Best Realtors in Moss Landing, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Moss Landing is a small harbor village on Monterey Bay at the mouth of Elkhorn Slough, halfway between Santa Cruz and Monterey on Highway 1. Homes here are few: beach-area houses and condos, a handful of homes along Moss Landing Road, and rural parcels inland, and nearly everything sits in the Coastal Zone, so coastal permits, flood exposure and mixed commercial uses come up in most purchases.
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. We left out anyone whose record showed a suspension, an expired license, no current broker or corporate affiliation, or a responsible broker that did not match the brokerage on their profile.
- A named brokerage. Each agent’s DRE record ties them to the brokerage shown on their profile.
- A public profile that names Moss Landing or a neighbor. We opened each agent’s profile. One names Moss Landing as a service area. Three name it through recent Moss Landing sales rather than a service-area list. One more names neighboring Prunedale, not Moss Landing, and the table says so plainly.
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.
Moss Landing by the numbers
| Census measure (ACS 2024 5-year) | Moss Landing CDP |
|---|---|
| Population | 45 |
| Housing units | 44 (±42) |
| Persons per household | 2.7 (±0.8) |
| Median age | 62 (±19.8) |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates, as presented by Census Reporter. The Census-designated place covers only the village core, the Census Bureau does not publish a median home value or income for an area this small, and the margins of error are very wide. Many homes with a Moss Landing address lie outside it.
With so few homes, Moss Landing may go months without a comparable sale. Ask agents to pull sales from the beach area, Elkhorn and nearby Castroville and Prunedale, and to explain how each one compares.
The harbor village, the beach area and Elkhorn Slough
- Moss Landing Road. The historic village street mixes homes, antique shops, restaurants and fishing businesses under the County’s Moss Landing Commercial (MLC) zoning. See our Moss Landing real estate guide.
- Beach-area homes and condos. Homes and condominium units west of Highway 1 near the beach and harbor, where flood, tsunami and erosion exposure matter.
- Elkhorn Slough and inland parcels. Rural homes and small farms on the hills around the slough, often with wells and septic systems.
- Neighbors. Castroville lies a few miles south, Prunedale inland to the east, and Watsonville across the Pajaro River in Santa Cruz County.
Costs and rules specific to a Moss Landing purchase
- Transfer tax. The Monterey County Recorder collects documentary transfer tax at recording. Moss Landing is unincorporated, so no city tax applies. Monterey County Code Chapter 5.32 sets the county rate at 55 cents per $500 ($1.10 per $1,000); confirm the amount on your escrow estimate. Our California transfer tax guide explains how it is usually handled.
- Coastal permits. Moss Landing is in the Coastal Zone, where the County applies its Title 20 coastal zoning and Local Coastal Program; the Coastal Commission’s Monterey County LCP page covers the program. Expect a coastal permit for most additions and new construction.
- The MLC district. County Title 20’s Moss Landing Commercial district aims to keep a mix of homes and businesses along Moss Landing Road and protect its historic character; it allows second-story housing over ground-floor commerce by permit, at up to four units per acre.
- Vacation rentals. The County’s vacation rental ordinance page reports a coastal ordinance adopted in September 2025 that awaits Coastal Commission certification; confirm current rules before counting on short-stay income.
- Flood and tsunami. Check the address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center, and read the natural hazard disclosure report for tsunami and other mapped hazards.
Moss Landing 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 Moss Landing. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc DBA Diamond Real Estate Group, DRE #02163490
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorothy Coulter | EXIT Realty Consultants, Morgan Hill | Broker #01800430 | Moss Landing sale; Castroville, Prunedale, Gilroy, Morgan Hill |
| Leslie Cruz-Kelly (licensed as Leslie Joanna Cruz-Calle) | David Lyng Real Estate, Santa Cruz | Salesperson #01973894 DRE record name: Cruz-Calle, Leslie Joanna. | Moss Landing, Watsonville, Prunedale, Santa Cruz, Salinas |
| Gina Hinds | CENTURY 21 Masters, Monterey | Salesperson #01962087 | Moss Landing sale; Marina, Monterey, Salinas |
| Steven Hunt | Sotheby’s International Realty, Carmel | Salesperson #01953808 | Prunedale (neighboring community, not Moss Landing), Marina, Salinas |
| Doug Toby (licensed as Douglas Alan Toby) | KW Coastal Estates, Carmel | Salesperson #01239501 | Moss Landing sale; Marina, Seaside, Monterey, Salinas |
Dorothy Coulter is a broker associate for Klair Real Estate Inc. (DRE #01520140), whose DRE record lists EXIT Realty Consultants as a business name. Leslie Cruz-Kelly is licensed under David Lyng & Associates Inc. (DRE #00793982), whose record lists David Lyng Real Estate as a business name. Gina Hinds is licensed under Full Realty Services Inc. (DRE #01849354), which does business as Century 21 Masters. Steven Hunt is licensed under Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. (DRE #00899496). Doug Toby is licensed under MCRE Group Inc. (DRE #01527814), which does business as KW Coastal Estates. All profiles are on homes.com, a listing site.
How to vet a Moss Landing agent
- Ask how they find comparables. With so few sales, ask which nearby sales they would use and how they adjust for beach, harbor or slough locations.
- Ask about coastal permits. Ask what a remodel, addition or ADU would need from the County under its coastal rules.
- Ask about flood and erosion. Ask about flood zone status, insurance quotes and any history of storm damage.
- For Moss Landing Road property, ask about mixed use. Ask what the MLC district allows next door and on the parcel itself.
- For rural parcels, ask about water and septic. Ask how they verify wells, water quality and septic condition.
- Check the license yourself. Confirm a "Licensed" status and the responsible broker on the DRE lookup.
Moss Landing questions we hear
Is there a city transfer tax in Moss Landing?
No. Moss Landing is unincorporated, so only the County documentary transfer tax applies. County Code Chapter 5.32 sets it at $1.10 per $1,000; check your escrow estimate.
Who handles permits in Moss Landing?
Monterey County, under its Title 20 coastal zoning and Local Coastal Program, with coastal permits for most new work.
Can I build housing on Moss Landing Road?
The MLC district allows second-story housing above ground-floor commercial uses by permit, at up to four units per acre. Confirm details with County planning for the parcel.
Why are there so few Census figures for Moss Landing?
The Census-designated place covers only the village core, with about 45 residents in the 2024 estimates, so the Census Bureau does not publish home values or incomes for it.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- Census Reporter, Moss Landing CDP (ACS 2024 5-year)
- Monterey County Title 20, Chapter 20.20 MLC district
- California Coastal Commission, Monterey County LCP review
- Monterey County HCD, vacation rental ordinances
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center
- Agent profiles on homes.com, linked in the table
- Monterey County Code Chapter 5.32, Documentary Transfer Tax (county rate of $0.55 per $500, with credit for a qualifying city tax)
- License records checked October 2026 on the California DRE public lookup. Last reviewed October 2026 by Matthew Martinez.
Nearby agent guides: Castroville · Marina · Aromas
Related: Moss Landing real estate guide · Moss Landing home valuation · Monterey 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.
