If you have always dreamed of buying a beach house, and have reached the wild and stunning Northern California Coast (Sonoma and Mendocino Counties), I must tell you how much I am grateful for and still treasure the real estate team we bought our house with: Patty Bettega and Lisa Hantzsche of Kennedy & Associates Realty in Gualala.

Thirteen years ago I picked agent Patty Bettega off the internet from reviews and reading her profile. What a lucky choice! Patty grew up in Gualala and knows this part of the coast intimately. We looked at houses on annual vacations while we were still working for the next twelve years and she stuck with us, until we retired and were ready to purchase our dream home overlooking the ocean, which we did in December 2024.

Over these years I’d browse the various listings and it seemed like about half the properties on the coast were sold by or with Patty. She has a deep well of knowledge and experience, and the tenacity of a quiet but well-behaved bull dog. As we retired and began looking for property in earnest, she introduced us to her partner, Lisa Hantzsche, who is another hard working and equally trustworthy and personable agent. They both have the patience of saints and are always a pleasure to be around.

The two of them guided us through the many steps, negotiations and the ever more complicated buying process beautifully. They communicated effectively and often, and had solutions for any issues that came up. Issues do come up – and they have been there, done that. Throughout the process they made sure we were well taken care of, and they were always easy going and unruffled. They call Kennedy & Associates’ office in the center of town their home away from home.

I am writing this at our new beach house, listening to the waves and watching the surf roll in, and I cannot recommend them highly enough. Thanks Patty and Lisa!

I have worked with Kennedy & Associates on multiple occasions over the years. In fact I have bought a property through them that was also being sold by a broker in the firm, and years later, I sold a property through them which was actually purchased through another broker at Kennedy. All of the brokers I have met from there are great. They are good, honest people and business-like / professional, yet relaxed in a calming way. It is really the place to go for your real estate needs – they own the market up the coast! In particular, I would like to call out the amazing Kristine Thomure who is a spectacular real estate broker on both the buy and sell side. She is smart, kind, thorough and she gives excellent and complete advice. Kristine is always able to remain objective and realistic in a sale and a buying process. I wouldn’t consider using anyone else in the area. Once you meet her, you will see what I mean! If you’re looking for a home in the area they cover, call Kennedy & Associates Realty!

Highly recommended. We worked with Kennedy & Associates (specifically with Kathleen Huse) when we bought our home in Gualala, and could not have been happier with the experience from start to finish. They are skilled, responsive, ethical, and have a ton of local expertise. Kathleen fought hard for us thorugh a difficult closing process, and she has continued to be a helpful resource after the sale. We feel very fortunate to picked Kennedy as our realtors.