Best Realtors in Union City, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Union City is a southern Alameda County city of about 65,000 people between Hayward and Fremont, with a BART station, the historic Alvarado district and a large share of family households. Homes range from older streets near Smith Street to planned neighborhoods and townhomes near the station, so the agent you hire should know which setting, utility districts and association 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 with a responsible broker.
- A named brokerage. Each agent’s DRE record shows the brokerage they work under.
- A public profile that names Union City. We opened each agent’s brokerage profile and confirmed it names Union City in its areas served or bio.
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.
Union City housing in numbers
| Census measure | Union City |
|---|---|
| Population (July 1, 2025 estimate) | 65,282 |
| Owner-occupied housing unit rate (2020–2024) | 64.7% |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020–2024) | $1,104,900 |
| Median gross rent (2020–2024) | $2,713 |
| Median household income (2020–2024, 2024 dollars) | $133,715 |
| Persons per household (2020–2024) | 3.13 |
| Mean travel time to work (2020–2024) | 31.9 minutes |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Union City city, California.
At just over three people per household, Union City homes tend to be shared by larger and multigenerational families, which is one reason ADUs and extra bedrooms draw interest. These are five-year survey figures, not current sale prices; ask an agent for recent sales from the same neighborhood and property type.
Historic Alvarado, the station district and established neighborhoods
The city’s General Plan describes Historic Alvarado, with its Smith Street commercial core and surrounding older homes, as a special area. Near the Union City BART station, newer townhomes and condos come with association documents to review, while the established residential neighborhoods are largely single-family tracts.
Union City is an incorporated city listed in the Alameda County city directory. Water comes from the Alameda County Water District and sewer service from the Union Sanitary District, as the city’s ADU checklist notes. The city’s property information page offers parcel and hazard map layers. For more, see our Union City real estate guide.
Costs and rules specific to a Union City purchase
- Transfer tax. The Alameda County Clerk-Recorder collects city transfer taxes for eight cities, and Union City is not one of them, so only the county tax of $0.55 per $500 of value applies, about $1,210 on a $1.1 million sale. Our California transfer tax guide explains who usually pays.
- ADUs. The city offers a preapproved ADU program, but each site still needs its own building permit, and site-specific changes can take a project out of the program route.
- Permits and right-of-way work. The city’s permit directory separates grading from encroachment work in the public right-of-way, and the Building Division handles permits and inspections. Ask for permit records on additions and converted garages.
- Below-market-rate homes. Some homes are part of the city’s BMR ownership program, which has income eligibility and requires owner occupancy. Confirm whether a listing carries BMR restrictions before you write an offer.
- Associations and special taxes. For townhomes and condos, review HOA documents and reserves. Sellers must make a good-faith effort to provide a notice of special tax districts under Civil Code section 1102.6b.
- Hazard disclosures. The natural hazard disclosure report summarizes mapped earthquake fault and liquefaction zones, which matter near the Hayward Fault.
Union City 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 Union City. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc DBA Diamond Real Estate Group, DRE #02163490
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mustafa Afzali | Coldwell Banker Realty, Fremont office | Salesperson #01514891 | Fremont, Newark, Union City, Hayward, San Leandro and other East Bay and South Bay cities |
| Angela Amaral | RE/MAX Accord, Castro Valley | Salesperson #01075905 | Livermore, Union City, Fremont, Dublin, San Joaquin County |
| Meiling Duong | Coldwell Banker Realty, Fremont office | Salesperson #01401325 | Fremont, Newark, Union City, Milpitas |
| Tony Dzoan | Coldwell Banker Realty, Fremont office | Salesperson #01346599 | Fremont, Newark, Union City |
| Sudie Hsu (licensed as Su Ting Hsu) | Coldwell Banker Realty, Fremont office | Broker #01921378 | Fremont, Newark, Union City |
| Chris Jacquez | Coldwell Banker Realty, Fremont office | Salesperson #01398729 | Fremont, Newark, Union City |
| Angel Lax | Century 21 Masters | Salesperson #02184996 | Livermore, Dublin, Castro Valley, San Leandro, San Lorenzo, Oakland, Union City, Richmond, El Cerrito |
| Irina Petrea | Coldwell Banker Realty, Fremont office | Salesperson #01133550 | Fremont, Newark, Union City |
Responsible brokers shown on the DRE records: Coldwell Banker Realty agents work under NRT West, Inc. (DRE #01908304), from the Fremont office at 3340 Walnut Ave, Suite 110; Angela Amaral works under S&J Stadtler Inc (DRE #01491373), from the RE/MAX Accord office at 3329 Castro Valley Blvd; and Angel Lax works under Full Realty Services Inc (DRE #01849354), which does business as Century 21 Masters. Broker-licensed agents work as broker associates.
How to vet a Union City agent
- Ask for comparables from the same setting. A Historic Alvarado cottage, a tract home in an established neighborhood and a townhome near BART should not be priced from the same sales.
- Ask whether the listing has BMR restrictions. A good Union City agent checks for resale and occupancy limits before you make an offer.
- Ask how they check permit history. Garage conversions and additions are common; ask how they confirm the work was permitted.
- Ask about ADU potential. If you want an ADU, ask whether they have worked with the city’s preapproved plans and the utility connection process.
- For townhomes and condos, ask about the HOA. Ask how early they deliver HOA documents and what they look for in reserves and exclusive-use areas.
- Verify the license yourself. Look the agent up on the DRE site and confirm the responsible broker matches the brokerage they name.
Union City questions we hear
Does Union City have its own transfer tax?
No city tax is listed. The Alameda County Clerk-Recorder collects city taxes for eight cities, and Union City is not among them, so only the county tax of $0.55 per $500 applies. Confirm the total on your escrow estimate.
Can I use a preapproved ADU plan in Union City?
Yes, through the city’s preapproved ADU program, but each site still needs its own building permit application, and changes to the design can take it out of the program.
Who provides water and sewer in Union City?
The city’s ADU checklist points to the Alameda County Water District for water, Union Sanitary District for sewer and PG&E for power. Check the bills for the specific address.
What is a BMR home in Union City?
It is a below-market-rate ownership home under the city’s BMR program, with income eligibility and an owner-occupancy requirement. Ask the listing agent whether a home is part of it.
Should I interview more than one Union City agent?
Yes. Interview at least two or three, ask each for recent sales near the homes you are considering, and compare how they explain HOA, ADU and permit questions.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- Coldwell Banker Realty, Fremont office agent roster; agent profiles at RE/MAX and Century 21 Masters linked in the table
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Union City city, California (July 1, 2025 population estimate; 2020–2024 ACS figures)
- Alameda County Clerk-Recorder: real property transfer tax
- Alameda County city directory
- City of Union City: Historic Alvarado special area · preapproved ADU program · ADU checklist · permits · Building Division · property information · BMR ownership housing
- BART: Union City station
- 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: Union City real estate guide · Union City home valuation · Alameda 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.
