Meet Yoshiko

Yoshiko Oest is the co-founding partner of Live South Bay Local, a full-service real estate agency and division of Bayside Real Estate Partners. A lifelong South Bay resident, she has worked in the real estate industry for over 16 years. Yoshiko is the rare agent who possesses both the technical knowledge and experience to analyze and list homes in a competitive market, negotiate fairly with all parties, and manage contractors, while also having the communication skills and empathy to give principled counsel and advice to clients.

Yoshiko’s unique skill set is proven in her sales numbers. In 2020, she had $23 million dollars in sales which included 23 sales, and over 47,000 square feet. In 2019, she made $15 million dollars in sales, including 9 sales, and over 26,000 square feet.

Though she is a multidimensional agent, Yoshiko’s ability to meticulously analyze markets, property values, and sales patterns sets her apart from others. She is also incredibly thorough in her reading and writing of contracts, knowing the details of every agreement and stipulation, in order to “protect my clients at all times.” And when the time comes to prepare a home for sale, she has an extensive network of professional and reliable resources, from architects and designers to electricians and plumbing experts.

When it comes to her clients, Yoshiko believes first and foremost in building relationships. “When I know my clients well, I can help them meet their goals better,” she says. To her, a real estate agent must be able to understand a client’s future plans, goals, and dreams in order to help them buy their first home or sell their current home to relocate, upgrade, downsize, or retire.

Yoshiko’s most memorable sale was helping a divorced, single mother of four children find her dream home (with a pool) in the South Bay, all while negotiating the challenges of Covid, troubled credit, and non-traditional financing. Her most challenging sale was repairing and then preparing a $3 million dollar home for sale in Brentwood. The property needed to be re-done from floor to roof and required dozens of contractors and hundreds of thousands of dollars in repair. It also required extensive negotiations with the former tenant, their lawyer, escrow services, and a title company.

Before working in real estate, Yoshiko was a graphic designer and she holds a BS in Graphic Design from the Art Institute. Outside of work, Yoshiko is a married mother of two children. She enjoys going to music concerts, training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, discovering tacos, and watching her daughter and son play basketball.

“Buying a home is one of the biggest decisions a person can make,” she says. “I am my client’s advocate, cheerleader, and advisor. It’s rewarding to see them fulfill their life dreams.”