Kirk Mahncke

 Ranked in 2021 as one of the top 1.5% of agents in the country by REAL Trends & The Wall Street Journal


Biography

Selling or buying real estate seems like it should be a fairly simple event. It almost never is. Kirk has supervised thousands of transactions and acquired the skills to anticipate and avoid complications that can be detrimental to his clients’ interest. As licensed California Real Estate Broker working in Los Altos, Palo Alto, and Saratoga brokerages since 1976, Kirk has owned (RE/MAX, Foothill Properties & Development) and managed (Seville Properties, Coldwell Banker) offices and scores of agents.

He listens well and asks incisive questions to guide each client in making the most of their dreams and desires. He also offers a realistic explanation of the range of their options. He endeavors to see both possibilities and risks through his client’s eyes. His goal is for his buyers to smile when they come down the street to their new home …and for his sellers to smile when their proceeds are wired into their bank. Not surprisingly, most of his new clients are referred by those previously served, and many are repeat customers or their friends and family.

Personally visiting properties offered for sale and consulting with other licensees every week, Kirk’s instincts for spotting opportunities and market trends are well-honed. These skills are invaluable to sellers divining the right “listing profile” to maximize their appeal and to buyers choosing the “right” property and price to offer.

He has worked with planning and building departments at the city and county level as well as the California Coastal in subdividing, remodeling, designing, and building residences. He has an eye for design and a working understanding of most aspects of construction and permitting. Remodel/Expand/Rebuild or relocate? His breadth of knowledge, experience, and resources ensure his clients extra depth in recognizing opportunities unique to their profile as well as avoiding hidden surprises.

Decades of building strong working relationships with other real estate professionals can pay important dividends at the negotiating table, especially in competitive offer situations. Respect for his reputation can often make a critical difference when principals have choices in making an important business decision. Similar rapport with political entities, engineers, architects, designers, and contractors affords positive outcomes in identifying the best options and following through on them to make the details work for each client.

His versatility extends to handling estates, trusts, investments, and exchanges, as well as acting as a consultant to other professionals specializing in those fields. Longtime peers refer to him as a “broker’s broker”.

A local Realtor since earning his Marketing degree at Michigan State University in his home state, Kirk has made his home in Los Altos since 1981 where he raised his family and is active in the community.

When it’s important for performance to match promises, Kirk is a reliable choice.