Best Real Estate Agents in Monterey County (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Monterey County runs from the Monterey Peninsula, with Monterey, Pacific Grove, Carmel-by-the-Sea and Pebble Beach, through Seaside and Marina to Salinas and the Salinas Valley farm towns, and south along the Big Sur coast. Water supply on the Peninsula, coastal permits and County vacation rental rules shape what a buyer can do, so it helps to hire an agent who knows which of those apply to the homes you want.
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 in October 2026:
- 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." One agent whose record showed no current broker affiliation was left out.
- A named brokerage. We list the brokerage the agent markets under and note the responsible broker on the DRE record when the legal name differs.
- A public profile tied to Monterey County. We opened a public brokerage roster that places each agent in a Monterey County office.
We did not rank agents, and we did not consider or report sales volume, reviews or awards. A license check is a starting point, not a recommendation. Verify each record yourself before signing anything, and interview more than one agent.
Monterey County housing in numbers
| Measure | Monterey County | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 436,251 | ACS 2024 1-year |
| Housing units | 147,144 | ACS 2024 1-year |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes | $808,600 | ACS 2024 1-year |
| Median household income | $93,290 | ACS 2024 1-year |
| Mean travel time to work | 25.9 minutes | ACS 2024 1-year |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, as presented by Census Reporter. Figures are estimates with margins of error.
A county median blends Salinas Valley tract homes with Carmel cottages and Pebble Beach estates, so it tells you little about a single address. Ask agents for recent closed sales in the specific community you are considering.
The Peninsula, Carmel Valley, the Salinas Valley and the Big Sur coast
- Monterey Peninsula. Monterey, Pacific Grove, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Pebble Beach, Seaside, Del Rey Oaks and Marina, where water permits often limit additions and new connections.
- Carmel Valley and the Highlands. Carmel Valley, Carmel Highlands and the Santa Lucia Preserve, unincorporated areas under County zoning, with fire zone questions inland.
- North county. Castroville, Moss Landing, Aromas and East Garrison.
- Salinas and the Salinas Valley. Salinas, Gonzales, Soledad, Greenfield and King City, plus south county communities such as San Lucas and San Ardo.
- Big Sur coast. Big Sur, where coastal permits, road access and fire risk dominate due diligence.
Costs and rules specific to a Monterey County purchase
- Transfer tax. The County Recorder collects documentary transfer tax at recording. Monterey County Code Chapter 5.32 sets the county rate at 55 cents per $500 ($1.10 per $1,000), with a credit for a qualifying city tax. We did not find posted city rates for this guide, so confirm the amount on your escrow estimate. Our California transfer tax guide explains how it is usually handled.
- Peninsula water permits. The Monterey Peninsula Water Management District requires a water permit to set a new meter or intensify use on an existing connection. If you plan to add a bathroom, an ADU or a new home, ask about water before you buy.
- Vacation rentals. The County’s short-term rental page says stays of 30 days or less in the unincorporated county need a discretionary permit and are limited to certain inland districts, with coastal rentals handled through coastal permits. The vacation rental ordinance page reports a coastal ordinance adopted in September 2025 that awaits Coastal Commission certification. Cities set their own rules.
- Coastal permits. The unincorporated coast follows the County’s Title 20 coastal zoning and Local Coastal Program; the Coastal Commission’s LCP review page covers the program.
- Fire hazard zones and AB 38. Carmel Valley, Big Sur and other inland and coastal hills carry State Fire Marshal Fire Hazard Severity Zone designations. Sellers in High or Very High zones must provide defensible space documentation or an agreement for the buyer to obtain it; see our AB 38 guide.
- Hazard disclosures. The natural hazard disclosure report covers mapped flood, landslide and fault hazards, including Salinas River and Pajaro River flood areas.
Monterey County agents with verified licenses
Matthew Martinez, Diamond Real Estate Group (publisher of this guide)
Matthew Martinez is the broker of Diamond Group Estates Inc, DBA Diamond Real Estate Group (company DRE #02163490), and holds a California broker license, DRE #01869679. He is based in Sonoma County; contact him to discuss a purchase or sale in Monterey County through our contact page.
