A Little About Me

25+ Years

Of Real Estate Experience

SRES

Real Estate Specialist

40+ Years

Bay Area Resident

Bright office with a large wood desk, computer workstation, and framed horse and dog artwork.

My Recommended Lenders

The lenders provided here are offered as a courtesy to assist in your home buying process. You are under no obligation to work with any of these lenders and are encouraged to explore all options to find the best fit for your needs. These lenders have consistently delivered excellent service and strong results for us personally, as well as for many of our clients. *Elation Real Estate does not receive any compensation, or financial benefit from these recommendations.*
Smiling blonde woman in a white sweater with layered gold necklaces.

Erin Hamilton

Planet Home | NMLS #852880
[email protected] 
(925) 260-8769

Chris Kamali

Chris Kamali

U.S. Bank | NMLS #1042286
[email protected]  
(925) 738-1138

Smiling man in a navy blazer and checked shirt against a gray background.

Justin Castro

Diversified Mortgage | NMLS #1233153
[email protected]
(925) 344-9329
 
John Kay, smiling in a blue checked suit and gold patterned tie

John Kay

LoanDepot | NMLS #281547
[email protected]
(925) 309-1243

Modern kitchen with a large marble island, four stools, and dark navy cabinetry.

Broker Compensation & Buyer Broker Agreement

What You Need to Know

Recent changes to the real estate industry came as a result of national class action lawsuits that challenged how agent commissions were structured and disclosed. The outcome created new rules designed to increase transparency and give buyers and sellers more control over how agents are compensated.

You Now Hire Your Agent First

Before touring homes, you’ll sign a Buyer Representation Agreement.
This outlines how your agent represents you, the scope of services provided, and how they are compensated.

While this has always been the case, the buyer agent compensation has now been decoupled from the seller. You and your agent will agree on compensation upfront, and it can be structured in a way that works best for you.

Buyers now, in most cases, request their agent's compensation as part of the purchase offer. Just like price and terms, this is fully negotiable.

In 95%+ of transactions in our market, the buyer agent compensation is still paid by the seller. 

Greater transparency in how agents are paid.

Clear expectations before you begin your home search.

We guide you through these changes every step of the way, ensuring you understand your options and structure your offer in the most strategic way possible.

Rich & Kim
Matt & Katie
Daniel & Rachel
Kathy
Pam
Sarah
Tom
KJ
Adrian & Saira
Tomaz & Dana
Elation Real Estate
Elation Real Estate
Elation Real Estate
Elation Real Estate
Elation Real Estate
Elation Real Estate
Elation Real Estate
Brian Misener
Simone Grashuis
Maureen Hamm
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

My wife and I purchased our first home with Linda's help in 2007 and again used her to sell my father's house in 2022. Always going the extra mile and treating you like family. When my wife and I had questions about the process, she always answered the phone and answered our emails in minutes. She took care of everything and gave us daily updates. When Buying out of the area with a different realtor we r...

— Rich & Kim

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

I worked with Linda to buy my first home, and more recently a place for my wife and I. Both times she's been excellent to work with. She took the time to sort out our needs and tastes which helped a lot in a competitive market for one of the homes. Her insight into the Livermore market and neighborhoods was invaluable, and helped us end up in a great place after working through several false starts - she...

— Matt & Katie

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Linda is an amazing realtor, she went above and beyond to get us the house of our dreams. I would recommend her to anyone. She is very responsive to email, text and phone calls. If she missed a call she would always get back to us very promptly, she also advised us in advance when she would be in a meeting and not be able to answer calls. She assisted us through the process and helped us in a way that ...

— Daniel & Rachel

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Linda is a fantastic realtor and a wonderful person. I used her to purchase my first home back in 2003, again in 2007, and just this year in 2021. I use Linda because she is thorough, knows real estate, and does everything for you. She is super responsive, makes the whole process so easy and she does it all with a kindness and understanding of what her clients are experiencing.. how overwhelming sometime...

— Kathy

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Linda is an excellent realtor. She was so helpful to me during the entire process and made things go very smoothly even in these times of Covid-19. Not only did she walk me through the sales process but was there to help every step of the way, including cleaning out and finding homes for items I wasn't going to need in my next home. She was always very responsive and kept me in the loop. Linda always...

— Pam

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Linda is an amazing agent and a wonderful person. I was selling a house that belonged to my uncle and that was in probate following his death. I live about an hour away, so getting out to the house to manage things is time-consuming for me. Linda helped in every possible way, arranging for all the things that we needed to take care of to get the house on the market and sold. She managed all kinds of smal...

