About Heather
Heather, a Chicago suburbs native, has been in the Bay Area since 2000. She and her husband moved to Alameda in 2004 where they have enjoyed raising their family in a small-town atmosphere. Heather joined the team at Compass with a strong operations and negotiations background after more than a decade of service as an Operations Director in a local hospital system. She managed high-profile, multi-million dollar construction and purchase contracts while also managing the day-to-day operations of more than 150 employees that she oversaw. Over this time in the healthcare environment, she has become adept at providing exceptional customer service while working in a fast-paced environment, pivoting quickly and providing effective solutions to issues as they arose to ensure meeting deadlines on or ahead of schedule. This experience dovetails nicely into the realm of real estate, making Heather a robust negotiator in a dynamic market. Heather understands that this may be the largest purchase or sale you will ever make. Whether buying or selling Heather will ensure you are informed throughout every step of the process. She is laser-focused, and her attention to detail will result in a seamless and stress-free experience.
Client Testimonials
-Hiroshi D
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Do yourself a favor! If you are selling a house, do yourself a favor and hire Heather Duke. She is completely up front about what you can expect and then works tirelessly to make it happen. She will prepare your home for sale, market it beautifully and then communicate with other agents and curious buyers ensuring that you get the best deal possible.
-Sharon T
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Absolutely awesome agent and a genuinely nice person as well. I met Heather at a showing quite a few years ago and knew right then that she would be our buyers agent if and when we found a house. Over the years she would keep in touch and keep us in mind. We made a few offers, but nothing materialized. Recently a house came up and we liked it so made an offer. She worked with us and the selling agent, was persistent and our offer was finally accepted while we were on extended foreign travel. With her experience, she managed to navigate a very very complex closing while we were out of town, dealt with a short delay in closing due to the insurance situation in CA and we closed. She is knowledgeable, excellent negotiator, extremely patient, able to work with a very meticulous person (me) and to boot, she is genuinely a nice person and pleasant to deal with. Highly recommended, would use her again.
-WH
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Sometimes in life you come across people who feel like guardian angels - and when that person is your real estate agent during a Bay Area house hunt, it can mean the difference between stress and frustration vs. landing your dream home. We feel incredibly lucky a friend referred us to Heather Duke, who I now call the patron saint of Alameda real estate. A few years ago, we weren't sure we'd ever afford a home in the Bay Area. We even considered leaving California. Fast forward to today-we're in a home we love, in a community we're thrilled to be part of, and we're so grateful we chose to work with Heather. As first-time buyers, we were often overwhelmed, but Heather guided us with patience, empathy, and deep knowledge. She helped us balance realistic expectations, with hope and confidence, which made all the difference. Heather truly acted in our best interest, offering honest advice and never pressuring us. She respected that this was the biggest purchase of our lives, and gave us space to make the right decisions. Her expertise in the Alameda market-and strong relationships with agents, lenders, and contractors-gave us a real edge. She went above and beyond: available outside normal hours, moving fast on offers, and helping us evaluate disclosures with care. She could shift seamlessly from high-level strategy to small details-like whether to worry about an electrical issue mentioned in the disclosures. She offered invaluable emotional support and expert guidance during complex, high stakes decisions. Amazingly, less than a month after meeting Heather, we were under contract on our dream home-within budget and never feeling rushed. She even made us feel truly welcome in the Alameda community. We can't recommend Heather highly enough-especially for fellow first-time buyers. She's the real deal. Thank you, Heather!
-Aaron and Sharon Q
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Amazing service, truly one stop shop for me as a seller. I cannot say enough positive about the knowledge of Alameda real estate market by Heather Duke. She answered every question, many times before I knew to ask. If I could give a 10 star review I would. She is professional, friendly and truly looks out for her clients best interests. My home sold and closed prior to the first scheduled open house due to the skills and vast network Heather has. The sale price far exceeded expectations and was a smooth transaction. I believe this sale was the result of Heather being honest with me about what must be done to attract the best buyers while not recommending things that would not add specific value to the property. I put my full trust in Heather Duke and she did not disappoint. I believe she will represent a buyer or a seller with knowledge and a true desire to have the best outcome for her clients.
