Best Real Estate Agents in Lake County (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Lake County wraps around Clear Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake entirely within California, with the cities of Lakeport and Clearlake, lakeshore towns such as Lucerne, Nice and Clearlake Oaks, and Kelseyville, Cobb, Middletown and Hidden Valley Lake to the south. It is one of the more affordable counties in Northern California, and much of the housing is older lakeside homes, rural acreage and manufactured homes.
This guide is published by Diamond Real Estate Group, one of the brokerages listed. Our broker is listed first; other agents are in alphabetical order. The order is not a ranking, and inclusion is not an endorsement.
How we chose the agents in this guide
Every agent below met three tests, checked in October 2026:
- A current California license. We opened each agent’s record on the California Department of Real Estate (DRE) public lookup and confirmed the name, license type (Salesperson or Broker) and a status of "Licensed" with a current broker affiliation.
- A named brokerage. Each agent’s licensing brokerage appears on the DRE record.
- A public profile that names the area. We opened each agent’s public profile and confirmed it names Lake County, a Lake County community, or an office in the county.
We did not rank anyone, and we did not use sales volume, reviews or awards. Verify the license yourself and interview more than one agent.
Lake County housing in numbers
| Measure (U.S. Census QuickFacts) | Lake County |
|---|---|
| Population, July 1, 2025 estimate | 67,772 |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes, 2020–2024 | $324,300 |
| Owner-occupied housing rate, 2020–2024 | 72.2% |
| Median gross rent, 2020–2024 | $1,368 |
| Median household income, 2020–2024 (2024 dollars) | $60,621 |
| Mean travel time to work, 2020–2024 | 32.4 minutes |
| Land area, 2020 | 1,256.55 sq. mi. |
Lake County’s median owner-occupied value of $324,300 is roughly half that of the Sacramento-area foothill counties, and its median household income is also lower. The mean commute of over 32 minutes reflects how many residents drive out of the county for work. These are five-year Census figures, not current sale prices.
Lake County communities
- Lakeport and Kelseyville. The county seat on the west shore and the farm and wine town near Mount Konocti.
- Clearlake and Lower Lake. The county’s largest city and its neighbor at the south end of the lake.
- North shore. Lucerne, Nice, Clearlake Oaks and Upper Lake, with older lakeside homes and cottages.
- South county. Middletown, Hidden Valley Lake and Cobb, closer to Napa and Sonoma commutes.
Costs and rules specific to a Lake County purchase
Transfer tax. The Lake County Assessor-Recorder fee schedule lists the documentary transfer tax at $1.10 per $1,000 of value and shows no city transfer tax. On a $324,300 sale, that is about $357.
Short-term rental rules are being drafted. On July 6, 2026, the County announced an ad hoc committee of short-term rental owners and operators to help write regulations for the unincorporated area, meeting monthly until a draft ordinance is complete. If you are buying a lakeside home for vacation-rental income, treat that income as subject to new rules.
Fire hazard zones and insurance. Much of Lake County is in mapped fire hazard zones. The State Fire Marshal says State Responsibility Area maps took effect April 1, 2024, and Local Responsibility Area maps went to local jurisdictions in 2025. Look up the address, read the seller’s hazard disclosures and get an insurance quote before you remove contingencies.
Septic, wells and lakefront. Many rural and lakeshore homes use septic systems and private or small-district water. Order septic and well inspections, and for lakefront homes, ask about docks, shoreline permits and any flood zone.
Lake County agents with verified licenses
Matthew Martinez, Diamond Real Estate Group (publisher of this guide)
Matthew Martinez is the Broker of Diamond Real Estate Group (Diamond Group Estates Inc, DRE #02163490), Broker DRE #01869679. He is based in Sonoma County; contact him to discuss a purchase or sale in Lake County. Contact Matthew.
