We help families create wealth.
Our founders created Revest Homes with the intention of helping homeowners maximize profits when selling their biggest assets - their homes. Our mission is simple - to put the flip back in the hands of the homeowner.
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We have creative solutions for your goals.
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As experts in the industries we serve, our passion is to provide clients with the best customized solution for their specific situation. We are a team of wealth experts and real estate professionals with the expertise to maximize your equity and help you find your next property. We bring all sides of the equation together to make a seamless and unparalleled experience in home selling and buying.
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About Us

What makes Revest Homes different?
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We invest in our homeowners
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We take a modern, flexible approach to solving problems
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Our revolutionary solutions maximize value and unlock opportunities
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We are all about long-term relationships, not just transactions
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We are constantly innovating and improving to overcome challenges in the buying and selling process
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We add value, profit, and convenience for homeowners
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We provide a comprehensive solution
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Our team is with you from beginning to start
Leadership + Administrative Team

James Black
Founder + Chief Lending Officer
Jim is our chief lending officer and is a 20-year veteran in Mortgage Loan Originations as a producing independent owner. Jim helped over 8,200 families with the dream of homeownership. Jim has consistently been ranked in the top 100 Mortgage Loan Officers nationally out of 40,000 (Scotsman Guide). Jim brings a marketing and strategic perspective for integrating the mortgage broker and mortgage banking into custom solutions that are in the best interest of the client, not the bank. Jim and his family (2 girls) enjoy their time on the coast and are active participants in the community through school, volunteering, charities like The Guardsmen, and coach sports.

Ace Woods
Director of Real Estate
Ace Woods is an award winning local Realtor® and our Director of Real Estate. She was the 2022 Women’s Council of Realtors® President and in 2019 was honored to be voted runner-up for "Best Realtor® in Santa Cruz” in the Santa Cruz Waves Swellies Awards. She has served on the Board of Directors for Modern Real Estate Professionals and is a member of Local Government Affairs Committee at the Association of Realtors®. In 2021 she successfully advocated for significant changes to the County Measure J program and was welcomed into the prestigious Centennial Club at the Association of Realtors® for her efforts to protect private property rights. She considers herself a matchmaker and problem solver and loves bringing people (and houses!) together. In 2022 she represented the top 0.01% of luxury sales in Santa Cruz County.

Renee Stephens
Processing Manager
Renee is our Processing Manager. She has been in the mortgage business since 1993. She has priceless experience and knowledge with understanding what lenders require to efficiently and smoothly close a loan. She obtained her license in 1996 and has been originating and processing loans ever since.

Zach Sudfeld
Lifestyle Coach
Zach is our team coach. Originally from Santa Cruz, he now lives with his wife and two adorable sons in San Diego. Zach was a former NFL Tight End for the New York Jets and holds an MBA from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Lucio Ourique
Transaction Coordinator
Lucio has over 27 years experience in Real Estate and has facilitated the closing of over 9,000 transactions in his career. Over the years he has managed and trained over 150 Transaction Coordinators. He is a licensed Real Estate Agent and Certified by CAR in both Transaction Coordination and Documents Training. He is equipped to deliver the most up to date and comprehensive knowledge of Real Estate Documents and procedures and provides invaluable support to our agents and clients.

Celeste Faraola Perie
Compliance + Broker Associate
Celeste is our Real Estate Compliance Officer and Broker Associate. She is also the owner of Schooner Realty which has served Santa Cruz County since 1973. She specializes in uncommonly high-service and extreme local knowledge to navigate and negotiate clients beyond their wildest Real Estate goals. Anchored in Santa Cruz, Celeste is a fifth generation Santa Cruz native whose roots run deep in the business, downtown and beach communities that make up this amazing place to call home. With over 25 years of experience and a true commitment to her craft she looks forward to helping you!

Chastain "Chaz" Sampson
VP of Operations
Chaz is the VP of Operations at Revest. She has over 15 years of experience in all aspects of the loan industry from origination to funding. Prior to working at Revest she was a business bank specialist and processed commercial & construction loans. A born and raised local to Santa Cruz, she has also helped manage her family alternative medicine business. She enjoys sea glass hunting and making sure every loan closes without a hiccup!

Janie Alderete
Human Resources
Janie is a licensed real estate professional with a background in global relocation having worked for large international corporations like Chevron and Coca Cola. She leads our human resources team with her support on the needs of the employees at Revest Homes, Inc. Janie has two kids and a fantastic husband. She loves sports, being around her children and everything related to Notre Dame University.

