About Stephanie Okabe Mates
DESCRIBE YOUR REAL ESTATE JOURNEY.
My journey to real estate was a long time in the making…little did I know that all of my life experiences would lead me to this incredible career in real estate.
I was born and raised in San Francisco’s Inner Sunset. As a child, after school every day, I used to take MUNI to the Forest Hill station and trek up the steep slopes of Forest Hill to get to our home. Yes, there were other ways of getting home that required less physicality, but I enjoyed my walks home. I would fantasize about what it would be like to live in one of those beautiful San Francisco Forest Hill homes, noticing the beauty, design, and uniqueness of each of them. It was amazing to me that so many homes in the same area could look so different from their neighbors. It was these early memories and an early appreciation for homes that sparked my first interest in real estate.
For the last several years, I have been fortunate enough to have the most challenging, rewarding, and important job in the world–raising our 4 amazing children! Managing four busy lives while fostering their unique passions and balancing their individual needs has taught me so much about how to survive this fast paced world we live in. With the systems I’ve implemented and arsenal of skills I’ve developed to run our small empire, I’ve found a seamless transition into real estate.
For one, my negotiating skills are superb! Anyone who has kids knows that sometimes negotiating with other agents is easier than negotiating with a 4-year-old! Second, after juggling four different school schedules, taking care of a home, the kids, the homework, the after school sports, the music lessons, the dog, the bunny, and the husband–my organizational skills are honed down to a science! Lastly, making sure the household runs smoothly with little to no glitches is not an easy task, but knowing that things need to get done in the most efficient way possible is how I live my life, every day!
With all of my children in school, I can now combine my love for real estate and these very useful survival skills that I have learned to good use!
WHAT ARE THREE WORDS YOUR CLIENTS WOULD USE TO DESCRIBE YOU?
Friendly, Honest, Genuine
WHAT MOST EXCITES YOU ABOUT YOUR WORK?
The joy of helping people!
WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU WHEN YOU’RE NOT WORKING?
On the soccer fields, cheering my kids on from the sidelines!
WHAT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOU TO GIVE UP?
Ketchup! I love it on almost everything! I, alone, can keep Heinz in business!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOBBY?
Sewing! A few years ago, I had my own company where I designed and sewed custom made Handbag and baby accessories!
WHAT IS THE NICEST THING ANYONE EVER SAID TO YOU?
“With your personality, drive, and ambition, you are sure to do well in real estate!”
WHAT ARE THE FIVE THINGS YOU CANNOT DO WITHOUT?
• Joshua (husband)
• Kyla (daughter)
• Jaydan (son)
• Ryan (son)
• Myles (son)
Stephanie Okabe Mates's Listings
Stephanie Okabe Mates's Testimonials
Stephanie was referred by a realtor I personally knew. From day one she showed her professionalism. She constantly contacted SFMOH and kept me updated. Replied to all my emails timely and kept the ball rolling to close the transaction.
David S., Seller
I met Stephanie at an open house in my building and thought she was extremely friendly and helpful. When it came time to sell my own condo, I immediately thought of her. She was great to work with and answered all my questions. Stephanie was able to walk me through the process of selling my place since it was the first time I had sold a place. Everything was pretty painless and she answered all my questions! Fabulous experience.
Stephanie W., Seller
Stephanie is an amazing agent and was extremely valuable in helping me purchase my first home. Stephanie was very familiar with the BMR process since she had a lot of experience with previous applicants. She consistently kept me informed on the status of my transaction, and was great at following up with me and other parties to make sure all the necessary steps were completed.
Marlene Y., Buyer
Stephanie was very positive and always was in constant communication with updates through out the entire process. I think the entire process could have been x10 more stressful and frustrating, but she was able to make the experience exciting and worthwhile. When my first loan officer disappeared/left the bank, she called the bank and diligently tracked down the new loan officer who was to take over my case. I really appreciated everything she did to keep us on track with the timeline.
Gina H., Buyer
Stephanie helped us find a terrific home for our family at a great price! She is incredibly responsive and helpful. Within a day of first meeting with her, she sent us a list of houses that fit our criteria, and we ended up making an offer on one of those houses just a few days later. Throughout the process, Stephanie was a complete joy to work with. She was happy to respond to our many questions, and she was always energetic, optimistic, and friendly. We even received compliments from our mortgage officer and escrow agent about how friendly and well-organized Stephanie is–making our closing that much smoother. These unsolicited comments about Stephanie from other professionals in real estate really speak to Stephanie’s energy, thoroughness, and professionalism. We would happily recommend Stephanie to our friends and family, and in fact, she’s already helping some relatives find a home in the East Bay.
Justin M., Buyer
Stephanie was really great; she was very positive and responsive. She worked very hard to make the process as smooth as possible. The transaction was little bit challenging b/c the property was a TIC with another owner involved. But, Stephanie answered our questions and got the job done. We all learned a lot through this process. Great experience with Sequoia! Thank you!
Peter Y. , Buyer
We had the good fortune to work with Stephanie Okabe Mates while looking for a condo recently. Stephanie is a total pleasure to deal with. She ascertained our needs, researched the available options, and was a steady, guiding light throughout the process. She has a good eye for detail, and a designer’s knack for remodeling possibilities. Stephanie is punctual, cheerful, smart and savvy. She respected our price range, and gave us expert advice on how to navigate the tricky waters of real estate in Alameda. The result: we found the condo we wanted, bid on it, and got it! Thanks, Stephanie.
Laura & Joel B., Buyers
I am so thankful that Stephanie was able to help me with the purchase of my first BMR unit. Although it was a very long process due to the nature of the program, she was incredibly helpful, friendly, and genuine. She definitely made this process more enjoyable despite the unexpected delays (that were not her fault) we encountered. It was a pleasure working with Stephanie and I could see her working well with virtually anyone.
Kevin H. , Buyer