— Sarah

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Looking for a great realtor in the Tri-Valley Area, look no further. We have purchased homes and most recently sold a home and we always turn to Linda to help us. From the very beginning and through the entire process, her attention to detail and communication was outstanding. She is very experienced and has a true passion for her business and care for her customers. Linda is also very pro active and thi...

— Tom

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Linda is a definite professional who is a expert at her craft of being a real estate agent. Every interaction with Linda during all facets of the selling process of our home was seamless. Her professionalism resonated during the entire process no matter how big or small the detail was. Her transparency made decisions my wife and I had to make extremely easy without any reservations. Linda is a definite a...

— KJ

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Linda is literally a Real Estate Angel sent from heaven! Her work ethic is second to none, specifically her responsiveness, expert guidance, and professionalism. My husband and I work very long hours and I could count on Linda to answer all of my questions via text or email no matter the time of day! Seriously, 6am text and 9pm emails, she was on it! Linda helped us buy and sell our very first home in Li...

— Adrian & Saira

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Words cannot describe how happy I am with the service my husband and I received from Linda in selling our condo and purchasing our house. The market in which we were looking to buy is highly competitive (that is an understatement) and Linda was able to get us into a home that met every single one of our criteria! Linda is personable and treats you like family, making sure all your questions are answered ...

— Tomaz & Dana

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Linda Newton was our realtor in Livermore. After 63 years, we had to sell our parents’ home, the place my siblings and I grew up in. Linda was very kind. Not aggressive, knowing we had to clean out everything in the house with so many memories. It is quite a process going through all the items. Linda guided us step by step with empathy and love. She helped us find a home for our mom’s beloved piano, as ...

— Adelle Button-Bell

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

When my sister passed away, I spoke to several Real Estate Agents, but it wasn’t until 9 months later, that I needed to hire a realtor. My Trust Attorney recommended 5 realtors, one of which was Linda. The moment I met Linda, I knew she was the one I wanted to work with. Right from the start I liked her. She has that personality that’s kind, thoughtful, courteous; that you automatically trust and have fa...

— William G. Hoppes

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

While we have many options which include longtime close friends, colleagues and acquaintances in Real Estate we will not use anyone other than Linda Newton for our real estate needs. Linda has assisted us in both selling and buying homes. We jump at any opportunity to refer her because we trust and value her professionalism so much. We've referred family members who've had the same experience. Linda is v...

— Mark Collins

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Linda Newton was my agent when I decided to sell my house after my husband passed away. I needed something smaller since it would just be me. Linda was so helpful, including on the last day when I was cleaning and gathering the last few things to move to an interim apartment while my new home was being built. Linda is a great agent and a great person. I don't know what I would have done without her durin...

— Pam Drumtra

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

I've worked with Linda Newton on several occasions, both selling and purchasing homes. She is so good at what she does. She is patient, professional, friendly, and really takes the time to get to know her clients personally to ensure they find the perfect property. I wouldn't hesitate recommending her and Elation to anyone looking for a real estate professional.

— Kathleen Quanstrom

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Linda Newton is the best realtor around! She helped me with the purchase of my 1st home. Linda is patient, calm and organized! Anyone would love working with her!

— Kelli Walter

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

My husband & I have had Linda Newton as our realtor for many years, she helped buy (2007) & later sell (2025) our home in Livermore, she sold my father-in-laws home (2022), my grandmothers (2013) & aunt's (2024) homes too. Working with Linda has always been an absolute pleasure. She ensured the entire selling process was stress-free and remarkably quick. What really stood out was Linda's incredible atten...

— Kim Vardanega

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Linda Newton is amazing. I have been working with her over 17 years. I have sold one home through her and bought two. I have complete trust in her. She advised us on everything to do to get ready for the sale and arranged for the work to be done.

— Brian Misener

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Linda was a pleasure to work with during the sale of my parents’ home, which they had owned for 50 years, following my father’s passing. She was very knowledgeable about the trust sale process and showed compassion throughout. Linda went above and beyond by recommending dependable professionals to help prepare the home for sale and assisting with the coordination of clearing it out. I especially apprecia...

— Simone Grashuis

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Linda was so supportive in my journey of preparing to sell a condo that had been no-so gently used by tenants. She sent me great referrals for painters, repairers and haulers which were desperately needed in this case. The staging she had done transformed the condo and I am sure it helped us get offers in the first week and a contract signed soon after. She was calm, kind, absolutely knowledgeable and he...

— Maureen Hamm

Linda Newton smiling in a teal-and-navy plaid shirt, with long wavy brown hair.

Thank You for the Opportunity

I am excited to help you find your dream home! ~ Linda