Best Realtors in Bodega Bay, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Bodega Bay is an unincorporated fishing and harbor town on the Sonoma County coast, home to about 1,100 people along Highway 1 between Salmon Creek and the Marin County line. The whole town sits in the Coastal Zone, many homes are second or vacation homes, and County coastal and vacation rental rules shape what an owner can build or rent. Several agents below work from offices in Bodega Bay 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 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 that matches the brokerage the agent represents.
- A named brokerage. Each agent’s DRE record shows the brokerage they work under.
- A public page that names Bodega Bay. We opened a brokerage office roster or website for a Bodega Bay office, or an MLSListings listing record in Bodega Bay that names the agent.
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.
Bodega Bay housing in numbers
| Census measure (ACS 2024 5-year) | Bodega Bay |
|---|---|
| Population | 1,139 |
| Housing units | 950 (±190) |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes | $1,294,900 (±$533,891) |
| Median household income | $182,898 (±$73,834) |
| Persons per household | 2.3 |
| Median age | 52.4 |
| Mean travel time to work | 25.2 minutes |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates, as presented by Census Reporter. Bodega Bay is a Census-designated place with a small sample, so margins of error are very wide. These are not current sale prices.
The Census counts 950 housing units for about 1,140 residents, consistent with a large share of second and vacation homes. Ask agents for recent closed sales in the same neighborhood, since a Bodega Harbour home, a cottage in Salmon Creek and an oceanfront house in Sereno del Mar trade very differently.
Bodega Harbour, the harbor and the coast north and south
The town wraps around the harbor, with the commercial strip and marinas along Highway 1. Bodega Harbour, on the hills above the harbor, is a planned community with its own homeowners association and design rules. North of town, Salmon Creek, Carmet and Sereno del Mar sit between the highway and the beaches, and Jenner is farther north at the mouth of the Russian River. Inland, the village of Bodega is a few miles east. For more on the area, see our Bodega Bay real estate guide, coastal home inspection notes, coastal property records and coastal ownership budget.
Costs and rules specific to a Bodega Bay 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): about $1,424 on a $1,294,900 sale. Only Santa Rosa and Petaluma add a city tax, so the county rate applies in unincorporated Bodega Bay. Our California transfer tax guide explains who usually pays.
- Local Coastal Plan. Permit Sonoma’s Local Coastal Plan update page says the Board of Supervisors adopted the update in July 2023, the Coastal Commission conditionally certified it in November 2024, and the Board adopted it as certified on February 4, 2025, when it took effect. It addresses sea-level rise, public access, water resources and natural hazards. New homes, additions and many remodels in the Coastal Zone need a coastal development permit; the Coastal Commission explains the system.
- Vacation rentals. Permit Sonoma’s vacation rental page says the Coastal Zone is among the areas where vacation rentals are allowed with a permit, and that an owner needs a Vacation Rental Permit, a certified property manager, a Transient Occupancy Tax number and a Vacation Rental License. The page does not say a permit carries over to a buyer, so confirm the status with Permit Sonoma before you rely on rental income.
- HOAs. In Bodega Harbour and other planned areas, read the HOA budget, reserves and design rules before you remove contingencies.
- Hazards. Read the natural hazard disclosure report for fault, tsunami, flood and landslide zones, and check the State Fire Marshal’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps; in a High or Very High zone, see our AB 38 guide.
Bodega Bay 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 Bodega Bay. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc DBA Diamond Real Estate Group, DRE #02163490
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emily Beaven (licensed as Emily April Beaven) | Compass | Salesperson #01972840 | Bodega Bay (MLSListings listing record) |
| Thera Buttaro (licensed as Thera Ann Buttaro) | Sonoma Coast Living, Bodega Bay | Broker #00610278 | Bodega Bay office; Bodega Harbour, Salmon Creek, Carmet, Sereno del Mar, Jenner, Bodega |
| Steven Hecht (licensed as Steven Lee Hecht) | Artisan Sotheby’s International Realty | Broker #01378755 | Bodega Bay (current MLSListings listing) |
| Doug Hecker (licensed as Douglas Michael Hecker) | Coldwell Banker Realty, Petaluma | Salesperson #01347843 | Bodega Bay, Occidental, The Sea Ranch, Annapolis, Sonoma County, among others |
| Kristopher Lepore (licensed as Kristopher James Lepore) | Sonoma Coast Living, Bodega Bay | Salesperson #01797922 | Bodega Bay (MLSListings listing record) |
| Maurice Tegelaar (licensed as Maurice Christian Tegelaar) | Compass | Salesperson #01465653 | Bodega Bay (MLSListings listing record) |
| Ed Vail (licensed as Edward Emerson Vail) | Coldwell Banker Realty, Bodega Bay | Broker #00774354 | Bodega Bay office |
| Travis Vail (licensed as Edward Travis Vail) | Coldwell Banker Realty, Bodega Bay | Salesperson #02048911 | Bodega Bay office |
On the DRE record, Sonoma Coast Living is a DBA of Bodega Bay & Beyond Real Estate Sales Inc (DRE #01263505), with Thera Buttaro as designated officer; Compass agents are licensed under Compass California II, Inc. (DRE #01527235); Steven Hecht under Artisan Realty Group, Inc. (DRE #02025375) with a main office in Sebastopol; and Coldwell Banker Realty agents under NRT West, Inc. (DRE #01908304); the Vails appear on the Coldwell Banker Bodega Bay office roster. For more agents across the county, see our Sonoma County agents guide.
How to vet a Bodega Bay agent
- Ask about coastal permits. Ask how the agent checks permit history for additions, decks and seawalls, and whether past work had a coastal development permit.
- If rental income matters, ask about vacation rental permits. Ask how they confirm whether a home has a County permit and license and what a new owner must apply for.
- Read HOA documents early. In Bodega Harbour, ask for the budget, reserves, design rules and any special assessments.
- Check hazard and insurance exposure. Ask for the hazard disclosure report and an insurance quote that covers fire, flood and earthquake questions.
- Ask about water and septic. Ask who supplies water to the home and for septic records where the home is not on sewer.
- Check the license yourself. Confirm a "Licensed" status with a current responsible broker on the DRE lookup.
Bodega Bay questions we hear
Is Bodega Bay in the Coastal Zone?
Yes. Bodega Bay is on the coast, so the County’s Local Coastal Plan, updated and in effect since February 4, 2025, applies, and most development needs a coastal development permit.
Can I rent a Bodega Bay home as a vacation rental?
Permit Sonoma says vacation rentals are allowed in the Coastal Zone with a Vacation Rental Permit, a certified property manager, a TOT number and a license. Confirm a home’s permit status and what you must apply for before you buy.
Is there a city transfer tax in Bodega Bay?
No. Bodega Bay is unincorporated, and the Clerk-Recorder lists only Santa Rosa and Petaluma as cities that add their own tax. The county rate is $1.10 per $1,000.
What is the median home value in Bodega Bay?
Census estimates put the median owner-occupied value at about $1,294,900 for 2020–2024, with a very wide margin of error. Ask an agent for recent sales of similar homes.
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, Bodega Bay profile (ACS 2024 5-year)
- Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder, documentary transfer tax
- Permit Sonoma, Local Coastal Plan update
- Permit Sonoma, vacation rentals
- California Coastal Commission, coastal development permits
- CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal, Fire Hazard Severity Zones
- Coldwell Banker Realty Bodega Bay office roster, Sonoma Coast Living and MLSListings listing records, 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: Bodega · Dillon Beach · Tomales
Related: Bodega Bay real estate guide · Bodega Bay 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.
