Loyalty
I'm always there and I always answer. You get full transparency at every step, and I work on your behalf as if I were buying the home myself.
Ethan Romo
Bay Area Realtor · eXp Realty | The Davis Team
Bay Area real estate, made simple.
Buying your first place, selling your home, or just curious about what's out there. I'll walk you through every step in plain language, and I'll pick up when you call.
About
Hello, I'm Ethan Romo, your Bay Area Realtor. I help people buy and sell homes across the Bay Area, and I take it personally.
A home is the biggest purchase most people ever make, so I treat every client like they're the only one. That means showing up prepared, returning your calls, and telling you the truth about a property even when it's not what you want to hear.
I work with the Davis Team at eXp Realty, so you get one person who knows your goals inside and out, with an experienced team supporting every step.
How I work
What you can count on
A whole team behind you
As part of the Davis Team at eXp Realty, you get my full attention plus a team's resources, contacts, and know-how on every deal.
No jargon
Escrow, contingencies, appraisals. I'll explain each step before it happens so you're never signing something you don't understand.
The team behind me
The Davis Team at eXp Realty
When you work with me, you also get the experience of one of eXp Realty’s top-performing teams.
- Top 50
- team in all of eXp Realty
- Top 5
- eXp team in California
- 1,400+
- properties sold
- $900M+
- in sales volume
Team statistics for the Davis Team at eXp Realty.
Buy · Bay Area
Buy a home in the Bay Area.
Buying a home comes down to five steps. Here is every one of them from A to Z, so you know exactly what to expect before you see a single house.
Step1
Initial consultation
Free, on Zoom or in person. We sit down before you look at a single home and build your plan together.
- Walk through the buying process, A to Z. Every step, every document, and every deadline, explained in plain language.
- Review your financial picture. Income, savings, debts, and credit, so we know where you stand.
- Talk about your current living situation. Renting, owning, lease end dates, and any home you need to sell first.
- Define your home goals. What you want in a home, where, and when you want to move.
- Customize your game plan. A clear plan and timeline built around you.
Step2
Get pre-approved
A pre-approval tells you, and sellers, exactly what you can afford. It’s what makes your offer taken seriously.
- Connect with a trusted lender. Our team works with three in-house lenders, so you get fast answers from people we know and trust.
- Review your financial info. The lender looks at your income, assets, and credit.
- Understand your buying power. See your price range, down payment options, and estimated monthly payment.
- Set your home search budget. A number you’re comfortable with, not just the maximum you qualify for.
- Receive your pre-approval letter. Your proof of financing that goes with every offer we write.
Before we tour homes
The Buyer Representation Agreement (BRBC)
The BRBC, or Buyer Representation and Broker Compensation agreement, is a short agreement we sign before we start looking at homes together. Under current industry rules, a signed written agreement is required before an agent can tour homes with you.
What it’s for
It puts in writing that I represent you as your agent, what I’ll do for you, and how I’m paid. Everything is clear upfront, with no surprises later.
How it protects you
You know exactly what you’re agreeing to, and I have a duty to put your interests first through every step of the purchase.
How it protects me
It confirms our working relationship, so I can commit my full time and effort to finding you the right home.
Commission
Most of the time, I negotiate with the listing agent so my commission is paid by the seller. The BRBC spells out exactly how compensation works for your purchase. Commissions are not set by law and are fully negotiable.
Pre-approval first
Before we tour, we need to know how much you’re working with. That’s why the pre-approval comes before home shopping.
Cancel anytime
You can cancel the BRBC at any moment with no fees and no obligation.
Step3
Home shopping
With your budget set and your agreement in place, we start touring. Your search is built around what matters to you.
Price rangeLocationType of homeSize of homeSpecific featuresWhatever else matters to you
New listings that fit go straight to you, so you see the right homes first.
Step4
Make an offer
We write offers to win.
Communication
We pride ourselves on communication. We reach out to the listing agent to uncover exactly what the seller is looking for, so we can tailor your offer to stand out.
Price
Our price isn’t a shot in the dark. It’s backed by real market data, including a comparative market analysis of recent nearby sales.
Terms
Price gets attention, but terms seal the deal. We craft both to work in your favor.
The disclosure package
Before you commit, we review the seller’s disclosures with you.
