Best Realtors in Solana Beach, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Solana Beach is a small coastal city of about 12,600 people between San Elijo Lagoon and San Dieguito Lagoon, with bluff-top homes along the ocean and a COASTER station near Highway 101. The whole city is in the state Coastal Zone, and Solana Beach adds its own transfer tax, so the agent you hire should be ready for coastal permit history, bluff records and a two-part transfer tax.
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. Each agent’s profile and DRE record show the brokerage they work under.
- A public profile that names Solana Beach. We opened each agent’s brokerage profile page and confirmed it lists Solana Beach among the areas served.
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.
Solana Beach housing in numbers
| Census measure | Solana Beach |
|---|---|
| Population (July 1, 2025 estimate) | 12,602 |
| Owner-occupied housing unit rate (2020–2024) | 67.7% |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020–2024) | $2,000,000+ (top-coded) |
| Median gross rent (2020–2024) | $3,212 |
| Median household income (2020–2024, 2024 dollars) | $152,167 |
| Mean travel time to work (2020–2024) | 21.0 minutes |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Solana Beach city, California.
The Census Bureau reports Solana Beach’s median owner-occupied home value only as "$2,000,000+," its highest bracket, so it cannot show how far above that line the typical home sits. These are five-year survey figures, not current sale prices. Ask an agent for recent sales in the same setting: bluff-top, near a lagoon, near the station or farther east.
Solana Beach settings: the bluff, the lagoons and the blocks between
The city’s Land Use Plan describes San Elijo Lagoon on the north, San Dieguito Lagoon on the south and coastal bluffs on the west, and states that the entire city lies within the Coastal Zone. Its shoreline management page describes the Local Coastal Program as including a future Local Implementation Plan, so the Coastal Commission still handles some permits.
Bluff-top homes carry a different set of records, such as seawall permits, geotechnical reports and coastal permit conditions, than homes east of the bluff. Water comes from the Santa Fe Irrigation District, and NCTD’s COASTER stops in Solana Beach on the Oceanside–San Diego line. For more, see our Solana Beach real estate guide.
Costs and rules specific to a Solana Beach purchase
- City and county transfer tax. The city’s $0.275-per-$500 share is credited against the county tax under San Diego County Section 22.309. The combined standard rate is $0.55 per $500 of taxable value, subject to exemptions and the recorded transaction. Confirm the calculation with escrow. On $2,500,000 of taxable value, that is $2,750 in total.
- Short-term vacation rentals. Under SBMC Chapter 4.47, rentals of more than 7 and up to 30 days need an annual permit, and stays under seven days are prohibited in residential zones. The city’s 2026 STVR application says ADUs and JADUs cannot be rented for under 30 days.
- ADU rules may change. In December 2025 the state housing department sent the city findings on its ADU ordinance, so ask which rules the city is applying before buying with an ADU plan.
- Hazards. The city adopted CAL FIRE’s updated maps effective July 18, 2025, per its fire hazard page. Check flood status on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center, and in high and very high fire zones, plan for AB 38 defensible space documentation.
- Special taxes. Sellers must make a good-faith effort to provide a special tax notice under Civil Code section 1102.6b.
