Best Realtors in Albany, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Albany is a small Alameda County city of about 19,000 people next to Berkeley, with bungalow blocks between Solano and San Pablo Avenues, towers on the west side of Albany Hill and a waterfront at the former Golden Gate Fields. Albany charges one of the higher city transfer taxes in the county, so the agent you hire should be able to explain that cost along with Albany’s rental and ADU rules.
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
Each agent below met three checks 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 "Licensed" status.
- A named brokerage. Each agent’s DRE record shows the responsible broker they work under, and it matches the brokerage on their profile.
- A public profile that names Albany. We opened each agent’s brokerage profile and confirmed it names Albany among the areas served.
We did not rank agents, and we did not consider sales volume, reviews or awards. This list is limited to agents whose public profiles name Albany; it is not a complete list of agents who work here. Licenses and affiliations change, so verify the license yourself before you sign anything, and interview more than one agent.
Albany housing in numbers
| Census measure | Albany |
|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020–2024) | 19,414 |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes (ACS 2020–2024) | $1,202,200 |
| Median household income (ACS 2020–2024) | $144,107 |
| Mean travel time to work (ACS 2020–2024) | 30.8 minutes |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, as presented by Census Reporter. QuickFacts did not load when we checked. Figures are estimates with margins of error.
The median owner-occupied value of about $1.2 million is a five-year survey figure, not a current sale price. A bungalow near Solano Avenue, a condo in an Albany Hill tower and a newer unit on San Pablo Avenue should be priced from different sales.
Albany settings: Solano Avenue, San Pablo Avenue and Albany Hill
Two-unit buildings and small walk-ups line many blocks between Solano and San Pablo Avenues, and the high-rise towers on west Albany Hill have their own zoning district under Section 20.12 of the city code. Since the 2022 San Pablo Avenue rezoning under Ordinance 2022-03, newer mixed-use buildings are going up along that corridor with no residential parking minimum.
Solano and San Pablo Avenues both cross into Berkeley and El Cerrito, so an address on either street may not be in Albany. On the waterfront, the city’s Golden Gate Fields Transition page describes Measure C, under which voters must approve certain waterfront changes. For more, see our Albany real estate guide.
Costs and rules specific to an Albany purchase
- City and county transfer tax. The Alameda County Clerk-Recorder collects the county documentary transfer tax of $0.55 per $500 and Albany’s city tax of $15.00 per $1,000 of full value (Ordinance No. 2020-09). On a $1,200,000 sale, that is about $18,000 in city tax plus about $1,320 in county tax. Confirm on your escrow estimate; our Alameda County city transfer taxes page compares cities.
- Rent review. If the home has a rental unit, Albany’s Rent Review Program lets tenants request review of increases above 5% within 12 months; state rent caps under AB 1482 may also apply.
- ADUs. Section 20.20.080 allows ADUs and JADUs on single-family lots and more on multi-unit lots; ADUs cannot be rented for under 30 days, and JADUs require owner occupancy.
- Soft-story retrofits. Albany’s Soft Story Retrofit Program covers pre-1981 wood-frame buildings of three or more units with a vulnerable ground story, with tiered deadlines.
- Hazards. The natural hazard disclosure report shows whether an address is in a mapped fault, landslide or liquefaction zone.
Albany agents with verified licenses
Matthew Martinez, Diamond Real Estate Group (publisher of this guide)
Matthew Martinez is the Founder, CEO and Managing Broker of Diamond Real Estate Group. He is based in Sonoma County; contact him to discuss a purchase or sale in Albany. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc DBA Diamond Real Estate Group, DRE #02163490
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Angel | Coldwell Banker Realty, Berkeley office | Salesperson #02115053 | Albany, Berkeley, Oakland, Alameda, El Cerrito, Richmond |
| Bita Azizi | Coldwell Banker Realty, Berkeley office | Salesperson #01795117 | Berkeley; bio names Albany, Oakland, Piedmont, Lamorinda |
| Bobbie Giarratana | Coldwell Banker Realty, Berkeley office | Salesperson #01259754 | Albany, Berkeley, Kensington, El Cerrito, Oakland |
| Sylvia Snyder | Coldwell Banker Realty, Berkeley office | Salesperson #02245871 | Albany, Berkeley, Oakland, Lafayette, Walnut Creek |
| Catherine Stern | Red Oak Realty | Salesperson #01325681 | Albany, Berkeley, North Oakland, El Cerrito, Kensington |
| Herman Sun (licensed as Huainan Herman Sun) | Red Oak Realty | Broker #01005880 | Albany, El Cerrito, Kensington, Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond |
Coldwell Banker Realty agents above are licensed under the responsible broker NRT West, Inc. (DRE #01908304) and work from the Berkeley office at 1385 Shattuck Ave. Catherine Stern and Herman Sun are licensed under Red Oak Realty (DRE #00619098); Herman Sun holds a broker license and works as a broker associate.
How to vet an Albany agent
- Ask for a net sheet with the city tax. Albany’s $15 per $1,000 city tax is often the largest line after commissions.
- Confirm the address is in Albany. Solano and San Pablo Avenue addresses can be in Berkeley or El Cerrito, which have different taxes and rules.
- For a duplex or a home with a rental, ask about rent review. The agent should explain notice requirements and point you to the city to confirm.
- For a multi-unit building, ask about soft-story status. Request the screening form and any permit or completion records.
- Ask for comparables from the same setting. A bungalow, an Albany Hill condo and a San Pablo Avenue unit should not share comparables.
- Verify the license yourself. Look up the agent on the DRE site and confirm the responsible broker matches the brokerage they name.
Albany questions we hear
Does Albany have its own transfer tax?
Yes. The Alameda County Clerk-Recorder lists Albany’s city tax at $15.00 per $1,000 of full value, collected along with the county tax of $0.55 per $500.
Does Albany have rent control?
Not a fixed local cap. Albany’s Rent Review Program offers conciliation and mediation for increases above 5%, and covered units follow state AB 1482 limits.
Can I add an ADU in Albany?
Generally yes. Section 20.20.080 allows ADUs and JADUs, with no parking required and no rentals under 30 days.
Is a Solano Avenue address always in Albany?
No. Solano and San Pablo Avenues both run into Berkeley and El Cerrito. Check the parcel’s city on the tax bill before relying on Albany’s rules or tax rate.
Should I interview more than one Albany agent?
Yes. Interview at least two or three, ask each for recent sales nearby, and compare how they explain the transfer tax, rental rules and ADU options for the address.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- Census Reporter: Albany, CA (ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates)
- Coldwell Banker Realty Berkeley office agent profiles (linked in the table) · Red Oak Realty agent directory
- Alameda County Clerk-Recorder: real property transfer tax
- Albany Municipal Code: Section 20.12, zoning districts · Section 20.20.080, ADUs
- City of Albany: Ordinance 2022-03 · Rent Review Program · Soft Story Retrofit Program · Golden Gate Fields transition
- License records checked October 2026 on the California DRE public lookup. Last reviewed October 2026 by Matthew Martinez.
Related: Albany real estate guide · Albany home valuation · Alameda County agents guide · 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.
