Choosing a Real Estate Agent in Knightsen, CA
By Matthew Martinez
Knightsen is a small unincorporated farming community in east Contra Costa County, between Oakley, Brentwood and Discovery Bay. Most property is large-lot homes and farmland under County agricultural zoning, so a Knightsen agent should be able to explain zoning, drainage, wells and septic as well as price.
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 to use this agent guide
Start with the property questions below, then compare the publisher and five regional candidates. Public profiles and licensing records answer different questions: a license establishes regulatory status, while a profile describes claimed service areas. Neither establishes local sales experience, quality of service or suitability for your transaction. Some candidates name neighboring communities or the county rather than Knightsen itself; the profile evidence is shown explicitly. Interview more than one agent and ask for recent, relevant examples.
Knightsen in numbers
The Census Bureau does not publish a separate Knightsen profile that we could open for this guide, so we have left out survey statistics. The Contra Costa Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo), in a June 2023 report, described the Knightsen area as more than 8 square miles with about 1,600 residents. Its 2008 service review describes the area as largely rural, mostly large-lot homes and farmland. To price a specific property, an agent should pull sales of similar acreage, zoning and improvements in east county, since direct Knightsen comparables can be few.
Knightsen settings: acreage, farmland and nearby cities
Knightsen sits between Oakley, Brentwood and Discovery Bay. LAFCo describes it as a low area that collects runoff from surrounding land, and a community services district formed in 2005 to handle drainage was dissolved in 2023 without building facilities. Our guides to Knightsen acreage ownership costs, parcel jurisdiction and services, private roads and site access and rural water and wastewater cover those questions. For more detail, see our Knightsen real estate guide.
Costs and rules specific to a Knightsen purchase
- Transfer tax. Knightsen is unincorporated, so no city transfer tax applies. The Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder charges $0.55 per $500 of value, about $825 on a $750,000 sale. Who pays is negotiable; confirm the figure on your escrow estimate.
- County agricultural zoning. Contra Costa County handles zoning and permits under Division 84 of the County code. County project files for Knightsen show A-2 General Agricultural and A-3 Heavy Agricultural zoning; the A-2 use list sets what is allowed by right and what needs a land use permit.
- Cannabis exclusion. Knightsen is within the County’s -CE Cannabis Exclusion combining district, which bans commercial cannabis uses.
- Drainage and flooding. Given LAFCo’s description of local runoff and flooding, check flood zone status, drainage and fill history. The natural hazard disclosure report shows mapped flood designations; get insurance quotes before you remove contingencies.
- Wells, septic and Williamson Act. Confirm water and wastewater service for the parcel, ask for well and septic records, and ask whether the land is under a Williamson Act contract, which affects property tax and allowed uses.
Agent profiles to compare for a Knightsen transaction
Matthew Martinez, Diamond Real Estate Group (publisher)
Matthew Martinez is the Founder, CEO and Managing Broker of Diamond Real Estate Group, based in Sonoma County. Contact him to discuss representation for your specific property and location. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc #02163490.
Five regional interview candidates
These profiles are drawn from the local and broader county research. The final column records the location evidence in each public profile; a nearby town or county reference does not establish completed transactions in Knightsen. Ask each candidate to demonstrate relevant experience before hiring them. This is an interview starting point, not a ranking or a claim that every agent specializes in this community.
| Agent / public profile | Brokerage as described by the profile | DRE record | Geographic evidence in the source profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eva Marie Fontanilla | RE/MAX Gold, Antioch office | Broker #01422593 | Contra Costa, Santa Clara and Alameda counties |
| Jaynette Lancaster | Fathom Realty Group, Antioch | Salesperson #01746018 | Contra Costa County, including Antioch, Brentwood, Pittsburg and Discovery Bay |
| Karen Ross | RE/MAX Crossroads, Brentwood office | Salesperson #01876838 | Brentwood, Oakley, Tracy, Livermore, Manteca |
| Enrique Ruiz | RE/MAX Accord, Walnut Creek office | Broker #01029270 | Contra Costa County, Oakley, Brentwood, Antioch, Martinez |
| Jason Caskie | Coldwell Banker Realty | Salesperson #01347068 | Danville office |
For a wider comparison, read the county agent guide. Verify current license status and brokerage affiliation on the linked DRE record, and agree on representation terms in writing.
How to vet a Knightsen agent
- Ask about rural and agricultural sales. Ask for recent sales of acreage or farm property in east county and how they priced them.
- Ask how they confirm zoning. Ask how they check the parcel’s County zoning, any existing land use permits and whether a planned use needs a new permit.
- Ask about wells and septic. Ask which well and septic inspections they recommend and how they confirm records with the County.
- Ask about drainage and flood risk. Ask what the natural hazard report shows and how they check drainage on low-lying parcels.
- Ask about access. Ask how they confirm road access and maintenance for private roads or easements in the title report.
- Verify the license yourself. Look up the agent on the DRE site and confirm the responsible broker matches the brokerage they name.
Knightsen questions we hear
Is Knightsen part of Oakley or Brentwood?
No. Knightsen is unincorporated and governed by Contra Costa County. It borders Oakley and Brentwood, which are separate cities with their own rules.
Does Knightsen have a city transfer tax?
No. A Knightsen sale typically shows only the county tax of $0.55 per $500 listed by the Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder. Confirm the figure on your escrow estimate.
Does Knightsen still have a community services district?
No. LAFCo approved dissolving the Knightsen Town Community Services District in May 2023, according to its June 2023 report.
How do I check a Knightsen agent’s license?
Search the name or license number on the DRE public lookup. The record shows license type, status and responsible broker. Every agent in our table links to the record we checked.
Should I interview more than one agent for a Knightsen property?
Yes. Interview at least two or three, ask each for recent rural sales in east county, and compare how they explain zoning, wells, septic and drainage for that parcel.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- Contra Costa LAFCo: 2008 Knightsen CSD service review and June 2023 dissolution report
- Contra Costa County Ordinance Code via GoCodebook: Division 84, A-2 uses and -CE Cannabis Exclusion district
- RE/MAX agent search for Knightsen, CA and agent profiles linked in the table
- Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder: documentary transfer tax
- License records checked October 2026 on the California DRE public lookup. Last reviewed October 2026 by Matthew Martinez.
Related: Knightsen real estate guide · Knightsen home valuation · Contra Costa 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.
