Best Real Estate Agents in Sacramento County (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Sacramento County holds about 1.6 million people, the state capital, seven incorporated cities and a large unincorporated suburban belt that includes Carmichael, Fair Oaks, Orangevale, Arden Arcade and Rio Linda. A buyer in East Sacramento, an Elk Grove subdivision and a Delta town like Walnut Grove is dealing with different rules, taxes and housing stock, so it pays to pick an agent who works the part of the county you are shopping in.
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
Every agent below met three tests, checked 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 status of "Licensed." Agents shown as "Licensed NBA" (no current responsible broker) were left out.
- A named brokerage. Each agent is affiliated with a brokerage, which we confirmed on the DRE record and the agent’s profile.
- A public profile that names the area. We opened each agent’s brokerage profile and confirmed that it names Sacramento County, a city or neighborhood in it, or an office in the county.
We did not rank anyone, and we did not use sales volume, reviews or awards. Use this list as a starting point: verify the license yourself and interview more than one agent before you sign anything.
Sacramento County housing in numbers
| Measure (U.S. Census QuickFacts) | Sacramento County |
|---|---|
| Population, July 1, 2025 estimate | 1,618,460 |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes, 2020–2024 | $534,200 |
| Owner-occupied housing rate, 2020–2024 | 59.0% |
| Median gross rent, 2020–2024 | $1,790 |
| Median household income, 2020–2024 (2024 dollars) | $92,175 |
| Mean travel time to work, 2020–2024 | 27.3 minutes |
| Land area, 2020 | 965.27 sq. mi. |
Roughly four in ten Sacramento County households rent, which is a higher renter share than in neighboring Placer and El Dorado counties. The county’s median owner-occupied value is also lower than in those two foothill counties, which is part of why first-time buyers and investors look here. These are five-year Census survey figures, not current sale prices; ask any agent you interview for recent sales in the specific neighborhood.
City or County: why the jurisdiction matters
Sacramento County is unusual because so much of its suburban population lives outside any city. Carmichael, Fair Oaks, Orangevale, Arden Arcade, North Highlands, Antelope and Rio Linda are unincorporated, so the County sets their zoning and short-term rental rules even when the mailing address says "Sacramento." The incorporated cities are Sacramento, Elk Grove, Citrus Heights, Folsom, Rancho Cordova, Galt and Isleton.
- City of Sacramento: older central neighborhoods such as Midtown, Land Park, Curtis Park and East Sacramento, plus newer areas to the north and south. See our Sacramento guide.
- Elk Grove and the south county: large planned subdivisions; see Elk Grove and Galt.
- East county suburbs: Folsom, Rancho Cordova, Citrus Heights, Carmichael and Fair Oaks.
- The Delta: river towns such as Walnut Grove, Courtland and Isleton, where flood exposure and older buildings deserve extra inspection time.
Costs and rules specific to a Sacramento County purchase
County transfer tax. The County Clerk-Recorder charges documentary transfer tax of $0.55 per $500 of value, less any loans the buyer assumes. The Recorder says the City of Sacramento is the only city in the county with its own transfer tax.
City of Sacramento transfer tax. Inside city limits, the Recorder also collects the City of Sacramento’s additional real property transfer tax of 0.275% of the consideration, under City Code 3.16.020, in effect since September 1, 2013. On a $534,200 sale, that is about $1,469 on top of the County’s roughly $588. A title company guide from Fidelity National Financial (Who Pays What, rev. January 2026) lists the County tax as customarily paid by the seller and the City tax as split. Confirm on your escrow estimate, because Carmichael and Arden Arcade addresses are not in the city.
Short-term rentals in the unincorporated area. The County’s short-term rental permit page requires a permit, a County business license and transient occupancy tax registration. The owner, or a long-term renter with the owner’s consent, must live on site at least six months a year, and each stay is limited to 29 days. Only a legal primary home, or an ADU permitted before January 1, 2020, is eligible. The tax is 12% of rent, plus tourism district assessments. A buyer should not plan on unhosted vacation-rental income in the unincorporated county.
