Greater Boston
Real Estate
HL & MT, Somerville
I highly recommend Liz & Ellie Local; we interacted mainly with Ellie to sell our condo, although the whole team contributed seamlessly. Ellie is calm, competent, and communicative; she provided the big picture in terms of the market and how we could optimize our sale as well as attention to all of the details and complications of selling a condo with ease. Ellie provided referrals when we needed them for all aspects of staging and closing. We felt informed and supported at all stages of the process. I would not hesitate to recommend Liz & Ellie for all Somerville and Cambridge buyers and sellers.
RK, Cambridge
Awesome! Liz was proactively helpful, both strategically and tactically. She gave us great context and background to the market, knew the market and even the property we were interested in. Thanks to her we were able to submit a successful offer well under asking. Most importantly, she kept the process simple, infused it with a sense of humor, and took all the stress away. And after the purchase was done continued to provide helpful recommendations and even dropped off a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Rose to help us celebrate. Response: "So glad to help a neighbor in one of our favorite neighborhoods, Cambridgeport. It's true we've been up and down every street and had sold another unit in the building, so that definitely helped us help you make informed decisions! Glad you enjoyed the Veuve Clicquot. :-)"
AM, Boston
I had a remarkable experience with Ellie and the exceptional team at Liz & Ellie Local! As a first-time homebuyer, I was feeling overwhelmed and nervous. However, from the moment I engaged with them, their expertise and compassionate approach immediately alleviated my concerns. They skillfully guided me through the entire process, always keeping my priorities in mind. They didn't just offer property listings and information, they also listened to my concerns and made sure I had all the necessary assistance to make well-informed decisions. I especially commend Stephanie for her remarkable attentiveness and support. If you're looking for a real estate agent who embodies competence, confidence, and effective communication while treating you with empathy and integrity, I wholeheartedly recommend getting in touch with Liz & Ellie Local.
CZ, Cambridge
They were great! Very helpful and patient. They had great suggestions when asked and made the process easier.
ES, Arlington
Ellie was amazing! As a first time homebuyer, she provided me with critical information, helped me sort through key issues and offered many other resources/referrals. Ellie was available for my questions and gave me excellent guidance. I would highly recommend her.
DP, Somerville
Liz & Ellie are a great team and helped us sell our Somerville home quickly and with the utmost professionalism. They were incredibly helpful in helping us stage the house, take photos, and set up a great Open House weekend with a very quick turn around time.
HB, Somerville
Liz and Ellie were perfection from the start. After a brief call to discuss what we were looking for in a new home, we were able to monitor the market through a curated MLS listing that evolved with our feedback. And when we found a home, Ellie tapped her network to make everything from inspections through financing to home improvements easy. When it came time to selling our old home Liz and Ellie were flexible with our schedules and made the entire process as easy as possible.
ES, Medford
Stephanie Bond and the team at Liz and Ellie local were such great partners to us during our first homebuying experience. Stephanie was ultra patient with all of our concerns and helped us understand what needed to happen at each step in the process. We'd absolutely recommend them to other homebuyers in the greater Boston area.
DH, Brookline & Boston
These women are wonderful: kind, helpful, not pushy, diligent. They notify me of anything that might suit us, and will take me to view at short notice; they are attentive and knowledgeable. In this sellers' market, we haven't found anything yet, but we keep trying. They are very patient with me.
CH, Boston
Ellie and Liz, who work as a team, were great to work with. As a first-time seller they helped me understand the process from beginning to end, worked with me on a selling timeframe that made sense for my relocation, referred me to folks who could help get my apartment in a good condition, advised me on my choices when bids came in, and more. I really appreciated their excellent and quick communication, and their upbeat professionalism. Their calm competence made a stressful process go as smoothly as possible.
JR, Ipswich
The Dream Team! I cannot speak highly enough about Liz, Ellie and Stephanie. I first met Ellie in 2014 when she helped me buy a condo in Medford. When I sold that condo, she and Liz helped with my sale while I was living overseas in Asia. This year I moved back to Massachusetts from Poland and I had the pleasure of working with Stephanie as well. Let me just say how smooth this process went. First of all, they are great listeners. They really understood what I was looking for, which made the search go very smoothly. I was still living in Poland when I made the offer on my new townhome and I have to say this team didn’t miss a beat. I primarily worked with Stephanie and Ellie, but from past experience Liz is wonderful as well. A month later I was closing on my home just after I landed back in Boston from Poland. I highly, highly recommend it. They managed everything from start to finish with exceptional professionalism, organization and fun! I am extremely grateful for this experience!
TA, Cambridge
Liz & Ellie (of Liz and Ellie Real Estate @ Compass) just helped us buy our dream home in Cambridge! They were absolutely fantastic to work with, were extremely knowledgeable about the Cambridge market as well as all the pitfalls to watch out for when navigating such a challenging housing market. They helped us narrow down our search and reflect on the pros/cons of some of the houses we were considering, many aspects we hadn’t considered… And ultimately, they were instrumental in helping us put in a competitive bid and sort through all the paperwork and questions along the way. We can’t recommend them highly enough!!