Solana Beach 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 Solana Beach. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc DBA Diamond Real Estate Group, DRE #02163490
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dana Andrews | Coldwell Banker Realty, Carlsbad office | Salesperson #01342809 | Solana Beach, Del Mar, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Rancho Santa Fe |
| Becca Berlinsky | Coldwell Banker Realty, Encinitas/La Costa office | Broker #01416788 | Solana Beach, Del Mar, Encinitas, Cardiff by the Sea, Carlsbad |
| Lynette Fox | Coldwell Banker Realty, Carlsbad office | Salesperson #01983283 | Solana Beach, Del Mar, Cardiff by the Sea, Encinitas, Carlsbad |
| Maxine Geller | Coldwell Banker Realty, Carmel Valley/Del Mar office | Salesperson #01272405 | Solana Beach, Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe, Carmel Valley, Carlsbad |
| Kelly Lucas | Coldwell Banker Realty, Encinitas/La Costa office | Salesperson #01962660 | Solana Beach, Cardiff by the Sea, Encinitas, Carlsbad, La Jolla |
| Omid Maghamfar | Coldwell Banker Realty, Rancho Bernardo office | Salesperson #01996440 | Solana Beach, Del Mar, Encinitas, Rancho Santa Fe, La Jolla |
| Trudy McGrath | Coldwell Banker Realty, Encinitas/La Costa office | Salesperson #00871661 | Solana Beach, Del Mar, Encinitas, Cardiff by the Sea, Carlsbad |
| Portia Metras | Coldwell Banker Realty, Encinitas/La Costa office | Salesperson #00870635 | Solana Beach, Del Mar, Encinitas, Carlsbad, Rancho Santa Fe |
| Linda Moore | Coldwell Banker Realty, Encinitas/La Costa office | Salesperson #01096076 | Solana Beach, Del Mar, Cardiff by the Sea, Encinitas, Carmel Valley |
| Theresa Organ | Coldwell Banker Realty, North County San Diego office (Vista) | Salesperson #01506680 | Solana Beach, Cardiff by the Sea, Encinitas, Carlsbad, Vista |
| Brian Pasco | Coldwell Banker Realty, Carmel Valley/Del Mar office | Salesperson #01230317 | Del Mar, Solana Beach, Rancho Santa Fe, Encinitas |
| Jeff Steckman | Coldwell Banker Realty, Encinitas/La Costa office | Salesperson #01173836 | Solana Beach, Del Mar, Cardiff by the Sea, Encinitas, Carlsbad |
All agents above are with Coldwell Banker Realty, a trade name of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Company, the responsible broker on each DRE record; broker-licensed agents work as broker associates. We did not find another brokerage’s public roster naming Solana Beach within our checks, so this list is limited to one brokerage. Some licenses, such as Linda Moore’s, come up for renewal soon; check the DRE record before hiring anyone.
How to vet a Solana Beach agent
- Ask for a transfer-tax breakdown. Have escrow show the city credit within the combined county rate, without double-counting it.
- For a bluff-top home, ask what records they request. Seawall permits, geotechnical reports and coastal permit conditions should all be on the list.
- Ask which agency issued past permits. Because the city’s coastal program is not fully certified, some approvals came from the Coastal Commission.
- Check rental assumptions. Stays under seven days are prohibited in residential zones, permits renew yearly and ADUs cannot be rented short term.
- Ask for comparables from the same setting. Bluff-top, lagoon-edge and inland homes should not be priced from the same sales.
- Verify the license yourself. Look up the agent on the DRE site and confirm the brokerage matches what they tell you.
Solana Beach questions we hear
Does Solana Beach have its own transfer tax?
The city share is included in the county rate. The combined standard rate is $0.55 per $500 of taxable value, subject to exemptions and the recorded transaction. Confirm the calculation with escrow.
Is all of Solana Beach in the Coastal Zone?
Yes. The city’s Land Use Plan says the city lies entirely within the state Coastal Zone, so coastal permits can apply well away from the beach.
Can I rent a Solana Beach home as a vacation rental?
With an annual permit, for stays of more than 7 and up to 30 days under Chapter 4.47. Shorter stays are prohibited in residential zones, and HOA rules may also restrict rentals.
What should I check before buying a bluff-top home?
Ask for seawall or bluff retention permits and conditions, geotechnical reports and coastal permits for past work. The city’s shoreline program describes fees tied to new devices.
Should I interview more than one Solana Beach agent?
Yes. Interview at least two or three, ask each for recent sales in the setting you want, and compare how they explain coastal, bluff and rental rules for the address.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Solana Beach city, California (V2025 population estimate; 2020–2024 ACS figures)
- Coldwell Banker Realty agent profiles: Encinitas/La Costa office, Carmel Valley/Del Mar office and others linked in the table
- Solana Beach Municipal Code Chapter 3.28, real property transfer tax · Chapter 4.47, short-term vacation rentals
- City of Solana Beach: Land Use Plan · shoreline management · 2026 STVR application · fire hazard severity zones
- California HCD: Solana Beach ADU findings (December 2025)
- Santa Fe Irrigation District · NCTD COASTER
- 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: Solana Beach real estate guide · Solana Beach 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.
