Real Estate Broker & Owner · Crypton Realty
Kate Fomina
I don't list homes. I launch them.
Straightforward real estate guidance for Bay Area buyers and sellers. Strategy first, clear explanations, and direct communication throughout.
Credentials & affiliations
Professional memberships, certifications, and media recognition
Who is Kate Fomina?
The work, the record, and the person behind it
I started my real estate career at 23, shortly after moving to the U.S. from Belarus. I had to figure out the system on my own, and that experience still shapes how I work. I explain what is happening, tell you what I really think, and make sure you understand the decision before you make it.
For sellers, every home is treated as a marketing campaign. For buyers, the work starts with understanding value, risk, and the way each Bay Area micro-market actually behaves.
Work and experience
- ✓Real estate broker serving the San Francisco Bay Area
- ✓In real estate since 2006
- ✓Founder and owner of Crypton Realty
- ✓Named in the top 1% of Realtors in the U.S.
- ✓Sold more than $40 million in real estate in a single year
- ✓Author of a book about real estate
- ✓Mentioned in Forbes
- ✓Conducted the first U.S. real estate transaction recorded on blockchain
- ✓Member of SFAR, CAR, NAR, and the Top Agent Network
- ✓Works with English, Russian, Ukrainian, and Belarusian-speaking clients
- ✓Creates real estate content on Instagram and YouTube
- ✓Known for telling clients the truth, even when it is not what they want to hear
Outside the office
- ✓Born in Belarus and living in the U.S. since 2003
- ✓Lives on the island of Alameda
- ✓Owns a short-term rental in the Sierra Foothills
- ✓Wine collector and longtime California winery explorer
- ✓Has attended hundreds of rock concerts
- ✓Two senior cats
- ✓Sister to three younger brothers
- ✓Loves sushi almost as much as real estate
- ✓Sells homes in sneakers
- ✓Has walked on hot coals
- ✓Invests in ongoing coaching and professional development
- ✓Worked through the 2008 crash, the COVID market, and rate hikes, and still loves real estate
Buying or selling?
Start with the decision in front of you
For sellers
I don't list homes. I launch them.
Positioning, preparation, marketing, and negotiation built around the buyer most likely to value your home.
See how I sell →
For buyers
Buy with a strategy, not with pressure.
Understand the list price, the disclosures, the competition, and what the home is really worth before you write the offer.
See how I buy →Free guides
Start with the information most people learn too late
Seller guide · 24-page PDF
The Bay Area Home Seller's Guide
What to do before you list, so the first ten days on market actually work in your favor.
- What your home is worth right now, and why the automated estimate is off
- Pricing as a strategy instead of a guess
- The prep that pays you back, and the prep that does not
Buyer guide · 36-page PDF
The Bay Area Home Buying Guide
How Bay Area pricing actually works, so you stop losing offers you should have won.
- The full process, start to keys
- What you can actually afford, not what you are approved for
- How to read a list price, and what it is really telling you
“Kate is a top-notch professional. She operates with incredible speed and accuracy, ensuring every piece of paperwork and contract detail is handled correctly the first time.”
Dmitry Y
Full review →
“I can’t say enough good things about working with Kate. She made what could have been a stressful process feel incredibly smooth, easy, and even enjoyable.”
Ecaterina C
Full review →
“I want to sincerely thank you and your entire team, Tatiana, and Steve for the work you've done. Now that we have the keys to the house, I realize that contacting you was the perfect decision!!!!!!”
Anat O
Full review →From the blog
Clear answers to real questions
Bay Area · 2026-09-27 · 8 min read
Garage Checklist for Bay Area Home Buyers: What to Check Before You Buy
A garage label does not tell you how the space will work with your vehicle, storage, daily route, or future plans. Check the whole space before you decide what it adds to the home.
Read article →
Bay Area · 2026-09-24 · 8 min read
Internet and Cell Service Checklist for Bay Area Home Buyers
Internet access can look fine during a short tour and still leave unanswered questions about the exact address, interior signal, wiring, and detached spaces. Check each layer before you decide what the home will support.
Read article →
Bay Area · 2026-09-23 · 8 min read
Bay Area Fireplace Checklist for Home Buyers
A fireplace can be a focal point and still leave practical questions about its type, condition, service history, and permitted use. Check what is visible, then identify what still needs records or a qualified opinion.
Read article →Get in touch
Start with a conversation
Buying, selling, or still deciding what makes sense? Tell me what you are working through. I will give you a clear next step.