BB, Cambridge
Liz & Ellie made selling our Cambridge condo from afar totally easy and financially, a total success. They had great ideas on how to make the space look more appealing, from slight cosmetic improvements--refinishing floors, adding specific window treatments--to a great job staging the 2br. They worked with our budget for these fixes, and facilitated all the contractors and vendors for us. They sold our condo--during Covid--in less than a week, working through the various offers and helping us select the best one, and then made sure all the closing items like inspections, etc were addressed on time. They were communicative with us the entire process, and available whenever we had a question or concern. We were so pleased with them and recommended them without reservation!
MN, Watertown
Liz was patient and supportive throughout our process of looking for a home. She was committed to helping us find the place that was right for us and was always available to talk through things with us. We would gladly recommend her to anyone.
MC, Somerville & Revere
Liz and Ellie were wonderful to work with, they gave great advice to help sell our house. Not having sold or bought anything in a long time, they supported us through the process and offered guidance for the best outcome. Their help in finding a new home was spectacular. At times the process was stressful but in the end I found the right home. Liz and Ellie were always calm, supportive, knowledgeable and fun. I can't say enough about Liz and Ellie!
KC, Somerville
Liz and Ellie's tagline is "1. Procrastinate, 2. Panic, 3. Call Liz & Ellie". This was my situation when I was about to put my condo on the market as I was overwhelmed with all the steps needed to get the unit ready for market. I reached out to Liz and Ellie who toured the property with me and compiled a list of suggestions for work needed to make the condo ready. After reviewing it together, they put in all the legwork of scheduling painters, handymen, and cleaners for me; I barely had to lift a finger other than approve the work and review the invoices. The unit was staged beautifully and went on market a few weeks later. Liz and Ellie walked me through every step of the process; they were quick and communicative, and made the entire transaction a relative breeze. I only wish I hadn't waited so long to contact them! I would absolutely work with them both again for any future real estate needs.
AK, Brighton
It was such a pleasure to work with Liz and Ellie. They were incredibly responsive and patient, and were able to meet me where I was at as a first time homebuyer. I felt supported throughout the process and they made sure to answer any questions I had at any time of day or night. They were not at all pushy and took the time to get to know ME so that they could better serve me in finding my perfect first home.
LU, Boston
Working with Liz & Ellie was a true delight! They brought professionalism, warmth and a clear strategy to the selling process that gave us complete confidence that we were in the best hands. They guided us through every step and helped us with all the fine details of the closing. Their deep knowledge of the Boston market was invaluable and their pleasant and patient approach made the process smooth and stress free. Thanks to their dedication and expertise we sold our apartment at a great price. Highly recommended!
MW, Cambridge
Trust. This is my one-word summary of Liz and Ellie. They are true partners who will listen, understand your needs, and do everything they can to help you find your home. I first met Ellie at an open house and within two minutes knew I had found my realtor. I'd accompanied a friend just to get an idea of the market. Clearly, I wasn't there to buy. Yet Ellie spent over 20 minutes explaining the process to me, better than anyone ever had. This is who they are. Other agents scare ("The market is crazy!!") - Liz and Ellie inform. Not only will you make the right decision, you will understand why. My partner and I have since worked with both Liz and Ellie on two different searches. The first time, we took the first place we saw. The second time, we went through a string of disappointing showings before finding the perfect fit. Both times, Liz and Ellie were with us every step of the way, steadying us when we were hasty, encouraging us to move fast once we found our match. Normally I would highlight that a realtor knows the area very well or is quick to respond. With Liz and Ellie, this feels like saying Michael Jordan is good at dribbling. Yes, they know buildings better than the selling agents, but what I truly value and rely on is their honesty, their integrity, and their dedication to go out and bat for you. Just recently, Liz helped us navigate a difficult situation where the landlord walked back on a promise after we had already signed the lease. I used to loathe apartment searches because I felt out of my depth. With Liz and Ellie in my corner, I finally understand why people enjoy it.
XG, Brookline
Liz and Ellie were wonderful to work with. (Ellie was our main contact, and Liz joined us when needed.) They understood the narrow window of time that our family had to purchase, and they were very helpful in recommending properties. Most importantly, they helped assess each home and they advised us on the bidding process (which, as older people, was totally unfamiliar to us!). They gave us the space to sort out priorities, which we didn't really know till we were in the thick of things; and they were always available for counsel when needed. Our daughter and son-in-law were successful in finding a home and purchasing it. They are now living in their new home...and we are all grateful for the professional help and expertise of Liz and Ellie.
BB, Somerville
An overall excellent experience. Liz and Ellie work as a team and complement one another really well. They went over and above doing all the prep work locally to sell our condo while we were miles away. They picked out new appliances, ordered them, had them delivered and installed for us. Their advice and recommendations for service providers such as painters worked out very well and all within the tight deadline to meet the Memorial Day window. They are great listeners, and are very responsive to our needs and concerns. They kept things in perspective for us as we had never sold a house before. They are seasoned professionals who know the market well and stay on top of trends. They are tapped into a great network of other professionals such as real estate lawyers.
KC, Somerville
Working with Ellie and Liz was amazing. They are professional and organized. There were no issues. Not only did the sales go smoothly - both the sale and purchase - but any services that I required, they were able to recommend excellent people to work with. I would absolutely work with them again!
