East Bay Roots That Run Deep

Growing up in Albany, California, Negar Souza learned early what it meant to belong to a close-knit, vibrant community. She fondly remembers walking to school each day to Marin School, Albany Middle School, and Albany High School and greeting neighbors she knew by name along the way. She spent time at family-run businesses like Iris and Ortman’s Ice Cream Shop, where she not only became a regular but also formed relationships with the owners. Watching these small business owners thrive, Negar began to dream of building something of her own one day.

As a first-generation American and the daughter of two Iranian immigrants who built their lives from scratch without knowing the language, Negar grew up with a deep understanding of resilience, grit, and the importance of staying rooted in the community you call home.

That early foundation would ultimately shape the legacy she would create—on her own terms.

A Hustler from the Start: More Than Just Real Estate

Though real estate eventually became her professional calling, business has always run through Negar’s veins. From working as a bank teller at Bank of America, to assisting a loan officer, to managing four boutiques and a successful nationwide wholesale business, every chapter of her early career revolved around one thing: helping people.

Her path into real estate wasn’t a fluke—it was a natural progression. In 2003, she joined her mother, Feri Niroomand, a longtime top-producing East Bay Broker at Red Oak Realty, learning the business from the inside out. With a grandfather who was an experienced builder and a grandmother who bought, renovated, and sold properties, an understanding of homes, architecture, and real estate runs deep in her family. Her academic background in Interior Architecture further sharpened her ability to see potential and help clients visualize it, even when others saw obstacles.

“I wasn’t drawn to real estate because of the sales. I was drawn to the people—helping them grow roots, build equity, and find joy in where they live.”
– Negar Souza

Recognized As One of the Best by Her Clients, Her Company, and the Community

Unlike many in the business today, Negar didn’t build her reputation through flashy ads or viral social media campaigns, although she respects this as part of the modern industry. Instead, she took a grassroots approach—quietly rolling up her sleeves and doing the work.

For more than two decades, she’s been a behind-the-scenes force: volunteering, supporting local causes, investing in the public schools within her community, mentoring new agents, and helping families navigate the often overwhelming journey of homeownership.

Now, Negar leads one of Red Oak Realty’s company-wide top-producing teams, The Souza-Niroomand Team. Being a consistent top producer for over a decade, she has earned and maintained her place among the top 1% of agents nationwide, a distinction reserved for those who combine exceptional results with trusted expertise. 

In real estate, that ranking means outperforming thousands of peers in sales, service, and client satisfaction—year after year. She continues to exceed expectations, delivering results that reflect not only what she sells, but how she serves. Her team’s track record speaks for itself: over 450 successful transactions and more than $400 million in sales volume, built on strategy, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to her clients and community.  

Negar is also a Broker, a Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) which specializes in helping people over 55 navigate the world of real estate and a Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) — a designation held by fewer than 3% of agents—and has been voted “Best Real Estate Team in El Cerrito” 2022-2025. Negar is also proud to have earned a five-star rating across all review platforms: Yelp, Google, and Facebook. 

“She helped us buy and sell our first home and buy our forever home. She was thorough and communicative every step of the way. She was calm and solution-oriented when we hit snags (in short: working out an alternate loan and navigating timeline of major house repairs), and I believe she created the best possible outcome on all transactions.” – Heidi S

A Force in the Field: Humor, Strategy & Fierce Negotiation

While her heart-forward approach makes her instantly relatable, Negar is no pushover. Clients and colleagues alike describe her as a strategic powerhouse—someone who brings sharp negotiating skills, an uncanny sense of timing, and creative problem-solving to even the most complex transactions.

“She truly was our advocate every step of the way during the selling of our house. She brings decades of real estate knowledge coupled with kindness and genuineness. Her efficiency and persistence enabled us to find the right buyers at the perfect time. We are SO grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Negar.” – Ted R.