Fire hazard zones. Parts of the eastern county, toward Folsom, Rancho Murieta and the foothills, fall within mapped fire hazard areas. The State Fire Marshal says its State Responsibility Area maps took effect April 1, 2024, and Local Responsibility Area maps were released to local jurisdictions in 2025. Check the address in the map viewer and read the hazard disclosures in the seller’s packet.
Special taxes. Many newer Elk Grove, Folsom and Rancho Cordova subdivisions carry Mello-Roos or other special taxes. Ask for the special tax amount and how long it runs before you write an offer, and compare it in your monthly payment.
Sacramento County agents with verified licenses
Matthew Martinez, Diamond Real Estate Group (publisher of this guide)
Matthew Martinez is the Broker of Diamond Real Estate Group (Diamond Group Estates Inc, DRE #02163490), Broker DRE #01869679. He is based in Sonoma County; contact him to discuss a purchase or sale in Sacramento County. Contact Matthew.
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arnel Agustin | CENTURY 21 Select Real Estate, Elk Grove | Broker #01407832 | Elk Grove |
| Jay Alaei | CENTURY 21 Select Real Estate, Elk Grove | Salesperson #01725396 | Elk Grove |
| Arielle Allen | Coldwell Banker Realty, Sacramento-Sierra Oaks | Salesperson #02033421 | Sacramento; Sierra Oaks, Arden Park, Arden Oaks, Wilhaggin, Del Dayo |
| Sue Benton | Coldwell Banker Realty, Elk Grove | Salesperson #01410704 | Elk Grove |
| Sharon D’Arelli | Coldwell Banker Realty, Sacramento-Sierra Oaks | Salesperson #01516830 | Sacramento; Arden Oaks, Sierra Oaks, Arden Park, Wilhaggin, Carmichael |
| Mark Delgado | Coldwell Banker Realty, Sacramento-Metro | Broker #01411594 | Sacramento and surrounding areas |
| Tiffany Donohue | Coldwell Banker Realty, Elk Grove | Salesperson #01927470 | Elk Grove; Sacramento County |
| Kelly Evers | Coldwell Banker Realty, Sacramento-Sierra Oaks | Salesperson #01854628 | Sacramento; Sacramento County |
| Beth Harney | Coldwell Banker Realty, Sacramento-Metro | Salesperson #01861578 | Sacramento |
| Grady Mc Faddin | Coldwell Banker Realty, Elk Grove | Salesperson #01206305 | Elk Grove; Sacramento area |
| Mark Peters | Coldwell Banker Realty, Sacramento-Metro | Salesperson #01424396 | Sacramento; Midtown, Land Park, Curtis Park, East Sac |
| Leigh Rutledge | Coldwell Banker Realty, Sacramento-Metro | Broker #00932144 | Sacramento |
| Tim Stein | Coldwell Banker Realty, Sacramento-Metro | Salesperson #01322397 | Sacramento, Elk Grove |
| Monica Truettner | Coldwell Banker Realty, Sacramento-Sierra Oaks | Salesperson #00874584 | Sacramento; Sacramento County |
| Emile Truong | Coldwell Banker Realty, Sacramento-Sierra Oaks | Salesperson #01444472 | Sacramento, Folsom; Sacramento County |
| Britt Wiseman | Coldwell Banker Realty, Sacramento-Sierra Oaks | Salesperson #01414550 | Sacramento, Carmichael, Fair Oaks, Orangevale, Wilton, Elk Grove, Citrus Heights |
| Nadia Zierke | Coldwell Banker Realty, Sacramento-Sierra Oaks | Salesperson #01721230 | Sacramento; Sacramento County |
Coldwell Banker Realty agents are licensed under NRT West, Inc. on the DRE record; CENTURY 21 Select Real Estate agents are licensed under Century 21 Select Real Estate Inc.
