Best Real Estate Agents in San Diego County (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
San Diego County runs from coastal cities such as Carlsbad, Oceanside and Coronado through East County suburbs like La Mesa, El Cajon and Santee to rural backcountry. It has 18 incorporated cities, and everything outside them is governed by the County itself, so the agent you hire should know which jurisdiction, water agency and fire map apply to the homes you are considering.
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."
- A named brokerage. The brokerage shown is the responsible broker on the DRE record. Where an agent works on a team, the team name is noted.
- A public profile tied to San Diego County. We opened a public brokerage or team page that names a San Diego County community or a San Diego County office for that agent.
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.
San Diego County housing in numbers
| Measure | San Diego County | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,298,799 | ACS 2024 1-year |
| Housing units | 1,271,828 | ACS 2024 1-year |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes | $914,700 | ACS 2024 1-year |
| Median household income | $109,132 | ACS 2024 1-year |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.1 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 countywide median blends coastal condos, inland tract homes and backcountry acreage, so it says little about one address. Ask any agent you interview for recent closed sales of homes that share the same setting, jurisdiction and ownership terms as the one you want.
Coast, city neighborhoods, East County and backcountry
Buyers in San Diego County usually narrow a search by setting before price:
- Coastal cities. Coronado, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad, Oceanside and Imperial Beach, where Coastal Zone permits and shoreline records often matter.
- City of San Diego neighborhoods. San Diego covers areas from Point Loma and La Jolla to Scripps Ranch, each with its own short-term rental, coastal and airport questions.
- South Bay. Chula Vista and National City, where newer planned communities may carry Mello-Roos charges.
- East County. La Mesa, El Cajon, Lemon Grove and Santee, plus unincorporated communities next to them.
- Inland North County. Escondido, San Marcos, Vista and Poway.
- Rural and acreage. Unincorporated San Diego County, where wells, septic systems, private roads and County zoning come into play.
Costs and rules specific to a San Diego County purchase
- Documentary transfer tax. The County Recorder lists the tax at $0.55 per $500 of value ($1.10 per $1,000), figured on value less existing liens, and collects it for the county and cities. Confirm the amount for a specific sale on the escrow estimate. Our California transfer tax guide explains how it is usually handled.
- City or unincorporated. Parcels outside city limits follow the County zoning ordinance and Planning & Development Services; the County’s zoning page offers a Property Summary Report by parcel number. A mailing address does not settle which government applies.
- Coastal Zone. Development in the Coastal Zone generally needs a coastal development permit, issued by the city or County where a Local Coastal Program is certified, and by the Coastal Commission elsewhere.
- Fire hazard zones and AB 38. The State Fire Marshal maps Moderate, High and Very High zones. 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.
- Mello-Roos and special charges. Community Facilities District charges appear on the tax bill, and the County’s special assessments lookup lists fixed charges by parcel number.
- Short-term rentals. Rules vary by city. In the City of San Diego, stays of less than a month need a short-term residential occupancy license, and licenses do not transfer to a new owner.
San Diego 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 San Diego County through our contact page.
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| J.C. Agajanian | eXp Realty of California, Inc. (Whissel Realty team) | Broker #01397607 | San Diego, Point Loma, Sunset Cliffs |
| Josh Brown | eXp Realty of California, Inc. (Whissel Realty team) | Salesperson #01511269 | La Mesa, East County |
| Christa Curtin | eXp Realty of California, Inc. (Whissel Realty team) | Salesperson #01751842 | San Diego |
| Stephanie Dimakides | Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Company | Salesperson #01752778 | Carlsbad office |
| London Fields | Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Company | Salesperson #01462318 | Carlsbad office |
| Billie Guinto | eXp Realty of California, Inc. (Whissel Realty team) | Salesperson #01313454 | San Diego |
| Bryan Mancuso | eXp Realty of California, Inc. (Whissel Realty team) | Salesperson #01870177 | San Diego, Poway |
| Lori Merino | Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Company | Broker #01398367 | Carlsbad office |
| Jordan Moss | Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Company (The Moss Team) | Salesperson #02120654 | Carlsbad office |
| Rosa Nichols | Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Company | Salesperson #01257837 | Carlsbad office |
| Joe O’Meara | eXp Realty of California, Inc. (Whissel Realty team) | Salesperson #01422229 | La Mesa |
| Tracy Perusse | Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Company | Broker #01353478 | Carlsbad office |
| Mike Proctor | eXp Realty of California, Inc. (Whissel Realty team) | Salesperson #01727013 | East County, El Cajon, Santee, Lakeside |
| Kimo Quance (licensed as James Edward Quance) | eXp Realty of California, Inc. (Whissel Realty team) | Salesperson #01927385 | Santee |
| Evan Wagley | eXp Realty of California, Inc. (Whissel Realty team) | Salesperson #01494096 | San Diego |
Coldwell Banker agents are listed on the roster of the brokerage’s Carlsbad office at 505 Oak Ave. License status and brokerage affiliations change; check the DRE record before you hire anyone.
