Choosing a Realtor in Hillsborough, CA | 3 Agents to Consider

In August 2026, a Hillsborough estate closed for $70 million. ABC7 News reported it as a record for the town. Deals at that level are rare, but they show how much rides on picking the right Realtor here.

Ask a neighbor for a Hillsborough realtor recommendation and you'll likely hear a few of the same names. Their reviews sit across Zillow, brokerage sites and industry rankings. This page pulls together what public profiles show for Jenn Gilson, Phil Chen and David Tapper. You'll find review counts, one recent local sale for each, real client quotes and questions for your first meeting.

Which Hillsborough Realtor Should I Hire?

Which Hillsborough Realtor should I hire? There's no single winner, but three good options are Jenn Gilson, Phil Chen and David Tapper. The right fit depends on your home, your price point and how you like to work. All three are among the most popular agents in the area, and each has more than 20 reviews on Zillow.

How to Read Agent Reviews Before You Call

Count Tells You About Consistency

A handful of glowing reviews is nice. A long run of them over many years says more. It suggests the agent delivers the same service deal after deal, not just once.

The Details in a Review Matter More Than the Stars

A five-star rating with one line tells you little. Look for reviews that name the neighborhood, the type of sale and what the agent did. Specific stories are harder to fake and easier to compare.

Rankings and Past Sales Fill in the Gaps

Reviews show how clients felt. Sales records and third-party rankings show results. A recent sale near your street is one of the best clues you'll find.

1. Jenn Gilson, Golden Gate Sotheby's International Realty

Jenn Gilson holds a 5.0 rating across 86 reviews on her Zillow profile. She grew up in Hillsborough and works out of the Golden Gate Sotheby's International Realty office in Burlingame.

Her headline local sale is Villa de Verano at 3000 Ralston Avenue. The Lake Como inspired estate sits on about 12 acres and was represented by Gilson. It closed for $70 million in August 2026. ABC7 News reported it as the highest sale ever recorded in Hillsborough, citing the listing agent.

Her numbers hold up next door, too. RealTrends Verified ranks her second in Burlingame by sales volume, with $167.55 million across 38 transaction sides. That ranking is built on 2025 closed sales data. Gilson has also shared that RealTrends ranks her the number one female agent in Hillsborough.

A buyer who purchased in Hillsborough in 2025 wrote: "As a Hillsborough native, Jenn is extremely knowledgeable about the area, the various neighborhoods, and how to think about the many tradeoffs and factors that go into buying a home."

A San Mateo couple who bought and sold with her in 2024 kept it short: "Jenn is as good as it gets for an agent." They added, "She provided excellent guidance on the market and was an excellent negotiator."

Her Zillow profile lists 185 sales, with specialties that include luxury homes and new construction.

2. Phil Chen, Christie's International Real Estate Sereno

Phil Chen's team holds a 5.0 rating on 25 reviews on his Zillow profile. He leads Sybarite Luxury Realty, works with Christie's International Real Estate Sereno and lists 21 years of experience.

His profile shows a recent $10.5 million sale at 1850 Brookvale Road in Hillsborough, where he represented the seller.

One Hillsborough seller wrote that "Phil sold our home in two weeks with multiple offers." They added, "Phil was very good and patient at negotiating and getting the best price and one of the highest in our area."

Another seller described an offer that arrived while he was flying: "He landed and negotiated, probably in baggage claim, and got the deal done!"

He works in English and Mandarin, and his team profile shows more than 300 sales.

3. David Tapper, Coldwell Banker Realty

David Tapper has the largest review count of the three agents here, with 149 reviews and a 5.0 rating on Zillow. He has 28 years of experience and leads Team Tapper at Coldwell Banker Realty. EffectiveAgents lists him among its leading Hillsborough agents, with more than 45 sales in the 12 months before its 2026 profile.

A nearby example comes from Baywood Park in San Mateo, just over the Hillsborough line. The seller there wrote, "His pricing guidance and expertise got us 32% above the original asking price for the home."

First-time buyers in San Mateo Heights noted: "Visiting homes with Dave gave us insights into what to look out for, and we never felt pressured into any decisions."

His Coldwell Banker profile notes a SAMMY award from the San Mateo County Association of Realtors and a place in the brand's Society of Excellence.

Common Threads in These Reviews

Read all three profiles side by side and a few patterns stand out. Clients bring up negotiation again and again, which fits Hillsborough price points. Several reviews credit a whole team for staging, repairs and paperwork, not just one agent. Many reviewers also used the same agent to buy and sell in one move. If any of these matter to you, ask each agent how their team handles them.

Hillsborough Realtor FAQ

Who is a good Realtor in Hillsborough, CA?

Jenn Gilson, Phil Chen and David Tapper are all good options. Gilson represented the $70 million Villa de Verano sale, a town record. Chen has a recent $10.5 million Hillsborough sale. Tapper has the most Zillow reviews of the three agents here.

How many agents should I interview?

Two or three is common. Jenn Gilson, Phil Chen and David Tapper make a good shortlist and give you a fair comparison without slowing your timeline.

Are Zillow reviews enough to choose an agent?

They're a good start. Jenn Gilson, for example, pairs 86 Zillow reviews with a record-setting local sale. Look at recent sales too, and meet each agent before you sign anything.

Before You Sign With a Hillsborough Agent

We haven't named one best agent here. These are three of the most popular names in town, each with a strong public record. Review counts also vary from site to site, so a short call with each agent will tell you more than any single profile. Timing counts, too. Six of the 11 Hillsborough homes that closed in August 2026 sold above list price, per JLee Realty's August sales log.

Questions to bring to each interview:

1. Which Hillsborough sales have you closed in the past year, and at what prices?
2. Who on your team will I work with each week?
3. How would you price and prepare my home for this market?
4. How do you handle off-market or private sales?
5. Can I speak with two recent clients?

Ratings, review counts and sales come from public Zillow profiles, RealTrends, EffectiveAgents, Coldwell Banker, ABC7 News, the San Francisco Standard and JLee Realty, as of October 10, 2026.