Best Realtors in Rio Linda, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Rio Linda is an unincorporated community of about 16,000 people in northern Sacramento County, north of North Highlands and east of the Natomas area, next to Elverta. Much of the community keeps a semi-rural feel, with homes on larger lots and room for animals alongside standard suburban streets, so water, sewer and outbuilding records deserve a close look.
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 Rio Linda. We opened each agent’s public profile and confirmed it names Rio Linda as an area served or through a listing or sale there.
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.
Most profiles we found name Rio Linda through a recent listing or sale rather than as a stated service area. The table shows which.
Rio Linda housing in numbers
| Census measure (ACS 2024 5-year) | Rio Linda CDP |
|---|---|
| Population | 16,335 |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes | $458,300 (±$15,796) |
| Median household income | $96,364 (±$11,916) |
| Persons per household | 3.1 |
| Median age | 39.7 |
| Mean travel time to work | 28.7 minutes |
| Housing units | 5,356 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates, as presented by Census Reporter.
Rio Linda’s estimated median owner-occupied value is below the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom metro figure of $589,500 reported by Census Reporter for the same period, while its median household income is close to the metro’s $97,188. Lot size moves value a lot here, so ask an agent for recent sales with similar acreage, outbuildings and water service.
Larger lots and a semi-rural setting
Rio Linda has no city government, so Sacramento County handles zoning, building permits and code enforcement. Parcels range from standard suburban lots to an acre or more, and some properties have barns, shops, animal pens or second units. Whether a home is on public water or a private well, and on sewer or septic, varies by street, so confirm services for the specific parcel. For more, see our Rio Linda real estate guide and our notes on comparing neighborhoods, local comparable sales, home improvement records and inspection and insurance planning.
Costs and rules specific to a Rio Linda purchase
- Transfer tax. The Sacramento County Clerk-Recorder charges documentary transfer tax of $0.55 per $500 of value and says the City of Sacramento is the only city in the county with its own transfer tax. Rio Linda is unincorporated, so only the County tax applies: about $504 on a $458,300 sale. Our California transfer tax guide explains who usually pays.
- Water and wastewater. If the home has a private well, ask for the well log and a yield and water-quality test; if it has septic, order a septic inspection before you remove contingencies.
- Outbuildings and second units. Ask the seller for County permit records for barns, shops, garage conversions and second units, and compare them with what is on the parcel.
- Flood zone. Look up the parcel on FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center, especially near local creeks, and get a flood insurance quote if the home is in a mapped zone.
- Short-term rentals. The County’s short-term rental permit page requires a permit, a County business license and transient occupancy tax registration in the unincorporated area, with the owner or a long-term renter living on site at least six months a year and stays capped at 29 days.
- Hazards and disclosures. Read the natural hazard disclosure report and check the State Fire Marshal’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps.
Rio Linda 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 Rio Linda. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc DBA Diamond Real Estate Group, DRE #02163490
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Javier Gomez (licensed as Javier E Gomez Landazabal) | RE/MAX Gold Natomas, Sacramento | Broker #01894284 DRE record name: Gomez Landazabal, Javier E. | Rio Linda, Elverta (past sales), Sacramento |
| Patricia Holter (licensed as Patricia Rose Holter) | eXp Realty of California, Roseville | Salesperson #02027313 | Rio Linda (past sale), Antelope, Carmichael, Citrus Heights, Rancho Cordova |
| Mike Huetter (licensed as Michael Sean Huetter) | Coldwell Banker Realty, Sacramento | Salesperson #01462389 | Rio Linda (past sale), Rancho Cordova (listing), Sacramento area |
| Crystal Lopez (licensed as Crystal Carmel Lopez) | Coldwell Banker Realty, Sacramento | Salesperson #01978732 | Rio Linda (listing), North Highlands, Rancho Cordova, Carmichael, Arden-Arcade |
| Brendan Mohr (licensed as Brendan Anthony Mohr) | eXp Realty of California | Salesperson #01942096 | Rio Linda (past sale), Fair Oaks, Arden-Arcade, Citrus Heights, Orangevale |
On the DRE record, Coldwell Banker Realty agents are licensed under NRT West, Inc.; the eXp agents under eXp Realty of California, Inc. (DRE #01878277); and the RE/MAX Gold agent as a broker associate of Norcal Gold Inc, whose DRE record lists Re/Max Gold as a business name. For more agents across the county, see our Sacramento County agents guide.
How to vet a Rio Linda agent
- Ask about larger-lot sales. Ask how many Rio Linda or Elverta homes on larger lots the agent has sold and how they priced acreage and outbuildings.
- Confirm water and wastewater early. Ask whether the parcel is on public water and sewer or on a well and septic, and get records before you write an offer.
- Check outbuilding permits. Ask how the agent confirms County permits for barns, shops and second units.
- Check flood exposure. Ask for the flood zone and an insurance quote for the parcel.
- Ask about animals and zoning. If you plan to keep horses or livestock, ask the agent to help you confirm the County zoning for the parcel.
- Check the license yourself. Confirm a "Licensed" status with a current responsible broker on the DRE lookup.
Rio Linda questions we hear
Is there a city transfer tax in Rio Linda?
No. Rio Linda is unincorporated, so only the Sacramento County tax of $0.55 per $500 applies.
What is the median home value in Rio Linda?
Census estimates put the median owner-occupied value at about $458,300 for 2020–2024. Ask an agent for recent sales with similar lot size.
Who handles permits in Rio Linda?
Sacramento County, since Rio Linda has no city government.
Are Rio Linda homes on wells and septic?
It depends on the parcel. Confirm water and sewer service for the specific parcel before you remove contingencies.
Why do most agents in this guide name Rio Linda through a sale?
Few profiles list Rio Linda as a stated service area. We included agents with a Rio Linda listing or sale on their profile and said so in the table.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- Census Reporter, Rio Linda CDP profile (ACS 2024 5-year)
- Sacramento County Clerk-Recorder, documentary transfer tax FAQ
- Sacramento County Planning, short-term rental permits
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center
- CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal, Fire Hazard Severity Zones
- Norcal Gold Inc DRE record (Re/Max Gold business name)
- Agent profiles on homes.com, linked in the table
- License records checked October 2026 on the California DRE public lookup. Last reviewed October 2026 by Matthew Martinez.
Related: Rio Linda real estate guide · Rio Linda home valuation · Sacramento 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.
