Best Realtors in Fair Oaks, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Fair Oaks is an unincorporated community of about 32,800 people in Sacramento County, on the north bank of the American River between Carmichael, Orangevale and Folsom. It has no city government, so Sacramento County sets zoning, permit and short-term rental rules for every Fair Oaks address, from homes near Fair Oaks Village to larger lots on the river bluffs.
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 Fair Oaks. We opened each agent’s brokerage profile and confirmed that it names Fair Oaks, either as an area served or as the agent’s office location.
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.
Fair Oaks housing in numbers
| Census measure (ACS 2024 5-year) | Fair Oaks CDP |
|---|---|
| Population | 32,799 |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes | $683,000 (±$18,229) |
| Median household income | $116,975 (±$6,646) |
| Persons per household | 2.5 |
| Mean travel time to work | 29.7 minutes |
| Housing units | 13,603 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates, as presented by Census Reporter.
Fair Oaks’ estimated median owner-occupied value of about $683,000 is roughly 20 percent above the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom metro figure of $589,500 on the same profile, and median household income is about 20 percent higher than the metro’s as well. Lots, home ages and river proximity vary a great deal within Fair Oaks, so a single median hides a wide range; ask any agent for recent sales on comparable streets.
The Village, the river bluffs and an unincorporated community
Fair Oaks has no city hall, so planning, building permits and code enforcement run through Sacramento County. Housing ranges from older homes near Fair Oaks Village to tract neighborhoods and semi-rural parcels, with some homes near the American River Parkway. Older homes deserve careful inspection and permit review, and properties on the bluffs or near creeks deserve a close look at slope, drainage and flood maps. For an overview, see our Fair Oaks real estate guide, our inspection and insurance planning notes and our local comparable sales notes.
Costs and rules specific to a Fair Oaks purchase
- Transfer tax. The Sacramento County Clerk-Recorder charges documentary transfer tax of $0.55 per $500 of value and says the City of Sacramento is the only city in the county with its own transfer tax. Fair Oaks is unincorporated, so only the County tax applies: about $751 on a $683,000 sale. Our California transfer tax guide explains who usually pays.
- Short-term rentals. The County’s short-term rental permit page requires a permit, a County business license and transient occupancy tax registration in the unincorporated area. 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. Do not plan on unhosted vacation-rental income.
- Permit history. Ask for County permits on additions, garage conversions and second units, and compare them with the house; unpermitted work can affect financing and insurance. See our notes on home improvement records.
- HOA and assessments. Some Fair Oaks subdivisions have homeowner associations; review dues, reserves and any special assessments. Our association and assessment cost notes list what to request.
- Hazards and insurance. Look up the address on the State Fire Marshal’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps, check the flood zone for river-adjacent parcels, read the natural hazard disclosure report and get an insurance quote early.
Fair Oaks 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 Fair Oaks. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc DBA Diamond Real Estate Group, DRE #02163490
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steven Barnes (licensed as Steven Charles Barnes) | Windermere Signature Properties, Fair Oaks | Salesperson #01336629 | Fair Oaks (office), Orangevale |
| Marjan Breault | Windermere Signature Properties, Fair Oaks | Salesperson #00850202 | Fair Oaks (office) |
| Chris Burton (licensed as Christopher Paul Burton) | Windermere Signature Properties, Fair Oaks | Salesperson #01925225 | Fair Oaks (office) |
| Carol Kellogg | Windermere Signature Properties, Fair Oaks | Salesperson #01150953 | Fair Oaks (office), Sacramento area |
| Jackie Merchant-Scharff | Coldwell Banker Realty, Sacramento-Sierra Oaks | Broker #01322198 | Fair Oaks, Carmichael, Sierra Oaks, Arden Park, Del Dayo |
| Doug Reynolds | Coldwell Banker Realty, Sacramento-Sierra Oaks | Salesperson #01734464 | Fair Oaks, Carmichael, Orangevale, Sacramento, Antelope |
| Mandy Scott | Coldwell Banker Realty, Sacramento-Sierra Oaks | Salesperson #02062339 | Fair Oaks, Carmichael, Arden Park, Arden Arcade |
| Tamara Sax Sogard | Windermere Signature Properties, Fair Oaks | Salesperson #01072238 | Fair Oaks (office) |
| Britt Wiseman | Coldwell Banker Realty, Sacramento-Sierra Oaks | Salesperson #01414550 | Fair Oaks, Carmichael, Orangevale, Citrus Heights, Sacramento |
On the DRE record, Windermere Signature Properties agents are licensed under William L Lyon & Associates Inc, whose DRE record lists Windermere Signature Properties as a business name, and Coldwell Banker Realty agents under NRT West, Inc. The Windermere agents work from the brokerage’s office at 8814 Madison Avenue in Fair Oaks; the Coldwell Banker agents work from an office in Sacramento’s Sierra Oaks area and name Fair Oaks on their profiles. For more agents across the county, see our Sacramento County agents guide.
How to vet a Fair Oaks agent
- Ask for sales on comparable streets. Lot size, views and river proximity drive large price differences; ask for recent sales of similar homes nearby.
- Confirm the jurisdiction. Fair Oaks is unincorporated County; ask the agent to confirm which permit office, rules and taxes apply.
- Check permits on older homes. Have the agent request County permit records for additions and second units.
- Ask about slope, drainage and trees. For bluff, creek-side or heavily wooded lots, ask about drainage, large-tree maintenance and insurance.
- Plan rentals around County rules. If you hope to rent a room or ADU short term, review the hosted-only short-term rental rules first.
- Check the license yourself. Confirm a "Licensed" status with a current responsible broker on the DRE lookup.
Fair Oaks questions we hear
Is Fair Oaks a city?
No. Fair Oaks is an unincorporated community, so Sacramento County handles zoning and permits, and no city transfer tax applies.
Can I run a vacation rental in Fair Oaks?
Only as a hosted rental with a County permit. The owner or a long-term renter must live on site at least six months a year, and stays are limited to 29 days.
What is the median home value in Fair Oaks?
Census estimates put the median owner-occupied value at about $683,000 for 2020–2024, with a margin of error of about $18,000. Ask an agent for recent sales of similar homes.
Do any of these agents work from an office in Fair Oaks?
Yes. The Windermere Signature Properties agents listed work from the brokerage’s Madison Avenue office in Fair Oaks; the Coldwell Banker agents work from Sacramento and name Fair Oaks as an area they serve.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- Census Reporter, Fair Oaks CDP profile (ACS 2024 5-year)
- Sacramento County Clerk-Recorder, documentary transfer tax FAQ
- Sacramento County Planning, short-term rental permits
- CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal, Fire Hazard Severity Zones
- William L Lyon & Associates Inc DRE record (Windermere Signature Properties business name)
- Agent profiles on windermere.com and coldwellbankerhomes.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: Carmichael · Citrus Heights
Related: Fair Oaks real estate guide · Fair Oaks home valuation · Sacramento 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.