How to vet a San Diego County agent
- Open the DRE record. Confirm the license is "Licensed," note whether it is a Salesperson or Broker license, and check that the responsible broker matches the brokerage on the agent’s card.
- Ask which part of the county they actually work. A coastal North County agent and an East County agent see very different sales. Ask for closed sales near the homes you are considering.
- Test their jurisdiction knowledge. Ask how they confirm whether a parcel is in a city or the unincorporated county, and which water agency serves it.
- Ask about coastal and fire records. For a coastal home, ask how they check Coastal Zone status and past permits; for an inland or rural home, ask how they handle fire zone disclosures, AB 38 documentation and insurance quotes early in escrow.
- Ask for a net sheet or cost estimate. It should show the county transfer tax, any Mello-Roos or special assessment charges, and the expected supplemental tax bill.
- If rental income matters, ask about local rules. Short-term rental licensing in the City of San Diego and other cities can change what a property can earn.
San Diego County questions we hear
How do I check a real estate agent’s license in California?
Search the agent’s name or license number on the DRE public lookup. The record shows license type, status, expiration date and the responsible broker. Each agent in the table above links to the record we checked.
What is the transfer tax on a San Diego County home sale?
The County Recorder lists the documentary transfer tax at $0.55 per $500 of value, or $1.10 per $1,000, figured on value less existing liens. Who pays it is negotiable in the purchase contract, so confirm the figure and the allocation on your escrow estimate.
Do I need a different agent for coastal and inland homes?
Not necessarily, but ask. Coastal purchases can raise Coastal Zone permit and shoreline questions, while inland and rural purchases raise fire zone, well, septic and road questions. Hire someone who can show recent work in the setting you are buying in.
How do I know if a home has Mello-Roos?
Look for a Community Facilities District line on the property tax bill and search the parcel on the County’s special assessments lookup. Ask the seller’s agent for the current bill early, before you finalize an offer.
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 San Diego County in October 2026, nothing more.
Agent guides for cities and communities in San Diego County
Each guide below lists agents we verified for that place, with the local rules that matter there.
- Best realtors in Carlsbad, CA
- Best realtors in Chula Vista, CA
- Best realtors in Coronado, CA
- Best realtors in Del Mar, CA
- Best realtors in El Cajon, CA
- Best realtors in Encinitas, CA
- Best realtors in Escondido, CA
- Best realtors in Imperial Beach, CA
- Best realtors in La Mesa, CA
- Best realtors in Lemon Grove, CA
- Best realtors in Oceanside, CA
- Best realtors in Poway, CA
- Best realtors in San Diego, CA
- Best realtors in San Marcos, CA
- Best realtors in Santee, CA
- Best realtors in Solana Beach, CA
- Best realtors in Vista, CA
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (records linked individually in the table)
- Whissel Realty team page (agent bios and license numbers)
- Coldwell Banker Realty Carlsbad office agent roster
- Census Reporter, San Diego County profile (ACS 2024 1-year)
- San Diego County Recorder, recording and transfer tax
- County Planning & Development Services and zoning page
- California Coastal Commission, coastal development permits
- State Fire Marshal, Fire Hazard Severity Zones
- County of San Diego special assessments by parcel
- City of San Diego short-term residential occupancy
- License records checked October 2026 on the California DRE public lookup. Last reviewed October 2026 by Matthew Martinez.
Related: San Diego County real estate guide · San Diego 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.
