Best Realtors in Castroville, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Castroville is an unincorporated farm town of about 6,700 people in north Monterey County, between Salinas and Moss Landing, surrounded by artichoke and vegetable fields. Its housing is a mix of older single-family homes, newer subdivisions and condominium complexes, and no brokerage we found keeps an office in town, so the agents below work from Salinas, Watsonville and Monterey.
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 or broker-associate affiliation 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 Castroville. We opened each agent’s profile and confirmed it names Castroville as an area of experience or in recent sales.
We did not rank agents, and we did not consider sales volume, reviews or awards. We left out several agents whose profile brokerage did not match their DRE record or whose profile did not show a license number. Licenses and affiliations change, so check the license yourself before you sign anything, and interview more than one agent.
Castroville housing in numbers
| Census measure (ACS 2024 5-year) | Castroville CDP |
|---|---|
| Population | 6,720 |
| Housing units | 1,687 (±196) |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes | $617,100 (±$39,411) |
| Median household income | $89,354 (±$10,624) |
| Persons per household | 4.2 |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.8 minutes |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates, as presented by Census Reporter.
Castroville’s estimated median owner-occupied value of $617,100 is below the Monterey County figure of $781,000 reported by QuickFacts, and its average household of 4.2 people is among the largest in the county. These are five-year estimates, not current sale prices; ask an agent for recent closed sales of similar homes or condos.
Town, condos and the surrounding farmland
Castroville has no city government, so Monterey County handles zoning and permits. The County’s plans library lists the Castroville Community Plan, updated May 5, 2010, which adds standards on top of base zoning. Parts of the area toward the coast and Moss Landing are in the Coastal Zone and follow the County’s coastal zoning and the North County portion of its Local Coastal Program, described on the Coastal Commission’s LCP review page. Our Castroville real estate guide covers association and assessment costs, inspection and insurance planning and comparable sales analysis.
Costs and rules specific to a Castroville purchase
- Transfer tax. Castroville 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 $679 on a $617,100 sale. Confirm on your escrow estimate; our California transfer tax guide explains who usually pays.
- Condo and HOA documents. Many Castroville sales are condos. Read the HOA budget, reserve study, CC&Rs and recent minutes, and ask about special assessments and rental limits.
- Flood and other hazards. Low-lying areas near the Salinas River and the sloughs can carry mapped flood risk. Read the natural hazard disclosure report and get a flood insurance quote if the home is in a mapped zone.
- Farmland next door. Homes at the edge of town sit beside working fields; expect farm equipment, dust and agricultural spraying, and read the County’s right-to-farm disclosure in your documents.
- Vacation rentals. The County’s short-term rental page says stays of 30 days or less need a discretionary permit and are limited to certain districts.
Castroville 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 Castroville. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc DBA Diamond Real Estate Group, DRE #02163490
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raeid Farhat (licensed as Raeid Shawki Farhat) | Raeid Farhat Real Estate Inc, Watsonville | Broker #01295607 | Castroville, Watsonville, Salinas, Aromas |
| Alfred Ramirez (licensed as Alfredo F Ramirez) | Ramirez Properties, Salinas | Broker #01095452 | Castroville (2026 sale); Salinas |
| Nicole Rodriguez (licensed as Nicole Brianne Rodriguez) | eXp Realty of Northern California | Salesperson #01718232 | Castroville, Salinas, Prunedale, Hollister |
| Paloma Zamora (licensed as Paloma Diana Zamora) | eXp Realty of Northern California | Salesperson #02081189 | Castroville, Salinas, Bolsa Knolls, Prunedale |
| Rudy Zamora II (licensed as Rudy Zamora) | eXp Realty of Northern California | Salesperson #01527160 | Castroville, Salinas, Prunedale, Bolsa Knolls |
On the DRE record, Raeid Farhat is an officer of Raeid Farhat Real Estate Inc; Ramirez Properties is a business name of broker Alfredo F Ramirez; and Nicole Rodriguez and both Zamoras are licensed under eXp Realty of Northern California, Inc. (DRE #02188495).
How to vet a Castroville agent
- Ask for condo and single-family comps separately. Castroville condos and houses trade in different price bands; ask which recent sales the agent would use.
- Ask how they review HOA documents. For condos, ask what they look for in budgets, reserves and litigation disclosures.
- Check flood status. Ask whether the home is in a mapped flood zone and what insurance would cost.
- Ask about County permits. Ask the agent to compare what is built with what the County has permitted, especially garage conversions and additions.
- Ask about language and lender options. If you prefer to work in Spanish or need first-time buyer programs, ask the agent directly.
- Check the license yourself. Confirm a "Licensed" status with a current broker on the DRE lookup.
Castroville questions we hear
Is Castroville a city?
No. It is an unincorporated community, so Monterey County handles zoning and permits under its codes and the Castroville Community Plan.
Is there a city transfer tax in Castroville?
No. Only the Monterey County tax applies, set at $1.10 per $1,000 by Monterey County Code Chapter 5.32.
What is the median home value in Castroville?
Census estimates put it at about $617,100 for 2020–2024. Recent sales will differ; ask an agent for comparables.
Why are the agents in this guide based outside Castroville?
We did not find a brokerage office in town. The agents above work from Salinas, Watsonville or Monterey and name Castroville on their profiles.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- Census Reporter, Castroville CDP profile (ACS 2024 5-year)
- U.S. Census QuickFacts, Monterey County
- Monterey County Code Chapter 5.32, Documentary Transfer Tax (county rate of $0.55 per $500, with credit for a qualifying city tax)
- Monterey County plans library (Castroville Community Plan)
- California Coastal Commission, Monterey County LCP review
- Monterey County HCD, short-term rentals
- Agent profiles on 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: Aromas · Moss Landing · Salinas
Related: Castroville real estate guide · Castroville 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.