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jennifer Beaudoin | Coldwell Banker Realty | Salesperson #01375818 | Monterey office |
| Angelica Blatt | Coldwell Banker Realty | Broker #01248430 | Monterey office |
| Daniel Cardenas | Coldwell Banker Realty | Salesperson #01964336 | Carmel-by-the-Sea office |
| Kim DiBenedetto | Coldwell Banker Realty | Salesperson #01278679 | Carmel-by-the-Sea office |
| Jeannie Ferrara | Coldwell Banker Realty | Salesperson #01464647 | Monterey office |
| Tamara Hadley | Coldwell Banker Realty | Salesperson #01210374 | Carmel-by-the-Sea office |
| Yvonne Hubbard | Coldwell Banker Realty | Salesperson #01239431 | Carmel-by-the-Sea office |
| Buff LaGrange | Coldwell Banker Realty | Salesperson #01264147 | Carmel-by-the-Sea office |
| Darcy Maciel | Coldwell Banker Realty | Salesperson #01466368 | Carmel-by-the-Sea office |
| Alan Scearce | Coldwell Banker Realty | Salesperson #01987627 | Monterey office |
| Robin Stelle | Coldwell Banker Realty | Salesperson #01812100 | Carmel-by-the-Sea office |
| Kimberly Stuhler | Coldwell Banker Realty | Broker #01388160 | Monterey office |
| Bill Wilson | Coldwell Banker Residential Referral Network (listed with Coldwell Banker Realty) | Broker #01096607 | Carmel-by-the-Sea office |
Except where noted, Coldwell Banker Realty agents in this table are licensed under the responsible broker NRT West, Inc. (DRE #01908304), as shown on each DRE record. Bill Wilson’s DRE record lists him as a broker associate for Coldwell Banker Residential Referral Network (DRE #00958424). All appear on the Carmel-by-the-Sea office or Monterey office roster. License status and brokerage affiliations change; check the DRE record before you hire anyone.
How to vet a Monterey County agent
- Open the DRE record. Confirm the license is "Licensed" and that the responsible broker matches the brokerage the agent represents.
- Ask which part of the county they work. The Peninsula, Carmel Valley, Salinas and Big Sur are different markets. Ask for recent closed sales near the homes you are considering.
- On the Peninsula, ask about water. Ask how they confirm a home’s water permit history and whether planned additions or an ADU would need a new permit.
- If rental income matters, ask about local rules. Ask whether the home sits in a city or the unincorporated county, and whether a short-term rental there needs a discretionary permit.
- For Carmel Valley or Big Sur, ask about fire and access. Ask how they handle AB 38 documentation, insurance quotes, private roads and road closures.
- Ask for a net sheet. It should show the transfer tax from escrow, the expected supplemental tax bill and any special assessments.
Monterey County questions we hear
Can I run a vacation rental in Carmel Valley?
Only with a discretionary County permit in an eligible district, according to the County’s short-term rental page. Paying transient occupancy tax does not by itself make the use legal. Confirm with the County before you rely on rental income.
Does water limit remodeling on the Monterey Peninsula?
It can. The Water Management District requires a permit before setting a meter or intensifying water use on an existing connection, so check before you plan an addition or ADU.
Are Pebble Beach and Carmel Valley cities?
No. Both are unincorporated, so County zoning applies, and coastal parts of the county follow the County’s Local Coastal Program.
How do I check a real estate agent’s license?
Search the name or license number on the DRE public lookup. The record shows license type, status and responsible broker. Every agent in our table links to the record we checked.
Is the agent order in this guide a ranking?
No. Our broker is listed first because Diamond Real Estate Group publishes the guide; everyone else is alphabetical by last name. Inclusion means we verified a current license, a brokerage and a public profile tied to a Monterey County office in October 2026, nothing more.
Agent guides for cities and communities in Monterey County
Each guide below lists agents we verified for that place, with the local rules that matter there.
- Best realtors in Aromas, CA
- Best realtors in Big Sur, CA
- Best realtors in Bradley, CA
- Best realtors in Carmel Highlands, CA
- Best realtors in Carmel Valley, CA
- Best realtors in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
- Best realtors in Castroville, CA
- Best realtors in Del Rey Oaks, CA
- Best realtors in East Garrison, CA
- Best realtors in Gonzales, CA
- Best realtors in Greenfield, CA
- Best realtors in Jolon, CA
- Best realtors in King City, CA
- Best realtors in Lockwood, CA
- Best realtors in Marina, CA
- Best realtors in Monterey, CA
- Best realtors in Moss Landing, CA
- Best realtors in Pacific Grove, CA
- Best realtors in Pebble Beach, CA
- Best realtors in Royal Oaks, CA
- Best realtors in Salinas, CA
- Best realtors in San Ardo, CA
- Best realtors in San Lucas, CA
- Best realtors in Santa Lucia Preserve, CA
- Best realtors in Seaside, CA
- Best realtors in Soledad, CA
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (records linked individually in the table)
- Coldwell Banker Realty Carmel-by-the-Sea office agent roster
- Coldwell Banker Realty Monterey office agent roster
- Census Reporter, Monterey County profile (ACS 2024 1-year)
- Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, water permits
- Monterey County HCD, short-term rentals and vacation rental ordinances
- California Coastal Commission, Monterey County LCP review
- State Fire Marshal, Fire Hazard Severity Zones
- Monterey County Code Chapter 5.32, Documentary Transfer Tax (county rate of $0.55 per $500, with credit for a qualifying city tax)
- License records checked October 2026 on the California DRE public lookup. Last reviewed October 2026 by Matthew Martinez.
Related: Monterey County real estate guide · Monterey County home valuation · 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.
