Best Realtors in Annapolis, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Annapolis is a remote, unincorporated area in the ridges of northwest Sonoma County, reached by Annapolis Road climbing east from Highway 1 near The Sea Ranch. It is a place of forested parcels, small vineyards, rural homes and long private driveways, with the coast and the shops of Gualala a short drive away. Few agents name Annapolis: three agents below name it on a public page, and the others work from offices at The Sea Ranch or in Gualala. We say which in the table.
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 or broker’s own office that matches the brokerage the agent represents.
- A named brokerage. Each agent’s DRE record shows the brokerage they work under or the broker’s own license.
- A public page that names Annapolis or the nearby coast. We opened each agent’s brokerage or homes.com profile, or an MLSListings listing record. Three name Annapolis; the others name The Sea Ranch or Gualala, as noted in the table.
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.
Annapolis area housing in numbers
The Census Bureau does not publish a separate profile for Annapolis, so the table below shows neighboring The Sea Ranch, the closest Census-designated place.
| Census measure (ACS 2024 5-year) | Sea Ranch CDP (nearest Census place) |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Median age | 70.2 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates, as presented by Census Reporter. These figures describe The Sea Ranch, not Annapolis, and are not current sale prices.
Annapolis parcels are larger and more rural than most Sea Ranch lots, so prices depend on acreage, access, water and views more than on the coastal community’s figures. Ask agents for recent closed sales of similar rural parcels.
Ridge-top parcels, vineyards and long private roads
Annapolis Road and the roads off it run through redwood and fir forest, open ridges and small vineyards. Many homes are on several acres, with private roads, wells, septic systems and, in some cases, off-grid power. The area is unincorporated, so Sonoma County handles zoning and permits through Permit Sonoma. Shopping, schools and services are in Gualala and along Highway 1. For more on the area, see our Annapolis real estate guide.
Costs and rules specific to an Annapolis purchase
- Transfer tax. The Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder lists the county documentary transfer tax at $0.55 per $500 of value ($1.10 per $1,000). Only Santa Rosa and Petaluma add a city tax, so the county rate applies in unincorporated Annapolis. Our California transfer tax guide explains who usually pays.
- Coastal Zone check. Sonoma County’s Local Coastal Plan, updated and in effect since February 4, 2025, governs development in the Coastal Zone. Parcels closer to the coast may be inside it and need a coastal development permit; ask Permit Sonoma to confirm for a specific parcel before you plan work.
- Vacation rentals. Permit Sonoma’s vacation rental page says a vacation rental needs a permit, a certified property manager, a Transient Occupancy Tax number and a license, and that rentals are allowed only in certain zones and not on Williamson Act-contracted agricultural preserve land. Confirm the parcel’s zoning before you count on rental income.
- Fire hazard zones and AB 38. Check the State Fire Marshal’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps. In a High or Very High zone, sellers must provide defensible space documentation or an agreement for the buyer to obtain it; see our AB 38 guide. Get an insurance quote early.
- Wells, septic, power and roads. Ask for well yield and water quality tests, septic records, any solar or generator setup, and private road maintenance agreements before contingencies come off.
- Hazards. Read the natural hazard disclosure report for landslide and fault zones on steep parcels.
Agents who serve Annapolis and the nearby coast
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 Annapolis. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc DBA Diamond Real Estate Group, DRE #02163490
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doug Hecker (licensed as Douglas Michael Hecker) | Coldwell Banker Realty, Petaluma | Salesperson #01347843 | Annapolis, The Sea Ranch, Bodega Bay, Sonoma County, among others |
| Andrew Jones (licensed as Andrew Tidwell Jones) | Compass | Salesperson #01895003 | Annapolis, The Sea Ranch, Gualala (listings); Mendocino and Sonoma coast |
| Cindy Kennedy (licensed as Cindy L Kennedy) | Kennedy & Associates Real Estate, Gualala | Broker #00522478 | Nearby only: The Sea Ranch, Gualala |
| Mark Mason (licensed as Mark Andrew Mason) | Sea Ranch & Coastal Realty, Gualala | Broker #01822690 | Nearby only: The Sea Ranch, Gualala |
| Moriah Mitchell (licensed as Moriah Eve Mitchell) | Liisberg & Company, The Sea Ranch | Salesperson #01197302 | Annapolis (MLSListings listing record) |
| Kristen Winant (licensed as Kristen Maria Winant) | Liisberg & Company, The Sea Ranch | Broker #02072604 | Nearby only: The Sea Ranch |
On the DRE record, Doug Hecker is licensed under NRT West, Inc. (DRE #01908304), Andrew Jones under Compass California II, Inc. (DRE #01527235), and Moriah Mitchell under Liisberg & Company (DRE #02439940), where Kristen Winant is an officer with a main office at The Sea Ranch. Cindy Kennedy holds her own broker license with a main office in Gualala and the DBA Kennedy & Associates Real Estate, and Mark Mason holds his own broker license in Gualala with the DBA Sea Ranch & Coastal Realty. For more agents nearby, see our Sea Ranch agents guide and Sonoma County agents guide.
How to vet an Annapolis agent
- Ask about rural sales. Ask how many rural ridge-top parcels the agent has handled and how they price acreage with few nearby sales.
- Ask about water and septic. Ask for well tests, septic records and County permit history for both.
- Ask about access. Ask whether the road is private, who maintains it and whether there is a written agreement.
- Ask about fire zones and insurance. Ask how they handle AB 38 documentation and when they get insurance quotes.
- Ask whether the parcel is in the Coastal Zone. Ask how they confirm it with Permit Sonoma before you plan an addition.
- Check the license yourself. Confirm a "Licensed" status with a current responsible broker on the DRE lookup.
Annapolis questions we hear
Is Annapolis part of The Sea Ranch?
No. Annapolis is a separate rural area in the hills east of The Sea Ranch. It is not part of The Sea Ranch Association, and Sonoma County rules apply.
Is there a city transfer tax in Annapolis?
No. Annapolis is unincorporated, and the Clerk-Recorder lists only Santa Rosa and Petaluma as cities with their own tax. The county rate is $1.10 per $1,000.
Why are there no Census figures for Annapolis itself?
The Census Bureau does not publish a separate Annapolis profile, so we show The Sea Ranch, the nearest Census-designated place, and label it.
Why do some agents in this guide name The Sea Ranch instead of Annapolis?
Few agent pages list Annapolis. We include agents with offices at The Sea Ranch or in Gualala and mark them "nearby only."
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, Sea Ranch CDP profile (ACS 2024 5-year) (nearest Census place; no Annapolis profile)
- Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder, documentary transfer tax
- Permit Sonoma, Local Coastal Plan update
- Permit Sonoma, vacation rentals
- CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal, Fire Hazard Severity Zones
- Agent profiles on coldwellbankerhomes.com, compass.com and homes.com, and an MLSListings listing record, 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: The Sea Ranch · Manchester
Related: Annapolis real estate guide · Annapolis 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.