Miguel Flores
Senior Loan Officer &
Business Development Manager
Miguel has been in the financial services industry for over 15 years. He is dedicated to building and developing the best relationships in the industry at Revest Homes. With a strong, nationwide network, Miguel strives to provide the very best platforms, technology, tools, and products.

Julie Timko
Growth Director + REALTOR®
Julie is the Growth Director and also a producing REALTOR® at Revest Homes. She was born and raised in Santa Cruz County and has an intimate knowledge of the area. She graduated from Soquel High School and San Jose State University. She was born to successful Real Estate developers in Santa Cruz County for 40+ years which has given her access to deep historical knowledge about the county its real estate landscape. Her business is built on transparency, communication, and dedication. She is relentless in providing top-tier service by going the extra mile to make sure her clients are supported, satisfied, and heard. She is an avid runner and has run several half marathons. She is also fluent in Italian. She is married to her loving husband, Mitchell and her proudest accomplishments are her children James and Sabrina.
Team Members

Megan Kilmer
REALTOR® + Loan Officer
Megan is a REALTOR® at Revest Homes. She grew up on the Central Coast in Santa Maria and moved to Santa Cruz to attend UCSC for its rich history of activism and breathtaking beauty. She is passionate about building community and offering value to those she meets. Prior to becoming a real estate agent she worked as a mental health housing coordinator at Front St. Inc. Megan is also experienced in commercial real estate, having property managed commercial spaces for one of the largest commerical property owners in Santa Cruz.. She looks forward to helping you find your happy place to call home!

Bill Reeser
Sr. Mortgage Advisor
Bill is a Sr. Mortgage Advisor at Revest Homes and is a 3rd generation Santa Cruz local. As a senior mortgage advisor in Santa Cruz, Bill goes above and beyond to create a seamless, white-glove experience for his clients. He donates much of his time to young athletes and takes pride in the responsibility of helping to shape the next generation of outstanding citizens as a baseball and football coach. Before becoming a loan officer, Bill made custom furniture and his wife ran a store in Aptos, CA called RetroXO that showcased Bill’s woodwork. RetroXO expanded to include a wedding venue on the Reeser property featuring Bill’s farm tables, bars, and furniture. When not in the office or on the field, Bill and his family enjoy a multitude of outdoor adventures including fishing, surfing, dirt biking on his property, and snowboarding in Tahoe.

Jason Walter
(916)426-3012
jason@revesthomes.com
DRE 01923240 | NMLS 2566691
REALTOR® + Loan Officer
Jason Walter is one of the most recognized real estate professionals in the United States. Jason has over 97,000 followers on YouTube that learn from his insights and market updates. Jason is a real estate agent and loan officer in Sacramento where he has lived for over 35 years. Jason enjoys sharing frequent housing market updates so consumers can make a more informed decision about whether they should buy or sell a home. Whether you're buying or selling a home or you're a seasoned and savvy investor, Jason can help you achieve your real estate goals.

Pema Sinclair
REALTOR®
Pema is a REALTOR® at Revest Homes. From Santa Cruz originally, she spent much of my life in the U.K. and exploring different countries across five continents. She has over 14 years experience in customer care. Before becoming a realtor, she managed a local construction company and also worked as the marketing director for a top real estate agency. She has a bachelor's degree from UC Davis with an emphasis in interior design and architecture, where she developed a keen eye for detail and a love for renovating old spaces.
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Shaye Carter
REALTOR®
Shaye is a REALTOR® at Revest Homes. He grew up in nearby Seaside where he excelled in golf and later graduated from Sacramento State with a degree in Marketing. Shaye has a simple motto, “I value relationships over transactions,” and it shows in his honest, transparent, and no-pressure approach. Prior to getting licensed, he served as the Director of Marketing for a local brokerage, using innovative ways to help get their listings more exposure. In his free time, you can find Shaye on the golf course, or enjoying time with his wife and two daughters.

Jon Trawinski
REALTOR®
Jon is a REALTOR® at Revest Homes. Jon has lived in the SF Bay Area since 1964 and worked in technology/engineering starting in 1984. He went to Willow Glen and graduated from De Anza Community College and SJSU. Jon started managing privately held properties in 2010 and is familiar with everything that goes into managing properties - the good, the bad, and the ugly. He also helped manage a close friend's properties during a personal catastrophe and helped him avoid foreclosure. Jon raised his son and daughter alone since 2010. He may not look like a soccer mom, but he is a rugby dad, swimming dad, and archery dad. Fun fact to ask me about - I am a purveyor of hot sauce!

Cindy Parker
REALTOR®
Cindy is a REALTOR® at Revest Homes. Licensed since 1984, Cindy brings over 35 years experience as a local realtor and property manager. She is patient, friendly, and extremely knowledgeable about real estate in Santa Cruz County.

