Best Realtors in Berkeley, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Berkeley is an Alameda County city of about 122,000 people where fewer than half of homes are owner-occupied and much of the housing stock is decades old, from flatland bungalows to hillside homes above the campus. A Berkeley agent should be able to explain the city’s own transfer tax, what older-home inspections to expect and how a hillside location changes disclosures and insurance.
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 Berkeley. We opened each agent’s brokerage profile or the brokerage’s Berkeley office roster and confirmed it names Berkeley or a Berkeley office.
We did not rank agents, and we did not consider sales volume, reviews or awards. Licenses and affiliations change, so verify the license yourself before you sign anything, and interview more than one agent.
Berkeley housing in numbers
| Census measure | Berkeley |
|---|---|
| Population (July 1, 2025 estimate) | 121,911 |
| Owner-occupied housing unit rate (2020–2024) | 44.2% |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020–2024) | $1,413,900 |
| Median gross rent (2020–2024) | $2,133 |
| Median household income (2020–2024, 2024 dollars) | $108,092 |
| Mean travel time to work (2020–2024) | 27.8 minutes |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Berkeley city, California.
Berkeley is a renter-majority city: the Census Bureau puts the owner-occupancy rate at about 44%, and the median owner-occupied home value over 2020–2024 was above $1.4 million. These are five-year survey figures, not current sale prices. To price a specific home, an agent should pull recent sales from the same part of the city and the same property type.
Berkeley settings: flatlands, hills and older housing
A Berkeley search can range from flatland neighborhoods near San Pablo Avenue and downtown to the Berkeley Hills, where streets wind above the campus and many lots are steep. Small multi-unit buildings and duplexes are common in the flats, and a buyer of one of those should understand the city’s rental rules before closing; our Berkeley rent stabilization guide for owners covers the basics. Much of the city’s housing predates modern codes, so a structural inspection of an older home is a common step. For more detail, see our Berkeley real estate guide.
Costs and rules specific to a Berkeley purchase
- Transfer tax. The Alameda County Clerk-Recorder charges the county documentary transfer tax at $0.55 per $500 of value and also collects Berkeley’s city conveyance tax on full value: $15.00 per $1,000 at $1,700,000 and below, and $25.00 per $1,000 at $1,700,001 and above (Ordinance No. 6072-NS). On a $1,500,000 sale, that is about $22,500 in city tax plus about $1,650 in county tax. Confirm the figure on your escrow estimate; our Alameda County city transfer taxes page compares cities.
- Rental property rules. If the home has a rental unit, ask the seller and your agent which Berkeley rules apply to it before you remove contingencies. Our rent stabilization guide is a starting point; confirm details with the city.
- Sale records. Berkeley sellers often assemble permit history and city records before listing; see our Berkeley sale readiness records checklist.
- Fire hazard zones and AB 38. Parts of the Berkeley Hills carry State Fire Marshal Fire Hazard Severity Zone designations. In High and Very High zones, sellers may need to provide AB 38 defensible space documentation.
- Earthquake and other hazards. The natural hazard disclosure report shows whether an address is in a mapped fault, landslide or liquefaction zone.
Berkeley 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 Berkeley. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc DBA Diamond Real Estate Group, DRE #02163490
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bita Azizi | Coldwell Banker Realty, Berkeley office | Salesperson #01795117 | Berkeley, Oakland, Piedmont, Albany, Lamorinda |
| Laurie Capitelli | Red Oak Realty | Broker #00634236 | Berkeley, El Cerrito |
| Joseph Chen | Coldwell Banker Realty, Berkeley office | Salesperson #01823606 | Berkeley office |
| Wayne Cory | Coldwell Banker Realty, Berkeley office | Salesperson #01431677 | Berkeley office |
| Vivian Hung | Coldwell Banker Realty, Berkeley office | Salesperson #01831151 | Berkeley office |
| Warren Lei | Coldwell Banker Realty, Berkeley office | Salesperson #01254980 | Berkeley office |
| Kathie Longinotti | Coldwell Banker Realty, Berkeley office | Salesperson #01479865 | Berkeley office |
| Kim Marienthal | Coldwell Banker Realty, Berkeley office | Broker #00863747 | Berkeley office |
| Jeff Rosenbloom | Red Oak Realty | Salesperson #01228881 | Oakland, Berkeley, Emeryville, Rockridge, Montclair |
| Dan Silvert | Red Oak Realty | Salesperson #01963734 | Oakland, Berkeley, Piedmont, Richmond |
| Bevin White | Coldwell Banker Realty, Berkeley office | Broker #01224969 | Berkeley office |
Coldwell Banker Realty agents above are licensed under the responsible broker NRT West, Inc. (DRE #01908304) and appear on the Berkeley office roster. Red Oak Realty agents are licensed under Red Oak Realty (DRE #00619098). Broker-licensed agents work as broker associates, as shown on their DRE records. Some DRE records list a legal name that differs from the name the agent uses professionally.
How to vet a Berkeley agent
- Ask for a net sheet with the city tax. Berkeley’s conveyance tax jumps from $15 to $25 per $1,000 above $1.7 million, so an estimate near that line should show both the city and county tax.
- Ask how they approach older homes. Ask which inspections they usually recommend (foundation, sewer lateral, seismic retrofit) and how they review permit history.
- For a duplex or a home with a rental unit, ask about tenant rules. A good Berkeley agent should explain which local rules may apply and point you to the city to confirm.
- Ask about hillside homes. For a Berkeley Hills property, ask how they handle fire zone disclosures, insurance quotes and geotechnical questions early in escrow.
- Ask for comparables from the same neighborhood and type. A hillside view home, a flatland bungalow and a condo near downtown should not be priced from the same sales.
- Verify the license yourself. Look up the agent on the DRE site and confirm the responsible broker matches the brokerage they name.
Berkeley questions we hear
Does Berkeley have its own transfer tax?
Yes. According to the Alameda County Clerk-Recorder, Berkeley’s city conveyance tax is $15 per $1,000 of full value at $1.7 million and below and $25 per $1,000 above that, on top of the county tax of $0.55 per $500. Who pays is negotiable, so check the purchase contract.
Are many Berkeley homes rentals?
Yes. The Census Bureau’s 2020–2024 figures show an owner-occupancy rate of about 44%, so a majority of Berkeley households rent. If the property you are buying has a tenant, ask early which rules apply.
Is my Berkeley Hills home in a fire hazard zone?
Check the State Fire Marshal’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps and the natural hazard disclosure report for the address. Zone status affects disclosures and may require AB 38 defensible space documentation.
How do I check a Berkeley 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.
Should I interview more than one Berkeley agent?
Yes. Interview at least two or three, ask each for recent sales in the neighborhood you are considering, and compare how they explain the transfer tax, inspections and hillside questions for that address.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Berkeley city, California (V2025 population estimate; 2020–2024 ACS figures)
- Coldwell Banker Realty Berkeley office agent roster
- Red Oak Realty agent directory
- Alameda County Clerk-Recorder: real property transfer tax
- State Fire Marshal: Fire Hazard Severity Zones
- License records checked October 2026 on the California DRE public lookup. Last reviewed October 2026 by Matthew Martinez.
Related: Berkeley real estate guide · Berkeley 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.
