Best Realtors in Lemon Grove, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Lemon Grove is a small East County San Diego city of about 28,000 people, with a trolley stop on the Orange Line and a downtown plan under review. A Lemon Grove agent should be able to explain how sewer charges and the private lateral work, where the city’s ADU rules stand after a 2025 state review, and what the home-sharing rules allow.
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.
- 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 Lemon Grove or San Diego County. We opened each agent’s profile. Three name Lemon Grove 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 Lemon Grove sales of their own.
Lemon Grove housing in numbers
| Census measure | Lemon Grove |
|---|---|
| Population (July 1, 2025 estimate) | 27,936 |
| Owner-occupied housing unit rate (2020–2024) | 52.5% |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020–2024) | $705,400 |
| Median gross rent (2020–2024) | $1,893 |
| Median household income (2020–2024, 2024 dollars) | $88,009 |
| Mean travel time to work (2020–2024) | 29.2 minutes |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Lemon Grove city, California.
According to the Census Bureau, about half of Lemon Grove homes are owner-occupied, and the median owner-occupied home value over 2020–2024 was about $705,000. These are five-year survey figures, not current sale prices. In a small city, a handful of sales can move an average, so ask an agent for specific recent comparables.
Lemon Grove settings: downtown, the trolley and residential streets
The Downtown Village Specific Plan applies near the trolley, and the city describes a proposed update and expansion to about 245 acres that was before the City Council in October 2026. MTS lists Lemon Grove Depot on the Orange Line.
Sewer service comes from the Lemon Grove Sanitation District, and Helix Water District lists Lemon Grove in its service area. Fire service is provided through Heartland Fire & Rescue, according to the City of La Mesa. For more detail, see our Lemon Grove real estate guide.
Costs and rules specific to a Lemon Grove 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 $775 on a $705,000 sale. We did not find a separate Lemon Grove city rate on an official source, so confirm with escrow. Our California transfer tax guide explains who usually pays.
- Sewer on the tax bill and the lateral. The city’s sanitation page says sewer charges are billed annually on the property tax bill, and its wastewater page says the owner maintains the lateral to the main. Order a camera inspection during escrow.
- ADUs. The city offers preapproved ADU plans, while a December 2025 HCD findings letter found the local ordinance out of step with state law in several areas. Confirm current rules with the city.
- Home-sharing. The city’s home-sharing permit application requires the host to live in the home at least 275 days a year, which limits short-term rental plans.
- Fire zones and special taxes. Check the city’s fire hazard severity zone maps; in high and very high zones, AB 38 documentation may apply. Sellers must make a good-faith effort to provide special tax notices under Civil Code section 1102.6b.
Lemon Grove 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 Lemon Grove. 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 |
| 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 | Lemon Grove, La Mesa, Spring Valley, El Cajon, Chula Vista |
| 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 | San Diego County; La Mesa, Spring Valley, El Cajon |
| George Hetzel | Coldwell Banker Realty, La Mesa office | Broker #01000871 | Lemon Grove, La Mesa, Spring Valley, El Cajon, Jamul |
| Steven Rotsart | Coldwell Banker Realty, La Mesa office | Salesperson #01254025 | Lemon Grove, La Mesa, Mount Helix, Spring Valley, El Cajon |
| Jude Wesner-Jouglet | Coldwell Banker Realty, La Mesa office | Salesperson #01854281 | San Diego County; La Mesa |
Mike Campbell’s, George Hetzel’s and Steven Rotsart’s profiles name Lemon Grove; the other agents’ profiles name San Diego County, and none is based in a Lemon Grove office. Two agents named Steven Rotsart work in the La Mesa office; the one listed here holds salesperson license #01254025 (DRE name Steven James Rotsart Jr). CENTURY 21 Affiliated is a DBA of Award-Superstars (DRE #01897784). George Hetzel works as a broker associate for Coldwell Banker, as shown on his DRE record.
How to vet a Lemon Grove agent
- Ask for recent Lemon Grove sales. Because few agents list Lemon Grove specifically, ask each candidate for their own recent sales or listings in the city.
- Ask about the sewer lateral. Expect the agent to recommend a camera inspection and to explain how the sewer charge appears on the tax bill.
- Ask where ADU rules stand. If you plan an ADU or are buying a home with one, ask how the city’s response to the state’s 2025 findings affects the property.
- Ask about the downtown plan. Near the trolley, ask what the specific plan update could mean for nearby parcels.
- Test rental assumptions. Ask how the home-sharing permit’s residency requirement affects any short-term rental plan.
- Verify the license yourself. Look up the agent on the DRE site and confirm the brokerage matches what they tell you.
Lemon Grove questions we hear
How is sewer billed in Lemon Grove?
The city’s sanitation page says Lemon Grove Sanitation District charges are billed annually on the property tax bill.
Can I run a short-term rental in Lemon Grove?
Only as home-sharing with a resident host. The city’s permit application requires the property to be the host’s primary residence at least 275 days a year.
Does Lemon Grove have a city transfer tax?
We did not find one on an official source. The San Diego County Recorder collects the county tax at $0.55 per $500 and collects any city tax as well. Confirm with escrow.
Is there trolley service in Lemon Grove?
Yes. MTS lists Lemon Grove Depot on the Orange Line between downtown San Diego and El Cajon.
Should I interview more than one Lemon Grove agent?
Yes. Interview at least two or three, ask each for recent Lemon Grove sales, and compare how they explain sewer, ADU and downtown planning questions for the address.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lemon Grove city, California (V2025 population estimate; 2020–2024 ACS figures)
- Coldwell Banker Realty agent profiles, La Mesa office · CENTURY 21 agent directory, Lemon Grove
- City of Lemon Grove: sanitation · wastewater · ADUs · home-sharing permit
- City of Lemon Grove: Downtown Village Specific Plan · proposed update · fire hazard maps
- California HCD: Lemon Grove ADU findings letter (December 10, 2025)
- Helix Water District · City of La Mesa: Fire Department (Heartland Fire & Rescue) · MTS trolley
- San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk: recording and transfer tax
- 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: Lemon Grove real estate guide · Lemon Grove 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.
