Best Realtors in Redwood Estates, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Redwood Estates is an unincorporated mountain community in the Santa Cruz Mountains above Los Gatos, east of Highway 17 near Lexington Reservoir. Homes sit on wooded, often steep lots along narrow roads, and properties use Los Gatos mailing addresses in ZIP code 95033. Few agents name Redwood Estates itself on their profiles, so the list below includes agents whose profiles name ZIP code 95033 or show Los Gatos mountain listings; we note which is which.
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 tied to the area. We opened each agent’s brokerage or MLS profile and confirmed it names Redwood Estates, names ZIP code 95033 as a service area, or shows current listings or sales in 95033.
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.
Redwood Estates housing in numbers
The Census Bureau does not publish figures for Redwood Estates on its own. The closest measure is ZIP code 95033, which covers the Los Gatos mountain area around it.
| Census measure (ACS 2024 5-year) | ZIP code 95033 |
|---|---|
| Population | 9,600 |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes | $1,417,200 (±$97,105) |
| Median household income | $189,118 (±$18,266) |
| Persons per household | 2.5 |
| Median age | 45.3 |
| Mean travel time to work | 34.9 minutes |
| Housing units | 4,164 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 95033, as presented by Census Reporter. These are survey estimates with margins of error for a much larger area than Redwood Estates, not current sale prices.
Mountain homes differ widely in lot size, slope, road access, water source and condition, so a ZIP-wide median says little about a single property. Ask agents for closed sales of comparable mountain homes.
Living in Redwood Estates
Homes in Redwood Estates range from small older cabins on sloped lots to larger, newer houses. Because it is unincorporated, Santa Clara County handles zoning, building and septic permits, and local services may come from a community association, a small water company or private road agreements rather than a city. Highway 17 is the main route to Los Gatos and Santa Cruz. For more, see our Redwood Estates real estate guide, parcel jurisdiction and services, private roads and site access, rural water and wastewater and rural home comparable sales pages.
Costs and rules specific to a Redwood Estates purchase
- Transfer tax. The Santa Clara County Ordinance Code, Division A30, Chapter III sets the county tax at 55 cents per $500 of value ($1.10 per $1,000), and the Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder collects transfer tax at recording: about $1,559 at the ZIP code’s $1,417,200 median value. Redwood Estates is unincorporated, so the Town of Los Gatos does not apply its rules here. Confirm the total on your escrow estimate; our California transfer tax guide explains who usually pays.
- Fire zones and insurance. The Santa Cruz Mountains carry high wildfire risk. Check the State Fire Marshal’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps for the parcel, read the County Fire Department’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan, get an insurance quote before you remove contingencies, and see our AB 38 guide.
- Water and septic. Confirm whether the home is served by a water company or a well, and order a septic inspection; small lots can limit septic repair options.
- Roads and access. Many streets are narrow or privately maintained; ask for any road maintenance agreement and check emergency access.
- Slope and landslide. Read the natural hazard disclosure report for landslide and fault zones, and consider a geotechnical review for steep lots. Our acreage ownership budget covers typical carrying costs.
Agents near Redwood Estates 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 Redwood Estates. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc DBA Diamond Real Estate Group, DRE #02163490
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karen Izzo (licensed as Karen Jean Izzo) | Christie’s International Real Estate Sereno, Los Gatos | Salesperson #01402005 | Current listings in Los Gatos 95033 (not Redwood Estates by name) |
| Cassandra Maas | Anderson Christie, Santa Cruz | Salesperson #01778312 | ZIP codes 95030, 95032 and 95033 (not Redwood Estates by name) |
| Lisa Musich | Compass, Palo Alto | Salesperson #02210590 | ZIP codes including 95033, Palo Alto and Los Altos (not Redwood Estates by name) |
| Lisa Sgarlato | Compass, Los Gatos | Salesperson #01342694 | Redwood Estates (bio names her community board role there); Los Gatos; listings and sales in 95033 |
| Jen Sullivan (licensed as Jennifer Sullivan) | Compass, Los Altos | Salesperson #02125802 | ZIP codes including 95033, Los Altos, Mountain View and Palo Alto (not Redwood Estates by name) |
On the DRE record, Christie’s International Real Estate Sereno agents are licensed under Sereno Group, Inc. (DRE #02101181), Compass agents under Compass California II, Inc. (DRE #01527235), and Cassandra Maas under Anderson Christie Inc (DRE #01894395). Only one of these profiles names Redwood Estates directly; the others name its ZIP code or show nearby mountain listings, so ask each agent about their experience with homes in the community. For more agents nearby, see our Los Gatos, Holy City and Santa Clara County agent guides.
How to vet an agent for a Redwood Estates home
- Ask about mountain sales. Ask which sales in Redwood Estates and nearby mountain neighborhoods the agent has handled and would use as comparables.
- Ask about water and septic. Ask how they confirm the water source and review septic records and permits.
- Ask about permits. Cabins here were often expanded over decades; ask how they compare County permit records with the house as built.
- Ask about roads and winter access. Ask about road maintenance agreements and how storms have affected access.
- Ask about fire insurance. Ask when they recommend getting quotes and how they handle AB 38 documentation.
- Check the license yourself. Confirm a "Licensed" status with a current broker on the DRE lookup.
Redwood Estates questions we hear
Is Redwood Estates part of Los Gatos?
No. It uses Los Gatos mailing addresses, but it is unincorporated Santa Clara County, so County planning and permits apply.
Is there a city transfer tax in Redwood Estates?
No, because it is not in a city. Only the county transfer tax applies; confirm the amount with escrow.
What do homes cost in Redwood Estates?
The Census does not report Redwood Estates separately. For ZIP code 95033 as a whole, the 2020–2024 estimate of median owner-occupied value is $1,417,200 (±$97,105). Ask an agent for recent sales in the community.
Is fire insurance hard to get?
It can be harder and costlier in the mountains. Get quotes early in escrow, before you remove contingencies.
Is the agent order a ranking?
No. Our broker is listed first because we publish the guide; everyone else is alphabetical by last name.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- Census Reporter, ZIP Code Tabulation Area 95033 (ACS 2024 5-year)
- Santa Clara County Ordinance Code, Division A30, Chapter III, Real Property Transfer Tax (county rate of $0.55 per $500; section A30-40 credit for a conforming half-rate city tax)
- California Attorney General Opinion 06-1009 (documentary transfer tax and city credit)
- County of Santa Clara, Clerk-Recorder’s Office
- CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal, Fire Hazard Severity Zones
- Santa Clara County Fire Department, Community Wildfire Protection Plan
- Agent profiles on mlslistings.com and compass.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: Holy City · Los Gatos · Saratoga
Related: Redwood Estates real estate guide · Redwood Estates home valuation · Santa Clara 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.
