Best Realtors in Del Mar, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Del Mar is a small coastal city in North County San Diego that lies entirely within the Coastal Zone, with bluff-top homes, a North Beach floodplain, the San Dieguito Lagoon and the Del Mar Fairgrounds. A Del Mar agent should understand which overlay zones touch a parcel, who issues its coastal permits and how the city’s 2026 short-term rental rules apply, because those details shape what a buyer can do with a property.
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 profile and DRE record show the brokerage they work under.
- A public profile that names Del Mar. We opened each agent’s brokerage profile page and confirmed it lists Del Mar as an area served or names a Del Mar 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.
Del Mar housing in numbers
We were unable to open a Census QuickFacts page for the City of Del Mar when preparing this guide, so we have not included citywide housing statistics here. For pricing a specific home, ask an agent for recent sales from the same setting (bluff-top, North Beach, hillside or near the fairgrounds), and compare them with sales in neighboring Solana Beach and Encinitas. Del Mar is a small market, so a handful of sales can move any citywide average.
Del Mar settings: bluffs, North Beach, the lagoon and the fairgrounds
The city’s Land Use Plan says the entire city lies in the Coastal Zone. Coastal Commission records show the city took over coastal permit authority in September 2001, though some shoreline areas remain under Commission jurisdiction or are appealable to it. Overlay zones cover bluffs and canyons, the floodplain, the beach and the lagoon, and the plan sets a 40-foot minimum bluff-edge setback with a geotechnical report for new bluff-top construction.
The Del Mar Fairgrounds is run by a state agency, and the city says it has no authority over activities there and hosts roughly 300 events a year. SANDAG is stabilizing the bluffs under the rail line and studying moving the tracks, with no route approved. The city provides water and wastewater service, according to its utility FAQs. For more detail, see our Del Mar real estate guide.
Costs and rules specific to a Del Mar purchase
- Transfer tax. The San Diego County Recorder collects documentary transfer tax at $0.55 per $500 of value ($1.10 per $1,000), about $3,300 on a $3,000,000 sale. We did not find a separate Del Mar city rate on an official source, so confirm with escrow. Our California transfer tax guide explains who usually pays.
- Short-term rentals. The Coastal Commission’s STR actions table records approval of Del Mar’s amendment in February 2026 with a three-night minimum and citywide and neighborhood caps. The city’s STR background page suggests existing rentals may not continue after a change of ownership, so ask the city before counting on rental income.
- Floodplain and bluffs. The Floodplain Overlay requires a floodplain development permit for new or substantially improved structures, and the city’s sea-level rise adaptation plan focuses on North Beach and the river mouth. Check the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
- Fire zones. The city says it is included in CAL FIRE’s 2025 recommended local fire hazard maps. In high and very high zones, sellers may need to provide AB 38 defensible space documentation.
- Special taxes. Sellers must make a good-faith effort to provide special tax notices under Civil Code section 1102.6b.
Del Mar 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 Del Mar. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc DBA Diamond Real Estate Group, DRE #02163490
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dana Andrews | Coldwell Banker Realty, Carlsbad office | Salesperson #01342809 | Del Mar, Solana Beach, Carlsbad, Encinitas, La Jolla |
| Massimo Bettazzi | Coldwell Banker Realty, Carmel Valley/Del Mar office | Salesperson #01963941 | Del Mar, Solana Beach, Cardiff by the Sea, Encinitas, Carmel Valley |
| Tony Dulawan | Coldwell Banker Realty, La Mesa office | Salesperson #00644438 | Del Mar, La Jolla, Pacific Beach, La Mesa |
| Lynette Fox | Coldwell Banker Realty, Carlsbad office | Salesperson #01983283 | Del Mar, Del Mar Heights, East Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas |
| Lori Merino | Coldwell Banker Realty, Carlsbad office | Broker #01398367 | Del Mar, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Cardiff |
| Portia Metras | Coldwell Banker Realty, Encinitas/La Costa office | Salesperson #00870635 | Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Rancho Santa Fe |
| Mai Nguyen | Coldwell Banker Realty, Carmel Valley/Del Mar office | Salesperson #01925442 | Del Mar, Carmel Valley, Solana Beach, La Jolla, Encinitas |
| Tracy Perusse | Coldwell Banker Realty, Carlsbad office | Broker #01353478 | Del Mar, Solana Beach, Cardiff, Encinitas, Carlsbad |
| Craig Turner | Coldwell Banker Realty, Encinitas/La Costa office | Broker #01003218 | Del Mar, Solana Beach, Carmel Valley, Encinitas |
| Tanya Williams | Coldwell Banker Realty, Carmel Valley/Del Mar office | Salesperson #01404113 | Del Mar, Carmel Valley, La Jolla, Rancho Santa Fe |
All agents in the table are with Coldwell Banker Realty; broker-licensed agents work as broker associates under the brokerage, as shown on their DRE records. We did not find other brokerages’ Del Mar rosters we could verify within this review, so compare these agents with others you find and check each license yourself.
How to vet a Del Mar agent
- Ask which overlays touch the parcel. A good Del Mar agent should identify the bluff, floodplain, beach or lagoon overlays for an address and what records they call for.
- Ask who handles coastal permits. Expect a clear answer on whether the parcel is under city permit authority or in the Coastal Commission appeal area.
- Test rental assumptions with the city. Ask how the 2026 short-term rental rules and permit caps would apply after a sale, and whether an ADU can be rented short term.
- Ask about the fairgrounds and rail line. For nearby streets, ask the agent to help you visit during an event and explain the status of bluff and rail projects.
- Ask for comparables from the same setting. Bluff-top, North Beach and hillside homes should be priced from different sales.
- Verify the license yourself. Look up the agent on the DRE site and confirm the brokerage matches what they tell you.
Del Mar questions we hear
Is all of Del Mar in the Coastal Zone?
Yes. The city’s Land Use Plan says the entire city is in the Coastal Zone, so additions and new homes can need a coastal development permit regardless of distance from the beach.
Can I run a short-term rental in Del Mar?
Possibly, under the rules approved in 2026. The Coastal Commission’s table lists a three-night minimum and citywide and neighborhood caps. Do not assume an existing permit transfers to a buyer; ask the city.
Does Del Mar have a city transfer tax?
We did not find one on an official source. The San Diego County Recorder collects the county tax at $0.55 per $500 and collects any city tax as well. Ask escrow to confirm.
How does the Del Mar Fairgrounds affect nearby homes?
The city says the fairgrounds is run by a state agency, it cannot approve activities there or enforce its noise ordinance on the property, and the site hosts roughly 300 events a year.
Should I interview more than one Del Mar agent?
Yes. Interview at least two or three, ask each for recent sales in the setting you are considering, and compare how they explain coastal permits, overlays and rental rules for that address.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- Coldwell Banker Realty agent profiles, Del Mar
- Census QuickFacts: we could not open a Del Mar city page, so no Census figures are shown.
- City of Del Mar: Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan
- California Coastal Commission: Del Mar implementation plan certification, 2001 · STR LCP actions table
- City of Del Mar: short-term rental background · sea-level rise adaptation plan · Fairgrounds · utility FAQs · fire hazard map information
- SANDAG: Del Mar bluff stabilization
- San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk: recording and transfer tax
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center
- California Civil Code section 1102.6b (Justia)
- License records checked October 2026 on the California DRE public lookup. Last reviewed October 2026 by Matthew Martinez.
Related: Del Mar real estate guide · Del Mar home valuation · San Diego 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.
