Best Realtors in Lower Lake, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Lower Lake is a small unincorporated town at the south end of Clear Lake, where Highway 29 meets Highway 53 just south of the City of Clearlake. The town center is small, and buyers also look at rural parcels and the subdivisions nearby, so it pays to confirm whether an address is in Lower Lake, the city of Clearlake or another unincorporated area.
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.
- A named brokerage. Each agent’s DRE record shows the brokerage they work under.
- A public profile that names Lower Lake. We opened each agent’s brokerage or listing-site profile and confirmed it names Lower Lake as a service area.
Few agent profiles name Lower Lake specifically, so this list is short. 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.
Lower Lake housing in numbers
| Census measure (ACS 2024 5-year) | Lower Lake CDP |
|---|---|
| Population | 635 |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes | $327,600 (margin of error ±$74,259) |
| Median age | 49.7 |
| Housing units | 433 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates, as presented by Census Reporter. The Census QuickFacts page did not load when we checked.
The Lower Lake Census area covers only the small town center, so its estimates have very wide margins of error, and we have left out income and commute figures for that reason. Its median owner-occupied value is close to the Lake County figure of $324,300 from QuickFacts. Ask an agent for recent sales of similar homes nearby.
The town, the city line and the rural south shore
Lower Lake has no city government; Lake County handles zoning and permits. The County’s plans page lists a Lower Lake area plan among its eight community plans. The City of Clearlake begins just to the north, and parcels on either side of the line follow different rules, permits and fees. Outside the town center, many properties use wells and septic.
For more on the area, see our Lower Lake real estate guide and our Clearlake agents guide.
Costs and rules specific to a Lower Lake purchase
- Transfer tax. Lower Lake is unincorporated, and the Lake County Assessor-Recorder fee schedule lists the documentary transfer tax at $1.10 per $1,000 and no city transfer tax: about $360 on a $327,600 sale. See our California transfer tax guide.
- Jurisdiction. Confirm whether the parcel is in unincorporated Lake County or the City of Clearlake before you plan improvements.
- Wells and septic. Order well-yield and water-quality tests and a septic inspection on rural parcels.
- Creek setbacks. The County’s Waterway combining district bars development within 30 feet of perennial streams and 20 feet of intermittent streams unless an exception is granted.
- Short-term rentals. The County announced in July 2026 a committee to help draft short-term rental rules for the unincorporated area.
- Fire hazard and insurance. Look up the address on the State Fire Marshal’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps, read the natural hazard disclosure report, and get an insurance quote early.
Lower Lake 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 Lower Lake. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc DBA Diamond Real Estate Group, DRE #02163490
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kimberly Rupp | Navigate RE Co. | Salesperson #01480439 | Lower Lake, Clearlake, Middletown, Hidden Valley Lake, Cobb, Kelseyville, Lakeport |
| Cynthia Smith (licensed as Cynthia Clemencia Smith) | RE/MAX Gold, Lakeport | Salesperson #01341797 | Lower Lake, Middletown, Cobb, Hidden Valley, Calistoga |
| Diane Sutton | Navigate RE Co. | Salesperson #01313634 | Lower Lake, Clearlake, Clearlake Oaks, Middletown, Hidden Valley Lake, Cobb |
| Jennifer Wall (licensed as Jennifer Aileen Wall) | RE/MAX Gold, Middletown | Salesperson #02037114 | Lower Lake, Cobb, Hidden Valley, Middletown, Kelseyville |
| Shannon Williams | RE/MAX Gold, Middletown | Salesperson #01705168 | Lower Lake, Cobb, Middletown, Hidden Valley, Lake County |
On the DRE record, RE/MAX Gold agents are licensed under Norcal Gold Inc. Kimberly Rupp’s and Diane Sutton’s profiles are on nexthome.com; their licensing brokerage, Navigate RE Co., is taken from the DRE record. Agents at CENTURY 21 Epic’s Clearlake office, a short drive north, are listed in our Clearlake guide.
How to vet a Lower Lake agent
- Ask whether the address is in Lower Lake or the City of Clearlake. The answer changes who issues permits.
- For rural land, ask about wells, septic and road access.
- Get an insurance quote early. Ask which carriers are writing policies near the address.
- Ask for comparable sales, not Census figures. Lower Lake’s estimates have wide margins of error.
- Order roof, foundation and septic inspections on older homes.
- Check the license yourself. Confirm a "Licensed" status with a current broker on the DRE lookup.
Lower Lake questions we hear
Is there a city transfer tax in Lower Lake?
No. Lower Lake is unincorporated, and the County fee schedule shows no city transfer tax, so the Lake County rate of $1.10 per $1,000 applies.
Is Lower Lake part of the City of Clearlake?
No. Lower Lake is an unincorporated town governed by Lake County; the City of Clearlake is a separate city to the north.
Who regulates building in Lower Lake?
Lake County, under its zoning ordinance and the Lower Lake area plan.
Do Clearlake and Middletown agents work in Lower Lake?
Many do. Every agent in the table also names Middletown, Cobb or Clearlake. See our Lake County agents guide.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- Census Reporter, Lower Lake CDP profile (ACS 2024 5-year)
- U.S. Census QuickFacts, Lake County
- Lake County Assessor-Recorder, Schedule of Fees
- Lake County Plans (area plans list)
- Lake County Zoning Ordinance, Article 37 Waterway combining district
- Lake County news: short-term rental ordinance committee (July 6, 2026)
- CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal, Fire Hazard Severity Zones
- Agent profiles on remax.com and nexthome.com, linked in the table
- License records checked October 2026 on the California DRE public lookup. Last reviewed October 2026 by Matthew Martinez.
Related: Lower Lake real estate guide · Lower Lake home valuation · Lake 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.
