Best Realtors in Encinitas, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Encinitas is a coastal North County San Diego city of about 61,000 people, made up of five communities: Old Encinitas, Leucadia, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, New Encinitas and Olivenhain. A good Encinitas agent should know how those community lines track differences in water district, sewer agency and coastal exposure, and what that means for a specific address.
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 Encinitas. We opened each agent’s brokerage profile page and confirmed it lists Encinitas or an Encinitas 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.
Encinitas housing in numbers
| Census measure | Encinitas |
|---|---|
| Population (July 1, 2025 estimate) | 60,736 |
| Owner-occupied housing unit rate (2020–2024) | 66.5% |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020–2024) | $1,646,800 |
| Median gross rent (2020–2024) | $2,886 |
| Median household income (2020–2024, 2024 dollars) | $162,229 |
| Mean travel time to work (2020–2024) | 24.7 minutes |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Encinitas city, California.
According to the Census Bureau, about two-thirds of Encinitas homes are owner-occupied, and the median owner-occupied home value over 2020–2024 was about $1.65 million. These are five-year survey figures, not current sale prices. Values differ sharply between bluff-top, beach-area and inland homes, so pricing should come from sales in the same community and setting.
Encinitas communities: from Leucadia to Olivenhain
City planning documents group Encinitas into five communities. All are within the City of Encinitas, so city zoning and permits apply, but service providers vary. The city’s assessment identifies the San Dieguito Water District for Old Encinitas and Leucadia, and the Olivenhain Municipal Water District for Cardiff-by-the-Sea, New Encinitas and Olivenhain. Sewer agencies include the Leucadia Wastewater District and city sanitary divisions, and some inland properties may use onsite systems.
On the coast, the Coastal Commission’s status summary lists Encinitas as effectively certified in 1995, so the city issues most coastal development permits, while the Commission keeps some appeal jurisdiction. NCTD’s COASTER commuter rail runs along the coast between Oceanside and downtown San Diego. For more detail, see our Encinitas real estate guide.
Costs and rules specific to an Encinitas 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 $1,650 on a $1,500,000 sale. We did not find a separate Encinitas city rate on an official source, so confirm with escrow. Our California transfer tax guide explains who usually pays.
- Coastal permits and appeals. For bluff-top or beach-adjacent projects, ask the city whether a permit would be appealable to the Coastal Commission. The Commission explains its role after certification.
- Short-term rentals. Encinitas sets its own short-term rental rules. We did not verify the current rules from the city, so confirm permit, location and tax requirements with the City of Encinitas before relying on rental income. HOA CC&Rs may add limits.
- Special taxes. Sellers must make a good-faith effort to provide notices of special tax and assessment districts under Civil Code section 1102.6b. Review the tax bill itself.
- Hazards. Check the FEMA Flood Map Service Center, the California Geological Survey tsunami maps and fire hazard severity zones on the State Fire Marshal’s site. Inland homes in high and very high zones may require AB 38 defensible space documentation.
Encinitas 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 Encinitas. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc DBA Diamond Real Estate Group, DRE #02163490
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lori Barnett | Coldwell Banker Realty, Encinitas/La Costa office | Salesperson #01401220 | Encinitas, North County Coastal, La Costa Valley |
| Eveline F. Bustillos | Coldwell Banker Realty, Encinitas/La Costa office | Salesperson #01117321 DRE record name: Terzian Bustillos, Eveline Francoise. | Encinitas and surrounding areas |
| Joe Capriotti | Coldwell Banker Realty, Encinitas/La Costa office | Broker #00775520 | Encinitas and surrounding areas |
| Stan Chambers | Coldwell Banker Realty, Encinitas/La Costa office | Broker #01356002 | Encinitas and surrounding areas |
| Georgia Chamitoff | Coldwell Banker Realty, Carlsbad office | Salesperson #01825191 | Encinitas, Leucadia, Olivenhain, Cardiff by the Sea, Carlsbad |
| Diane Dudek | Coldwell Banker Realty, Encinitas/La Costa office | Salesperson #01931221 | Encinitas and North County San Diego |
| Tammy Harvey | Coldwell Banker Realty, Encinitas/La Costa office | Broker #01201339 | Encinitas and North San Diego County |
| Mie Kim | Coldwell Banker Realty, Encinitas/La Costa office | Broker #01754560 | Encinitas, San Diego |
| Portia Metras | Coldwell Banker Realty, Encinitas/La Costa office | Salesperson #00870635 | Encinitas, Carlsbad, Solana Beach, Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe |
| Joanne Raider | Coldwell Banker Realty, Encinitas/La Costa office | Salesperson #01036295 | Encinitas and surrounding areas |
| Craig Turner | Coldwell Banker Realty, Encinitas/La Costa office | Broker #01003218 | Encinitas, Leucadia, Cardiff by the Sea, Olivenhain, Carlsbad |
Broker-licensed agents above work as broker associates under the brokerage’s responsible broker, as shown on their DRE records. Joe Capriotti’s profile lists him as managing broker of the office. Eveline F. Bustillos’s DRE record lists her as Eveline Francoise Terzian Bustillos.
How to vet an Encinitas agent
- Ask which community and districts apply. A good Encinitas agent should name the water district and sewer agency for the address, not just the community name on the listing.
- Ask about coastal permits. For bluff-top or beach-area homes, ask for the permit history, geotechnical reports and any shoreline protective device permits.
- Check rental assumptions with the city. If you are counting on short-term rental income, ask the agent how they would confirm the current city rules for the address.
- Ask for comparables from the same setting. Bluff-top Leucadia, Cardiff hillside and Olivenhain acreage homes should not be priced from the same sales.
- Ask about inland fire zones. For Olivenhain and other inland areas, ask about fire hazard severity zone status and insurance quotes early.
- Verify the license yourself. Look up the agent on the DRE site and confirm the brokerage matches what they tell you.
Encinitas questions we hear
Are Leucadia and Cardiff separate cities?
No. Leucadia and Cardiff-by-the-Sea are communities within Encinitas, according to the city’s Housing Element assessment. Zoning and permits go through the City of Encinitas, though service districts can differ.
Who provides water in Encinitas?
Two districts. The city’s assessment names the San Dieguito Water District for Old Encinitas and Leucadia and the Olivenhain Municipal Water District for Cardiff-by-the-Sea, New Encinitas and Olivenhain. Confirm the provider for a specific address.
Does Encinitas 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.
Who issues coastal permits in Encinitas?
Mostly the city. The Coastal Commission’s status summary lists the Encinitas LCP as effectively certified in 1995, and the Commission keeps some appeal jurisdiction.
Should I interview more than one Encinitas agent?
Yes. Interview at least two or three, ask each for recent sales in the community you are considering, and compare how they explain the district, coastal and rental questions for that address.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Encinitas city, California (V2025 population estimate; 2020–2024 ACS figures)
- Coldwell Banker Realty agent profiles, Encinitas
- City of Encinitas: Housing Element sites assessment
- Olivenhain Municipal Water District · Leucadia Wastewater District
- California Coastal Commission: LCP status summary · roles after LCP certification
- NCTD COASTER
- San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk: recording and transfer tax
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center · California Geological Survey tsunami maps · State Fire Marshal fire hazard severity zones
- 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: Encinitas real estate guide · Encinitas 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.
