Rachel Melby, founder of Little Hill Real Estate, earned her third Best of El Cerrito Rising Star award. The recognition celebrates Melby and her growing team’s community-focused approach, local expertise, and commitment to giving back.
— Rachel Melby, founder of Little Hill Real Estate, has once again been recognized by the El Cerrito community, winning Best Real Estate Agent in El Cerrito – Rising Star in the 2026 Best of El Cerrito awards. The honor marks Melby’s third win in the category.
Presented by the El Cerrito Chamber of Commerce, the Best of El Cerrito annual contest celebrates the businesses and professionals local residents value most. The annual community-choice contest typically receives 10,000 to 20,000 votes across more than 120 categories, encouraging residents to shop locally and recognize those who help make El Cerrito a vibrant community and a great place to live.
Before entering real estate, Melby spent 12 years in technology, including at Google and YouTube. During that time, promoting El Cerrito and sharing her enthusiasm for the community became a passion project that eventually inspired a new career centered on the place she loved.
Today, the Little Hill Real Estate Team brings together a growing group of professionals with deep knowledge of El Cerrito and the East Bay. Rachel Melby and Rachel Sheftel combine complementary strengths and a shared commitment to putting people and community first, helping Little Hill become one of El Cerrito’s top real estate teams by sales volume.
Melby focuses on community engagement, marketing and relationships, while Sheftel brings expertise in property preparation, disclosures and design. Together, they help clients make informed decisions, from evaluating older homes to preparing properties for sale.
Little Hill approaches real estate with a philosophy Melby describes as “care over contracts,” emphasizing long-term relationships rather than pressure to act quickly.
That philosophy extends beyond individual real estate transactions. Little Hill gives back to the community with every deal, supporting causes that have included public art, local charities, public schools, youth sports and other community organizations and projects. Next, Melby and Sheftel are taking Little Hill’s community-first approach beyond real estate. The team is preparing to open a new space in El Cerrito centered on local connection, with more to be shared soon.
The team especially appreciates the older homes that give El Cerrito and neighboring Berkeley their character. They encourage sellers to consult with them before major updates, since improvements do not always deliver the expected return. Early guidance can identify worthwhile projects while preserving features buyers value.
Melby’s relationship with Best of El Cerrito began with her first Rising Star award in 2023. Three wins later, the award reflects both her accomplishments and Little Hill’s growth while remaining closely connected to the community that inspired it.
“As someone committed to building a business rooted in El Cerrito, there’s simply no higher honor,” Melby has said of being recognized by Best of El Cerrito. “It’s recognition that resonates with the people I most want to serve.”
Rachel Melby CA DRE# 02179456, Rachel Sheftel CA DRE# 02133108
Contact Info:
Name: Rachel Melby
Email: Send Email
Organization: Little Hill Real Estate
Address: 7502 Fairmount Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530
Phone: 415-939-4114
Website: https://littlehillrealestate.com/
Release ID: 89200882
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