Adam Lopez
REALTOR®
Adam is a REALTOR® at Revest Homes. He grew up in the San Lorenzo Valley where he is still currently very active in the community, and serves as the SLV High Varsity Soccer Head Coach. Prior to working in real estate Adam owned his own gym in Live Oak and continues to do personal training on the side. He also played golf competitively in college and brings his goal-oriented and collaborative spirit to everything he does in real estate. In his free time you might find him caddying or playing a round at Pasatiempo Golf Course. His real estate specialties are luxury properties, remodel, and rural properties.

Mitchell Stelling
(831) 431-0726
mitch@revesthomes.com
DRE 02212314 | NMLS 2318256
Sr. Mortgage Advisor
Mitchell Stelling is a Sr. Mortgage Advisor at Revest Homes. As a Santa Cruz born and raised local, he brings a unique perspective and market knowledge to anyone looking to buy, sell or refi property. He is dedicated to helping clients attain their financial and homeownership goals by providing tailored guidance and education on the mortgage process while providing some of the best rates in the market due to his access of over 60 lenders nationwide. With a strong commitment to customer service, Mitch strives to make the mortgage process as smooth and stress-free as possible. In his free time, Mitch loves skiing, track driving at laguna seca, and trying new restaurants!

Jennine Olea
REALTOR®
Jennine is a is a REALTOR® at Revest Homes, and you might also know her as local business owner of Miss Mae's. Her firsthand personal experience in buying & selling real estate, purchasing businesses, and putting together leases gives her the first-hand experience that allows her to guide her clients with ease. She understands transacting in real estate is a huge emotional commitment. Advising and guiding people through the process is where she excels at creating a strategic plan with her client's best interests in mind.

Matt Rohrbach
Sr. Loan Officer
Matt is a seasoned financial services and real estate industry professional with a diverse and practical background within small, medium and large institutions in sales, management, partnership management/upselling, credit underwriting, risk and account management with a focus over the last 20 years in real estate and real estate finance.

David Couch
REALTOR®
David is a REALTOR® at Revest Homes. He grew up in Mt. View and moved to Santa Cruz after the birth of his daughter in 2011. David spent 17 years on an ambulance responding to 911 calls before becoming a life coach and real estate agent. He brings that same caregiving mentality into the real estate industry. He enjoys applying the detective tools he learned in EMS with the listening and problem solving tools from his years in coaching to truly hear the needs of his clients and take care of them while they make one of the biggest decisions of their lives.

Heather Smith
REALTOR®
Heather is a REALTOR® at Revest Homes. She has called Santa Cruz home for the past 20 years, where she has also been a local business owner. She comes from a real estate family and loves nothing more than helping others find their perfect place to call home. Heather's keen eye for aesthetics and design, coupled with her marketing skills, also ensure her clients get top dollar when presenting their properties for sale. In her free time, Heather enjoys walking her two dogs Taco and Tater with her husband and exploring all parts of Santa Cruz County from the redwoods to the sea.

Antoine Woods
REALTOR®
Antoine is a REALTOR® at Revest Homes.
His for the Monterey Bay began in 2016 while visiting his wife's hometown. The redwoods, climate, beaches, and people won his heart. As a licensed CA REALTOR® with 5+ years of experience in Residential Sales, Investing, and Property Management, he helps people unlock the transformative power of real estate to create freedom, choice, and time.
He and his wife have purchased multiple investment properties across asset classes—condos, townhomes, and single-family homes—creating financial security for their family while also providing quality housing for community members. He has experienced first-hand the opportunities and challenges of real estate, and is passionate about helping others do the same in a way that feels approachable and empowering.

Elizabeth Kenton
REALTOR®
Elizabeth is a REALTOR® at Revest Homes. Originally from Northern CA, she has lived in Santa Cruz County for over 20 years. Licensed since 2000, she has extensive experience in the real estate industry including: sales, property management, and vacation rentals. She also has vast experience in accounting, having previously worked for a local CPA. Call or text me today if your’e interested in buying or selling!

Gayle Topping
REALTOR®
Gayle, a seasoned Broker Associate with Revest Homes, has been a cornerstone
in the Santa Cruz real estate market for over 3 decades. In 1982, Gayle earned her California General Contractor’s License, allowing her to further her passion by building and remodeling homes
for resale. A proud graduate of UCSC, Gayle completed her BA in Environmental Studies in 1994. Leveraging her education, she expanded her role as a development consultant, guiding clients through the intricacies of the local planning process.
Today, Gayle focuses on providing expert guidance to clients experiencing significant life transitions.