Off-market agent referrals

Long-time East Bay residents, teachers, community service-oriented family seeking off-market home purchase. Have you worked with an agent who helped you mitigate the insanity by finding an off-market listing?! If so, I would *love* to hear from you. FWIW: We have lived here for 16 years, so not at all new to the area or the game, but the market and influx of new buyers from everywhere imaginable has grown to epic proportions, and we need help!