Best Realtors in Foster City, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Foster City is a planned city of about 32,800 people on the bay side of San Mateo, built on reclaimed land around a system of lagoons. Single-family neighborhoods, townhome and condominium communities and waterfront homes all sit behind a bay levee the City rebuilt, and the agents in this guide work from Burlingame offices that serve the mid-Peninsula.
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 Foster City. We opened each agent’s brokerage or MLS profile and confirmed it names Foster City as an area served or work area.
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.
Foster City housing in numbers
| Census measure (ACS 2024 5-year) | Foster City |
|---|---|
| Population | 32,792 |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes | $1,838,200 (±$78,375) |
| Median household income | $199,143 (±$11,786) |
| Persons per household | 2.5 |
| Median age | 39.5 |
| Mean travel time to work | 29.4 minutes |
| Housing units | 13,617 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates, as presented by Census Reporter. These are survey estimates with margins of error, not current sale prices.
The citywide median mixes detached homes, many on or near the lagoons, with townhomes and condos that usually sell for less. Ask agents for recent closed sales of the same property type in the same neighborhood.
Lagoons, townhome communities and the bay levee
Foster City was laid out as a planned community, so many neighborhoods were built at the same time with similar home styles. Waterfront lots on the lagoons, interior single-family streets, and a large share of townhome and condominium developments with homeowners associations make up most of the housing. Because the city sits on fill next to the bay, flood protection, soils and foundations come up in many inspections. For more, see our Foster City real estate guide, association and assessment costs notes and inspection and insurance planning notes.
Costs and rules specific to a Foster City purchase
- Transfer tax. The San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder lists the county documentary transfer tax at 55 cents per $500, or $1.10 per $1,000 of value: about $2,022 on a $1,838,200 sale. The Clerk-Recorder’s page names the City of San Mateo as the city with an additional conveyance tax and does not list one for Foster City; confirm the total on your escrow estimate. Our California transfer tax guide explains who usually pays.
- Levee and bond. The City says FEMA found in 2014 that the levee did not meet minimum flood protection standards. Residents approved Measure P, a $90 million general obligation bond, and the City marked completion of its Levee Improvements Project with a February 2023 ribbon cutting. Look for voter-approved bond charges on the property tax bill, and ask your insurance agent and lender whether flood coverage is required for a specific address.
- HOAs. For townhomes, condos and many planned neighborhoods, read the HOA budget, reserve study, insurance coverage and any special assessments before you remove contingencies.
- Hazards. Read the natural hazard disclosure report for flood and seismic liquefaction mapping, and get a quote for homeowners and earthquake coverage early.
Foster City 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 Foster City. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc DBA Diamond Real Estate Group, DRE #02163490
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kathleen Areias | Compass, Burlingame | Broker #01165140 | Foster City, Burlingame, Hillsborough (named in client testimonials); Mid-Peninsula |
| Miriam Chirko | Coldwell Banker Realty, Burlingame | Broker #01130688 | Foster City, San Mateo, Burlingame, Hillsborough, Belmont, San Carlos, Redwood City, Millbrae |
| Jo-Ann DeRewenda (licensed as Jo-Ann De Rewenda) | Coldwell Banker Realty, Burlingame | Broker #01015410 | Peninsula cities from Daly City to Mountain View, including Foster City |
| Debbie Elowson (licensed as Deborah Elowson) | Compass, Burlingame | Salesperson #01757074 | Foster City, Burlingame, San Mateo, Millbrae, Daly City, Woodside |
| Patrick Ho | Coldwell Banker Realty, Burlingame | Broker #01934478 | Foster City, Burlingame, Millbrae, San Mateo, San Carlos, Redwood City and other Peninsula cities |
| Rumana Jabeen | KW Advisors, Burlingame | Salesperson #01296366 | Foster City, San Mateo |
| David Martin | Coldwell Banker Realty, Burlingame | Salesperson #01408536 | Foster City, San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos, Redwood Shores, Burlingame, Millbrae |
| Arlene Sullivan | Coldwell Banker Realty, Burlingame | Salesperson #01053539 | Foster City, San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos, Burlingame, Hillsborough, Millbrae, Redwood Shores |
On the DRE record, Coldwell Banker Realty agents are licensed under NRT West, Inc. (DRE #01908304), Compass agents under Compass California II, Inc. (DRE #01527235), and KW Advisors agents under BGSM, Inc. (DRE #01906450), whose record lists KW Advisors as a business name with a main office in Burlingame. For more agents, see our San Mateo County agents guide.
How to vet a Foster City agent
- Ask for sales of your property type. Lagoon-front homes, interior homes, townhomes and condos are separate markets; ask for recent sales of the same type.
- Get HOA documents early. Ask for budgets, reserves, insurance and meeting minutes, and look for planned assessments.
- Ask about foundations and settlement. Homes on bay fill can show settlement; plan a thorough inspection and consider a structural review.
- Check flood insurance needs by address. Ask your lender and insurer before you commit.
- Ask about docks and lagoon frontage. For waterfront homes, ask what the owner maintains and what permits any dock or bulkhead needed.
- Check the license yourself. Confirm a "Licensed" status with a current broker on the DRE lookup.
Foster City questions we hear
Is there a city transfer tax in Foster City?
The County Clerk-Recorder’s page lists the county tax of $1.10 per $1,000 and names only the City of San Mateo for an extra city tax. Confirm the total on your escrow estimate.
Is the Foster City levee finished?
Yes. The City held a ribbon cutting for the completed Levee Improvements Project in February 2023. The work was funded by the Measure P bond.
What is the median home value in Foster City?
Census estimates put the median owner-occupied value at about $1,838,200 for 2020–2024. 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, Foster City profile (ACS 2024 5-year)
- San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder, documentary transfer tax
- City of Foster City, Levee Improvements Project completion
- BGSM, Inc. DRE record (KW Advisors business name)
- Agent profiles on coldwellbankerhomes.com, compass.com and mlslistings.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: Hillsborough · Millbrae
Related: Foster City real estate guide · Foster City home valuation · San Mateo 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.
