Meet our Team
Maria Cavallo-Merrion, REALTOR ®
DRE | 01493849
As an experienced REALTOR®, Maria is committed to listening to her clients' objectives, ensuring that they understand every step of the process while always holding their interests in the highest regard possible. Maria enjoys working with both buyers and sellers and find each transaction unique and exciting! Her positive attitude and high energy is contagious and appreciated by my clients. Within the real estate community, Maria is known for her professionalism, honesty, and tenacity.
An Oakland native and homeowner, Maria truly values living in the East Bay and feels fortunate to be a part of such a diverse and stimulating environment. As a result, Maria is able to offer my clients valuable insight on various neighborhoods with ease and assurance. Her familiarity with local schools, recreation, transportation, and cultural activities tremendously help her clients when promoting and/or purchasing a home. Additionally, Maria's extensive advertising background allows her clients to benefit from a unique and powerful approach when promoting their property.
Maria lives in the Montclair area of Oakland with her husband , two children and their sweet dog. When Maria is not real-estating, you can find her participating in some sort of physical activity, watching her children play various sports, creating and enjoying delicious meals and spending time with her beloved family and friends.
maria.cavallo@vanguardproperties.com
M: 510-919-8841
Anita Becker, REALTOR ®
DRE | 01316805
Anita Becker began her real estate career in 2004. It is no accident that her sales volume is amongst the highest in her local market year after year; in large part, it comes down to her philosophy: exemplary service coupled with acute market knowledge. Anita believes that her clients deserve her personal touch in every detail and benefit from her wealth of experience and knowledge.
She is a member of the Top Agent Network and her sales rank in the top 1% or her local market. She has access to off market and pre-MLS listings that she shares with buyer clients to give them an edge against their competition. It also helps to promote seller properties to top agents creating a buzz and bringing attention to the listing.
Anita’s strong direct and assertive style, coupled with boundless energy and no-nonsense approach, makes a positive and lasting impressions on nearly everyone she meets. Clients enjoy working with Anita because she is a true professional. Her reputation in the brokerage community is one of trust and respect. She made Oakland her home in 1995 after many years under the big skies of New Mexico. She settled into the beautiful East Bay and became enamored with the distinct architecture, the diverse neighborhoods and the fabulous people. Her natural transition from restaurateur to Realtor allowed her to share her enthusiasm for customer service in a meaningful way. When Anita isn't hard at work, she can be found exploring new things to do, or going to her favorite spots in the area with her beloved dogs. Anita is also a die-hard sports fan and can be found in the stands cheering on the 49'ers, Warriors or A's. She also loves to travel...whether by train, plane or automobile and is always looking for new adventures.
anita.becker@vanguardproperties.com
M: 510-520-8335
Carla has consistently ranked among the top producers in the East Bay. It is not only about outperforming the competition but also out-behaving them, ensuring that ethics and trust go hand in hand with great results.
Carla’s client base consists almost entirely of referrals from clients and other real estate professionals who respect and appreciate her integrity and strong work ethic. She is an honest, ethical, and detailed real estate professional who is dedicated to fulfilling the needs and goals of her clients through clear, consistent communication, and an excellent knowledge of neighborhood markets and the industry.
carla.buffington@vanguardproperties.com
M: 510-735-6605
Carla Buffington, REALTOR ®
DRE | 01344049
As a project manager, Bettina supports the process of people finding properties they love or saying goodbye to ones they must part from. With her background in woodworking and extensive knowledge of the Bay Area, she enjoys supporting the team with different property improvement projects and managing the day-to-day logistics. Helping to ensure that the selling & buying process is stress-free for our clients is important to her. Bettina enjoys keeping things organized and maintaining consistency for the team, and doing the same for clients.
In her free time, Bettina focuses on hobbies she enjoy; gardening, cycling, hiking, paddle boarding and socializing in general. She also continues her own home renovation projects. Bettina is committed to supporting the team to help you sell or find an amazing property!
Bettina Jakobs, Project Manager
Leslie has lived in the Bay Area since her family moved from the East Coast in 1972. She attended elementary through high schools in the Oakland hills and graduated from UC Berkeley with a bachelor degree in Anthropology. During and after high school, Leslie taught and danced with Oakland Ballet and Berkeley Ballet Theater. Prior to joining Compass, she worked 19 years as a litigation paralegal at various law firms in the San Francisco/Bay Area.
Leslie brings 18 years of real estate industry experience as both an agent and transaction coordinator. One of Leslie’s favorite activities is shopping for vintage relics from the 1950s though 1970’s. She also loves to garden, throw tea parties for her friends and enjoys spending time with her husband and their two cats.