- TDS
- Transfer Disclosure Statement. The seller’s disclosure of the home’s condition, including known defects and what comes with the property.
- SPQ
- Seller Property Questionnaire. More detailed questions about the home’s history: repairs, insurance claims, permits, and neighborhood issues.
- NHD
- Natural Hazard Disclosure. Whether the home sits in a flood, fire, earthquake fault, or seismic hazard zone.
Contingencies
Contingencies are your protections. Each one gives you a set amount of time to back out or renegotiate if something isn’t right.
- Investigation
- Time to inspect the home and look into anything that could affect your decision.
- Appraisal
- If the home appraises below the price, you can renegotiate or cancel.
- Loan
- If your financing falls through, you can cancel without losing your deposit.
- Insurance
- Time to confirm you can get homeowners insurance on the property.
Step5
Ordinances to know
Many Bay Area cities and counties have their own rules for when a home is sold. They’re different depending on the county and city you buy in, so I’ll check exactly which ones apply to your home.
Sewer lateral
Some cities require the private sewer line from the house to the street to be inspected, and repaired or replaced if it fails, at the time of sale.
Earthquake shutoff
Some cities require an automatic gas shutoff valve to be installed so gas cuts off in a strong earthquake.
Sidewalk
Some cities require the sidewalk in front of the home to be inspected and repaired at sale.
City transfer tax
A tax some cities charge when a property changes hands. Rates vary a lot from city to city, and some cities have none.
County transfer tax
Every California county charges a documentary transfer tax when a property sells. Who pays it is negotiable and often follows local custom.
Step6
The escrow process
Escrow is a neutral third party that holds the money and documents until every condition of the sale is met. With a loan, most Bay Area escrows close in about 21 to 30 days.
Week 1Open
- Escrow opened
- Earnest money deposit
- Disclosures & review
Weeks 1–3Investigate
- Inspections begin
- Appraisal ordered
- Loan underwriting
Final weekClose
- Closing disclosure
- Final walkthrough
- Signing
- Funds & closing
- Keys
- 01Escrow is opened
Once your offer is accepted, the contract goes to the escrow company and every deadline starts counting.
- 02Earnest money deposit
You wire your good-faith deposit to escrow, typically 1–3% of the price. It goes toward your down payment at closing.
- 03Seller’s disclosures & review
The seller delivers the TDS, SPQ, and NHD, and we go through them together.
- 04Inspections begin
A general home inspection, plus others as needed, like termite, roof, or sewer line.
- 05Appraisal is ordered
Your lender orders an appraisal to confirm the home is worth the price.
- 06Loan finalization & underwriting
The lender verifies your information and gives final loan approval.
- 07Closing disclosure sent
You receive your final loan terms and closing costs at least 3 business days before closing.
- 08Final walkthrough
We visit the home one last time to confirm it’s in the agreed condition.
- 09Signing closing docs
You sign your loan and closing documents with a notary.
- 10Funds transfer & closing
Your funds and the loan are wired, and the deed records with the county.
- 11Get your keys
The home is officially yours.
Sell · Bay Area
Sell your home with a plan.
Two weeks of prep, two weeks of full marketing, then a smooth escrow. Here’s exactly how we take your home from getting ready to sold.
Step1
Pre-market prep
The 14 days before we go live.
Most agents list a home the week they sign you. We don’t. The two weeks before we go live are where the work happens: prepping, fixing, staging, and shooting your home so it hits the market looking like the best house in the neighborhood.
- Day 1Strategy session
Your listing and pricing strategy. We walk your home together, review comparables, finalize pricing, and sign your listing agreement. You leave with a clear timeline and a written marketing plan.
- Days 2–4Deep clean & declutter
We prep your home to show like new.
- Days 5–7Minor repairs
Property touch-ups that buyers notice.
- Days 8–10Pre-inspections
Home, pest, and roof inspections, so there are no surprises once offers come in.
- Days 11–12Professional staging
Your home is staged to help buyers picture themselves living there.
- Days 13–14Photos, video, drone & 3D tour
Professional media that makes your listing stand out online.
Step2
Marketing activation
The first 14 days on the market.
- Day 1MLS goes live
Your listing syndicates to Zillow, Realtor.com, Redfin, Trulia, and 100+ other partner sites.
