Best Realtors in Manchester, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Manchester is a small unincorporated community on Highway 1 on the south Mendocino coast, about seven miles north of Point Arena, with Manchester State Park and long stretches of grazing land between the highway and the ocean. Buyers find ocean-view homes on acreage, small rural lots and ranch parcels, almost all in the Coastal Zone.
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 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 Manchester. We opened each agent’s brokerage profile or office roster and confirmed it names Manchester or, where noted, the neighboring town of Point Arena or Elk, or lists the agent in the brokerage’s Manchester agent directory.
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.
Only three agent profiles we opened name Manchester, through listings or sales. Two more agents name the neighboring towns of Point Arena and Elk but not Manchester, and one is listed in CENTURY 21’s Manchester agent directory while his profile names Ukiah-area towns; the table marks each case.
Manchester housing in numbers
We could not find a Census place profile for Manchester that loaded, so the figures below are for Mendocino County as a whole.
| Measure (U.S. Census QuickFacts) | Mendocino County |
|---|---|
| Population, July 1, 2025 estimate | 88,122 |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes, 2020–2024 | $512,200 |
| Owner-occupied housing rate, 2020–2024 | 61.7% |
| Median gross rent, 2020–2024 | $1,317 |
| Mean travel time to work, 2020–2024 | 21.5 minutes |
Source: U.S. Census QuickFacts, Mendocino County. Coastal parcels with ocean views usually price very differently from the county median; ask an agent for recent sales on the same stretch of coast.
Coastal village rules and the land around Manchester
Manchester has no city government; Mendocino County handles zoning and permits, and nearly all of the community lies in the Coastal Zone. The County’s Rural Village district names Manchester among the coastal villages where development must meet visual resource criteria. Outside the village, expect agricultural and rangeland zoning, wells and septic systems, and long gravel driveways. Point Arena, the nearest city, has its own city government and shops. For more, see our Manchester real estate guide and coastal ownership budget notes.
Costs and rules specific to a Manchester purchase
- Transfer tax. Manchester is unincorporated, so no city transfer tax applies. Fidelity National Financial’s title guide (Who Pays What, rev. January 2026) lists Mendocino County’s documentary transfer tax at $1.10 per $1,000, customarily paid by the seller: about $563 on a $512,200 sale (the county median value). The County Recorder collects the tax but does not post the rate, so confirm it on your escrow estimate. Our California transfer tax guide explains who usually pays.
- Coastal Development Permits. The County’s Coastal Zone page says development in the Coastal Zone, including changes in water use and major vegetation removal, needs a Coastal Development Permit, which typically takes six to twelve months with a public hearing, and applicants must show an adequate water supply.
- 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 before you remove contingencies.
- Water and septic. Coastal parcels often rely on wells, springs or hauled water and septic systems. Order a well yield test and septic inspection, since water supply can limit what you can build.
- Short-term rentals. Do not count on vacation-rental income until the County confirms the parcel can operate one; ask the agent for any existing business license and transient occupancy tax history.
Manchester 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 Manchester. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc DBA Diamond Real Estate Group, DRE #02163490
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lisa Hantzsche (licensed as Lisa Kathleen Hantzsche) | Kennedy & Associates, Gualala | Salesperson #01268983 | Point Arena, Gualala, The Sea Ranch (neighboring towns) |
| Cindy Kennedy | Kennedy & Associates, Gualala | Broker #00522478 | Manchester (listings); Gualala, The Sea Ranch; bio: coast "from Timber Cove to Elk" |
| Alicia Kepple | Coldwell Banker Mendo Realty, Willits | Salesperson #02108446 | Manchester, Point Arena (listings and sales); Willits, Ukiah |
| Benjamin Kobetz | CENTURY 21 Kobetz Realty, Ukiah | Broker #02017661 | listed in CENTURY 21 Manchester agent directory; profile names Ukiah area |
| Josh Mathias (licensed as Joshua Caleb Mathias) | Rancheria Realty, Boonville | Broker #02038940 | Manchester, Philo, Navarro, Boonville, Albion (listings and sales) |
| Kelley Urbani (licensed as Kelley Ann Freeland) | Engel & Völkers Mendocino | Salesperson #02094249 DRE record name: Freeland, Kelley Ann. | Point Arena, Elk, Fort Bragg (neighboring towns) |
On the DRE record, Kennedy & Associates Real Estate is a business name of broker Cindy L Kennedy, with a main office on Highway One in Gualala, and Lisa Hantzsche is licensed under her. Rancheria Realty is a business name of broker Joshua Caleb Mathias in Boonville. Alicia Kepple is licensed under LivInMendo, Inc. (Coldwell Banker Mendo Realty), Kelley Urbani under San Francisco Real Estate Holdings, Inc., whose record lists the Engel & Voelkers Mendocino name, and Benjamin Kobetz is an officer of Kobetz Realty, Inc. Profiles for several agents are on Homes.com.
How to vet a Manchester agent
- Ask how many south and mid-coast sales they have handled. Coastal pricing depends on views, water and permitted improvements.
- Ask what has been permitted. Compare structures, decks and ADUs with County permit and Coastal Development Permit records.
- Get the water story in writing. Ask for well logs and yield tests, or hauling records.
- Check bluff and drainage issues. For ocean-side parcels, ask about setbacks and any geologic reports.
- Get an insurance quote early. Coastal homes face fire and wind underwriting questions.
- Check the license yourself. Confirm a "Licensed" status with a current broker on the DRE lookup.
Manchester questions we hear
Is there a city transfer tax in Manchester?
No. Manchester is unincorporated; Fidelity National Financial’s 2026 guide lists the Mendocino County tax at $1.10 per $1,000.
Do I need a coastal permit to remodel in Manchester?
Often. The County says development in the Coastal Zone needs a Coastal Development Permit, which typically takes six to twelve months.
Why are agents from other towns in this guide?
Few profiles name Manchester by itself. We mark in the table which agents name Manchester and which name nearby towns or appear only in a brokerage directory for Manchester.
Who handles permits in Manchester?
Mendocino County Planning and Building Services.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- U.S. Census QuickFacts, Mendocino County
- Fidelity National Financial, Who Pays What: California Transfer Tax and Fees (rev. January 2026)
- Mendocino County Recorder
- Mendocino County, Coastal Zone information
- Mendocino County Code, Ch. 20.388, RV Rural Village district
- CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal, Fire Hazard Severity Zones
- CENTURY 21 Manchester agent directory
- Agent profiles on homes.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.
Nearby agent guides: Elk · Fort Bragg
Related: Manchester real estate guide · Manchester home valuation · Mendocino 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.
