewed homes and discussed what we liked (and didn’t like), Melissa took note and was able to tailor her searches to best fit our preferences. Even as our preferences evolved (or abruptly shifted) over time, Melissa was understanding and considerate. Melissa was always professional, respectful, and responsive to our wants and needs. She would answer questions about the listings and if she didn’t know the answer, she would work with the listing agent to find the answer. If there was a house we wanted to view or submit an offer, we never had to worry because Melissa was immediately on it!

Melissa was always cheerful and just a joy to be around. Her constant positivity and steady personality made both my wife and I feel at ease. When we entered escrow for the house that we ended up buying, she was able to provide us recommendations to respected contractors for inspections and estimates, and was at each appointment. When we closed escrow, Melissa was genuinely excited and happy for us. Although the market in 2021 was difficult and filled with many heartbreaks in the hyper competitive market, Melissa was always there providing kindness, empathy, and gentle encouragement. The one thing we miss most about our home buying experience was spending time with Melissa, catching up and hanging out as we viewed homes.

Melissa worked tirelessly for us, with grace and positivity until we found our perfect home. Anyone would be fortunate to have Melissa as their real estate agent.”

“We were introduced to Melissa in April 2019. Due to Melissa’s extensive knowledge of the area, we closed escrow on our San Pedro condo in May 2019! Melissa is knowledgeable, patient and was quick to respond to all our questions. She really is a joy to work with! I would highly recommend Melissa for any of your real estate needs!”

“I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Melissa “Fujiyo” for many years now and picking her as a real estate agent was a no brainier. Her strong work ethic and dedication to me and my wife as clients made for a seamless experience when purchasing our first home. We had very little knowledge about the process of buying a home and Melissa “Fujiyo” gave us the time and attention we needed to answer all of our questions and give us peace of mind that we would be able to navigate the home buying world. From start to finish, she was there all along the way for us, and even checks in still to see how we are doing! Any prospective first time home buyers will be lucky to have Melissa “Fujiyo” as their agent.”

“Melissa’s attention to all the details for the sale of our Westside Ave property really paid off! Our family was very pleased with the outcome & especially the increase of the sold price was awesome! Our parents would have been very happy and blown away with the current real estate pricing! ”

“From the moment I found out that Melissa was a realtor in yoga, I knew that she was going to help me find my first home. Melissa went over and above with assisting me with all my questions. She was on top of everything and everyone! Throughout this process, she kept me at ease. I’m grateful to have had her during this process. ”

“Alta Properties is legit!! We’ve been through home buying, property management, and selling with Melissa and Tom and not once have they disappointed us. Thank you guys for helping us each step of the way. Not only do they encompass a wealth of realty knowledge, they really do look out for your best interest. Look no further, Melissa is your person! ”

“As a First Time Home Buyer, there were a lot of questions my wife and I had about the home buying process. Melissa and Tom of Alta Properties did an outstanding job of really taking the time to explain all of the details, to go over step-by-step the papers we were signing, and made the process of home buying as easy and stress free as possible. I would text our agents (Melissa and Tom) at all hours about things I didn’t understand and they would get back ASAP. This real estate company has the experience, contractor and repair connections, and top notch customer service.
We needed to get an inspection for our home owners’ insurance asap, and my wife and I were at work, but our Alta Properties Agents met the adjuster at our home and took care of the inspection for us. These extra details make this real estate company very special. ”

“I told Tom and Melissa upfront that I had never sold (or purchased) real estate before and that I needed a realtor who would make things as easy and quick as possible for me. Tom quietly assured me that he could get the job done and he was completely true to his word. Tom was able to recommend a hauler, a plumber, and a handyman to assist me in readying my property for sale. Because the sale involved a house that was part of a trust, he even recommended an appraiser and a lawyer. All of these contacts provided me with excellent service. Tom and Melissa walked me through all the paperwork that came up and answered all of my numerous questions patiently. I will always be grateful to Tom and Melissa for their competent, professional, and friendly efforts on my behalf. ”

“Alta Properties gave us the blueprint for a successful home rental. Tom advised us on what to upgrade to create maximum appeal. Melissa’s marketing established an instant buzz for tour requests. They quickly found the ideal tenants that met all of our criteria.
Thank you Alta Properties for your expert advice and peace of mind. ”

“My partner and I had the pleasure of working with Melissa when finding our first apartment. Her professionalism and expertise made our rental search smooth and easy.

She understood our requirements and provided a tailored list of exciting of options that exceeded our expectations. Her knowledge of the LA/South Bay Area was impressive. Melissa always responded quickly to our questions and guided us through the application process.

When we found our dream condo, Melissa handled all the paperwork and negotiations efficiently, leaving no detail overlooked. After signing, Melissa continued to follow up, ensuring our comfort and satisfaction with our new home.

I wholeheartedly recommend Melissa to anyone seeking a leasing agent. Her expertise, responsiveness, and personal touch set her apart. Thanks to her tireless efforts, we found a home we adore.

Melissa, thank you for your outstanding work and unwavering commitment. We are so grateful for your assistance and would gladly seek your expertise again in the future.”

“We attended Melissa’s First Time Homebuyers’ seminar in early Nov 2017 and we were blown away by her knowledge of the housing market. It’s a great seminar to attend if you’re just starting the process of buying a home and don’t know where to begin. This was a very informative and educational experience. ”

“At the time when we were seeking knowledgeable, reliable, and earnest property managers, Tom Okabe and Melissa Okabe [ of Alta Properties] were recommended to us by our financial planner. They did all that we expected and more. They suggested what changes we should make to the house before renting it out and when we were finished with the changes, Tom and Melissa immediately sought out renters. Within less than a week, with consultation from Tom and Melissa, new tenants were chosen. We are extremely happy with their efforts and recommend them for any real estate matters. ”

“I’d like to thank Melissa for personalizing my very first EVER, home buyer presentation. Melissa made it to reflect my price range, tailored it to my fancy and answered all of my questions professionally. Rewinding the presentation for particular questions and explaining everything is Melissa’s forte, for sure. I learned so much after this presentation and was able to decide on my next steps to being a first-time home buyer. I could not have asked for more in her presentation, thanks again!

I know Melissa will be a great help for any home buyer.”

“Melissa, was very easy to work with , she worked as a team to close the transaction.”

“Working with Melissa was great and she was outstanding and very professional during the entire transaction. I look forward to working again in the future!”