- Days 2–3Online marketing
Your home is promoted online so it reaches buyers wherever they’re looking.
- Days 4–5Broker tour
Local agents tour your home so they can bring it to their buyers.
- Days 6–7Opening weekend
A two-day open house, Saturday and Sunday, professionally hosted.
- Days 8–10Retargeting & follow-up
We review what’s working, adjust what isn’t, and follow up with interested buyers.
- Days 11–13Second weekend
A second round of open houses.
- Day 14Offer review date
All offers are presented together. We review each one side by side and strategize the best path forward.
Maximum exposure
Your home in front of the most buyers
- 40,000+
- active buyers in our database
- 30M
- annual social media impressions
- 100+
- syndicated listing sites
Open house plan
Open houses that bring buyers
- Pre-weekend promoYour open house is promoted before the weekend so buyers plan to come.
- Saturday and SundayOpen both days, every open house weekend.
- Signage that pulls trafficDirectional signs placed to bring in buyers from the neighborhood.
- Professional hostA trained host who knows your home and can answer buyers’ questions.
- 24-hour follow-upEvery visitor gets a follow-up within 24 hours.
- Weekly activity reportYou get a report every week on showings, feedback, and online activity.
Step3
The escrow process
From offer to close.
- 01Escrow opens
You accept an offer, the buyer’s deposit goes into escrow, and title work begins.
- 02Buyer investigates the property
The buyer reviews disclosures and completes inspections and the appraisal.
- 03Buyer removes contingencies
Once they’re removed, your sale is much more secure.
- 04Staging goes
The staging is picked up before closing.
- 05Movers coordinated
We help line up your move around the closing date.
- 06Sign closing docs
You sign your closing documents with a notary.
- 07Funded
The buyer’s loan and funds arrive in escrow.
- 08Recorded
The deed records with the county and your mortgage is paid off.
- 09Sold
Your proceeds are wired to you. Congratulations!
Invest · Bay Area
Invest in Bay Area property.
Whether it's your first rental or your next one, I'll help you find properties that fit your goals and see how the numbers work before you buy.
The roadmap
How investing in property works
- Set your goalsRental income, long-term growth, or living in one unit and renting the rest.
- Run the numbersI pull rents, comparable sales, and expenses so you can see how a property pencils out.
- Find the right propertySingle-family rentals, duplexes, and small multi-units that fit your plan.
- Offer & due diligenceInspections, existing leases, and disclosures, reviewed before you commit.
- Close & get set upConnections to property managers, contractors, and lenders for what comes next.
Good to know
Properties we can look at
Single-family rentals
A simpler first investment with a wide pool of renters.
Duplexes to fourplexes
Multiple units on one property, and you can live in one while renting the others.
Homes with ADU potential
Properties with room for a backyard unit or a garage conversion.
Legal
Privacy policy
Last updated October 23, 2026
This policy explains what information this website collects and how it’s used. It applies to this website, run by Ethan Romo, a Realtor with the Davis Team at eXp Realty of California, Inc.
What I collect
When you fill out the contact form, I collect what you choose to share: your name, phone number, email, what you’re looking for, your meeting preference, how you found this website, and your message. I don’t collect payment details or ask for financial documents through this website.
How I use it
I use your information only to respond to you and to help with your real estate needs, including scheduling a consultation. If you ask for a lender in your consultation, I may share your contact details with a lender for that purpose. I don’t sell your personal information.
Service providers
Form messages are delivered to my email through Formspree, and this website is hosted by Netlify. These companies process information only to provide their services.
Your choices
You can ask me at any time to see, correct, or delete the information you sent, or to stop contacting you. Just reply “stop” to any text or email me.
Contact
Ethan Romo · ethan.romo@exprealty.com · (510) 867-3689
If this policy changes, the updated version will be posted on this page with a new date.
Contact
Let's talk real estate
Whether you're buying, selling, or investing, consultations are free, on Zoom or in person, with no pressure and no obligation. Tell me what you're thinking and I'll get back to you today.
Instagram@ethanntherealtor
TikTok@ethanntherealtor
Service areaThe Bay Area
OfficeHercules, CA
BrokerageeXp Realty of California, Inc.DRE #01878277 · The Davis Team