Best Realtors in Coronado, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Coronado is a city of about 21,000 people on the peninsula across the bay from downtown San Diego, with early twentieth-century homes in the village, oceanfront and bayfront condominiums, and the waterfront Coronado Cays along the Silver Strand. A Coronado agent should understand the city’s historic review rules, its rental minimum and its coastal permit areas, because those can matter as much as the floor plan.
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 "Licensed" status. We left out agents whose records showed a suspended or expired license or no current brokerage affiliation.
- A named brokerage. Each agent’s profile and DRE record show the brokerage they work under.
- A public profile that names Coronado. We opened each agent’s brokerage profile page and confirmed it lists Coronado or a Coronado office.
We did not rank agents, and we did not consider sales volume, reviews or awards. Licenses and affiliations change, so verify the license yourself before you sign anything, and interview more than one agent.
Coronado housing in numbers
| Census measure | Coronado |
|---|---|
| Population (July 1, 2025 estimate) | 21,094 |
| Owner-occupied housing unit rate (2020–2024) | 54.6% |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020–2024) | $2,000,000+ |
| Median gross rent (2020–2024) | $3,257 |
| Median household income (2020–2024, 2024 dollars) | $134,534 |
| Mean travel time to work (2020–2024) | 18.1 minutes |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Coronado city, California.
The Census Bureau reports Coronado’s median owner-occupied home value as "$2,000,000+," which is the top of the survey’s reporting range, so the actual median is higher than that figure shows. Just over half of homes are owner-occupied. These are five-year survey figures, not current sale prices; pricing should come from recent sales of the same type and setting, such as village homes, oceanfront condos or Cays waterfront.
Coronado settings: the village, the oceanfront and the Cays
Coronado’s housing ranges from older cottages and period homes in the village grid to condominiums along the ocean and bay and the waterfront homes of the Coronado Cays. For older homes, the city requires a Determination of Historic Significance review before demolishing or removing original street-visible features of a structure at least 75 years old, unless the citywide inventory exempts it. The city’s Preservation Guidebook says designation stays with the property and that Mills Act contracts transfer to the buyer.
The city’s coastal permit chapter separates areas under city authority, areas appealable to the Coastal Commission, and areas outside city authority such as federal and Port District land. California American Water serves the city, according to its water quality report. For more detail, see our Coronado real estate guide.
Costs and rules specific to a Coronado purchase
- Transfer tax. The San Diego County Recorder collects documentary transfer tax at $0.55 per $500 of value ($1.10 per $1,000), about $2,200 on a $2,000,000 sale. We did not confirm a separate Coronado city rate from an official source, so check the escrow estimate. Our California transfer tax guide explains who usually pays.
- Rental minimum. The city’s Code Enforcement page says short-term vacation rentals are prohibited in residential zones and rentals must run at least 26 consecutive days.
- Historic review and Mills Act. Plan for the 75-year review before a major remodel. If a home has a Mills Act contract, ask for the recorded agreement and recent tax bills.
- Sewer lateral. The city’s sewer maintenance guide says owners are responsible for the entire lateral to the city main. Order a camera inspection.
- Hazards and special taxes. The county hazard mitigation plan section for Coronado lists earthquake, coastal storms and flooding, and tsunami among the top hazards; check the FEMA Flood Map Service Center. Sellers must make a good-faith effort to provide special tax notices under Civil Code section 1102.6b.
Coronado 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 Coronado. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc DBA Diamond Real Estate Group, DRE #02163490
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maria Batey | RE/MAX Hometown Realtors, Coronado office | Salesperson #01884211 | Coronado office; San Diego County, Chula Vista |
| Terry McDonald | RE/MAX Hometown Realtors, Coronado office | Broker #00792677 | Coronado office; Chula Vista, Oceanside, San Marcos |
| Deborah Pietkiewicz | RE/MAX Hometown Realtors, Coronado office | Salesperson #02008262 | Coronado, San Diego County |
| Amy Sanders | RE/MAX Hometown Realtors, Coronado office | Salesperson #01509289 | Coronado, San Diego, El Cajon, La Mesa, Santee |
| Brian Stewart | RE/MAX Hometown Realtors, Coronado office | Broker #00520991 | Coronado, San Diego, Chula Vista, La Mesa, Santee |
| Ashley Towle | RE/MAX Hometown Realtors, Coronado office | Salesperson #01903350 DRE record name: Workman, Ashley Marque. | Coronado office; San Diego County |
| Casey Webb | RE/MAX Hometown Realtors, Coronado office | Broker #00707015 | Coronado, University City |
| Jennifer Wu | Coldwell Banker Realty, San Diego Metro / Mission Valley office | Broker #01388692 | Coronado, Point Loma, Chula Vista, San Diego |
| Vicki Yourczek | RE/MAX Hometown Realtors, Coronado office | Broker #00991441 | Coronado office; Rancho Bernardo, Carmel Valley, San Diego |
RE/MAX Hometown Realtors is a DBA of Re/Start Inc, a licensed corporation (DRE #01214715) at 112 Orange Ave. in Coronado; Brian Stewart is its designated officer, and the profile lists him as broker-owner. Other broker-licensed agents above work as broker associates, as shown on their DRE records. Ashley Towle’s DRE record lists her as Ashley Marque Workman.
How to vet a Coronado agent
- Ask about the home’s age and historic status. A good Coronado agent should know whether a home is 75 years or older, its inventory tier, and whether it is designated or under a Mills Act contract.
- Ask which coastal permit area applies. Expect a clear answer on whether the parcel is under city authority, appealable to the Coastal Commission, or outside city authority.
- Test rental assumptions. Ask the agent to explain the 26-day minimum and what it means for any rental income you are counting on.
- Ask for comparables from the same setting. Village homes, oceanfront condos and Cays waterfront homes should be priced from different sales.
- Ask about insurance and hazards. For low-lying and waterfront homes, ask the agent to help you get insurance quotes early in escrow.
- Verify the license yourself. Look up the agent on the DRE site and confirm the license is active and the brokerage matches what they tell you.
Coronado questions we hear
Can I rent my Coronado home on a short-term basis?
Not in residential zones. The city’s Code Enforcement page says rentals in residential zones must run at least 26 consecutive days.
Does Coronado have a city transfer tax?
We did not confirm one from an official source. The County Recorder collects the county tax at $1.10 per $1,000 and collects any city tax as well. Check the escrow estimate.
What is the 75-year historic review?
Before demolishing or removing original street-visible features of a structure at least 75 years old, the city requires a Determination of Historic Significance review unless the inventory exempts it. The guidebook says it takes roughly 8 to 12 weeks.
Does a Mills Act contract transfer to the buyer?
Yes. The city’s Preservation Guidebook says the recorded contract transfers with the property, and alterations must follow Mills Act guidelines.
Should I interview more than one Coronado agent?
Yes. Interview at least two or three, ask each for recent sales in the part of Coronado you are considering, and compare how they explain historic review, coastal permits and rental rules for that address.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Coronado city, California (V2025 population estimate; 2020–2024 ACS figures)
- RE/MAX agent directory, Coronado · Coldwell Banker Realty agent profiles
- City of Coronado: Historic Preservation · Preservation Guidebook
- Coronado Municipal Code Chapter 86.70, coastal permits
- City of Coronado: Code Enforcement · sewer maintenance and responsibility
- California American Water: Coronado water quality report
- County hazard mitigation plan, City of Coronado section · FEMA Flood Map Service Center
- San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk: recording and transfer tax
- 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: Coronado real estate guide · Coronado home valuation · San Diego 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.
