Meet Lydia Sarkissian

Lydia Sarkissian is a partner and lead agent on the Sarkissian Bullock Team, recognized among the Top 100 Sotheby’s International Realty agents worldwide. For decades, she has advised buyers and sellers throughout Tiburon, Belvedere, Ross, Kentfield, Mill Valley and other Marin communities, as well as San Francisco and Wine Country, with particular expertise in Belvedere’s waterfront homes. Her name has become synonymous with many of Marin’s most significant sales, including the $42.1 million sale of Easton Point and the 2026 sale of 101 Belvedere Avenue, the highest residential sale in Belvedere since 2015. Lydia has set several records for her sellers, achieving price points their towns had never seen before.

Lydia is known above all as a formidable negotiator. She leaves no stone unturned, studying every detail of a transaction and anticipating what each side needs before the conversation begins. When a deal faces obstacles, she brings a seemingly endless supply of creative solutions, whether restructuring terms, finding common ground between parties or uncovering an option no one else considered. Clients describe the team she leads as “first and foremost closers,” and Lydia’s determination to get every deal across the finish line is a big reason why.

Her expertise is exceptionally well rounded. Lydia’s decades of work with waterfront residences, hillside estates and homes with complex pricing considerations give her a keen understanding of how location and condition influence value, particularly in markets where few recent sales offer a direct comparison. She is also deeply versed in financing, and her strong relationships with lenders allow her to help buyers secure creative financing and sellers close with confidence, even in complex situations.

Lydia is not one to advise from a distance. She rolls up her sleeves and is personally involved in every transaction, from pricing and presentation to late night negotiations and coordinating the many people involved in closing. She helps sellers decide which improvements are worth the investment before listing, and works with buyers to evaluate a property well beyond its initial appeal. Her approach is personal and direct, always grounded in each client’s financial goals and timing.

Her long-standing relationships with homeowners and agents across Marin are central to her success. For buyers, they open the door to homes offered privately or preparing for market. For sellers, they enable targeted outreach to the agents representing the most qualified buyers. Many clients have returned to Lydia for multiple purchases and sales over the years, a testament to the trust she builds.

Before real estate, Lydia opened and managed the Neiman Marcus luxury travel division, where she learned firsthand what a true high-touch experience requires. That background still shapes her work today. She understands that how a home is presented and packaged directly influences the outcome, and she brings that same attention to detail to every listing and every client relationship. While she is known for her work in the luxury market, she represents clients across every price point, bringing the same care to a family home as she does to a waterfront estate.

Away from real estate, Lydia owns a hotel in Sonoma Wine Country, where she personally managed the renovations, an experience that gives her clients the benefit of her firsthand knowledge of design and construction. She loves cooking and entertaining, a passion she once shared by teaching cooking classes, and treasures time with her family, especially her grandson, and working alongside her daughter, Magda.

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