Best Realtors in Fort Bragg, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Fort Bragg is the largest city on the Mendocino Coast, a working harbor town of about 6,900 people on Highway 1, ten miles north of Mendocino village. Buyers look at older in-town homes, ocean-view lots on the edges of town, and rural coastal parcels toward Cleone, Inglenook and the Noyo River. Two of the brokerages in this guide have offices on North Main Street.
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 Fort Bragg. We opened each agent’s brokerage profile or the brokerage’s Fort Bragg office roster and confirmed it names Fort Bragg or a Fort Bragg office.
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.
Fort Bragg housing in numbers
| Measure (U.S. Census QuickFacts) | Fort Bragg city |
|---|---|
| Population, July 1, 2025 estimate | 6,946 |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes, 2020–2024 | $535,400 |
| Owner-occupied housing rate, 2020–2024 | 46.3% |
| Median gross rent, 2020–2024 | $1,290 |
| Median household income, 2020–2024 (2024 dollars) | $56,481 |
| Persons per household, 2020–2024 | 2.20 |
| Mean travel time to work, 2020–2024 | 12.7 minutes |
| Land area, 2020 | 2.90 sq. mi. |
Fewer than half of Fort Bragg homes are owner-occupied, compared with 61.7% countywide in QuickFacts for Mendocino County, so renters and small rental properties are a large part of the in-town market. The median owner-occupied value of $535,400 sits a little above the county’s $512,200. These are five-year Census figures, not current sale prices; ask an agent for recent sales near the address.
In town, the harbor and the coast outside city limits
Fort Bragg is one of four incorporated cities in Mendocino County, according to Mendocino LAFCo, so the City handles zoning and permits inside city limits. The City keeps two development codes: a Coastal Land Use and Development Code for the part of town in the Coastal Zone (Title 17) and an Inland Land Use and Development Code for the rest (Title 18). Ask which one covers the parcel before planning an addition or ADU.
Just outside the city, the Noyo Harbor area, Cleone and the rural coast north and south of town fall under Mendocino County. The County’s Coastal Zone page says development there needs a Coastal Development Permit, which typically takes six to twelve months with a public hearing, and applicants must show an adequate water supply.
For neighborhoods and listings, see our Fort Bragg real estate guide.
Costs and rules specific to a Fort Bragg purchase
- Transfer tax. 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 and lists no city tax for Fort Bragg; on a $535,400 sale the county tax is about $589. The County Recorder collects the tax but does not post the rate, and we did not find a Fort Bragg city transfer tax on an official source, so confirm on your escrow estimate. Our California transfer tax guide explains who usually pays.
- Coastal or inland code. Inside city limits, the Coastal Zone portion follows Title 17 and the rest Title 18. Ask the agent for the parcel’s zoning and any permits on record.
- Vacation rentals. Do not count on short-term rental income in Fort Bragg until the City confirms the property can operate one. Outside city limits, Mendocino village has its own caps under County Code Chapter 20.748.
- 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 early.
- Water and septic outside town. Rural coastal parcels often rely on wells and septic systems. Order a well yield test and septic inspection.
