Best Realtors in Lucerne, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Lucerne is an unincorporated lakeside town of about 3,400 people on the north shore of Clear Lake, along Highway 20 between Nice and Clearlake Oaks. Buyers find older cottages, lake-view homes and small lots, and Census figures put the median home value below the county’s.
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 current broker affiliation.
- A named brokerage. Each agent’s DRE record shows the brokerage they work under.
- A public profile that names Lucerne. We opened each agent’s brokerage profile and confirmed it names Lucerne as a service area.
Few agent profiles name Lucerne 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.
Lucerne housing in numbers
| Census measure (ACS 2024 5-year) | Lucerne CDP |
|---|---|
| Population | 3,435 |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes | $243,500 |
| Median household income | $56,625 |
| Persons per household | 2.3 |
| Median age | 40.9 |
| Mean travel time to work | 38.9 minutes |
| Housing units | 2,020 |
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. Figures are estimates with margins of error.
Lucerne’s median owner-occupied value is about $80,000 below the Lake County figure of $324,300 reported by QuickFacts. The town has 2,020 housing units for about 3,400 residents; ask an agent how many nearby homes are second homes or rentals. These are five-year survey figures, not current sale prices.
A north shore town in the Shoreline Communities plan
Lucerne has no city government; Lake County handles zoning and permits. The County’s Shoreline Communities Area Plan (2009 Planning Commission draft) sets a Community Growth Boundary for Lucerne, envisions a lakefront commercial downtown and more varied businesses along 13th Avenue, and names limited water and sewer as a constraint on growth. Much of the north shore was subdivided early in the 20th century into small lots, so check what a lot can support before you buy it to build.
For more on the area, see our Lucerne real estate guide.
Costs and rules specific to a Lucerne purchase
- Transfer tax. Lucerne is unincorporated, and the Lake County Assessor-Recorder fee schedule lists the documentary transfer tax at $1.10 per $1,000: about $268 on a $243,500 sale. See our California transfer tax guide.
- Water, sewer and small lots. Ask which district serves the parcel, what connection fees apply, and whether a vacant lot meets current minimum lot sizes.
- Short-term rentals. The County announced in July 2026 a committee to help draft short-term rental rules for the unincorporated area, so treat vacation-rental income from a Lucerne cottage as subject to new rules.
- Lakefront and flood. For lakefront homes, ask about docks and shoreline permits, and check the address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
- 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.
Lucerne 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 Lucerne. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc DBA Diamond Real Estate Group, DRE #02163490
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laura Hall-Santarelli | RE/MAX Gold, Lakeport | Broker #00890101 | Lucerne, Nice, Upper Lake, Lakeport, Kelseyville |
| Kenneth Hefflefinger | CENTURY 21 Epic, Lakeport | Salesperson #00903846 | Lucerne, Lakeport |
| Brittney Horn | CENTURY 21 Kobetz Realty, Ukiah | Salesperson #02236306 | Lucerne, Nice, Clearlake Oaks, Clearlake, Hidden Valley Lake |
| Jacqueline Kettering | CENTURY 21 Kobetz Realty, Ukiah | Salesperson #01997878 | Lucerne, Lake County |
| Linda Lindeblad | RE/MAX Gold, Lakeport | Broker #00993409 | Lucerne, Nice, Upper Lake, Kelseyville, Cobb |
On the DRE record, RE/MAX Gold agents are licensed under Norcal Gold Inc (both as broker associates), CENTURY 21 Epic agents under Century 21 Select Wine Country, Inc., and CENTURY 21 Kobetz Realty agents under Kobetz Realty, Inc. Many other Lake County agents also sell on the north shore; see our Lakeport and Clearlake Oaks guides.
How to vet a Lucerne agent
- Ask how many north shore sales they have handled. Lucerne, Nice and Clearlake Oaks have their own price patterns.
- For a lot, ask about water, sewer and buildability. Small early subdivisions may not meet current standards.
- Ask whether the home has been a rental. Review rental history and plan for the County’s pending short-term rental rules.
- Get an insurance quote early. Ask which carriers are writing policies near the address.
- Order roof, foundation and sewer-line inspections. Many Lucerne cottages are decades old.
- Check the license yourself. Confirm a "Licensed" status with a current broker on the DRE lookup.
Lucerne questions we hear
Is there a city transfer tax in Lucerne?
No. Lucerne is unincorporated, so the Lake County rate of $1.10 per $1,000 applies.
Why are Lucerne home values below the county median?
Census estimates show a $243,500 median owner-occupied value for 2020–2024, versus $324,300 countywide. Small lots and older cottages are common; ask an agent for sales on your street.
Can I build on a vacant Lucerne lot?
Possibly. Confirm water and sewer service, connection fees and minimum lot size with the County and the local district before you buy.
Who regulates development in Lucerne?
Lake County, under its zoning ordinance and the Shoreline Communities Area Plan.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- Census Reporter, Lucerne CDP profile (ACS 2024 5-year)
- U.S. Census QuickFacts, Lake County
- Lake County Assessor-Recorder, Schedule of Fees
- Shoreline Communities Area Plan (PC draft, July 2009)
- Lake County news: short-term rental ordinance committee (July 6, 2026)
- CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal, Fire Hazard Severity Zones
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center
- Agent profiles on remax.com and century21.com, linked in the table
- License records checked October 2026 on the California DRE public lookup. Last reviewed October 2026 by Matthew Martinez.
Related: Lucerne real estate guide · Lucerne 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.
