About Maaret Forst

I started in Santa Cruz County real estate in 2005 and became a licensed California broker in 2018. Along the way, I've guided, reviewed, or overseen more than 2,000 closed transaction sides in Santa Cruz County and the Monterey Bay.

I'm the Managing Broker at KW Thrive Santa Cruz. Every sale in our office crosses my desk, so I know what makes a sale succeed and what makes one fall apart. For you, that means fewer surprises, a stronger negotiating position, and a closing that stays on schedule at the price you agreed to.

What you get from me is a straight answer about your house. Selling a home is a series of decisions about pricing, preparation, and negotiation, and every one of them affects your final result. Sometimes the answer is don't sell yet. I'll tell you that too. Sellers get a broker who treats their sale as the significant financial event it is.

Buyers get clear information and the truth about a property, including the problems. I also host Ask About Real Estate, a live webinar where buyers and sellers bring their real questions and get clear answers on the spot. Everyone is welcome.

Before KW Thrive, I helped build and lead teams that became Santa Cruz County's top-producing team and the #9 ranked mega team in California. Somewhere in there I became the person agents called about contracts, compliance, and negotiation.

I grew up in Helsinki. My first job was at seven, sorting hangers in my family's clothing stores, putting them all facing the same direction on the rack. Nobody buys a shirt because of the hanger. But a tidy rack tells you the people running the store pay attention. Trust is built in small details, long before anyone notices them. I moved to Santa Cruz County in 2003, and I work the mountains, the coast, and everything in between.

If you have a question about your home or your real estate career, ask me. I'll give you a straight answer.