Best Realtors in Bodega, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Bodega is a small unincorporated village in western Sonoma County, a few miles inland from Bodega Bay along the Bodega Highway, surrounded by ranch land and rolling hills. With only about 130 residents, few agents list Bodega by name: two agents below name Bodega on a public page, and the others work from Bodega Bay offices or are tied to Bodega Bay on their profiles or listing records. We say which in the table.
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 a "Licensed" status, with a responsible broker that matches the brokerage the agent represents.
- A named brokerage. Each agent’s DRE record shows the brokerage they work under.
- A public page that names Bodega or nearby Bodega Bay. We opened a brokerage website, office roster, agent profile or MLSListings listing record. Two name Bodega itself; the rest name nearby Bodega Bay, as noted in the table.
We did not rank agents, and we did not consider sales volume, reviews or awards. Licenses and affiliations change, so check the license yourself before you sign anything, and interview more than one agent.
Bodega housing in numbers
| Census measure (ACS 2024 5-year) | Bodega |
|---|---|
| Population | 134 |
| Housing units | 106 (±86) |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates, as presented by Census Reporter. Bodega is a Census-designated place with a very small sample; its value and income estimates carry margins of error larger than the estimates themselves, so we do not repeat them here.
With so few sales in the village, comparable homes often come from the surrounding ranch land, Bodega Bay and the Occidental and Valley Ford areas. Ask agents how they choose comparables for a village lot versus a rural parcel.
The village and the ranch land around it
Bodega’s small center along the Bodega Highway holds a few historic buildings, older homes and a handful of businesses, with ranches, dairies and rural home sites in the hills around it. Bodega Bay and the coast are a short drive west. Because Bodega is unincorporated, Sonoma County handles zoning, permits, and well and septic rules through Permit Sonoma. For more on the area, see our Bodega real estate guide.
Costs and rules specific to a Bodega purchase
- Transfer tax. The Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder lists the county documentary transfer tax at $0.55 per $500 of value ($1.10 per $1,000). Only Santa Rosa and Petaluma add a city tax, so the county rate applies in unincorporated Bodega. Our California transfer tax guide explains who usually pays.
- Coastal Zone check. Sonoma County’s Coastal Zone reaches inland from the shore, and its Local Coastal Plan, updated and in effect since February 4, 2025, governs development there. Ask Permit Sonoma whether a specific parcel is inside the Coastal Zone before you plan an addition or a new unit.
- Vacation rentals. Permit Sonoma’s vacation rental page says a vacation rental needs a permit, a certified property manager, a Transient Occupancy Tax number and a license, and that rentals are allowed only in certain zones. Rentals are not allowed on Williamson Act-contracted agricultural preserve land. Confirm a parcel’s zoning before you count on rental income.
- Wells, septic and agricultural neighbors. Many rural homes rely on private wells and septic systems; ask for well tests and septic records before contingencies come off, and expect working ranches nearby.
- Hazards. Read the natural hazard disclosure report and check the State Fire Marshal’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps; in a High or Very High zone, see our AB 38 guide.