AF, Arlington
Liz and Ellie were wonderful to work with. (Ellie was our main contact, and Liz joined us when needed.) They understood the narrow window of time that our family had to purchase, and they were very helpful in recommending properties. Most importantly, they helped assess each home and they advised us on the bidding process (which, as older people, was totally unfamiliar to us!). They gave us the space to sort out priorities, which we didn't really know till we were in the thick of things; and they were always available for counsel when needed. Our daughter and son-in-law were successful in finding a home and purchasing it. They are now living in their new home...and we are all grateful for the professional help and expertise of Liz and Ellie.
EG, Cambridge
Liz and Ellie are such wonderful real estate agents. I will recommend them to absolutely everyone. They are professional (with extensive knowledge and great connections in the Cambridge real estate market), calm, warm, and helpful. They helped me through every stage of a very difficult home-buying process. I had just finalized a divorce and needed to find something reasonably quickly. I also had a number of challenging geographic, space, and financial constraints. I really felt like they were on my team in a very steady way. They gave consistently excellent advice, and went out of their way at several points to gather information I was having trouble gathering on my own.
PH, Cambridge
Our experience with Liz and Ellie Real Estate was excellent. We learned a lot in the process and found Ellie and Liz to be expert resources to us in our search. They got to know us and what we were seeking with sensitivity and understanding. In doing so. they engendered trust - a key ingredient to our ultimate success. We found that we could rely on their expertise, professionalism and kind exchanges with confidence. In addition, they knew the real estate landscape in the towns where we chose to explore condominiums for sale. They were familiar with certain buildings, access to services and any parking aspects related to our goals. We recommend Liz and Ellie wholeheartedly. They helped us find and decide upon a new home purchase in the town we live in and where we sought to remain. It was a bit miraculous, really! We are delighted with the results and our new home checks all of our boxes! With Liz and Ellie dreams can come true!
AC, Roslindale
Ellie and Liz were so responsive, organized, and always prioritized our interests. Before our first meeting with them, Ellie and Liz were prepared by emailing us handouts ahead of time that we would cover in the meeting. From the start, Ellie and Liz verbalized they understood that house hunting can be stressful and that my wife and I could ask questions whenever they popped into our minds. Ellie and Liz were so attentive to our wants and needs for our future home. We then started looking at the MLS, accessing homes visible to all as well as some homes only visible to the agency Liz and Ellie belong to. Not only were my wife and I selecting homes we were interested in, but Ellie and Liz were also sending us homes that matched our criteria. In a very busy house market, timing was crucial and Ellie and Liz didn't want us to miss our chance to buy a home because we were too late to see it. Once we found houses we wanted to tour, Ellie and Liz set up a schedule so we could see multiple houses on the same day. While touring houses, Ellie and Liz provided a nice balance of "hands on" as well as "tour at your own pace." For example, we'd enter a home and Ellie and Liz would immediately start inspecting it themselves, just for things that could be right (nice flow) or wrong (they noticed mold in one place before my wife and I did). At the same time, we always felt like they were there with us during the tour, asking us questions to help inform our decision making process (did I mention this buying a house was stressful and they were amazing at acknowledging the stress and guiding us through it?). At one point, we had to bring our dog with us to a tour because we couldn't find a babysitter in time. Unfortunately and understandably, the dog wasn't allowed in the house, so Ellie stayed outside and took care of our dog while we went inside to look around. It's the small things like that that made my wife and I feel like we weren't "just another client," but that we actually mattered to Ellie and Liz. Throughout the entire process, Ellie and Liz were incredibly responsive, which was so important. They were also knowledgeable of the areas we were visiting and talked with us about different activities available nearby. Once we agreed on a home, Ellie and Liz helped us negotiate different prices. To give you an idea of how quickly the market moves and how Ellie and Liz are able to keep up with it... we toured a home at noon, made an offer the same day, and came to an agreement with the seller also the same day. Liz and Ellie orchestrated the entire thing. So yes, they're very responsive. During the purchase and sale process, Ellie and Liz worked great with other members of our "house buying team" (lawyers, mortgage company). Even our lawyers expressed how appreciative they were that Ellie and Liz were so responsive because it made closing on the home so much easier. My wife and I highly recommend Ellie and Liz whenever you're in the market for a new home!
SM, Somerville
We were thrilled with Liz and Ellie -- they helped us negotiate our purchase in a very competitive seller's market and got us top dollar for our existing home as well. We appreciate their advice on staging and key repairs to bring in the buyers -- they know what people are looking for and what's worth doing when you're ready to sell!
PH, Cambridge
Our experience with Liz and Ellie Real Estate was excellent. We learned a lot in the process and found Ellie and Liz to be expert resources to us in our search. They got to know us and what we were seeking with sensitivity and understanding. In doing so. they engendered trust - a key ingredient to our ultimate success. We found that we could rely on their expertise, professionalism and kind exchanges with confidence. In addition, they knew the real estate landscape in the towns where we chose to explore condominiums for sale. They were familiar with certain buildings, access to services and any parking aspects related to our goals. We recommend Liz and Ellie wholeheartedly. They helped us find and decide upon a new home purchase in the town we live in and where we sought to remain. It was a bit miraculous, really! We are delighted with the results and our new home checks all of our boxes! With Liz and Ellie dreams can come true!
JB, Watertown
We loved working with Liz and Ellie! They helped us navigate the local housing market and quickly and happily answered every one of our questions as first-time home buyers. We were always very aware of our options, what was going on during the offering process, and never felt rushed into anything. Plus, they gave us many great contractor recommendations after the sale. AND this was all in the midst of Covid-19 where they worked to make sure everyone involved was comfortable and safe. 100% recommend working with them.