-Emily W
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Heather worked with my in-laws over a 2 year time span, and they landed on the perfect spot. She's not pushy at all and very helpful. She went above and beyond printing out, going over and getting wet signatures on documents along with visiting the property multiple times before it closed.
-Heide Z W
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Best agent out there! Iām a first time homebuyer and a very particular one to say the least. Of course my goal in life was a ādealā when it came to home purchase.. something that other real estate agents just laugh at. Heather heard me out, she saw pictures of the houses we previously liked and instantly offered for us to tour a townhouse which we ended up liking. She told us the price it would likely go for, gave us tours of a few properties that same day within our budget and spent some time going over comps with us. She was very patient with all my financial questions and was very honest. The original house we ended up liking went almost 200k over asking which I didnāt expect. So when another house in the same neighborhood that was actually bigger in square footage came out, Heather texted me that she found out of an off-market house. My first thought, why off market? My second thought was, ācan this be a deal?ā. Yes there were some hidden costs like me paying for all the inspections and me giving them a month rent back, but overall I took the house as a deal and a win. The house has tons of potential and with a little remodel, we can really spruce it up. Heather also has recommendations for painters, electricians, contractors, you name it. She was present at each inspection with me, held my hand through all the questions during signing tons of paperwork and overall kept the whole process as easy as possible. Heather formerly was a nurse so she really knows how to take care of people and make them feel comfortable. Youāre in good hands with Heather! Even my dog and one year old love her :)
-Katherine M
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Heather got us through a tough search. We absolutely loved working with Heather Duke on Jeff's team! She guided us through the whole process with empathy, expertise, and a great sense of humor. Heather previewed tons of properties for us, brought us to the best ones, and put up with us contradicting ourselves constantly. She gave us faith that we'd find our forever home in the end, and went to bat for us when selling agents were playing with our hearts and wallets. She never pressured us to blow our budget but did guide us into a higher price point based on our preferences. She was super respectful, highly communicative, and clearly cares with her whole heart about helping people navigate this byzantine process and come out on top. She's also "got a guy" for everything we'll need as new homeowners, and has been incredibly supportive throughout escrow and our first wave of major investments in home improvement. Thank you Heather, we couldn't have made it through making 8 offers with anyone less talented, kind, and caring!
-Maya & Michael P
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World Class Real Estate Experience. I came to Heather as a potential first time home buyer in the Bay Area in early 2023. In what could feel like a very vulnerable position Heather made me feel comfortable and confident in every step of the process. I have a reputation for asking a lot of questions and Heather made sure to allow appropriate time at all parts of the process to make sure I got what I needed to move forward. She is a wonderful professional whom I would recommend highly to anyone looking to make a change to their current real estate holdings.
-Kyle V
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Always available! Number one in customer service. I was very reluctant to buy a home given the high interest rates and low availability of homes. Heather was always available at any time that I wanted to see the home. She understood the market and what price to come in with to have the absolute best chance at winning the bidding war. In the end I purchased a beautiful home in the Richmond hills and while I had to pay more than asking price, I felt that Heather presented me in the best way possible to be the person who was successful in buying the home. She's very knowledgeable and well connected with lenders. Tim was absolutely amazing at finding a way when others said no. Heather also stays very closely engaged until the very end and fights for things to be made right before the buyer moves in. I appreciate her accessibility as well as her open communication style which makes it easy to have her understand what's important to the buyer and try to meet as many things on the wish list as possible. I would highly recommend Heather to anyone looking to purchase a home. She makes it happen!
-Janet M
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Mary Poppins of RealtorsĀ®! Iām unsure where to beginā¦from being responsive and professional, Heathers kindness, compassion and genuine concern for her clients are her top priorities. Her nursing background kicks in but I believe itās just her nature. She is prepared (Mary Poppins bag) and her efforts go above and beyond. Heathers marketing videos showcased my property beautifully! I had two transactions (one smaller) and her passion was just the same. Heather was a delight to work with and Iām happy now to call her a friend.
-Kerry K
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Professional, knowledgeable and easy to work with! Heather is a real standout. After interviewing several other agents, we decided to use Heather because she's an excellent listener who develops a partnership with her clients in determining how to sell their home. That approach, combined with her knowledge and expertise made for a very successful outcome. We would definitely use Heather again!
