Best Realtors in Elk, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Elk is a small unincorporated village on Highway 1 on the Mendocino coast, perched above Greenwood Cove about 16 miles south of Mendocino village and near the mouth of the Navarro River. Buyers find a handful of village homes and inns, ocean-view parcels on the bluffs, and rural acreage on Greenwood Ridge, nearly all in the Coastal Zone.
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-associate affiliation that matches the brokerage on the agent’s profile.
- A named brokerage. Each agent’s DRE record shows the brokerage they work under.
- A public page that names Elk. We opened each agent’s brokerage profile or office roster and confirmed it names Elk, or lists the agent in the brokerage’s Elk agent directory.
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.
Only two agent profiles we opened name Elk. The six CENTURY 21 agents below are listed in CENTURY 21’s Elk agent directory, but their own profiles name Fort Bragg or Mendocino village, not Elk; the table says so.
Elk housing in numbers
We could not find a Census place profile for Elk that loaded, so the figures below are for Mendocino County as a whole.
| Measure (U.S. Census QuickFacts) | Mendocino County |
|---|---|
| Population, July 1, 2025 estimate | 88,122 |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes, 2020–2024 | $512,200 |
| Owner-occupied housing rate, 2020–2024 | 61.7% |
| Median gross rent, 2020–2024 | $1,317 |
| Mean travel time to work, 2020–2024 | 21.5 minutes |
Source: U.S. Census QuickFacts, Mendocino County. Coastal parcels with ocean views usually price very differently from the county median; ask an agent for recent sales on the same stretch of coast.
Coastal village rules and the land around Elk
Elk has no city government; Mendocino County handles zoning and permits, and the village is in the Coastal Zone. The County’s Rural Village district names Elk among the coastal villages where development must meet visual resource criteria, and offices, restaurants, retail and inns there are conditional uses needing a coastal development use permit. Bluff-top parcels may face setback and erosion review. For more, see our Elk real estate guide and coastal home inspection notes.
Costs and rules specific to a Elk purchase
- Transfer tax. Elk is unincorporated, so no city transfer tax applies. Fidelity National Financial’s title guide (Who Pays What, rev. January 2026) lists Mendocino County’s documentary transfer tax at $1.10 per $1,000, customarily paid by the seller: about $563 on a $512,200 sale (the county median value). The County Recorder collects the tax but does not post the rate, so confirm it on your escrow estimate. Our California transfer tax guide explains who usually pays.
- Coastal Development Permits. The County’s Coastal Zone page says development in the Coastal Zone, including changes in water use and major vegetation removal, needs a Coastal Development Permit, which typically takes six to twelve months with a public hearing, and applicants must show an adequate water supply.
- Fire hazard and insurance. Look up the address on the State Fire Marshal’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps, read the natural hazard disclosure report, and get an insurance quote before you remove contingencies.
- Water and septic. Coastal parcels often rely on wells, springs or hauled water and septic systems. Order a well yield test and septic inspection, since water supply can limit what you can build.
- Short-term rentals. Do not count on vacation-rental income until the County confirms the parcel can operate one; ask the agent for any existing business license and transient occupancy tax history.
Elk 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 Elk. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc DBA Diamond Real Estate Group, DRE #02163490
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stephanie Berry | CENTURY 21 Fort Bragg Realty | Salesperson #01763796 | Fort Bragg, Mendocino; listed in CENTURY 21 Elk agent directory |
| Mischa Buchholz | CENTURY 21 Seascape Realty, Mendocino | Salesperson #02188486 | Mendocino village, Mendocino Coast; listed in CENTURY 21 Elk agent directory |
| Bridgette Coldren | CENTURY 21 Fort Bragg Realty | Salesperson #02288347 | Fort Bragg office; listed in CENTURY 21 Elk agent directory |
| Michelle Deering | CENTURY 21 Fort Bragg Realty | Broker #01436398 | Fort Bragg office; listed in CENTURY 21 Elk agent directory |
| Scott Deitz | CENTURY 21 Seascape Realty, Mendocino | Broker #01014073 | Mendocino village office; listed in CENTURY 21 Elk agent directory |
| Junice Gleason | CENTURY 21 Fort Bragg Realty | Salesperson #01144229 | Fort Bragg office; listed in CENTURY 21 Elk agent directory |
| Cindy Kennedy | Kennedy & Associates, Gualala | Broker #00522478 | Elk (bio: coast "from Timber Cove to Elk"); Gualala, Manchester |
| Kelley Urbani (licensed as Kelley Ann Freeland) | Engel & Völkers Mendocino | Salesperson #02094249 DRE record name: Freeland, Kelley Ann. | Elk (listing); Fort Bragg, Little River, Westport, Point Arena |
On the DRE record, Kennedy & Associates Real Estate is a business name of broker Cindy L Kennedy in Gualala; Kelley Urbani is licensed under San Francisco Real Estate Holdings, Inc., whose record lists the Engel & Voelkers Mendocino name and a Mendocino branch; CENTURY 21 Fort Bragg Realty agents are licensed under Fort Bragg Realty Inc; and CENTURY 21 Seascape Realty agents under Seascape Realty Inc in Mendocino. Kennedy’s and Urbani’s profiles are on Homes.com.
How to vet a Elk agent
- Ask how many south and mid-coast sales they have handled. Coastal pricing depends on views, water and permitted improvements.
- Ask what has been permitted. Compare structures, decks and ADUs with County permit and Coastal Development Permit records.
- Get the water story in writing. Ask for well logs and yield tests, or hauling records.
- Check bluff and drainage issues. For ocean-side parcels, ask about setbacks and any geologic reports.
- Get an insurance quote early. Coastal homes face fire and wind underwriting questions.
- Check the license yourself. Confirm a "Licensed" status with a current broker on the DRE lookup.
Elk questions we hear
Is there a city transfer tax in Elk?
No. Elk is unincorporated; Fidelity National Financial’s 2026 guide lists the Mendocino County tax at $1.10 per $1,000.
Do I need a coastal permit to remodel in Elk?
Often. The County says development in the Coastal Zone needs a Coastal Development Permit, which typically takes six to twelve months.
Why are agents from other towns in this guide?
Few profiles name Elk by itself. We mark in the table which agents name Elk and which name nearby towns or appear only in a brokerage directory for Elk.
Who handles permits in Elk?
Mendocino County Planning and Building Services.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- U.S. Census QuickFacts, Mendocino County
- Fidelity National Financial, Who Pays What: California Transfer Tax and Fees (rev. January 2026)
- Mendocino County Recorder
- Mendocino County, Coastal Zone information
- Mendocino County Code, Ch. 20.388, RV Rural Village district
- CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal, Fire Hazard Severity Zones
- CENTURY 21 Elk agent directory
- Agent profiles on homes.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.
Nearby agent guides: Manchester · Fort Bragg · Navarro
Related: Elk real estate guide · Elk home valuation · Mendocino 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.