SM, Somerville
We were thrilled with Liz and Ellie -- they helped us negotiate our purchase in a very competitive seller's market and got us top dollar for our existing home as well. We appreciate their advice on staging and key repairs to bring in the buyers -- they know what people are looking for and what's worth doing when you're ready to sell!
AF, Somerville & Chelsea
Liz and Ellie helped us sell our house, and then found us a new place to live—one so suitable for us, that we had no regrets about leaving our home of 35 years. They were very perceptive about the kind of place in which we would want to live and where we would feel comfortable. Throughout all our interactions with them, they always gave us wise and patient counsel. In our professional lives—writing, editing, filmmaking, music—we’ve worked with many different people. Liz and Ellie are among the most outstanding professionals we have known. Smart, experienced, knowledgeable—in sum, excellent. They have recently helped us buy and sell additional property; at this point, they have worked with us on four different real estate transactions. We would never want to work with any other real estate agents.
SB, Arlington
Liz and Ellie recently helped me with purchasing my first home. What a huge milestone! I had been toying around with the idea of purchasing my first home for a while, but have also been a bit hesitant and didn’t know the steps. Thinking of doing it during a pandemic seemed especially daunting. With no personal recommendations to go off of, I remembered Liz and Ellie, who had made a good impression on me previously at one of their open houses. I reached and met them via Zoom which confirmed my positive expectations. After meeting, we immediately scheduled a viewing for a property I was interested in. I wish I had scheduled more time to sit in the space, but we had another viewing appointment. I appreciated that they helped me determine which of the properties was a better fit and cautioned me away from the property that had a majority of units rented. Liz and Ellie also explained the next steps in a logical way and the offer making process seemed low risk. I was able to see the property again the next day and it helped me feel confident in moving forward. The next day we made a competitive offer based on the area and comparables. I wish I could’ve started a little lower, but I also trusted Liz and Ellie’s knowledge and expertise to help create a well constructed offer. Within 5 days of my first meeting with Liz and Ellie, my offer was accepted! They called to follow up and see how I was feeling and I appreciated that reassurance and support. The next steps flew by so fast and I was happy that Liz and Ellie were there via email to answer any of my questions. They also gave me a list of recommended home inspectors and lawyers that they felt would fit my personality. At closing, I felt a sense of pride that I could become a first time homeowner during a very stressful and unusual time. This couldn’t have been accomplished without the help of Liz and Ellie. Throughout my entire home buying process, I never once felt that Liz and Ellie didn’t have my best interests in mind and I appreciated how well we worked together. If I ever have to move in the Greater Boston area, without a doubt, I know I would be reaching out to Liz and Ellie.
TH, Cambridge
Liz and Ellie are simply the best! We found them early in our housing search and they were responsive and engaged from beginning to end. As first-time homebuyers, we had lots of questions, and they were always patient and understanding. They know the market extremely well and helped us navigate a highly competitive process when it came time to make an offer for what is now our condo. They also work incredibly well together as a team, which was great because we always had two people we could reach out to with questions/scheduling appointments/etc. Liz and Ellie are also really great people who are down to earth and easy to get along with. We give them our highest recommendation and will definitely use them again when the time comes.
KB, Cambridge & Melrose
I have used Ellie on four real estate transactions over the past 5 years and cannot recommend her highly enough. She's a pleasure to work with. Extremely responsive, honest, knowledgeable... genuinely helpful in the negotiation process. You can't go wrong!
LF, Framingham
I worked with Ellie as I started the process of buying my first home. She was incredibly helpful, professional, and responsive during our home search together. Ellie took every opportunity to help me learn and asked all of the right questions to help me get to different conclusions about my home priorities. I felt supported the entire time we worked together - that Ellie was truly on my team.
BM, Somerville
They were fantastic. They were very responsive. They were extremely kind and gentle in dealing with us. Our mother had died and we needed to sell the home that had been in my family for 80 years. I cannot rave about them enough
KP, Somerville
Liz was an excellent guide through the process of buying our first condo. She was exceptionally knowledgeable about the market in Cambridge & Somerville where we were primarily looking and her knowledge helped us negotiate an accepted offer for a place we love. She was patient and flexible as we navigated through where we were willing to be flexible and made us feel like her top priority at all times. We would highly recommend Liz & Ellie for any home buyer.
JN, Lincoln
Liz & Ellie were excellent guides throughout the entire home buying process. It was my first time buying a house and they walked me through everything from looking for the right house to signing the closing documents. We would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a home in the Boston area.
CM, Cambridge
It went great. Buying and selling homes can both be hard processes, as we've heard from friends, and Ellie really took the pain out of the experience. When we were buying our home, she was tireless in her patience, and answered our questions so helpfully that i still find myself quoting her to other first time buyers. When it came time for us to sell, she provided a helpful calendar, answered all our questions, and helped us stay organized and on top of things. She represented our home so much better than we could, and got us an incredible sale without a single wrinkle in the process. Getting ready to move while raising small children and working full time jobs is so stressful- we found our relationship with Ellie a true blessing in making the process palatable!!
