Carmel Highlands

It has always been a pleasure working with Nicole and Zak. With their help we found the perfect home and location and we are lucky enough to end up with a gorgeous view of the Monterey Bay. If you are looking to buy or sell a home this team is where I would go.

We feel so fortunate we found Nicole and Zak to help us purchase our home in Monterey! They made themselves available to us throughout the entire process, and they were timely and professional in their communication. Even though we were working with a relatively modest budget for the area, they found and showed us homes that met our parameters and was a top-notch negotiator and advocate during the sale process. We're so happy with the results and I highly recommend working with Nicole and Zak!

I am the executor of an estate and was tasked with selling an oceanfront home in Carmel. I live in Los Angeles and needed a broker/agent who could take charge without me being present in Northern California. After interviewing several top tier brokers, I chose Sotheby’s (specifically Nicole Truszkowski and her team of professionals). This was the best decision I made. My requirements were simple: I wanted a stress-free experience, a broker who could handle all aspects before, during and after escrow (since I was not going to be present) as well as a broker who was resourceful, knowledgeable of the Carmel and current real estate markets, professional...

We met Nicole and Zak as we began our search for a home in Carmel. After getting to know Nicole and Zak, we knew right away we were in good hands because of her expertise in the Monterey housing market. Nicole and Zak helped us find a great home and made sure the sale went through smoothly and quickly. I highly recommend Nicole and Zak.

Nicole and Zak helped me find a home in Carmel by the Sea. They were very responsive and knowledgeable agents who knew all the special nuances of the neighborhoods. Nicole and Zak helped me find the perfect home that meets all my goals and was within my budget. They helped me navigate the home buying process so it was smooth and a seamless process. I would highly recommend Nicole and Zak to anyone looking to buy a home in Carmel by the Sea. You will be thrilled with their hands on service and high energy attitude.

I am pleased and delighted to offer a letter of recommendation and gratitude to Nicole and Zak for their diligent effort in assisting me purchase a home in Carmel, California in 2020, during Covid. My full-time residence, at that time, was in Napa, California. My property in Napa was on the market, and I was planning to wait until my Napa property sold prior to purchasing a home in Carmel. I decided to lease a home in Carmel as I began my search for the perfect Carmel cottage. I interviewed a few realtors by cell phone to determine who could help me in my search, as the real estate market was very challenging in 2020. I had very specific needs; styl...

We worked with Zak and Nicole. They were extremely knowledgeable and patient. They eventually found the perfect home for us, and we could not have been happier with his thoroughness or his quality of service. Zak and Nicole helped to keep the process on track and supported us with various resources long after the deal was closed.

We could not be happier or more impressed than we are with Truszkowski Freedman & Associates. Their professionalism, local knowledge and responsiveness were exactly what we needed. With only a few days to look at homes, Nicole and her team were truly exceptional! We found the perfect home and the sale was quick and hassle-free.

Nicole and her team are definitely my go to for any of my real estate needs! Nicole has been my dedicated realtor for over 15 years. Her expertise and attention to detail are unsurpassed! She keeps current on real estate trends not only locally but nationwide. Nicole takes a personal interest in her clients to insure they are introduced to local activities and I know from personal experience she makes life long friends of many clients! I highly recommend Truszkowski Freedman team!

Nicole and Zak helped us find our dream home in Carmel by the Sea! They are responsive, knowledgeable of the area, and professional. They showed us several lovely homes, and we found the perfect match. They helped us to negotiate a fair price. We couldn’t be happier and would highly recommend the team!

Zak and Nicole were absolutely fantastic to work with; they listened to what we wanted and needed, and only shared properties with us that had potential and were within the price range we defined. Plus, he knows the area very well and understands market pricing. During our time with Zak, he was consistently respectful, professional, available, patient, and never pressured us. That was special because Zak works with a wide range of clientele, and it was deeply appreciated that he made us feel just as important as clients who are in completely different price points, meaning his commitment to the client is genuine. Thank you, Zak, for everything you d...

Zak and Nicole helped us find our dream home in Carmel by the Sea! They are responsive, knowledgeable of the area, and professional. We couldn’t be happier and would highly recommend their team!

Zak and Nicole have sold us two houses. They are professional, honest, and put their customers first. Highly recommended for any of your real estate needs.

We are living in the second house we purchased from this team, and they are friendly, efficient, and very professional. I would highly recommend Nicole and team if you are in the market for a home.

Being a native of the Carmel area, I would wholeheartedly recommend the Truskowski Freeman team. Their team works diligently with you to meet your needs.

Zak and Nicole were absolutely wonderful to work with. Their first-hand knowledge of the area was incredibly beneficial. They were sensitive and respectful to our needs. Their unending patience and persistence were valuable and much appreciated. I would highly recommend them to help with anyone’s real estate needs.

Zak and Nicole have been my realtors for my past 3 homes. They helped me sell my first home in Marina, and I was able to buy an incredible investment in Pacific Grove (which they found for me without even asking!) They just helped us buy our dream house in Monterey during this seller's market. Without their expertise, their relationships with other realtors, and their understanding of finance, this would probably not have been possible. They have always guided our family well in real estate, and we wouldn’t be sitting in our dream home without their help this past decade.