How to vet a Sacramento County agent
- Confirm the jurisdiction first. Ask the agent whether the address is in the City of Sacramento, another city or the unincorporated County. It changes transfer tax, permits and short-term rental rules.
- Ask for recent sales in your neighborhood. Midtown bungalows, Arden Park ranch homes and Elk Grove tract homes price very differently.
- Get a net sheet with every transfer tax. A seller inside the City of Sacramento should see both the County tax and the 0.275% city tax.
- Ask about special taxes. In newer subdivisions, ask the agent to pull the special tax amount and term before you write an offer.
- Check flood and fire exposure. In the Delta and along the American River, ask about flood zone and insurance; in the eastern foothills, check the fire hazard map.
- Check the license yourself. Look the agent up on the DRE public lookup and make sure the status is "Licensed" with a current responsible broker.
Sacramento County questions we hear
Is Carmichael part of the City of Sacramento?
No. Carmichael, Fair Oaks, Orangevale and Arden Arcade are unincorporated, so the City of Sacramento transfer tax does not apply there, and County zoning and short-term rental rules do.
How much is the transfer tax on a Sacramento home?
The County charges $0.55 per $500 of value. Inside the City of Sacramento, the city adds 0.275% of the price. Your escrow estimate should show both.
Can I buy a house in unincorporated Sacramento County to run as a vacation rental?
Generally not as an unhosted rental. The County requires the owner or a long-term renter to live on site at least six months a year, limits stays to 29 days, and requires a permit, a business license and tax registration.
Do Sacramento County agents also cover Placer and El Dorado counties?
Many do. Several agents in this guide name Placer or El Dorado County on their profiles. See our Placer County and El Dorado County guides.
Why are some agents marked "Licensed NBA" left out?
On the DRE lookup, "NBA" means the salesperson has no current responsible broker, so they cannot represent clients until they join one. We listed only agents with a current broker affiliation.
Agent guides for cities and communities in Sacramento County
Each guide below lists agents we verified for that place, with the local rules that matter there.
- Best realtors in Antelope, CA
- Best realtors in Carmichael, CA
- Best realtors in Citrus Heights, CA
- Best realtors in Courtland, CA
- Best realtors in Elk Grove, CA
- Best realtors in Elverta, CA
- Best realtors in Fair Oaks, CA
- Best realtors in Folsom, CA
- Best realtors in Freeport, CA
- Best realtors in Galt, CA
- Best realtors in Gold River, CA
- Best realtors in Herald, CA
- Best realtors in Hood, CA
- Best realtors in Isleton, CA
- Best realtors in Mather, CA
- Best realtors in North Highlands, CA
- Best realtors in Orangevale, CA
- Best realtors in Rancho Cordova, CA
- Best realtors in Rancho Murieta, CA
- Best realtors in Rio Linda, CA
- Best realtors in Ryde, CA
- Best realtors in Sacramento, CA
- Best realtors in Sloughhouse, CA
- Best realtors in Walnut Grove, CA
- Best realtors in Wilton, CA
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- U.S. Census QuickFacts, Sacramento County (population estimate July 1, 2025; other figures 2020–2024)
- Sacramento County Clerk-Recorder, documentary transfer tax FAQ
- Sacramento County Clerk-Recorder, City of Sacramento additional real property transfer tax
- Fidelity National Financial, Who Pays What: California Transfer Tax and Fees (rev. January 2026)
- Sacramento County Planning, short-term rental permits
- CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal, Fire Hazard Severity Zones
- Agent profiles on coldwellbankerhomes.com and century21.com, linked in the table
- License records checked October 2026 on the California DRE public lookup. Last reviewed October 2026 by Matthew Martinez.
Related: Sacramento County real estate guide · Sacramento County home valuation · Solano 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.