DH, Brookline
It took me quite a long time to find a place to move to. Liz and Ellie were patient, always quickly responsive and always supportive and cheerful. They picked me up and took me to view many places. They never tried to pressure me to take one of them. They always pointed out drawbacks to each, as well as advantages. I couldn’t have asked for kinder or more helpful agents.
TT, Natick
We were first time real-estate sellers. By the numbers, Liz & Ellie sold our home 20% higher than the listed price. The list price was above the appraised value of our home. They advised us on what to do to make our home attractive to buyers. They provided the best time to sell our largest asset. They connected us with vendors who understood how to make our home awesome and assisted us with everything from colors to what furniture to set up. In terms of working with them, they are both positive, and always responsive. They were able to set up a sale in a 3 day period over a weekend. They paid attention to everything from description of our home in the pamphlets, to photos, to marketing our home so that all the buyer agents knew they had a short time to look at our property, and bid at the end of that 3 day period. They basically set it up so that there would be a bidding war. Thank god we didn't have to deal with slowly reducing prices over many months. To add to it, we were moving out of state, and buying another home at the same time, so everything had to line up. I recommend the power duo without any reservation. They are very knowledgeable, and understand that it is an emotional process selling one's primary residence. It was a truly great experience!
AG, Brookline
Went very well. Needed to clean out and renovate a dated property to be put up for sale. Liz and Ellie from the Compass project managed the whole process. This was especially important as home owner(s) were not local to the property to handle. They were very responsive and proactively managed the process with designers and contractors. They professionally dealt with buyers to negotiate and get the best price for the property, while still representing the seller's interests. They were pleasant and positive throughout the process. I highly recommend using their services to help you stage, renovate, or sell a property!
MB, Cambridge
Choosing Liz and Ellie as my buyer's agents was the best decision I made throughout this process. From the beginning I was blown away by their knowledge and attention to detail, and I felt myself learning a lot as I was taken through several properties. I worked with Liz and Ellie for about a year, and they were patient with me as I waited for the perfect house to pop onto the market. We ended up finding a house in the final stages of construction that checked every single one of my boxes. Closing was an arduous task as the seller had multiple construction delays, but Liz and Ellie were there every step of the way until I was happily settled in.
CM, Brookline
Ellie was absolutely amazing to work with: pleasant, prompt, detailed – perfect!
JY, Cambridge
Working with Liz to buy our home was an absolutely wonderful experience. She was the consummate professional: patient, deeply knowledgeable about the market, and always one step ahead. More than that, Liz was a kind and thoughtful guide through what can be a stressful process. We felt completely supported and are so grateful for her expertise in helping us find the perfect house. We couldn't recommend her more highly!
SR, Cambridge
Liz and Ellie are a wonderful team--from our first conversation, it was clear that working with them would be both easy and fun. And that proved extremely true as we got into the home search process. They have incredible knowledge of the area I was looking in (Cambridge and Somerville) through both their residency and experience in real estate, and as we looked at places, they were super helpful in helping me to understand the inventory and process. I liked their high-touch approach to viewings and when it came time to make an offer, they were communicative and supportive in finding a number to bid at. We had a very quick close and they were very helpful in executing that, and have stayed in touch as I've moved in to offer further help. I hope to not move again for a while, but whenever I do, I will definitely be reaching out to them, and would enthusiastically recommend them to friends!
RA, Wakefield
Would rate higher than 5/5 if I could! We worked with Liz and Ellie to find our first house. While we primarily worked with Liz, Ellie was available to meet us the couple of instances that Liz was not available - they are a true team and are collectively VERY dedicated to meeting client needs! We looked for over a year to find the perfect home for us; Liz and Ellie were never pushy or frustrated with our hesitations, but rather supportive, patient, and informative throughout the entire home search and buying process. Their market knowledge and resourcefulness was evident, and we feel they played a big part in getting us not just a home, but the home that was right for us!
MM, Cambridge
I can’t say enough good things about Liz and Ellie; they were absolutely wonderful to work with. I met Liz in 2012 and she helped me through the new and stressful process of buying my first home, a beautiful condo I loved and enjoyed for 12 years. I decided to move to a different city in 2024 and only considered working with Liz and Ellie. They gave me expert advice about the market, how to prepare my place for selling, and suggested repairs that were appropriate and made sense. We were in regular touch by text, email, and in person for months as we approached the open house weekend. I felt 100% supported and that they put my interests first. Liz and Ellie are excellent communicators and also warm, smart, and fun. I would recommend them to anyone looking to buy or sell a home.
MLP, Cambridge
Liz did an outstanding job. She helped me to rent and a year later to buy my condo. She was incredible knowledge of the market and the process both for renting and buying. I always felt well taken care off. She helped me to think things through and get my best options. Moreover, she followed up after my purchase and offered different resources to fix some small things. She is very well known in the community and has the best contacts for layers and inspectors. Her team is professional and kind. I cannot think about a better person to have worked with! Thank you also to Ellie and Stephanie.
RB, Waltham
My wife and I had a very positive experience working with Liz and Ellie on the purchase of our first home in the Greater Boston area. We started working with them in 2022 when we first moved to Boston from NYC where they and the rest of their team helped us navigate the rental market in the Boston suburbs. More recently, Ellie was instrumental in helping us close on our first house. They are both very knowledgeable about what to look for when attending open houses or private house visits, were patient with us as we learned about P&S and closing costs for the first time, and had great references ready for attorneys, home inspection, etc... They were simply fantastic!
