Best Realtors in Laytonville, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Laytonville is an unincorporated town of about 700 people on Highway 101 in northern Mendocino County, roughly 23 miles north of Willits. The market is mostly rural: homes on acreage, off-grid and timber parcels in the hills, and a small cluster of homes and businesses along the highway. One brokerage in this guide, RE/MAX Gold, has a branch office in town.
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 Laytonville. We opened each agent’s brokerage profile or office roster and confirmed it names Laytonville, an office in Laytonville, or, where noted, the neighboring city of Willits.
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.
Few agent profiles name Laytonville, so we also list two agents from the RE/MAX Gold office in Willits, the nearest city, and mark them in the table. Their profiles name Willits, not Laytonville.
Laytonville housing in numbers
| Census measure (ACS 2024 5-year) | Laytonville CDP |
|---|---|
| Population | 720 |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes | $378,100 (±$64,984) |
| Median household income | $37,656 (±$14,652) |
| Persons per household | 1.8 |
| Median age | 57.8 |
| Mean travel time to work | 28.6 minutes |
| Housing units | 430 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates, as presented by Census Reporter. Figures for a small community carry wide margins of error; treat them as rough guides, not current sale prices.
Laytonville’s estimated median owner-occupied value is well below the Mendocino County figure of $512,200 reported by U.S. Census QuickFacts, Mendocino County, and its median age of about 58 is high for the county. Many nearby parcels sit outside the census-designated place, so these numbers describe the town more than the surrounding hills.
A highway town with rural parcels around it
Laytonville has no city government; Mendocino County handles zoning and permits. In town, most commercial and mixed parcels fall under the County’s R-C Rural Community district, where, according to the district standards, a parcel outside any water or sewer district needs 40,000 square feet. Outside town, expect long private roads, wells or springs, and solar or generator power on some parcels. Our Laytonville real estate guide and private roads and site access notes go deeper.
Costs and rules specific to a Laytonville purchase
- Transfer tax. Laytonville is unincorporated, so no city transfer tax applies. 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, customarily paid by the seller: about $416 on a $378,100 sale. The County Recorder collects the tax but does not post the rate, so confirm it on your escrow estimate. Our California transfer tax guide explains who usually pays.
- Zoning. The County’s Inland Zoning Code was updated in full on September 10, 2024, according to the notice of determination filed with the state. Order a County letter of zoning or ask Planning before you plan a barn, shop or second unit.
- ADUs and septic. The County’s ADU page allows detached ADUs up to 1,200 square feet and bars ADUs on a septic leach field or its replacement area, so locate the leach field before planning a second unit.
- 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 before you remove contingencies.
- Off-grid and cannabis history. Ask whether the parcel was used for cultivation and whether any structures, ponds or grading were permitted. The County’s Cannabis Division handles cultivation permits, and unpermitted work can carry into your ownership.
Laytonville 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 Laytonville. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc DBA Diamond Real Estate Group, DRE #02163490
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dara Johnson (licensed as Dara Danae Johnson) | RE/MAX Gold, Willits | Salesperson #02062954 | Willits office (neighboring city) |
| Karena Jolley | RE/MAX Gold, Ukiah | Salesperson #01482063 | Laytonville (bio); Willits, Ukiah, Hopland |
| Benjamin Kobetz | CENTURY 21 Kobetz Realty, Ukiah | Broker #02017661 | Laytonville, Willits, Ukiah (listings) |
| Salvador Madrigal | RE/MAX Gold, Willits | Salesperson #01139481 | Willits office (neighboring city) |
| Alison Pernell | RE/MAX Gold, Laytonville | Salesperson #02055690 | Laytonville office; Laytonville, Willits, Fort Bragg |
On the DRE record, RE/MAX Gold agents are licensed under Peninsula Gold, Inc., whose record lists RE/MAX Gold as a business name and branches in Laytonville (44960 North Highway 101), Willits and Ukiah. CENTURY 21 Kobetz Realty agents are licensed under Kobetz Realty, Inc. in Ukiah. For more agents, see our Mendocino County agents guide.
How to vet a Laytonville agent
- Ask how many rural northern Mendocino sales they have handled. Laytonville parcels often involve wells, private roads and off-grid power.
- Confirm legal access. Ask for recorded easements and any road maintenance agreement.
- Test water and septic. Order a well or spring flow test and a septic inspection.
- Ask about permits on every structure. Compare what is on the land with County permit records.
- Get a fire insurance quote early. Build the premium into your budget.
- Check the license yourself. Confirm a "Licensed" status with a current broker on the DRE lookup.
Laytonville questions we hear
Is there a city transfer tax in Laytonville?
No. Laytonville is unincorporated; Fidelity National Financial’s 2026 guide lists the county tax at $1.10 per $1,000.
Is there a real estate office in Laytonville?
The DRE record for Peninsula Gold, Inc. (RE/MAX Gold) lists a branch at 44960 North Highway 101 in Laytonville, and Alison Pernell’s profile lists that office.
Why does this guide include Willits agents?
Few profiles name Laytonville. The two Willits agents are marked in the table so you can see which profiles name Laytonville and which name the neighboring city.
What is the median home value in Laytonville?
Census estimates put it at about $378,100 for 2020–2024, with a wide margin of error.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- Census Reporter, Laytonville CDP profile (ACS 2024 5-year)
- U.S. Census QuickFacts, Mendocino County
- Fidelity National Financial, Who Pays What: California Transfer Tax and Fees (rev. January 2026)
- Mendocino County Recorder
- Mendocino County Inland Zoning Code, Ch. 20.040; CEQAnet notice of determination, SCH 2008062074
- Mendocino County, Accessory Dwelling Units
- Mendocino County R-C district standards
- Mendocino County Cannabis Division
- CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal, Fire Hazard Severity Zones
- Peninsula Gold, Inc. DRE record (RE/MAX Gold business name and branches)
- Agent profiles on remax.com and century21.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: Covelo · Redwood Valley
Related: Laytonville real estate guide · Laytonville 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.
