Best Realtors in Hillsborough, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Hillsborough is a residential town of about 11,100 people in the hills west of Burlingame and San Mateo, with large lots, winding roads and almost no commercial district. Because the town has no real estate offices of its own, the agents in this guide work from Burlingame offices and Woodside, a few miles south.
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 Hillsborough. We opened each agent’s brokerage or MLS profile and confirmed it names Hillsborough as an area served, in the agent’s bio or client testimonials, or in the agent’s listed sales.
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.
Hillsborough housing in numbers
| Census measure (ACS 2024 5-year) | Hillsborough |
|---|---|
| Population | 11,099 |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes | $2,000,000 or more (the survey’s top category) |
| Median household income | $250,000 or more (the survey’s top category) |
| Persons per household | 3.1 |
| Median age | 47 |
| Mean travel time to work | 27.1 minutes |
| Housing units | 3,821 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates, as presented by Census Reporter. The Census survey’s home value and income scales top out at $2 million and $250,000, so Hillsborough’s medians are reported only as those amounts or more.
Because the Census figures are capped, they say little about actual prices. Ask agents for recent closed sales on comparable lots, views and home sizes.
Large lots, hillside roads and a residential-only town
Hillsborough is almost entirely single-family homes on large lots, from older estates in the flatter neighborhoods near Burlingame to hillside homes with bay views toward Interstate 280 and Crystal Springs. Lot size, slope, view, privacy and the condition of mature trees and landscaping drive value as much as the house itself. For more, see our Hillsborough real estate guide and estate town design review notes.
Costs and rules specific to a Hillsborough 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: $2,200 per $2 million of price. 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 Hillsborough; confirm the total on your escrow estimate. Our California transfer tax guide explains who usually pays.
- Broad permit requirements. The Town’s Building Permits page says permits are required not only for new homes and additions but also for many smaller projects, including decks, fences, gates, pools, kitchen and bath remodels, roofs, drainage, solar and tree removal. Ask the seller for permit records for past work, and check them with the Building Division.
- Design review. The Town has an Architecture and Design Review Board that holds regular public meetings. If you plan a new home, a major addition or exterior changes, ask the Town how its design review applies before you buy.
- Fire hazard and insurance. Wooded hillside areas can carry mapped wildfire risk. Check 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. In a High or Very High zone, see our AB 38 guide.
- Sewer laterals. Older homes can have aging sewer laterals; see our San Mateo County sewer lateral notes and ask the Town what applies at sale.
Hillsborough 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 Hillsborough. 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 | Hillsborough, Burlingame, Foster City (client testimonials); past Hillsborough sales |
| Miriam Chirko | Coldwell Banker Realty, Burlingame | Broker #01130688 | Hillsborough, Burlingame, San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos, Foster City, Millbrae |
| Debbie Elowson (licensed as Deborah Elowson) | Compass, Burlingame | Salesperson #01757074 | Burlingame, San Mateo, Millbrae, Foster City; past Hillsborough sales |
| Jenn Gilson (licensed as Jennifer Anne Gilson) | Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty, Burlingame | Salesperson #01889172 | Hillsborough (bio and listings), the Peninsula |
| Stephanie Nash | Compass, Woodside | Salesperson #01104524 | Mid-Peninsula cities including Burlingame and San Mateo; past Hillsborough sales |
| Geoffrey Nelson | Coldwell Banker Realty, Burlingame | Salesperson #01313666 | Hillsborough, Burlingame, San Mateo |
| Arlene Sullivan | Coldwell Banker Realty, Burlingame | Salesperson #01053539 | Hillsborough, Burlingame, San Mateo, Belmont, Foster City, Millbrae, Atherton |
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 Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty agents under Decker Bullock Dreyfus Inc. (DRE #02027353), whose record lists that business name and a branch at 360 Primrose Road in Burlingame. For more agents, see our San Mateo County agents guide.
How to vet a Hillsborough agent
- Ask for comparable lot sales. Lot size, slope and views vary a lot; ask for recent sales of similar parcels, not town averages.
- Ask how they check permits. Hillsborough requires permits for many smaller projects; ask how the agent confirms permits for decks, fences, pools and remodels.
- Ask about design review timelines. If you plan to rebuild or add on, ask what the Town’s review process has looked like for recent clients.
- Plan for trees, drainage and slope. Ask for arborist, drainage and geotechnical reports where they exist.
- Get fire insurance quotes early. Hillside and wooded lots can face higher premiums.
- Check the license yourself. Confirm a "Licensed" status with a current broker on the DRE lookup.
Hillsborough questions we hear
Is there a city transfer tax in Hillsborough?
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.
Do I need a permit for a fence or to remove a tree in Hillsborough?
The Town’s Building Permits page lists fences, gates and tree removal among the projects that need permits. Check with the Building Division before you start.
Why does the Census show Hillsborough’s median as "$2 million or more"?
The American Community Survey’s home value scale stops at $2 million, so higher medians are reported only as the cap.
Are there real estate offices in Hillsborough?
Not among the profiles we checked. Agents who serve Hillsborough generally work from offices in nearby Burlingame and San Mateo.
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, Hillsborough profile (ACS 2024 5-year)
- San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder, documentary transfer tax
- Town of Hillsborough, Building Permits and Town home page (Architecture and Design Review Board meetings)
- CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal, Fire Hazard Severity Zones
- Decker Bullock Dreyfus Inc. DRE record (Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty 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: Foster City · Millbrae
Related: Hillsborough real estate guide · Hillsborough 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.
