Choosing a Real Estate Agent in Bethel Island, CA
By Matthew Martinez
Bethel Island is an unincorporated Delta island in eastern Contra Costa County, ringed by levees and sloughs, where homes range from waterfront houses with private docks to newer homes in planned waterfront communities. Most of the island sits below sea level, so a purchase here depends on levee district rules, flood insurance and water and sewer arrangements as much as on the house itself.
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 to use this agent guide
Start with the property questions below, then compare the publisher and five regional candidates. Public profiles and licensing records answer different questions: a license establishes regulatory status, while a profile describes claimed service areas. Neither establishes local sales experience, quality of service or suitability for your transaction. Some candidates name neighboring communities or the county rather than Bethel Island itself; the profile evidence is shown explicitly. Interview more than one agent and ask for recent, relevant examples.
Bethel Island housing in numbers
Bethel Island is a small census-designated place, and we did not open a Census source with reliable figures for it, so we have not listed statistics here. For pricing, ask an agent for recent sales of comparable homes with the same water frontage, dock rights, levee position and water source, and see our waterfront comparable sales guide.
A levee-protected Delta island under County rules
There is no city on Bethel Island. Contra Costa County regulates land use under Division 84 of the County Ordinance Code, and much of the waterfront is zoned F-1 Water Recreational, which allows single-family homes and private docks with up to two berths and requires a 50-foot setback from a levee centerline. A Contra Costa LAFCO service review describes about 3,500 acres of reclaimed land, more than 95% below sea level, protected by an 11.5-mile levee maintained by the Bethel Island Municipal Improvement District (BIMID).
The same review says Ironhouse Sanitary District provides sewer service, while water comes from a patchwork: Diablo Water District in some planned communities, a county service area near Willow Park Marina, and private wells or small private water companies elsewhere. For more, see our Bethel Island real estate guide and our guides to flood, levee and insurance records, waterfront permit history and the waterfront maintenance budget.
Costs and rules specific to a Bethel Island purchase
- Transfer tax. Bethel Island is unincorporated, so no city transfer tax applies; the Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder charges $0.55 per $500 of value, about $440 on an $800,000 sale. Our California transfer tax guide explains who usually pays.
- Levee district approvals. BIMID says it must approve any project that affects the levee, including construction, docks, ramps, levee steps, tree planting and demolition. Ask the seller for BIMID permits on existing docks and improvements.
- Flood zones and insurance. Much of the island lies in mapped flood hazard areas, and the County’s flood hazard combining district adds rules for building there. Check the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and get flood insurance quotes before you remove contingencies.
- Water and sewer. Confirm whether the home is on a public water system, a small private water company or a private well, and ask for test results and any shared-well agreements.
- Hazard disclosures. The natural hazard disclosure report summarizes mapped flood, earthquake and other hazards. Sellers must also make a good-faith effort to provide a notice of special tax districts under Civil Code section 1102.6b.
Agent profiles to compare for a Bethel Island transaction
Matthew Martinez, Diamond Real Estate Group (publisher)
Matthew Martinez is the Founder, CEO and Managing Broker of Diamond Real Estate Group, based in Sonoma County. Contact him to discuss representation for your specific property and location. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc #02163490.
Five regional interview candidates
These profiles are drawn from the local and broader county research. The final column records the location evidence in each public profile; a nearby town or county reference does not establish completed transactions in Bethel Island. Ask each candidate to demonstrate relevant experience before hiring them. This is an interview starting point, not a ranking or a claim that every agent specializes in this community.
| Agent / public profile | Brokerage as described by the profile | DRE record | Geographic evidence in the source profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eva Marie Fontanilla | RE/MAX Gold, Antioch | Broker #01422593 | Contra Costa, Santa Clara and Alameda counties |
| Song Kim (licensed as Song Mun Kim) | Coldwell Banker Realty, Danville office | Salesperson #01813351 | Contra Costa County, Alameda County, Silicon Valley |
| Jaynette Lancaster | Fathom Realty Group, Antioch | Salesperson #01746018 | Contra Costa County, including Antioch, Brentwood, Pittsburg and Discovery Bay |
| Enrique Ruiz | RE/MAX Accord, Walnut Creek | Broker #01029270 | Contra Costa County, Oakley, Brentwood, Antioch, Martinez |
| Jason Caskie | Coldwell Banker Realty | Salesperson #01347068 | Danville office |
For a wider comparison, read the county agent guide. Verify current license status and brokerage affiliation on the linked DRE record, and agree on representation terms in writing.
How to vet a Bethel Island agent
- Ask about their Delta and waterfront sales. A good Bethel Island agent should be able to explain how dock rights, frontage and levee position affect value.
- Ask how they check BIMID approvals. Docks, ramps and levee steps need levee district approval; ask how they confirm permits for existing improvements.
- Ask about flood insurance timing. Ask when they get flood insurance quotes and elevation information in escrow.
- Ask about water and sewer. Ask whether they routinely check the water source, well tests and private water company terms.
- Ask for comparables from the same setting. A home in a newer planned waterfront community and an older house on a slough should not be priced from the same sales.
- Verify the license yourself. Look the agent up on the DRE site and confirm the responsible broker matches the brokerage they name.
Bethel Island questions we hear
Is Bethel Island a city?
No. There is no city on Bethel Island. Contra Costa County regulates land use under Division 84, and BIMID maintains the levee.
Do I need levee district approval to build a dock on Bethel Island?
Generally yes. BIMID says it must approve projects that affect the levee, including docks, ramps and levee steps, and County zoning also applies.
Is Bethel Island below sea level?
Mostly. A Contra Costa LAFCO service review says more than 95% of the island’s reclaimed land is below sea level, protected by an 11.5-mile levee.
Does Bethel Island have a city transfer tax?
No. Only the county tax of $0.55 per $500 applies, collected by the Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder.
Should I interview more than one Bethel Island agent?
Yes. Interview at least two or three, ask each about Delta waterfront sales, and compare how they explain levee, flood and water questions.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- Agent profiles at RE/MAX, Homes.com and Coldwell Banker Realty, linked in the table
- Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder: documentary transfer tax
- Contra Costa County Ordinance Code (GoCodebook): Division 84 · F-1 Water Recreational district · flood hazard combining district
- Contra Costa LAFCO: BIMID municipal service review
- Bethel Island Municipal Improvement District: about BIMID
- 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: Bethel Island real estate guide · Bethel Island home valuation · Contra Costa 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.