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Katrina Hampton | CENTURY 21 Epic, Lakeport | Salesperson #02356861 | Lakeport |
| Kenneth Hefflefinger | CENTURY 21 Epic, Lakeport | Salesperson #00903846 | Lakeport, Lucerne |
| Brittney Horn | CENTURY 21 Kobetz Realty, Ukiah | Salesperson #02236306 | Clearlake, Hidden Valley Lake, Clearlake Oaks, Lucerne, Nice |
| Leigh Hunt | CENTURY 21 Kobetz Realty, Ukiah | Broker #01207383 | Lake County, Kelseyville |
| Ashley Janssen | CENTURY 21 Epic, Lakeport | Salesperson #02356769 | Lakeport |
| Jacqueline Kettering | CENTURY 21 Kobetz Realty, Ukiah | Salesperson #01997878 | Lake County, Lucerne |
| Julie Landrum | CENTURY 21 Epic, Lakeport | Salesperson #02087876 | Lakeport |
| Michael Lowenstein | CENTURY 21 Epic, Lakeport | Salesperson #01027572 | Lakeport |
| David Lucido | CENTURY 21 Epic, Lakeport | Salesperson #02053274 | Lakeport, Kelseyville, Clearlake, Clearlake Oaks |
| Stacy Maisenbach | CENTURY 21 Epic, Lakeport | Salesperson #02086312 | Lakeport |
| Kimberly Rupp | Navigate RE Co. | Salesperson #01480439 | Clearlake, Kelseyville, Lakeport, Lower Lake, Middletown, Hidden Valley Lake, Cobb |
| Diane Sutton | Navigate RE Co. | Salesperson #01313634 | Middletown, Hidden Valley Lake, Clearlake, Kelseyville, Lakeport, Cobb |
On the DRE record, CENTURY 21 Epic agents are licensed under Century 21 Select Wine Country, Inc., and CENTURY 21 Kobetz Realty agents under Kobetz Realty, Inc. Kimberly Rupp’s and Diane Sutton’s profiles are on nexthome.com; their licensing brokerage, Navigate RE Co., is taken from the DRE record.
How to vet a Lake County agent
- Ask which side of the lake they work. Lakeport, the north shore, Clearlake and the south county around Middletown and Hidden Valley Lake are different markets.
- Get an insurance quote early. Ask the agent which insurers are writing policies in the area and build the cost into your offer.
- Order septic, well and roof inspections. Older lakeside and rural homes often need all three.
- For lakefront, ask about docks and flood zone. Confirm any shoreline permits and whether flood insurance is required.
- For rental plans, ask about the pending STR ordinance. Do not count on vacation-rental income until the County’s rules are adopted.
- Check the license yourself. Confirm a "Licensed" status with a current broker on the DRE lookup.
Lake County questions we hear
How much is the transfer tax in Lake County?
The County Assessor-Recorder’s fee schedule lists $1.10 per $1,000 and no city tax, so about $357 on a $324,300 sale.
Does Lake County regulate short-term rentals?
It is drafting rules. A committee of short-term rental owners began meeting in mid-2026 to help write an ordinance for the unincorporated area.
Are homes in Lake County cheaper than in Napa or Sonoma?
Census figures show a median owner-occupied value of $324,300 in Lake County for 2020–2024, far below its wine-country neighbors. See our Napa County and Sonoma County agent guides for comparison.
Do Ukiah agents work in Lake County?
Some do. Several CENTURY 21 Kobetz Realty agents in Ukiah name Lake County communities on their profiles. See our Mendocino County guide.
Agent guides for cities and communities in Lake County
Each guide below lists agents we verified for that place, with the local rules that matter there.
- Best realtors in Clearlake, CA
- Best realtors in Clearlake Oaks, CA
- Best realtors in Cobb, CA
- Best realtors in Hidden Valley Lake, CA
- Best realtors in Kelseyville, CA
- Best realtors in Lakeport, CA
- Best realtors in Lower Lake, CA
- Best realtors in Lucerne, CA
- Best realtors in Middletown, CA
- Best realtors in Upper Lake, CA
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- U.S. Census QuickFacts, Lake County (population estimate July 1, 2025; other figures 2020–2024)
- Lake County Assessor-Recorder, Schedule of Fees
- Lake County news: short-term rental ordinance committee (July 6, 2026)
- CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal, Fire Hazard Severity Zones
- CENTURY 21 Epic office page, Lakeport and agent profiles on century21.com and nexthome.com, linked in the table
- License records checked October 2026 on the California DRE public lookup. Last reviewed October 2026 by Matthew Martinez.
Related: Lake County real estate guide · Lake County home valuation · Lake County vineyards · 20 tips for choosing a real estate agent
License-status update: the linked California DRE public records were checked November 2, 2026 and showed "Licensed." Public profile research retains the dates stated above. Names on DRE records may differ from public profile names; verify status and brokerage before selecting an agent.