Agents who serve Bodega and nearby Bodega Bay
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 Bodega. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc DBA Diamond Real Estate Group, DRE #02163490
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emily Beaven (licensed as Emily April Beaven) | Compass | Salesperson #01972840 | Bodega Bay (MLSListings listing record) |
| Thera Buttaro (licensed as Thera Ann Buttaro) | Sonoma Coast Living, Bodega Bay | Broker #00610278 | Bodega Bay office; Bodega Harbour, Salmon Creek, Carmet, Sereno del Mar, Jenner, Bodega |
| Steven Hecht (licensed as Steven Lee Hecht) | Artisan Sotheby’s International Realty | Broker #01378755 | Bodega Bay (current MLSListings listing) |
| Doug Hecker (licensed as Douglas Michael Hecker) | Coldwell Banker Realty, Petaluma | Salesperson #01347843 | Bodega Bay, Occidental, The Sea Ranch, Annapolis, Sonoma County, among others |
| Kristopher Lepore (licensed as Kristopher James Lepore) | Sonoma Coast Living, Bodega Bay | Salesperson #01797922 | Bodega Bay (MLSListings listing record) |
| Kathleen Seibel (licensed as Kathleen Mary Seibel) | W Real Estate, Petaluma | Salesperson #00661442 | Bodega (past sale on profile); Petaluma, Sebastopol |
| Maurice Tegelaar (licensed as Maurice Christian Tegelaar) | Compass | Salesperson #01465653 | Bodega Bay (MLSListings listing record) |
| Ed Vail (licensed as Edward Emerson Vail) | Coldwell Banker Realty, Bodega Bay | Broker #00774354 | Bodega Bay office |
| Travis Vail (licensed as Edward Travis Vail) | Coldwell Banker Realty, Bodega Bay | Salesperson #02048911 | Bodega Bay office |
On the DRE record, Sonoma Coast Living is a DBA of Bodega Bay & Beyond Real Estate Sales Inc (DRE #01263505), with Thera Buttaro as designated officer; Compass agents are licensed under Compass California II, Inc. (DRE #01527235); Steven Hecht under Artisan Realty Group, Inc. (DRE #02025375) with a main office in Sebastopol; and Coldwell Banker Realty agents under NRT West, Inc. (DRE #01908304); the Vails appear on the Coldwell Banker Bodega Bay office roster. Kathleen Seibel is licensed under W Real Estate (DRE #01795950). Only Thera Buttaro’s website and Kathleen Seibel’s profile name Bodega; the other agents are tied to nearby Bodega Bay. For more agents across the county, see our Sonoma County agents guide.
How to vet a Bodega agent
- Ask about rural sales. Ask how the agent prices village and ranch-land homes when few sales are nearby.
- Ask whether the parcel is in the Coastal Zone. Ask how they confirm it with Permit Sonoma and what that means for additions.
- Ask how they check wells and septic. Ask which inspectors they use and whether they pull County septic permit records.
- Ask about zoning and agricultural contracts. Ask whether the parcel is under a Williamson Act contract and what the zoning allows.
- Check hazard and insurance exposure. Ask for the hazard disclosure report and an insurance quote early.
- Check the license yourself. Confirm a "Licensed" status with a current responsible broker on the DRE lookup.
Bodega questions we hear
Is Bodega the same as Bodega Bay?
No. Bodega is a small inland village a few miles east of Bodega Bay. Both are unincorporated parts of Sonoma County.
Is there a city transfer tax in Bodega?
No. Bodega is unincorporated, and the Clerk-Recorder lists only Santa Rosa and Petaluma as cities with their own tax. The county rate is $1.10 per $1,000.
Is Bodega in the Coastal Zone?
It depends on the parcel. Ask Permit Sonoma to confirm with the County’s coastal zone map before you plan changes.
Why do most agents in this guide name Bodega Bay instead of Bodega?
Bodega is very small, and few agent pages list it; two agents here do. We include agents tied to nearby Bodega Bay and say so in the table.
Is the agent order a ranking?
No. Our broker is listed first because we publish the guide; everyone else is alphabetical by last name.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- Census Reporter, Bodega profile (ACS 2024 5-year)
- Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder, documentary transfer tax
- Permit Sonoma, Local Coastal Plan update
- Permit Sonoma, vacation rentals
- CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal, Fire Hazard Severity Zones
- Coldwell Banker Realty Bodega Bay office roster, Sonoma Coast Living, agent profiles and MLSListings listing records, linked in the table
- License records checked October 2026 on the California DRE public lookup. Last reviewed October 2026 by Matthew Martinez.
Nearby agent guides: Bodega Bay · Tomales · Dillon Beach
Related: Bodega real estate guide · Bodega home valuation · Sonoma 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.
