Best Realtors in Lockwood, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Lockwood is a ranching community of about 240 people in southern Monterey County, set in an oak-studded valley west of the Salinas Valley near Lake San Antonio and Fort Hunter Liggett. Sales here are mostly ranches, vacant acreage and rural homes on large parcels, so wells, septic systems, road access and fire exposure shape nearly every purchase.
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. We left out anyone whose record showed a suspension, an expired license, no current broker affiliation, or a responsible broker that did not match the brokerage on their profile.
- A named brokerage. Each agent’s DRE record ties them to the brokerage shown on their profile.
- A public profile that names Lockwood or its neighbor. We opened each agent’s profile. Few agent profiles list a community this small as a service area, so for four agents the profile names Lockwood through listings or sales addressed to Lockwood rather than in a service-area list. One more names neighboring Bradley, not Lockwood. The table says which is which.
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.
Lockwood housing in numbers
| Census measure (ACS 2024 5-year) | Lockwood CDP |
|---|---|
| Population | 240 |
| Housing units | 88 (±53) |
| Persons per household | 3.3 (±1.8) |
| Median age | 39.8 (±18) |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates, as presented by Census Reporter. The Census Bureau does not publish a median home value or income for an area this small, and the margins of error are very wide.
With fewer than 100 homes in the Census area, Lockwood sees only a handful of sales a year, and prices depend on acreage, water, improvements and access far more than on any local average. Ask agents for recent rural sales across the Lockwood, Jolon and Bradley areas.
Lockwood, the lake country and the ranch land around it
- Valley ranches. Most property is grazing land, hay fields, vineyards and rural homes on large parcels under Monterey County zoning. See our Lockwood real estate guide.
- Lake San Antonio side. Homes and land toward Lake San Antonio and the Bradley area draw second-home and recreation buyers.
- Fort Hunter Liggett. The Army installation borders the area to the west, around Jolon.
- Nearest towns. King City and San Ardo lie to the northeast in the Salinas Valley, and Paso Robles is the nearest larger town to the south, which is why several agents here work from Paso Robles offices.
Costs and rules specific to a Lockwood purchase
- Transfer tax. The Monterey County Recorder collects documentary transfer tax at recording. Lockwood is unincorporated, so no city tax applies. Monterey County Code Chapter 5.32 sets the county rate at 55 cents per $500 ($1.10 per $1,000); confirm the amount on your escrow estimate. Our California transfer tax guide explains how it is usually handled.
- County zoning. Monterey County’s inland zoning code, Title 21, governs uses and permits. Ask whether a parcel is under a Williamson Act contract, which limits uses in exchange for lower property taxes.
- Short-term rentals. The County’s short-term rental page says stays of 30 days or less need a discretionary permit and are allowed only in certain districts, so do not assume a ranch house can be a vacation rental.
- Wells and septic. Rural homes rely on private wells and septic systems. Make well yield, water quality and septic inspections contingencies, and pull County permit records.
- Fire hazard and AB 38. Check the address on the State Fire Marshal’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps. In High and Very High zones, sellers may need to provide AB 38 defensible space documentation, and insurance can be costly; get quotes early.
- Hazard disclosures. The natural hazard disclosure report covers mapped flood, fault and fire hazards for the parcel.
Lockwood 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 Lockwood. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc DBA Diamond Real Estate Group, DRE #02163490
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alicia DiGrazia | RE/MAX Parkside Real Estate, Paso Robles | Salesperson #01427039 | Lockwood listings and sales; Paso Robles, San Miguel, Lake Nacimiento |
| Jasmine Duncan | Oak Shores Realty, King City office | Broker #02092802 | Bradley (neighboring community, not Lockwood), King City, Oak Shores, Lake Nacimiento |
| Tim Ellis | Oak Shores Realty, King City office | Salesperson #01152831 | Lockwood listings and a sale; King City, Bradley, Oak Shores |
| Sam Martinus | RE/MAX Parkside Real Estate, Paso Robles | Salesperson #02206062 | Lockwood sales; Paso Robles |
| Thomas Martinus | RE/MAX Parkside Real Estate, Paso Robles | Salesperson #01099385 | Lockwood listings and sales; King City, Soledad, Paso Robles; Jolon sale |
The three RE/MAX Parkside agents are licensed under RCA Properties Inc. (DRE #01421338), whose DRE record lists RE/MAX Parkside Real Estate as a business name. Tim Ellis is licensed under Oak Shores Realty (DRE #02201406), and Jasmine Duncan is an officer of that corporation. All profiles are on homes.com, a listing site.
How to vet a Lockwood agent
- Ask for rural sales, not town sales. Ask for recent Lockwood, Jolon and Bradley sales of comparable acreage and improvements.
- Ask how they verify water. Ask how they handle well yield and quality tests, water rights and shared wells.
- Ask about access. Ask about road maintenance agreements, easements and winter access for the parcel.
- Ask about land-use limits. Ask whether the parcel is under a Williamson Act contract and what the County allows for a second home or ag buildings.
- Plan for fire and insurance. Ask about the fire hazard zone, AB 38 documentation and insurance quotes before removing contingencies.
- Check the license yourself. Confirm a "Licensed" status and the responsible broker on the DRE lookup.
Lockwood questions we hear
Is there a city transfer tax in Lockwood?
No. Lockwood is unincorporated, so only the County documentary transfer tax applies. County Code Chapter 5.32 sets it at $1.10 per $1,000; check your escrow estimate.
Who handles permits in Lockwood?
Monterey County, under its inland Title 21 zoning code.
Can I run a vacation rental on a Lockwood ranch?
Only with a discretionary County permit in an eligible district, according to the County’s short-term rental page. Confirm with the County before you rely on rental income.
Why do Paso Robles agents sell in Lockwood?
Paso Robles is the nearest larger town to the south, and the profiles we checked show Paso Robles and King City agents handling most recent Lockwood listings.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- Census Reporter, Lockwood CDP (ACS 2024 5-year)
- Monterey County zoning code (GoCodebook)
- Monterey County HCD, short-term rentals
- CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal, Fire Hazard Severity Zones
- Agent profiles on homes.com, linked in the table
- Monterey County Code Chapter 5.32, Documentary Transfer Tax (county rate of $0.55 per $500, with credit for a qualifying city tax)
- License records checked October 2026 on the California DRE public lookup. Last reviewed October 2026 by Matthew Martinez.
Nearby agent guides: Jolon · Bradley · King City
Related: Lockwood real estate guide · Lockwood home valuation · Monterey 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.
