Choosing a Real Estate Agent in Holy City, CA
By Matthew Martinez
Holy City is a tiny unincorporated community in the Santa Cruz Mountains above Los Gatos, reached by Old Santa Cruz Highway and Highway 17. Homes here are scattered on wooded hillside parcels with Los Gatos mailing addresses in the 95033 ZIP code, and most rely on private roads, wells or shared water systems, and septic systems.
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 Holy City itself; the profile evidence is shown explicitly. Interview more than one agent and ask for recent, relevant examples.
Holy City housing in numbers
The Census Bureau does not publish figures for Holy City on its own. The closest measure is ZIP code 95033, which covers the Los Gatos mountain area around it.
| Census measure (ACS 2024 5-year) | ZIP code 95033 |
|---|---|
| Population | 9,600 |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes | $1,417,200 (±$97,105) |
| Median household income | $189,118 (±$18,266) |
| Persons per household | 2.5 |
| Median age | 45.3 |
| Mean travel time to work | 34.9 minutes |
| Housing units | 4,164 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 95033, as presented by Census Reporter. These are survey estimates with margins of error for a much larger area than Holy City, not current sale prices.
Mountain properties differ widely in acreage, road access, water source and condition, so a ZIP-wide median says little about a single parcel. Ask agents for closed sales of comparable mountain homes, and see our rural home comparable sales notes.
Living in the mountains above Los Gatos
Holy City sits in the forested hills between Lexington Reservoir and the Summit Road ridge, a short drive from Highway 17. Because it is unincorporated, Santa Clara County handles zoning, building and septic permits, and services such as road maintenance and water may come from private agreements or small mutual water companies rather than a city. For more, see our Holy City real estate guide, parcel jurisdiction and services, private roads and site access and rural water and wastewater pages.
Costs and rules specific to a Holy City purchase
- Transfer tax. The Santa Clara County Ordinance Code, Division A30, Chapter III sets the county tax at 55 cents per $500 of value ($1.10 per $1,000) on unincorporated sales: about $1,559 at the ZIP code’s $1,417,200 median value. Confirm the total on your escrow estimate; our California transfer tax guide explains who usually pays.
- Fire zones and insurance. The Santa Cruz Mountains carry high wildfire risk. Check the State Fire Marshal’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps for the parcel, read the County Fire Department’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan, get an insurance quote before you remove contingencies, and see our AB 38 guide.
- Wells, water and septic. Budget for water quantity and quality testing, a review of any water company or shared well agreement, and a septic inspection.
- Roads and access. Many parcels use private roads; ask for the road maintenance agreement and check emergency access.
- Slope and landslide. Read the natural hazard disclosure report for landslide and fault zones, and consider a geotechnical review for steep lots. Our acreage ownership budget covers typical carrying costs.
Agent profiles to compare for a Holy City 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 Holy City. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lorie Gillespie | Intero Real Estate Services, Los Gatos | Salesperson #01465384 | ZIP codes across the county, including 95033 (not Holy City by name) |
| Karen Izzo | Christie’s International Real Estate Sereno, Los Gatos | Salesperson #01402005 | Los Gatos Mountains; Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties |
| Amy McCafferty | Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty, Los Gatos | Broker #00967324 | ZIP codes including 95033 (not Holy City by name) |
| Angelé Price | Compass, Los Gatos | Salesperson #01187585 | Silicon Valley, the Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Cruz coastal communities |
| Carol Chou | Coldwell Banker Realty | Salesperson #01254609 | Saratoga 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 an agent for a Holy City property
- Ask about mountain sales. Ask which sales off Old Santa Cruz Highway or along the Highway 17 corridor the agent has handled and would use as comparables.
- Ask about water. Ask how they review well logs, water tests and any mutual water company records.
- Ask about septic and permits. Ask how they check County septic and building permit records for additions or second units.
- Ask about roads and access. Ask for road maintenance agreements and how winter storms have affected access.
- Ask about fire insurance. Ask when they recommend getting quotes and how they handle AB 38 documentation.
- Check the license yourself. Confirm a "Licensed" status with a current broker on the DRE lookup.
Holy City questions we hear
Is Holy City a town?
No. Holy City is a small unincorporated community in Santa Clara County with a Los Gatos mailing address, so County rules apply.
What ZIP code is Holy City in?
Holy City properties use Los Gatos ZIP code 95033, which also covers much of the surrounding mountain area.
What transfer tax applies to a Holy City sale?
Unincorporated sales carry the county documentary transfer tax of $1.10 per $1,000. Your escrow estimate will show the total.
Why are only four agents listed?
We listed only agents whose licenses we verified and whose profiles name the Santa Cruz or Los Gatos Mountains or the 95033 ZIP code. None named Holy City itself, so ask about local experience directly.
Is the agent order a ranking?
No. Our broker is listed first because we publish the guide; everyone else is alphabetical by last name.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- Census Reporter, ZIP Code Tabulation Area 95033 (ACS 2024 5-year)
- Santa Clara County Ordinance Code, Division A30, Chapter III, Real Property Transfer Tax (county rate of $0.55 per $500; section A30-40 credit for a conforming half-rate city tax)
- California Attorney General Opinion 06-1009 (documentary transfer tax and city credit)
- Santa Clara County Fire Department, Community Wildfire Protection Plan
- CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal, Fire Hazard Severity Zones
- Agent profiles on sereno.com, compass.com and mlslistings.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: Los Gatos · Monte Sereno
Related: Holy City real estate guide · Holy City home valuation · Santa Clara 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.