I have worked with Zak and Nicole on both the purchase and sale of my home, and have enjoyed working with them. They are very professional, and I can highly recommend them.

Zak and Nicole were great to work with in our search for a house. They were very informative and quick to answer any questions or concerns that we had. I would not hesitate to use their services again should the need arise. Highly recommended!

We found a house we absolutely loved, and it had competing offers. Zak and Nicole helped us get the house and made the whole process seamless and as stress-free as possible. They are kind, patient, courteous, and very knowledgeable! We had just met Zak and Nicole, but felt like we were being represented by a friend. We couldn’t recommend them more highly to help anyone buy or sell their property/home.

I cannot put into words how thankful my wife and I were to have worked with Zak and Nicole on helping us find (and close on!) our home here in Carmel Valley. From the very beginning, they were just on top of everything. We had an initial phone conversation (as we were moving from the San Diego area) to talk about neighborhoods, our budget, etc., and they worked to put together a plan that felt so us, so personalized and yet so professional. Weekly and most times daily, they sourced homes for us to check out, and it wasn't uncommon for me to receive emails from them in the middle of the night with updates or just checking in. They were also very much...

Zak and Nicole are so nice, I've decided to work with them twice.

Zak and Nicole are amazing realtors. They are very approachable, knowledgeable, and made the whole process smooth, seamless, and successful. They were determined and persistent with a personable touch that made this an enjoyable experience. I only have positive things to say about the interactions with them, highly recommended, very professional, easily one of the best in his field. Thank you, Zak and Nicole!

After using the same realtor exclusively for all my real estate transactions for the past twenty years, I was not looking forward to finding someone new. Quite frankly, I did not believe I would find anyone to fill those shoes. I was wrong. I just completed my second transaction with Zak and Nicole in under two years. They are very knowledgeable in marketing, hold their client's interest in the highest regard, do what they say they will do, and are a joy to work with. Bottom line, they deliver.

Zak and Nicole are very professional and knowledgable of the area. When we toured our future home, they were confident that we should put an offer on it. I'm so glad they were, because we couldn't be happier with our home in PG, and the negotiating he did to get us the right price. We will be using them for all of our real estate needs in the area.

Zak and Nicole are good listeners, have excellent market knowledge, and are well-connected. They were a pleasure to work with and were instrumental in our purchase of a house in the Carmel area. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to friends and family.

We had a number of adventures with Zak and Nicole in the process of buying a Carmel Meadows house, and throughout, they were gracious, creative, and constructive. Their expertise was crucial to our final decision, which we have been very happy with.

Zak and Nicole are knowledgeable, kind, patient, and care about us as clients. They are a busy team, but they always had time for us and kept us closely in the loop with all the details we needed. As daunting and labor-intensive as home buying is, they made it as low-stress as possible. They are true professionals, and we highly recommend them to anyone looking for a realtor.

Zak and Nicole are the best in their field. We were very fortunate to have them as our realtor; they are very knowledgeable in the Big Sur area, especially Palo Colorado road, in fact they pulled a miracle by helping us close the deal on our home. They worked tirelessly for us. We highly recommend them. Thank you, Zak and Nicole, from the bottom of our hearts, you are the best!

Zak and Nicole were very helpful and responsive in the purchase of our lot in the Carmel Highlands. They have excellent market knowledge and are well-connected in the local area. They were a pleasure to work with and were instrumental in our purchase.

When you decide to quit your job on the fly while sitting in traffic on the way to work in DTLA and move to a redwood forest in Carmel Valley, it helps to have a plan. In lieu of that, I recommend calling Zak and Nicole. We discussed options within my budget over the phone, and a couple of weeks later, I flew up to see some listings God only knows how they found. It was all uphill from there. I couldn't believe the variety of homes they were able to put together for an afternoon errand. The house I settled on took my breath away and wasn't anything I ever would have imagined could be so beautiful. Within budget too boot. Of course, it's technically ...

Zak and Nicole made our dreams of owning a home in Big Sur come true! The deal was a complicated one, but they worked hard and had the right contacts to make it happen for us. I would highly recommend them if you are considering a home in the Carmel/Big Sur areas. They are very familiar with the area since they grew up there, and I think that made it a smoother process. Their responsiveness is so fast, and they get things done. We are now the owners of a property between the dreamy Big Sur and Carmel-By-The-Sea, two truly magical locations! They were so easy to work with, and we are not local (via Los Angeles). Thank you, Zak and Nicole, for all of ...

Zak and Nicole are the best! This was my wife's and my first time buying a home, and they helped make the entire process seamless. We are so happy to have found our dream home on the beach and couldn’t have done it without them. As a physician, I truly value my time, and they helped get things done on time and correctly! They are great at communicating; always responding right away, which I truly appreciated. Would highly recommend them and plan to do further business with them in the future.

