
The house they walked away from
It looked brand new. The pest inspection found serious dry rot and termite damage underneath, so we cancelled. Weeks later they found a better house.
$20,000 in repairs avoided before closing.


I have the manners and patience of a Midwesterner, the broad acceptance and relaxed demeanor of a Californian, the integrity and service of an Air Force veteran, and the motivation and focus of an information professional.
I served in the U.S. Air Force at Beale, and Sacramento has been home since 2002. Before real estate I was an archivist, with a master’s in library science. I still research a house the way I’d research a collection. I hold a broker’s license, and I host my own open houses.
Search every listing in the region. Find one you like, then call me and I’ll tell you what the photos leave out.
My notes on some of Sacramento’s notable neighborhoods.
MidtownCraftsman, Victorian and high-water bungalows under mature trees. Chalk It Up! and Second Saturday.
Land ParkStorybook homes around Sacramento’s largest urban park: wooded trails, a public golf course, Fairytale Town and the Zoo.
East SacramentoGreat schools and restaurants woven into the neighborhood. Grand lots in the Fab 40s and McKinley Park, and homes that still hold their value.
Pocket & GreenhavenLate-’60s to early-’90s ranch homes, the Greenbelt and canal paths, Didion K-8 and the Delta Breeze.
Hollywood ParkThe Ice Cream Social, the 4th of July parade, original 1950s homes. Land Park nearby, without the Land Park mortgage.
Curtis ParkBuilt around a pedestrian-friendly park. Craftsman, Tudor and Mission homes under Valley Oaks.
Oak ParkLate-1800s streets. The Broadway corridor: coffee, a bookstore, restaurants, new townhouse infill. Close to UC Davis Med Center.
South SacramentoFrom historic bungalows to modern ranches, South Sacramento has a little of everything.
Arden-ArcadeNever far from anything: shopping, dining, recreation. Starter homes all the way up to grand estates.
Sierra OaksTraditional ranches, mid-century modern, Mission style and Gatsby-worthy estates. The American River Parkway for recreation.
CarmichaelSuburban, close to nature. Room for an RV or a boat, and mid-century modern pockets.
Rancho CordovaA hike in the morning, lunch at KP International Market, and a drive-in movie at night.
North HighlandsPrimarily built in the early 1950s around McClellan Air Force Base, offering hidden gem restaurants and bakeries.
Whether you’re buying or selling, you talk to me at every step. I don’t hand you off to an assistant or a team.
Tell me what’s going on, and I’ll tell you what I’d do in your shoes, even when the answer is “not yet.”
Numbers, timing and the neighborhoods that fit. We’ll formulate a plan that works for your needs.
Buying: I research each house the way an archivist would, then walk it with you. Selling: I help you price and prepare the home, and I host my own open houses.
I explain each stage before it happens, from inspections and negotiation to escrow and the keys. About 85% of my business is referrals and repeat clients.

“Joseph Olson is the perfect mix of professional, yet casual.”Matt, on working with Joseph
“I never thought selling a home could be this painless and easy.”
“Joseph made the entire process smooth and reassuring from start to finish.”
“He responded promptly, explained complex concepts simply and let me know what to expect at every stage. I never felt overwhelmed, I felt in control.”
“He knew exactly which agents had buyers who could handle the issues, and he made sure they saw the property.”
“Joe is incredibly responsive, and we never had to wait long for a reply to any question or concern we had.”
“Joseph took my biggest burden in recent history (selling an inherited property) and walked me through it, step by step, unburdening me in record time.”
“He is energetic and enthusiastic, but also so very organized it really reduced my stress level to have him handling this large and life changing transaction!”
Before real estate I was an archivist. I still keep good records, and these are three of my favorites.

It looked brand new. The pest inspection found serious dry rot and termite damage underneath, so we cancelled. Weeks later they found a better house.
$20,000 in repairs avoided before closing.

They were moving from the Bay Area into a low-inventory market. I remembered a home that had been pulled off the market, called the agent, and we made an offer.
The sellers said yes.

My client had a mold sensitivity, so we tested. Levels came back elevated and we cancelled escrow.
The next house was bigger and on a better street, and we still earned seller concessions.
Start with a phone call. Tell me what’s going on and I’ll give you my honest take. I reply myself.

“The best part of this job is helping people on a human level.”Joseph Olson