Best Realtors in The Sea Ranch, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
The Sea Ranch is a planned coastal community on about ten miles of Sonoma County coastline, from north of Stewarts Point to the Gualala River. It is known for its wood-clad homes set into meadows and forest under strict association design rules, and most of the agents who sell here work from offices at The Sea Ranch or just north in Gualala.
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, broker-associate affiliation or brokerage business name 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 The Sea Ranch. We opened each agent’s homes.com or brokerage profile and confirmed it names The Sea Ranch in the agent’s areas, bio or listings.
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.
The Sea Ranch housing in numbers
| Census measure (ACS 2024 5-year) | Sea Ranch CDP |
|---|---|
| Population | 1,287 |
| Housing units | 1,865 (±122) |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes | $1,371,600 (±$126,220) |
| Median household income | $139,375 (±$28,019) |
| Persons per household | 1.8 (±0.1) |
| Median age | 70.2 (±2.3) |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates, as presented by Census Reporter. Treat these as rough guides, not current sale prices.
The Census counts far more housing units than year-round households, a sign of how many Sea Ranch homes are second homes or rentals, and the median age of residents is about 70.
The Sea Ranch Association and its design rules
All owners belong to The Sea Ranch Association (TSRA), which says the community has more than 2,200 homes and undeveloped lots along about ten miles of coast. Its recorded Restrictions (CC&Rs) create a Design Committee that reviews all construction and landscaping plans, and TSRA states that no such work may begin without that committee’s approval. The Design Manual sets the standards for siting, materials, colors and landscaping, and TSRA also publishes association rules. Before you buy a lot or a home you plan to change, read these documents and ask what approvals past work received. See our Sea Ranch real estate guide, coastal property records notes and coastal home inspections.
Costs and rules specific to a Sea Ranch purchase
- Transfer tax. The Sea Ranch is unincorporated, so only the county tax applies. The Sonoma County Recorder’s transfer tax page lists it at $0.55 per $500 of value, or $1.10 per $1,000: about $1,509 on a $1,371,600 sale. Our California transfer tax guide explains who usually pays.
- Association dues and documents. Ask for TSRA’s current assessment, the resale disclosure package and any pending special assessments, and budget them in our coastal ownership budget.
- Coastal Zone permits. The Sea Ranch lies along the coast inside the state Coastal Zone, so new homes and many additions need a coastal development permit from Sonoma County in addition to TSRA design approval. Check the parcel on the Coastal Commission’s Coastal Zone boundary maps and ask the County about permits before you plan work.
- Water, sewer and septic. Ask which water provider serves the lot and whether the home is on a sewer system or septic, and get the records.
- Fire hazard and insurance. Forested parts of the community can fall in mapped fire hazard zones. Look up the address on the State Fire Marshal’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps, read the natural hazard disclosure report, and get an insurance quote before you remove contingencies.
- Vacation rentals. Many homes are rented short term. Ask how TSRA rules and County permit rules apply, and see our Sonoma County vacation rental rules article.
The Sea Ranch 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 The Sea Ranch. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc DBA Diamond Real Estate Group, DRE #02163490
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kathleen Ball | Sotheby’s International Realty, Sonoma | Broker #01386466 | The Sea Ranch, Sonoma, Western Petaluma |
| Marianne Harder (licensed as Marianne Joye Harder) | Liisberg & Company, The Sea Ranch | Salesperson #01752153 | The Sea Ranch |
| Doug Hecker (licensed as Douglas Michael Hecker) | Coldwell Banker Realty, Petaluma | Salesperson #01347843 | The Sea Ranch, Annapolis, Bodega Bay, Sonoma County, among others |
| Cindy Kennedy (licensed as Cindy L Kennedy) | Kennedy & Associates, Gualala | Broker #00522478 | The Sea Ranch; Gualala |
| Mark Mason (licensed as Mark Andrew Mason) | Mason’s Sea Ranch & Coastal Realty, Gualala | Broker #01822690 | The Sea Ranch; Gualala |
| Jeffrey Ortman (licensed as Jeffrey J Ortman) | Kennedy & Associates, Gualala | Salesperson #01465271 | The Sea Ranch; Gualala |
| Kristen Winant (licensed as Kristen Maria Winant) | Liisberg & Company, The Sea Ranch | Broker #02072604 | The Sea Ranch |
On the DRE record, Liisberg & Company is a licensed corporation (Kristen Winant is an officer, and Marianne Harder’s responsible broker); Kennedy & Associates is a business name of broker Cindy L Kennedy, with a main office on Highway 1 in Gualala, and Jeffrey Ortman’s responsible broker; Sea Ranch & Coastal Realty is a business name of broker Mark Andrew Mason, at the Gualala office address on his profile; Kathleen Ball is a broker associate for Sotheby’s International Realty Inc; and Coldwell Banker Realty agents are licensed under NRT West, Inc. Gualala is just across the river in Mendocino County; for agents there, see our Mendocino County agents guide.
How to vet a Sea Ranch agent
- Ask about Design Committee approvals. An agent who sells here often should know how to check what approvals past work received and what a change would require.
- Ask for the TSRA resale package early. Review the CC&Rs, rules, budget and any special assessments before you remove contingencies.
- Ask about the Coastal Zone. For a lot or a planned addition, ask how County coastal permits and TSRA review fit together and how long they take.
- Check utilities. Confirm the water provider and whether the home is on sewer or septic.
- Get insurance quotes early. Fire insurance on the coast can be costly; build it into your budget.
- Check the license yourself. Confirm a "Licensed" status with a current broker on the DRE lookup.
The Sea Ranch questions we hear
Is there a city transfer tax at The Sea Ranch?
No. The Sea Ranch is unincorporated, so only the Sonoma County tax of $1.10 per $1,000 applies, per the County Recorder.
What is the median home value at The Sea Ranch?
Census estimates put the median owner-occupied value at about $1,371,600 for 2020–2024. Ask an agent for recent sales of similar homes.
Do I need approval to remodel at The Sea Ranch?
Yes. TSRA’s CC&Rs require Design Committee approval for construction and landscaping work, and coastal permits from Sonoma County may also apply.
Why are several agents in this guide based in Gualala?
Gualala, just north across the Gualala River, is the nearest town with shops and offices, and several brokerages that sell Sea Ranch homes are based there.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- Census Reporter, Sea Ranch CDP profile (ACS 2024 5-year)
- The Sea Ranch Association, About; TSRA Restrictions; TSRA Design Manual; TSRA Rules
- Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder, Documentary Transfer Tax
- California Coastal Commission, Coastal Zone boundary maps
- CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal, Fire Hazard Severity Zones
- Agent profiles on homes.com and coldwellbankerhomes.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: Valley Ford · Russian River
Related: The Sea Ranch real estate guide · The Sea Ranch home valuation · Sonoma 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.