Would definitely recommend Zak and Nicole because they had the brilliant idea of applying for a backup that helped me out a great deal. They were also patient and showed me the house we bought on the first day of its open house, and we were the first to offer a deal.

Very helpful, great local knowledge, made purchasing my home a very pleasant experience. I would definitely recommend using Zak and Nicole! I will have him help me again with my real estate needs in the future.

Zak and Nicole were very helpful in selling my house. They were responsible and responsive to my needs and concerns. The marketing was outstanding, and it resulted in an out-of-state buyer coming in and purchasing the property.

I have been dreaming of moving to Pacific Grove for over 20 years. Zak and Nicole found the perfect home for me! It is a totally remodeled historic home in mint condition. They made the whole process a breeze! They took care of every detail, and we were able to complete everything within a 2-week period. I still can’t believe my perfect little house. They were so knowledgeable and able to answer every one of my questions. I put total faith and trust in them. I would highly recommend their services!

I found Zak and Nicole online and called them about 4 years ago. They have patiently, professionally, and promptly helped us find a second home on the Monterey Peninsula. I highly recommend them and feel grateful to have found them! I would recommend them to anyone who appreciates an excellent communicator throughout the buying process.

Zak and Nicole were wonderful to work with! It was clear from the beginning that they were knowledgeable, experienced, and had our best interests at heart. They are kind and empathic but also tough when required - they definitely "went to bat" for us a few times during the process of buying our new home! They were always available and responsive if we had questions, and happy to talk us through anything we didn't understand. They are passionate about what they do, and it shows. I highly recommend them if you want a realtor who truly cares and is on your side.

Zak and Nicole helped us establish a fair market price, stage our home, and spend countless days showing and promoting our home. They kept us up to date with developments. Guided us effectively through the contract phase with the buyer to a successful close today.

We chose Zak and Nicole as our agents on a blind search, based on their excellent rating on Zillow. We could not have been any happier with our choice, especially as we were conducting business from a different state. Our purchase criteria were specific, and we were extremely pleased with the final outcome and their ability to coordinate and to keep us informed every step of the way. They were not only considerate of our time and travel restrictions while working long distance, but they additionally assisted with our need for reliable, local contractors and issues after the sale.

Zak and Nicole are very helpful, knowledgeable, and organized. We live in Los Angeles, so it was important to us to have an agent with great communication skills. They acted as our eyes and ears during the negotiations all the way through to the close of escrow. We highly recommend them.

From the start, they efficiently guided us through the purchase and closing process. Between them and our mortgage broker, we had a dynamic duo on our side!

Zak and Nicole provided flawless real estate service every step of the way as I purchased a new home from a distance. They were completely trustworthy in every situation, and I recommend them without hesitation. They are experts on the Monterey area (Carmel/Pacific Grove/Monterey) and have strong relationships with other local realtors, which helped my bid to be accepted. They understood exactly what I was looking for and are extremely fast to return calls, texts, and emails--I honestly don't know when they sleep! They had excellent, proactive recommendations about inspections, repairs, and negotiating with the seller, and kept the entire process on...

My husband found them by searching the internet. We chose them for three reasons: 1) they work for Sotheby's ( international), 2) they sell high-end homes, and 3) they have great reviews. I met them on July 10, 2017. I instantly liked them right away. They are friendly, good listener and sincerely care for their clients. They are very knowledgeable and do things in their client's best interest. I expressed to them that I was looking for a buyer who appreciates the quality workmanship of my home and does not even care for the size of it. They understood. They brought me the perfect buyers before the home hits the market. They represented both parties...

Zak's and Nicole's expertise were so vital to our relocation from Texas to California. They are a consummate professional, and I would gladly work with them again on a home purchase or sale.

Zak and Nicole have been extremely helpful through the process of a recent property we purchased. When I initially called regarding this property, they were instantly available, searching for information about it. Their creative thinking and staying on top of things made the negotiation process move swiftly and concisely. We would definitely recommend them!

Zak and Nicole are by far the best agents we have ever worked with. They represented us as buyers and went above and beyond in every aspect, got us a great deal, and helped us feel comfortable and supported every step of the way. They are the best, hands down. I highly recommend them to anyone looking to buy or sell in Carmel!

Zak and Nicole were so much more than our real estate agent. Their attention to detail and efficiency made it possible for us to find and buy the perfect home for our family. Their exquisite taste and expertise in the market we were looking in guided us through every stage with confidence and excitement in our final home-buying decision. What I absolutely love most about them is that they are both extremely sharp and a genuinely caring person. We are so happy that we had the opportunity to work with them and will forever be grateful to them.

We contacted them about our duplex to be sold. They responded immediately with comps and helped us with a listing price. As soon as the property went on the multiple listing site, we had several offers. We ended up with an all-cash offer and $10,000 over our asking price. My husband and I would recommend them to any prospective buyers or sellers. They are very experienced and knowledgeable. They deserve 5 +++++++++rating. We've bought and sold other properties, and they are the best agent we've ever used.