Best Realtors in Imperial Beach, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Imperial Beach is the southernmost beach city in California, with about 25,000 people and 87 percent of its land in the Coastal Zone. An Imperial Beach agent should know when a coastal permit applies, how the shoreline, bayside and inland parts of the city differ, and what to check about beach water quality and the nearby Navy airfield.
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 "Licensed" status. We left out anyone whose record showed a suspension, an expired license or no current broker affiliation.
- A named brokerage. Each agent’s DRE record shows the brokerage they work under, and their profile names the brokerage brand.
- A public profile that names Imperial Beach or San Diego County. We opened each agent’s profile. Two name Imperial Beach directly; the others name San Diego County as their service area, and the table says which.
We did not rank agents, and we did not consider sales volume, reviews or awards. Licenses and affiliations change, so verify the license yourself before you sign anything, and interview more than one agent. Ask any agent for recent Imperial Beach sales of their own.
Imperial Beach housing in numbers
| Census measure | Imperial Beach |
|---|---|
| Population (July 1, 2025 estimate) | 25,206 |
| Owner-occupied housing unit rate (2020–2024) | 31.3% |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020–2024) | $857,000 |
| Median gross rent (2020–2024) | $2,011 |
| Median household income (2020–2024, 2024 dollars) | $86,111 |
| Mean travel time to work (2020–2024) | 27.1 minutes |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Imperial Beach city, California.
According to the Census Bureau, fewer than a third of Imperial Beach homes are owner-occupied, so renters make up most households and rental properties are a large share of the market. These are five-year survey figures, not current sale prices. An agent should price from recent sales in the same setting, since oceanfront, bayside and inland homes differ.
Imperial Beach settings: ocean shoreline, bayside and inland streets
The city’s combined General Plan and Local Coastal Plan says 87 percent of the city lies in the Coastal Zone, so many properties away from the beach are still inside it. The city’s sea level rise vulnerability assessment focused on the Pacific shoreline, and the county’s Beach and Bay program links frequent Imperial Beach beach closures to cross-border sewage flows from the Tijuana River Valley.
The county Airport Land Use Commission prepared a compatibility plan for Naval Outlying Landing Field Imperial Beach with an airport influence area. California American Water lists Imperial Beach in its Coronado system report. MTS Routes 933 and 934 connect the city to the Blue Line trolley. For more detail, see our Imperial Beach real estate guide.
Costs and rules specific to an Imperial Beach purchase
- Transfer tax. The San Diego County Recorder collects documentary transfer tax at $0.55 per $500 of value ($1.10 per $1,000), about $940 on an $857,000 sale. We did not confirm a separate city rate from an official source, so check the escrow estimate. Our California transfer tax guide explains who usually pays.
- Coastal permits. The city’s coastal permit FAQ says a coastal permit is required in the Coastal Zone unless the project is exempt under the municipal code. Ask Planning staff before relying on an exemption.
- ADUs. The city’s ADU page allows ADUs and junior ADUs in single-family zones and publishes a handout on when an ADU triggers a coastal permit.
- Short-term rentals. We did not confirm the city’s current short-term rental rules from an official source, so ask the city before relying on rental income. For long-term rentals, see our AB 1482 guide.
- Hazards and disclosures. Check the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and the city’s fire hazard map page, and review any airport disclosure in the natural hazard disclosure report. Sellers must make a good-faith effort to provide special tax notices under Civil Code section 1102.6b.
