Best Realtors in Marina, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Marina is a coastal city of about 22,500 people on Monterey Bay, just north of Seaside and the Monterey Peninsula, with sand dunes on its west side and the former Fort Ord, now home to California State University, Monterey Bay, to its east. Buyers find older single-family homes and condos in the original town alongside newer subdivisions built on former base land, so the age of the neighborhood often decides what special taxes, HOA rules and base-reuse notices come with a home.
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, and anyone whose profile showed a license number we could not find on the DRE lookup.
- A named brokerage. Each agent’s DRE record ties them to the brokerage shown on their profile.
- A public profile that names Marina. We opened each agent’s profile, and each names Marina as a service area or in the bio.
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.
Marina housing in numbers
| Census measure (ACS 2024 5-year) | Marina |
|---|---|
| Population | 22,563 |
| Housing units | 8,161 (±443) |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes | $818,700 (±$25,910) |
| Median household income | $95,955 (±$9,890) |
| Persons per household | 2.7 |
| Median age | 36.9 |
| Mean travel time to work | 24.1 minutes |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates, as presented by Census Reporter. Figures are estimates with margins of error, not current sale prices.
Marina’s median value sits close to the county figure of $808,600 (ACS 2024 1-year, per our Monterey County agents guide) but below Monterey and Pacific Grove, which is one reason Peninsula workers and military families shop here.
Marina’s neighborhoods
- Original Marina. Mid-century single-family homes and condos west of Highway 1 and along Reservation Road and Del Monte Boulevard, closest to the beach and dunes.
- Former Fort Ord neighborhoods. Newer subdivisions and townhome communities east of Highway 1 on former Army land, near CSU Monterey Bay. Many have HOAs, and some carry special taxes.
- Nearby. Seaside and Del Rey Oaks lie to the south, and East Garrison and Salinas to the east. See our Marina real estate guide.
Costs and rules specific to a Marina purchase
- Transfer tax. The Monterey County Recorder collects documentary transfer tax at recording. Monterey County Code Chapter 5.32 sets the county rate at 55 cents per $500 ($1.10 per $1,000), with a credit for a qualifying city tax. We did not find a City of Marina transfer tax on an official source for this guide, so confirm the amount on your escrow estimate. Our California transfer tax guide explains how it is usually handled.
- Special taxes and HOAs. Newer subdivisions on former base land may sit in a community facilities district with an annual special tax. Ask for the Mello-Roos disclosure and HOA documents early, and check the special tax line on the property tax bill.
- Former Fort Ord. Homes on former base land can carry deed notices or restrictions tied to the base cleanup and reuse. Read the preliminary title report and disclosures closely, and ask the seller for any base-reuse notices.
- Coastal permits. Areas near the dunes and shore are in the California Coastal Zone, where new construction and additions can need a coastal development permit. Ask the City about the address.
- Rent rules. The California Attorney General’s rent cap page places Monterey County in its "all other counties" group, with an 8.6% cap on increases for covered units from August 1, 2026, and lists Salinas, not Marina, as having local rent stabilization. See our AB 1482 guide.
- Hazard disclosures. The natural hazard disclosure report covers mapped flood, fault, tsunami and fire hazards for the address.
Marina 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 Marina. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc DBA Diamond Real Estate Group, DRE #02163490
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renee Catania | Sotheby’s International Realty, Carmel | Salesperson #01954589 | Marina, Monterey, Monterey Vista, Skyline Forest, Pacific Grove, Salinas |
| Gina Hinds | CENTURY 21 Masters, Monterey | Salesperson #01962087 | Marina, Del Rey Oaks, Monterey, Salinas |
| Steven Hunt | Sotheby’s International Realty, Carmel | Salesperson #01953808 | Marina, Salinas, Monterey, New Monterey, Prunedale, Toro Park |
| Virginia Lockwood Meachum | Marina Beach Real Estate, Marina | Broker #01297223 | Marina, Seaside, Salinas, Toro Park |
| Dean Provence | Sotheby’s International Realty, Pacific Grove | Broker #00833476 | Marina, Monterey, Seaside, Pacific Grove, Salinas |
| Doug Toby (licensed as Douglas Alan Toby) | KW Coastal Estates, Carmel | Salesperson #01239501 | Marina, Seaside, Monterey, Salinas, Carmel |
| Dani M. Wilcox | KW Coastal Estates, Carmel | Salesperson #01982101 | Marina, Monterey, Salinas, Toro Park, Carmel |
Renee Catania and Steven Hunt are licensed under Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. (DRE #00899496), and Dean Provence is a broker associate there. Gina Hinds is licensed under Full Realty Services Inc. (DRE #01849354), whose DRE record lists Century 21 Masters as a business name and a branch at 534 Abrego Street in Monterey. Virginia Lockwood Meachum is a broker whose record lists Marina Beach Real Estate as her business name, at a Marina office. Dani M. Wilcox and Doug Toby are licensed under MCRE Group Inc. (DRE #01527814), whose record lists KW Coastal Estates as a business name. All profiles are on homes.com, a listing site.
How to vet a Marina agent
- Ask which side of Highway 1 they know. Original Marina and the former Fort Ord subdivisions are different markets; ask for recent sales in the one you want.
- Ask about special taxes and HOAs. Ask how the agent gets the Mello-Roos disclosure, HOA budget and rules before you write an offer.
- Ask about base-reuse notices. For homes on former Fort Ord land, ask what deed notices or restrictions they have seen in the title report.
- Ask about coastal and dune rules. Near the shore, ask what a remodel or addition would need from the City.
- Ask for a net sheet. It should show the transfer tax from escrow, any special tax, HOA dues and the expected supplemental tax bill.
- Check the license yourself. Confirm a "Licensed" status and the responsible broker on the DRE lookup.
Marina questions we hear
Is there a city transfer tax in Marina?
We did not find one on an official source when we checked in October 2026. The County rate is $1.10 per $1,000 under County Code Chapter 5.32. Your escrow estimate will show the documentary transfer tax due at recording.
Do newer Marina homes have Mello-Roos taxes?
Some do. Ask the seller for the Mello-Roos and special tax disclosure and check the property tax bill before you remove contingencies.
Does Marina have rent control?
The Attorney General’s chart lists Salinas as the only Monterey County city with local rent stabilization, so covered Marina units follow the statewide AB 1482 cap, 8.6% for increases from August 1, 2026.
What is the median home value in Marina?
The Census estimate is about $819,000 for 2020–2024, with a margin of error near $26,000. Ask an agent for recent sales of similar homes.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- Census Reporter, Marina (ACS 2024 5-year)
- California Attorney General, rent caps
- 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)
- City transfer tax: none found on an official source in October 2026.
- License records checked October 2026 on the California DRE public lookup. Last reviewed October 2026 by Matthew Martinez.
Nearby agent guides: East Garrison · Del Rey Oaks · Moss Landing
Related: Marina real estate guide · Marina 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.