Her ability to balance compassion with tenacity is rare. And that’s exactly why so many past clients and even agents choose to refer clients to her—even their own family members. She’s the kind of person you trust implicitly, because she never treats your home—or your future—as just another deal.

Deep Market Knowledge & Hands-On Home Expertise

Negar’s knowledge about homes is extensive. Beyond her formal design education and years of experience evaluating structure and layout, she’s also personally bought, renovated, and sold multiple homes. That firsthand experience gives her a unique understanding of what buyers are thinking, what makes a home truly stand out in a competitive market, and what it takes for a seller to maximize value.

This perspective can’t be learned overnight—it’s the product of years of trial, investment, and intuition. Negar’s ability to blend her interior design insight with her understanding of construction, cost, and human psychology means she doesn’t just sell homes; she translates them. She helps clients see the story and opportunity behind every property—something only real, lived experience can teach.

“I’ve lived in almost every inner East Bay city- and growing up here with a mom as a real estate broker, we would find an amazing home, she would buy it, we would move, she would fix it up, sell it and do it again. It allowed me to watch and understand every angle. That perspective is not teachable, it’s priceless”
– Negar Souza

Helping You See the Vision: Design + Insight + Possibility

One of the qualities that sets Negar apart is her ability to see beyond what’s in front of her—and help clients do the same. Her training in interior architecture allows her to guide buyers through properties with vision, showing them what could be rather than what is. She brings this same clarity and care to sellers, helping them prepare and market their homes thoughtfully, with attention to design and detail that translates into stronger offers and smoother sales.

For the People: Teachers, Kids & Giving Back

Negar’s dedication to community doesn’t end at the closing table. A fierce advocate for local education, she has donated a percentage of her income to East Bay public schools for years—including Madera Elementary, Korematsu Middle, and El Cerrito High School. She’s also launched scholarship programs for middle school athletes and actively supports efforts to retain teachers in the neighborhoods they serve.

I was not on the market for a home when the owners of my rental asked me to leave so that they could sell, and, as a local educator, El Cerrito were no longer in my budget.  Negar worked some voodoo witchcraft Gandalf level magic that ended in me owning the home I’d been renting. Her encouragement to take the long shot, relationships in the field, and calm through the storm kept me in the game through the toughest days. Because of Negar, I am raising my children in the school community I serve. My current and future students live to my left and right, and I get to enjoy a sense of security in my ability to stay right here.
– Blair K. 

Her belief is simple: if we want strong communities, we need to invest in the people who serve them. That includes making sure teachers, families, and service workers can afford to stay—and thrive—where they live.

More Than a Realtor: A Lifelong Guide & Connector

Ask any past client, and they’ll likely tell you the same thing—Negar doesn’t disappear once the keys change hands. Whether it’s helping redesign a kitchen, recommending a preschool, or even connecting someone with job opportunities, she shows up. Again and again.

“I don’t just want to sell you a house. I want to help you build a life here. That’s what community means to me.”
– Negar Souza

Looking Ahead in 2026: A Message from Negar

We asked her what advice she’d give to someone just starting their real estate journey—whether buying, selling, or just dreaming about the possibilities.

“It’s never too early to make a plan. You don’t have to have it all figured out—that’s what I’m here for. Come to me with just the idea, and together we’ll build a strategy so that when you’re ready, you’re really ready.” – Negar Souza

Want to Connect with Negar? Whether you’re buying your first home, moving into something new, or just beginning to explore your options, Negar brings warmth, wisdom, and a fierce sense of purpose to every step of the journey.

📍 El Cerrito, Berkeley, Albany, Richmond, Kensington, Oakland and beyond 
🏆 Voted Best Real Estate Team in El Cerrito (2022–2025)
📈 Top 1% of Agents Nationwide
🎓 Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES)
📬 @negarandferirealestate
Feriandnegar@redoakrealty.com
Www.bayarearealestateconnection.com
https://linktr.ee/SouzaTeam

Negar Souza Broker Associate DRE #01701667 7502 Fairmount Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530
510-543-7016