Best Realtors in San Diego, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
The City of San Diego has about 1.39 million people and is divided into 52 community planning areas, from beach neighborhoods west of Interstate 5 to inland areas such as Rancho Bernardo and Scripps Ranch. Short-term rental licensing, coastal rules, airport overlays and fire maps all change by parcel, so the agent you hire should be able to explain which city rules apply to a specific address.
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 "Licensed" status.
- A named brokerage. The brokerage shown is the responsible broker on the DRE record. Where an agent works on a team, the team name is noted.
- A public profile that names San Diego. We opened each agent’s brokerage or team profile and confirmed it lists San Diego or a San Diego office.
We did not rank agents, and we did not consider sales volume, reviews or awards. Licenses and affiliations change, so verify the license yourself before you sign anything, and interview more than one agent.
San Diego housing in numbers
| Census measure | San Diego city |
|---|---|
| Population (July 1, 2023 estimate) | 1,388,320 |
| Owner-occupied housing unit rate (2019–2023) | 47.6% |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes (2019–2023) | $848,500 |
| Median gross rent (2019–2023) | $2,223 |
| Median household income (2019–2023, 2023 dollars) | $104,321 |
| Mean travel time to work (2019–2023) | 23.9 minutes |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, San Diego city, California. When we checked, QuickFacts showed 2019–2023 survey figures and a 2023 population estimate for the city.
Fewer than half of the city’s homes are owner-occupied, and a citywide median mixes downtown condos, beach cottages and canyon-edge houses. These are five-year survey figures, not current sale prices. Ask an agent for recent sales in the same community plan area and ownership type.
San Diego settings: community plans, the coast and inland neighborhoods
The city’s land is covered by 49 community plans across 52 planning areas, which sit under the citywide General Plan. West of Interstate 5, most land falls under a voter-approved 30-foot coastal height limit, and many additions and ADUs in the Coastal Overlay Zone need a coastal development permit.
Airport compatibility overlays apply near San Diego International, Montgomery Field, Brown Field and MCAS Miramar, per the city’s airport planning page. A "San Diego" mailing address can also belong to another city or to unincorporated county land, so confirm jurisdiction first. For more, see our San Diego real estate guide.
Costs and rules specific to a San Diego purchase
- Transfer tax. The San Diego County Recorder collects documentary transfer tax at $0.55 per $500 of value ($1.10 per $1,000), about $935 on an $850,000 sale. We did not find a separate City of San Diego rate on an official source, so confirm with escrow. Our California transfer tax guide explains who usually pays.
- Short-term rentals. Stays under a month need a short-term residential occupancy license. Licenses do not transfer to a new owner, whole-home licenses are capped, and ADUs generally cannot be used for STRO.
- Fire hazard zones. The city adopted an updated fire hazard severity zone map in 2025, and San Diego Fire-Rescue says existing homes in very high zones must meet Zone 0 standards by February 28, 2027. Sellers may need to provide AB 38 defensible space documentation.
- Sewer laterals. The city makes the owner responsible for the lateral from the house to the city main, including under the street, so a camera inspection is worth budgeting.
- Tenant protections. If you buy a rental, the city’s Tenant Protection Ordinance requires relocation assistance for no-fault terminations, on top of state rules.