Imperial Beach 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 Imperial Beach. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc DBA Diamond Real Estate Group, DRE #02163490
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Baker | CENTURY 21 Affiliated (Award-Superstars) | Salesperson #01291814 | San Diego County |
| Maria Batey | RE/MAX Hometown Realtors, Coronado office | Salesperson #01884211 | San Diego County, Chula Vista |
| Ismael Betancourt Sr | CENTURY 21 Affiliated, Chula Vista office | Salesperson #01128139 | San Diego County, Chula Vista |
| Mike Campbell | Coldwell Banker Realty, La Mesa office | Salesperson #01717222 | Imperial Beach, Chula Vista, National City, Bonita, Otay Mesa |
| Nikki Coppa | CENTURY 21 Affiliated, El Cajon office | Broker #01266573 | San Diego County, Chula Vista |
| Tony Dulawan | Coldwell Banker Realty, La Mesa office | Salesperson #00644438 | Imperial Beach, Chula Vista, National City, La Mesa |
| Deborah Pietkiewicz | RE/MAX Hometown Realtors, Coronado office | Salesperson #02008262 | Coronado, San Diego County |
| Ashley Towle | RE/MAX Hometown Realtors, Coronado office | Salesperson #01903350 DRE record name: Workman, Ashley Marque. | San Diego County |
| Jude Wesner-Jouglet | Coldwell Banker Realty, La Mesa office | Salesperson #01854281 | San Diego County |
Only Mike Campbell’s and Tony Dulawan’s profiles name Imperial Beach; the other agents’ profiles name San Diego County, and none is based in an Imperial Beach office. CENTURY 21 Affiliated is a DBA of Award-Superstars (DRE #01897784), and RE/MAX Hometown Realtors is a DBA of Re/Start Inc (DRE #01214715). Some DRE names differ from profile names (Christopher Jason Baker, Ashley Marque Workman, Judy Anette Wesner Jouglet).
How to vet an Imperial Beach agent
- Ask for recent Imperial Beach sales. Because few agents list Imperial Beach specifically, ask each candidate for their own recent sales or listings in the city.
- Ask whether the parcel is in the Coastal Zone. A good agent should help you confirm whether an addition or ADU would need a coastal permit.
- Ask about the setting. Oceanfront, bayside and inland homes face different flood, sea level rise and insurance questions.
- Ask how they handle beach water quality. Expect the agent to point you to the county’s current postings rather than make promises.
- For income property, ask about rents and rules. With most households renting, ask for rent comparables and how state tenant law applies.
- Verify the license yourself. Look up the agent on the DRE site and confirm the license is active and the brokerage matches.
Imperial Beach questions we hear
How much of Imperial Beach is in the Coastal Zone?
The city’s General Plan and Local Coastal Plan says 87 percent. Check the specific parcel on the city’s GIS map or with Planning staff.
Why are Imperial Beach beaches closed so often?
The county’s Beach and Bay program links south county closures to cross-border sewage flows from the Tijuana River Valley. Check current postings.
Does Imperial Beach have a city transfer tax?
We did not confirm one from an official source. The County Recorder collects the county tax at $1.10 per $1,000 and collects any city tax as well. Check the escrow estimate.
Does the Navy airfield affect property?
The county’s compatibility plan for NOLF Imperial Beach sets an airport influence area with land use criteria. Review any airport disclosure in the hazard report.
Should I interview more than one Imperial Beach agent?
Yes. Interview at least two or three, ask each for recent Imperial Beach sales, and compare how they explain coastal permits and shoreline risks for the address.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Imperial Beach city, California (V2025 population estimate; 2020–2024 ACS figures)
- Coldwell Banker Realty agent profiles · CENTURY 21 agent directory, Imperial Beach · RE/MAX agent directory, Imperial Beach
- City of Imperial Beach: General Plan and Local Coastal Plan · coastal permit FAQ · ADUs · sea level rise assessment · fire hazard maps
- County of San Diego: Beach and Bay program
- NOLF Imperial Beach compatibility plan (CEQAnet)
- California American Water: Coronado system report · MTS Routes 933/934
- San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk: recording and transfer tax · FEMA Flood Map Service Center
- California Civil Code section 1102.6b (Justia)
- License records checked October 2026 on the California DRE public lookup. Last reviewed October 2026 by Matthew Martinez.
Related: Imperial Beach real estate guide · Imperial Beach home valuation · San Diego 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.
