Best Realtors in Carmel Highlands, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Carmel Highlands is the unincorporated stretch of coast just south of Carmel and Point Lobos, where homes sit on steep, wooded lots above Highway 1 with views over the ocean. It is a small, mostly residential market, and the agents who name it on their profiles work from offices in Carmel.
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), a "Licensed" status, and a responsible broker that matches the brokerage on the agent’s profile.
- A named brokerage. Each agent’s DRE record shows the brokerage they work under.
- A public page that names Carmel Highlands. We opened each agent’s profile and confirmed it lists Carmel Highlands as a service area or an area where the agent has sales.
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.
Carmel Highlands housing in numbers
The Census Bureau does not publish a separate profile we could use for Carmel Highlands, so the figures below are for Monterey County as a whole.
| Measure (U.S. Census QuickFacts) | Monterey County |
|---|---|
| Population, July 1, 2025 estimate | 433,729 |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes, 2020–2024 | $781,000 |
| Owner-occupied housing rate, 2020–2024 | 52.1% |
| Median gross rent, 2020–2024 | $2,055 |
| Median household income, 2020–2024 (2024 dollars) | $97,230 |
| Mean travel time to work, 2020–2024 | 25.4 minutes |
Source: U.S. Census QuickFacts, Monterey County.
The county median blends very different markets and sits far below typical prices for ocean-view homes in the Highlands. Ask agents for recent closed sales nearby; with few sales each year, they may also draw on Carmel Point or Big Sur.
Ocean-view lots south of Point Lobos
Carmel Highlands has no city government, so Monterey County handles planning and building permits under its coastal zoning (Title 20) and the Carmel Area portion of its Local Coastal Program, described on the Coastal Commission’s LCP review page. Lots are often steep, reached by narrow roads off Highway 1 and set in pine and cypress forest. Our Carmel Highlands real estate guide covers coastal home pricing, coastal home inspections and shoreline property comparison.
Costs and rules specific to a Carmel Highlands purchase
- Transfer tax. Carmel Highlands is unincorporated, so no city transfer tax applies. Monterey County Code Chapter 5.32 sets Monterey County’s documentary transfer tax at 55 cents per $500 ($1.10 per $1,000), often paid by the seller by local custom (your contract decides): about $3,300 on a $3 million sale. Confirm on your escrow estimate; our California transfer tax guide explains who usually pays.
- Coastal permits. Additions, new homes, many ADUs and significant grading need a coastal development permit under Title 20. Ask what has been permitted on the property before you plan changes.
- Water. Some Highlands homes are within the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, which requires a water permit to set a meter or intensify use; others rely on private wells. Ask which applies.
- Vacation rentals. The County’s short-term rental page says coastal rentals of 30 days or less are handled through a coastal permit, and the vacation rental ordinance page reports a 2025 coastal ordinance awaiting Coastal Commission certification.
- Fire hazard and AB 38. Look up the address on the State Fire Marshal’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps. In High or Very High zones, see our AB 38 defensible space guide, and get insurance quotes early.
- Slopes and septic. Read the natural hazard disclosure report, and on steep lots consider a geotechnical review and a septic inspection.
Carmel Highlands 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 Carmel Highlands. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc DBA Diamond Real Estate Group, DRE #02163490
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Allen (licensed as Timothy Keller Allen) | Coldwell Banker Realty, Carmel | Salesperson #00891159 | Carmel Highlands, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Pebble Beach, Monterey |
| Geoff Arnold (licensed as Geoffrey S Arnold) | Carmel Realty Company, Carmel-by-the-Sea | Salesperson #02036451 | Carmel Highlands, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Monterey, Pacific Grove |
| Daniel Cardenas | Coldwell Banker Realty, Carmel-by-the-Sea | Salesperson #01964336 | Carmel Highlands, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Carmel Valley, Pebble Beach |
| Tamara Hadley | Coldwell Banker Realty, Carmel-by-the-Sea | Salesperson #01210374 | Carmel Highlands, Big Sur, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Carmel Valley |
| Yvonne Hubbard | Coldwell Banker Realty, Carmel-by-the-Sea | Salesperson #01239431 | Carmel Highlands, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Carmel Valley, Pebble Beach |
| Erica Perez | Coldwell Banker Realty, Carmel-by-the-Sea | Salesperson #02079456 | Carmel Valley, Carmel Highlands, Carmel-by-the-Sea |
| Jonathan Spencer (licensed as Jonathan Charles Spencer) | Compass, Carmel-by-the-Sea | Salesperson #01916757 | Carmel Highlands, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Pebble Beach, Carmel Valley Village |
On the DRE record, Coldwell Banker Realty agents are licensed under NRT West, Inc. (DRE #01908304), Geoff Arnold under Carmel Realty Brokerage Services (DRE #01871627, the number Carmel Realty Company publishes), and Jonathan Spencer under Compass California II, Inc. (DRE #01527235).
How to vet a Carmel Highlands agent
- Ask how they price a view lot. With few sales, ask which comparables they would use and how they adjust for views, slope and access.
- Ask about permits on every structure. Coastal permits are required for most changes; ask the agent to compare what is built with what is permitted.
- Confirm water and septic. Ask whether the home has a district water connection or a well, and order a septic inspection.
- Ask about slope stability. Ask whether they recommend a geotechnical review and what past reports show.
- Get insurance quotes early. Ask which carriers are writing policies in the Highlands’ wooded hillsides.
- Check the license yourself. Confirm a "Licensed" status with a current broker on the DRE lookup.
Carmel Highlands questions we hear
Is Carmel Highlands part of the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea?
No. It is unincorporated, so Monterey County handles planning and permits under its coastal zoning.
Is there a city transfer tax in Carmel Highlands?
No. Only the Monterey County tax applies, set at $1.10 per $1,000 by Monterey County Code Chapter 5.32.
Can I rent my Highlands home to visitors?
Only with County approval through a coastal permit, and the County’s new coastal rental ordinance was awaiting Coastal Commission certification when we checked.
Do these agents also work in Big Sur and Carmel?
Yes, most name Carmel-by-the-Sea and several name Big Sur. See our Big Sur and Carmel-by-the-Sea guides.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- U.S. Census QuickFacts, Monterey County (population estimate July 1, 2025; other figures 2020–2024)
- Monterey County Code Chapter 5.32, Documentary Transfer Tax (county rate of $0.55 per $500, with credit for a qualifying city tax)
- California Coastal Commission, Monterey County LCP review
- Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, water permits
- Monterey County HCD, short-term rentals and vacation rental ordinances
- CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal, Fire Hazard Severity Zones
- Agent profiles on coldwellbankerhomes.com and homes.com, 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: Carmel-by-the-Sea · Big Sur · Carmel Valley
Related: Carmel Highlands real estate guide · Carmel Highlands home valuation · Monterey 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.