NT, Somerville
Nick and I loved the combination of professionalism, friendliness and warmth that Liz and Ellie bring to their work. We appreciated their knowledge about the market-their research was top notch and we were comfortable with their pricing suggestions. They were incredibly responsive whenever we had questions, getting back to us immediately with answers that were thoughtful and thorough. We felt respected. We trusted both Liz and Ellie 100%.
JS, Arlington
The sale of my home far exceeded my expectations. The highest offer I received was $100,000 over what the comps predicted. I had multiple offers to choose from, and Liz & Ellie Real Estate kept me informed in a timely manner as the sale progressed.
JV, Woburn
Ellie was extremely helpful during all aspects of the process. She visited several homes with us and gave us a feel for what to look for. She was especially helpful in advising us how to prepare our offer and our "best and final" offer. She also did a good job helping us to stay within our budget and was able to give us helpful, direct advice about which houses were worth pursuing further and which houses raised concerns (housing layout, renovation quality, house location, etc.).
DH, Brookline
It is still going. These two women are attractive, kind, and as helpful as it is possible to be. They have brought in a number of skilled people to get our condo ready for sale. They respond quickly to requests and are always positive but never pushy. They have taken me to view a few places (there are not many on the market now) and pointed out the good and bad points of each. They have made this process as easy as possible; they come to our home for meetings. It is always a pleasure to see them.
BC, Brookline
Liz and Ellie were lovely to work with, always responsive and detail oriented in all they did. They provided the Concierge service which allowed us to update and stage the condo while Compass paid for all the work and we reimbursed them at the closing. Liz and Ellie found and managed the contractors and all their work. All we had to do was sign off. One of them was always available to help with tight deadlines of the offer, purchase and sale agreement, etc. We always felt we could trust Liz and Ellie to do the right thing for us. They gave us excellent advice but left the final decisions completely to us. We felt really comfortable knowing we could always trust Liz and Ellie with our property and the sale. We would definitely call on them again for a real estate purchase or sale. It was a complete pleasure working with them. Highly recommend it!
AP, Brighton
Liz was the best possible choice in helping us find our new home. As first-time home-buyers we had no idea where to start, and Liz was kind, responsive and walked us through each step with attentiveness and care. At the point in our search when we felt at a crossroads, Liz knew how to keep the morale high while helping guide us to what is now our lovely home. She struck the perfect balance of giving us the information we needed to make the best decision, without pushing a decision itself onto us. We loved working with Liz and have been raving about her to everyone we know! You can't go wrong with Liz & Ellie!
RM, Arlington
The overall experience with buying our new place and selling our old place was fantastic. We needed to sell our old place right on the heels of buying our new place - which made the process very stressful. But Liz and Ellie were very supportive, and helped us navigate all the logistics, thereby lowering our anxiety. We would hire them again in a heartbeat.
PS, Arlington
Liz did an outstanding job assisting me with the purchase of the house. Her expertise in the market was truly instrumental in determining a competitive purchasing price . Liz was very involved in all aspects of the closing. She is friendly, warmhearted and helpful. She gave me many useful information about what to do for life living there. I will keep using her services moving forward, and I look forward to partnering with her on future business needs.
AP, Brighton
Liz was the best possible choice in helping us find our new home. As first-time home-buyers we had no idea where to start, and Liz was kind, responsive and walked us through each step with attentiveness and care. At the point in our search when we felt at a crossroads, Liz knew how to keep the morale high while helping guide us to what is now our lovely home. She struck the perfect balance of giving us the information we needed to make the best decision, without pushing a decision itself onto us. We loved working with Liz and have been raving about her to everyone we know! You can't go wrong with Liz & Ellie!
AC, Newton
Liz is fantastic and we are so glad to have had the opportunity to initially lease a place with her & then to buy a property with her. Liz really came to appreciate our lifestyle, needs & preferences. We always felt a high degree of trust & we really valued all the advice Liz provided us. Liz, along with Ellie & team, are fantastic & we strongly recommend them as partners in finding your next property!
AR, Cambridge
We had been looking for our perfect forever home for a while. Along our search we had the assistance and guidance of Ellie Botshon and Liz Lyster who were wonderful and extremely helpful. We were able to secure the buying of the home we fell in love with because of them. They were very responsive and respectful of our own process in this very stressful process of buying in Cambridge. Their advice and guidance was always on target and we are sure we would not have gotten our home if not for them. In small and big issues they were always there, ahead of the game. I strongly recommend them in any real estate dealings anyone might have.
RG, Somerville
We put our condo on the market with Liz and Ellie in early May and closed mid-June (standard for Somerville/Cambridge). And, the amount of effort and attention that Liz and Ellie dedicated to us ran much longer than that... Anyone who's been paying any attention this year knows that the market has been completely insane. We've seen for ourselves (buy side) its crazy, chaotic, Wild West competitiveness on full display. And yet: Not for one minute did we feel like a number at the deli counter. Ellie and Liz made us feel like their only clients, their only concern. They are professional, responsive, kind, ethical, articulate, caring--the list of qualities goes on and on. I would recommend them in a heartbeat to any friends or family.