- Special taxes and hazards. Sellers must make a good-faith effort to provide a special tax notice under Civil Code section 1102.6b. Check flood status on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
San Diego 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 San Diego. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc DBA Diamond Real Estate Group, DRE #02163490
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terez Anderson | Coldwell Banker Realty, North County San Diego office (Vista) | Salesperson #02213832 | San Diego, Carlsbad, Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos |
| Chrissy Bailey | Coldwell Banker Realty, North County San Diego office (Vista) | Salesperson #02120020 | San Diego, Vista, Escondido, San Marcos, Carlsbad |
| Kendra Bates | Coldwell Banker Realty, Rancho Bernardo office | Salesperson #01942046 | San Diego, Rancho Bernardo |
| Ryan Bourda | Coldwell Banker Realty, Rancho Bernardo office | Broker #01361332 | San Diego |
| Christa Curtin | eXp Realty of California, Inc. (Whissel Realty team) | Salesperson #01751842 | San Diego |
| Gini De Armas | Coldwell Banker Realty, North County San Diego office (Vista) | Broker #00879140 | San Diego, Vista, San Marcos, Escondido, Carlsbad |
| Bianca Gonzalez | eXp Realty of Greater Los Angeles, Inc. (Whissel Realty team) | Salesperson #02283415 | San Diego, Poway |
| Billie Guinto | eXp Realty of California, Inc. (Whissel Realty team) | Salesperson #01313454 | San Diego |
| Bryan Mancuso | eXp Realty of California, Inc. (Whissel Realty team) | Salesperson #01870177 | San Diego, Metro San Diego, Poway |
| Kevin Piechota | eXp Realty of California, Inc. (Whissel Realty team) | Salesperson #01960226 | San Diego, Poway |
| Mike Resnik | Coldwell Banker Realty, North County San Diego office (Vista) | Salesperson #02121528 | San Diego, Pacific Beach, Vista, Carlsbad, Oceanside |
| Rich Teeter (licensed as Richard Louis Teeter) | Coldwell Banker Realty, Rancho Bernardo office | Broker #01748886 | San Diego, Rancho Bernardo |
Coldwell Banker Realty is a trade name of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Company, the responsible broker on those DRE records; its Rancho Bernardo office is at 16787 Bernardo Center Dr. Whissel Realty team members are licensed under the eXp entity shown.
How to vet a San Diego agent
- Ask which community plan area the home is in. A good San Diego agent should explain what that plan and any overlay zones mean for the block.
- Ask about coastal and height rules west of I-5. Additions, ADUs and decks can need a coastal development permit.
- Don’t count on a seller’s STR license. Licenses do not transfer, and whole-home licenses are capped.
- Ask how they check fire and airport maps. Both can affect insurance, remodel plans and disclosures.
- Ask for comparables from the same neighborhood and ownership type. A Point Loma house and a downtown condo should never share comparables.
- Verify the license yourself. Look up the agent on the DRE site and confirm the brokerage matches what they tell you.
San Diego questions we hear
Does the City of San Diego have its own transfer tax?
We did not find a separate city transfer tax on an official source. The San Diego County Recorder collects the county tax at $0.55 per $500 and collects any city tax as well. Ask escrow to confirm the total.
Is every "San Diego" address in the City of San Diego?
No. Mailing names follow postal routes, so some addresses are in other cities or unincorporated county areas. Check the tax bill and city planning maps.
Can I keep the seller’s short-term rental license?
No. The city’s STRO rules say licenses do not transfer between hosts or properties. A buyer must apply under the rules in effect at the time.
Who pays for sewer lateral repairs in San Diego?
The owner. The city assigns the lateral from the building to the main, including the part under the street, to the property owner.
Should I interview more than one San Diego agent?
Yes. Interview at least two or three who work in the neighborhood you want, ask each for recent sales there, and compare how they explain coastal, STR and fire rules for the address.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: San Diego city, California (2023 population estimate; 2019–2023 ACS figures)
- Coldwell Banker Realty agent profiles: Rancho Bernardo office and North County San Diego office
- Whissel Realty team page
- City of San Diego: community plans · coastal height limit bulletin · airport land use planning · short-term residential occupancy · fire map update · brush management · sewer lateral responsibility · tenant protections
- San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk: recording and transfer tax
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center
- California Civil Code section 1102.6b (Justia)
- License records checked October 2026 on the California DRE public lookup. Last reviewed October 2026 by Matthew Martinez.
Related: San Diego real estate guide · San Diego home valuation · San Diego 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.