-Sheila D & Phil R
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Heather is Outstanding! While I was not in the market for a new home, the one right next door to my daughter became available. We had to act fast and Heather flawlessly helped navigate a successful transaction. She was very responsive (even while on her European vacation) and genuinely cared about me as her client. I could not have had better representation.
-Joan K
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Excellent! When I first met Heather Duke, I had a good feeling about her. She is a caring person, she did the best of her knowledge and she did what I was expecting her to do. I am pleased that I met her and that we did business together. I would refer anybody to Heather as an excellent agent. Thank you Heather for being there.
-Besima F
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Heather Duke is a Rockstar Agent! We are happy to rate Heather as an excellent agent in the sale of our house in Alameda. From beginning to end, she took care of every detail, big and small, and achieved a result that was beyond our expectations. It felt like we were her only customer given the level of communication and hard work she put into our contract. Heather is always clear the decisions are yours, but her recommendations are spot on. She is savvy about the shifting housing market and how to best position your property for a speedy sale. We recommend her without hesitation.
-Kathyrn M & Charles H
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Heather worked with me with a very responsive and patient manner! Our move to Alameda was fraught with changing needs and indecision, yet she was reassuring and understanding. After closing, she continues to be available to assist us with numerous questions and tasks.
-Pam K
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Heather goes above and beyond. She is with you every step of the way. She is thorough and makes sure to answer questions. If she is she not sure of an answer, she does not pretend to know, but she will 100% make sure to get you an answer. She is smart, competent, reliable and trustworthy. Her ultimate goal is to find clients their dream home. She is the best.
-Rose T
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Heather Duke sort of fell into our lap when we unexpectedly decided to make an offer on a house before we had chosen a buying agent, and we are so glad she did! She cheerfully took care of every small detail for us and advocated successfully for our interests anytime a speed bump arose. She happily answered her phone during off hours when we only expected to leave a message. She truly exceeded our expectations, and we feel we have a new Alameda friend!
-Jennifer O
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We had such a great experience working with Heather. Our process was unique and unfamiliar, but Heather always put us at ease and provided us gentle guidance to help reduce our stress level. She was so easy to work with and would always go above and beyond to meet our needs. Heather always made herself available, day or night to respond to questions or small crises that arose.
-Teresa P
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I recently worked with Heather to buy my very first house. Heather provided a world-class education on the often complex and even some times archaic rules of the real estate world. She very quickly understood my needs and was infinitely patient with my many questions. I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for assistance buying or selling a home.
-Kyle V
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The best! A great professional! She always goes the extra distance. Follows through, coordinates with the different vendors, is available always, and shines brightly and cheerfully throughout the challenges or opportunities! She fully represents and cares about the client! Amazing skills, capabilities, and capacity!
-Judy T
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Heather made our home purchasing process an absolute breeze from start to finish. As first-time homebuyers, we were looking for a real estate agent who could hold our hands throughout the process and who we could trust to fight tooth and nail for our interests: Heather was just that person. She consistently sent us new properties to view and was very conscientious of the budget range we were comfortable working with. We initially thought that purchasing in the city of Alameda wasnāt within our range, but Heather helped us secure our beautiful condo, and we truly couldnāt be happier with the location. Heather also helped us secure a few contractors to update some of the flooring in our place prior to us officially moving in, and our experience working with the rest of her team was also seamless. Weād highly recommend working with Heather and would definitely work with her in the future. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to call Alameda home, Heather!
-Matt G
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Heather was 15 out of 10! Her market knowledge of the area of the Bay area gave us insight to area of the home we purchased. Her communication skill(quick response) helps us to close the home in less than 10 days. Her professional manner gave us trust on her to representing us in the purchase. We strongly recommend her to our friends and families.
-Michelle G
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I believed my dream of owning a home was never going to happen, at least not here in the bay area, and then I met Heather! She took me under her wing. She connected me to all the right people, walked me through every step of the process, and answered all my questions, even when texted her at 10 pm! Her experience and knowledge of the market made me feel comfortable about making my decision. She truly is great at her job. I will be calling Heather when I am ready to sell or buy in the future. I can't begin to tell you how happy I am, my mom is smiling down from heaven and if not for Heather I would have continued to believe my dreams of owning a home were impossible.
-Brook T
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