CB, Cambridge
Having the dynamic duo of Liz and Ellie in my corner for the entire process was an amazing experience. Specifically, from the first moment, they both understood what my unique home & the neighborhood had meant to me, what it could mean for its future owners... and how to find that match! With a "We're on it!" attitude, I knew that every detail would be covered. When the day arrived to list & show the property, I was able to leave town for a few days and never worry a bit. Liz and Ellie were my true business partners, and I highly recommend that you make them part of your team!
CK, Arlington
Liz was so great to work during my home search this winter. It seemed an impossible task to find something I could imagine living in for years during a pandemic and in an incredibly competitive market. She calmly helped me assess options and I felt she developed a good understanding of what I was looking for. I always felt she was providing valuable information but without any pressure for me to decide one way or another. I attribute my success in having my offer accepted to her experience and guidance. I also appreciated her attention to detail for punch list items - she saw details that I would neverhave noticed. I recommend the Liz and Ellie team whole-heartedly.
JF, Medford
Liz and Ellie were lovely to work with, responsive when I reached out, thoughtful in their recommendations. They listened to me when I told them what I was willing to do to maximize value and gave me great advice/support to carry that out. They also referred me to great professionals who helped me get the place ready to list (painter, electrician, handyman, floor person, etc). And they gave me sage advice in timing the sale, pricing and negotiating when choosing the offer. And the photos/marketing materials were exquisite. In the end, my home sold for $40k above asking and about $20k more than I had hoped to get for it.
TA, Cambridge
Liz & Ellie (of Liz and Ellie Real Estate @ Compass) just helped us buy our dream home in Cambridge! They were absolutely fantastic to work with, were extremely knowledgeable about the Cambridge market as well as all the pitfalls to watch out for when navigating such a challenging housing market. They helped us narrow down our search and reflect on the pros/cons of some of the houses we were considering, many aspects we hadn’t considered… And ultimately, they were instrumental in helping us put in a competitive bid and sort through all the paperwork and questions along the way. We can’t recommend them highly enough!!
JC, Waltham
First time homebuyer here. Ellie did and amazing job helping me navigate what could easily have been an otherwise incredible stressful, overwhelming process. She has an incredible amount of knowledge of the geographic area, the overall and detailed aspects of the process and the quick thinking and negotiation skills to quickly and effectively address any bumps in the road that came up. I couldn’t have done it sanely without her and would recommend her to anyone interested in buying in the area!
ES, Somerville
Buying a house long distance during a pandemic is not an easy process, but Liz and Ellie did an incredible job of guiding us through it all. They shared invaluable advice on the real estate market, contractors, and Somerville zoning laws. And they acted as our eyes and ears on the ground while we were stuck in DC and unable to look at the house in person. Not a lot of people will buy a house sight unseen, and we could never have done it with Ellie and Liz by our side. Thank you guys for helping us find our dream home!!
PG, Cambridge
Liz was very responsive, always providing thoughful guidance. Great attention to detail. Knowledge of all locations where we looked. We would definitely work with her again! Response: Thank you, I really enjoyed working with you, and my business partner Ellie enjoyed working with your partner the last time around. We do pride ourselves on knowing the area inside and out, and are glad that was helpful to you. We look forward to working with you again in the future!
DS, Cambridge
I loved working with Liz and Ellie. First of all, they had the best pitch as seller's agents. Nobody was as prepared or as convincing of the process. Second, we managed the sale in the height of the COVID pandemic, Liz and Ellie ensured the maintenance of safety while encouraging maximum exposure of the property in the market. I ended up taking all their recommendations regarding movers, handyman..etc. with absolutely no regrets. Finally, after the initial steps, I zoned out and they took care of everything. They were on top of it and did not miss a thing. Finally, they are the nicest people. While they are honest, direct, and serious they have a good sense of humor. I enjoyed bantering with them. I cannot recommend them enough.
JC, Waltham
First time homebuyer here. Ellie did and amazing job helping me navigate what could easily have been an otherwise incredible stressful, overwhelming process. She has an incredible amount of knowledge of the geographic area, the overall and detailed aspects of the process and the quick thinking and negotiation skills to quickly and effectively address any bumps in the road that came up. I couldn’t have done it sanely without her and would recommend her to anyone interested in buying in the area!
GS, Roslindale
Ellie and Liz were so responsive, organized, and always prioritized our interests. Before our first meeting with them, Ellie and Liz were prepared by emailing us handouts ahead of time that we would cover in the meeting. From the start, Ellie and Liz verbalized they understood that house hunting can be stressful and that my wife and I could ask questions whenever they popped into our minds. Ellie and Liz were so attentive to our wants and needs for our future home. We then started looking at the MLS, accessing homes visible to all as well as some homes only visible to the agency Liz and Ellie belong to. Not only were my wife and I selecting homes we were interested in, but Ellie and Liz were also sending us homes that matched our criteria. In a very busy house market, timing was crucial and Ellie and Liz didn't want us to miss our chance buying a home because we were too late to see it. Once we found houses we wanted to tour, Ellie and Liz set up a schedule so we could see multiple houses on the same day. While touring houses, Ellie and Liz provided a nice balance of "hands on" as well as "tour at your own pace." For example, we'd enter a home and Ellie and Liz would immediately start inspecting it themselves, just for things that could be right (nice flow) or wrong (they noticed mold in one place before my wife and I did). At the same time, we always felt like they were there with us during the tour, asking us questions to help inform our decision making process (did I mention this buying a house was stressful and they were amazing at acknowledging the stress and guiding us through it?). At one point, we had to bring our dog with us to a tour because we couldn't find a babysitter in time. Unfortunately and understandably, the dog wasn't allowed in the house, so Ellie stayed outside and took care of our dog while we went inside to look around. It's the small things like that that made my wife and I feel like we weren't "just another client," but that we actually mattered to Ellie and Liz. Throughout the entire process, Ellie and Liz were incredibly responsive, which was so important. They were also knowledgeable of the areas we were visiting and talked with us about different activities available nearby. Once we agreed on a home, Ellie and Liz helped us negotiate different prices. To give you an idea of how quickly the market moves and how Ellie and Liz are able to keep up with it... we toured a home at noon, made an offer the same day, and came to an agreement with the seller also the same day. Liz and Ellie orchestrated the entire thing. So yes, they're very responsive. During the purchase and sale process, Ellie and Liz worked great with other members of our "house buying team" (lawyers, mortgage company). Even our lawyers expressed how appreciative they were that Ellie and Liz were so responsive because it made closing on the home so much easier. My wife and I highly recommend Ellie and Liz whenever you're in the market for a new home!