Fort Bragg 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 Fort Bragg. 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 |
| Gregory Burke | Mendo Sotheby’s International Realty | Broker #01206312 | Fort Bragg and Mendocino offices; Mendocino Coast |
| Bridgette Coldren | CENTURY 21 Fort Bragg Realty | Salesperson #02288347 | Fort Bragg office |
| Michelle Deering | CENTURY 21 Fort Bragg Realty | Broker #01436398 | Fort Bragg office |
| Junice Gleason | CENTURY 21 Fort Bragg Realty | Salesperson #01144229 | Fort Bragg office |
| Robert Kinney | CENTURY 21 Fort Bragg Realty | Salesperson #01271168 | Fort Bragg office |
| Agnes Li | CENTURY 21 Fort Bragg Realty | Broker #01956145 | Fort Bragg office |
| Leopoldo Magana | CENTURY 21 Fort Bragg Realty | Salesperson #02339911 | Fort Bragg office |
| Justin May | CENTURY 21 Fort Bragg Realty | Salesperson #02253079 | Fort Bragg office |
| Ricardo May (licensed as Ricardo May Can) | CENTURY 21 Fort Bragg Realty | Salesperson #02202404 DRE record name: May Can, Ricardo. | Fort Bragg office |
| Kira Meade | Mendo Sotheby’s International Realty | Broker #01220296 | Fort Bragg, Mendocino; Mendocino Coast |
| Mackenzie Rain | Mendo Sotheby’s International Realty | Salesperson #02167650 | Fort Bragg and Mendocino offices; Mendocino Coast |
| Silvia Reed | CENTURY 21 Fort Bragg Realty | Salesperson #02146789 | Fort Bragg office |
| Sarah Schoeneman | Mendo Sotheby’s International Realty | Salesperson #01383401 | Fort Bragg and Mendocino offices; Mendocino Coast, Anderson Valley |
| Kelley Urbani (licensed as Kelley Ann Freeland) | Engel & Völkers Mendocino | Salesperson #02094249 DRE record name: Freeland, Kelley Ann. | Fort Bragg, Willits, Elk, Westport, Little River, Point Arena |
On the DRE record, CENTURY 21 Fort Bragg Realty agents are licensed under Fort Bragg Realty Inc (DRE #01300755), at 809 North Main Street, Mendo Sotheby’s International Realty agents under Mendo Realty Of Mendocino Inc (DRE #00453727), which lists a Fort Bragg office at 703 North Main Street, and the Engel & Völkers Mendocino agent under San Francisco Real Estate Holdings, Inc., whose DRE record lists the Engel & Voelkers Mendocino name and a Mendocino branch on Lansing Street. Kelley Urbani’s profile is on Homes.com. "Fort Bragg office" means the agent appears on the brokerage’s Fort Bragg office roster or team page. For agents based inland, see our Mendocino County agents guide.
How to vet a Fort Bragg agent
- Ask whether the parcel is in city limits. The City and the County apply different codes, and coastal parcels outside town go through County Coastal Development Permits.
- Ask which city code applies. Inside Fort Bragg, confirm whether the Coastal (Title 17) or Inland (Title 18) code covers the lot before budgeting for an ADU.
- Review rental history. With fewer than half of homes owner-occupied, many listings have tenants; ask for leases, rent history and move-out terms.
- Order water, septic and sewer checks. In town, scope the sewer lateral; outside town, test the well and septic.
- Get an insurance quote early. Coastal homes face wind and fire underwriting questions; build the premium into your budget.
- Check the license yourself. Confirm a "Licensed" status with a current broker on the DRE lookup.
Fort Bragg questions we hear
Is there a city transfer tax in Fort Bragg?
Fidelity National Financial’s 2026 guide lists none, only the county’s $1.10 per $1,000, and we did not find one on an official City source. Confirm on your escrow estimate.
What is the median home value in Fort Bragg?
Census QuickFacts puts the median owner-occupied value at $535,400 for 2020–2024. That is a survey figure, not a current sale price.
Do I need a coastal permit to build near Fort Bragg?
Outside city limits in the Coastal Zone, the County generally requires a Coastal Development Permit, which it says typically takes six to twelve months. Inside the city, ask the City’s Community Development Department.
Can a Fort Bragg agent help me buy in Mendocino village?
The CENTURY 21 and Sotheby’s brokerages in this guide also list Mendocino village offices or name Mendocino on agent pages. Ask any agent about the village’s vacation rental caps before you write an offer.
How long are commutes from Fort Bragg?
Census figures show a mean travel time of about 13 minutes for residents, since most work in town or nearby.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- U.S. Census QuickFacts, Fort Bragg city (population estimate July 1, 2025; other figures 2020–2024)
- U.S. Census QuickFacts, Mendocino County
- Mendocino LAFCo, cities
- Fort Bragg Coastal Land Use and Development Code, Title 17; Inland Land Use and Development Code, Title 18
- Mendocino County, Coastal Zone information
- Mendocino County Recorder
- Fidelity National Financial, Who Pays What: California Transfer Tax and Fees (rev. January 2026)
- Mendocino County Code, Ch. 20.748, Town of Mendocino rentals
- CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal, Fire Hazard Severity Zones
- CENTURY 21 Fort Bragg Realty office page; Mendo Sotheby’s International Realty team page; agent profiles linked in the table, including one on Homes.com
- License records checked October 2026 on the California DRE public lookup. Last reviewed October 2026 by Matthew Martinez.
Nearby agent guides: Elk · Manchester
Related: Fort Bragg real estate guide · Fort Bragg 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.