IT, Natick
We were first time sellers. By the numbers, Liz & Ellie sold our home 20% higher than listed price. List price was above the appraised value of our home. They advised on what to do to make our home attractive to buyers. They provided the best time to sell our largest asset. They connected us with vendors who understood how to make our home awesome and assisted us everything from colors to what furniture to set up. In terms of working with them, they are both positive, and always responsive. They were able to set up a sale in a 3 day period over a weekend. They paid attention to everything from description of our home in pamphlets, to photos, to marketing our home so that all the buyer agents knew they had a short time to look at our property, and bid at the end of that 3 day period. They basically set it up so that there would be a bidding war. We were so happy we didn't have to deal with a slowly reducing the list price over many months. I recommend the power duo without any reservation. They are very knowledgeable, and understand that it is an emotional process selling one's primary residence. It was truly a great experience!
RC, Melrose
Even better than expected! We bought a single-family home and sold our condo in Melrose, MA. Full disclosure: I do some behind-the-scenes work for Liz and Ellie, mostly office work (I'm not a licensed agent and am not planning to become one), but from what I'd seen from the outside, they were excellent agents. I asked Ellie and Liz to help with our purchase, then our sale, and we couldn't have been happier with them. They exceeded our hopes by helping us make a winning offer on the first house we looked at in Melrose, an incredibly competitive market. Ellie helped us build an excellent offer, explaining each part of it as we went along, and handled negotiations seamlessly. Our purchase was textbook "awesome," from start to finish. When it was time to sell, Liz guided us through preparing our condo: She made lots of suggestions, and helped us decide which repairs or prepping tasks were vital. We ended up staging our place, for which I have no regrets at all. It looked so beautiful and the photos drew in over 40 appointments. When offers came in, they talked us through the process and helped us select the safest profitable offer (which was 15% over asking). Our sale went incredibly smoothly, and Liz and Ellie were a quick text, phone call, email, or even in-person response away the whole time. Ellie and Liz did everything it took to make both our new home purchase and the sale of our condo an unequivocal success. I give them my highest recommendation, not only as a happy colleague, but as a completely satisfied client.
SM, Cambridge
Ellie Botshon was a terrific real estate agent for us, as first time home buyers without a lot of knowledge of the home buying process. She explained everything to us in a clear and concise way and was extremely patient with us, helping us to identify and clarify the things that were most important to us in a home. She was always accessible and available to us. She was by our side at all steps in the home buying process, making sure that our interests were represented, and helping us connect with a home inspector, real estate lawyer and mortgage lender so that our whole process was streamlined and relatively stress free. Ellie Botshon has a lovely personal manner and easily connects with people. It was a pleasure to work with her and we are grateful to her for helping us buy our first home.
MP, Woburn
As first-time home buyers, Ellie was incredible in helping us through the entire process. She clicked with us from the first showing and was honest with her opinion of places throughout. She found a great place for us that was move-in ready and yet it has potential for us to improve it and add features as we live in it. She really took time to understand what we were looking for in a home and provide honest feedback to us without ever pressuring us into making a decision. After the offer went through, she spent time explaining all the next steps, providing references and contacts and making herself available for inspections and walk-throughs. We couldn't be more pleased with our decision and would highly recommend her to anyone that is looking to buy a home.
KB, Melrose
I have used Ellie on four real estate transactions over the past 5 years and cannot recommend her highly enough. A condominium purchase and sale in Cambridge, a condo sale in Dorchester, and a single family home purchase in Melrose. She's a pleasure to work with. Extremely responsive, honest, knowledgeable... genuinely helpful in the negotiation process. You can't go wrong!
DP & C., Somerville
We worked with Ellie this past winter/spring/summer to buy a home for our growing family in Somerville- a hot and competitive market. Working with Ellie is a smooth and enjoyable process. She is incredibly knowledgeable of the market and home-buying processes, and is forthcoming in sharing that knowledge. Ellie is also very responsive and attentive when she is discussing things or showing houses with you. Importantly, she is not "pushy" at all and wants you to love your new home, so she is patient in your process to find a place that feels right for you/your family. I highly recommend working with Ellie if you're buying or selling your home!
