Best Realtors in Menlo Park, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Menlo Park is a city of about 32,700 people in southern San Mateo County, between Atherton, Palo Alto and the bay. Its neighborhoods range from tree-lined streets near downtown and Allied Arts to Sharon Heights in the hills and Belle Haven and the Willows near the bay, and the agents in this guide work from Menlo Park, Woodside, Portola Valley and Burlingame offices.
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 Menlo Park. We opened each agent’s brokerage or MLS profile and confirmed it names Menlo Park as an area served or area of expertise, or places the agent in a Menlo Park office.
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.
Menlo Park housing in numbers
| Census measure (ACS 2024 5-year) | Menlo Park |
|---|---|
| Population | 32,727 |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes | $2,000,000 or more (the survey’s top category) |
| Median household income | $210,025 (±$20,341) |
| Persons per household | 2.7 |
| Median age | 39.5 |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.9 minutes |
| Housing units | 13,388 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates, as presented by Census Reporter. The Census survey’s home value scale tops out at $2 million, so Menlo Park’s median is reported only as that amount or more.
Because the Census figure is capped, it says little about actual prices. Ask agents for recent closed sales in the specific neighborhood and school attendance area you are considering.
Downtown, Sharon Heights, the Willows and Belle Haven
Menlo Park’s neighborhoods differ a lot. Central Menlo, Allied Arts and Linfield Oaks sit near downtown and the Caltrain station; Sharon Heights sits in the hills along Sand Hill Road; the Willows borders San Francisquito Creek and Palo Alto; and Belle Haven lies east of Highway 101 near the bay. Some nearby addresses, including West Menlo Park and Ladera, are unincorporated and fall under San Mateo County rules, and different school districts serve different parts of the city, so confirm both by address. For more, see our Menlo Park real estate guide, housing settings comparison and older home records and inspections notes.
Costs and rules specific to a Menlo Park purchase
- Transfer tax. The San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder lists the county documentary transfer tax at 55 cents per $500, or $1.10 per $1,000 of value: $2,200 on a $2,000,000 sale. The Clerk-Recorder’s page names the City of San Mateo as the city with an additional conveyance tax and does not list one for Menlo Park; confirm the total on your escrow estimate. Our California transfer tax guide explains who usually pays.
- ADUs. The City’s accessory dwelling unit page says the City Council adopted an updated ADU ordinance on June 9, 2026, effective July 10. If a second unit is part of your plan, check the current rules for the lot before you buy.
- Flood zones near the bay and creek. Homes near the bay and San Francisquito Creek can sit in mapped flood zones, which can require flood insurance. Read the natural hazard disclosure report and get a quote early.
- Fire hazard in the hills. Check hillside addresses on the State Fire Marshal’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps; in a High or Very High zone, see our AB 38 guide.
- City or County? For West Menlo Park, Ladera and other unincorporated pockets, permits go through San Mateo County Planning, not the City.
Menlo Park 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 Menlo Park. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc DBA Diamond Real Estate Group, DRE #02163490
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scott Dancer (licensed as Patrick Scott Dancer) | Compass, Woodside | Salesperson #00868362 | Menlo Park, Atherton, Woodside, Portola Valley |
| Jo-Ann DeRewenda (licensed as Jo-Ann De Rewenda) | Coldwell Banker Realty, Burlingame | Broker #01015410 | Peninsula cities from Daly City to Mountain View, including Menlo Park |
| Michelle Englert | Compass, Menlo Park | Salesperson #01304639 | Menlo Park office; San Francisco Peninsula |
| Samie Goodman | Coldwell Banker Realty, Menlo Park | Salesperson #01515818 | Menlo Park, the Peninsula |
| Kelly Griggs | Coldwell Banker Realty, Menlo Park | Broker #01812313 | Menlo Park |
| Ginny Kavanaugh (licensed as Virginia McTigue Kavanaugh) | Coldwell Banker Realty, Portola Valley | Salesperson #00884747 | Menlo Park, Atherton, Woodside, Portola Valley, Palo Alto, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills |
| Stephanie Nash | Compass, Woodside | Salesperson #01104524 | Menlo Park, Atherton, Woodside, Portola Valley, Palo Alto and other Mid-Peninsula cities |
On the DRE record, Coldwell Banker Realty agents are licensed under NRT West, Inc. (DRE #01908304) and Compass agents under Compass California II, Inc. (DRE #01527235). For more agents, see our San Mateo County agents guide.
How to vet a Menlo Park agent
- Ask for sales in your neighborhood. Sharon Heights, the Willows and Belle Haven price very differently; ask for recent closed sales nearby.
- Confirm the school district by address. Several districts serve parts of Menlo Park; check boundaries with the district, not a listing description.
- Ask how they handle offer dates and pre-inspections. Ask whether the seller has set an offer date and what disclosures and inspections are available before you write.
- Check City or County jurisdiction. Unincorporated addresses follow County rules for permits and ADUs.
- Ask about flood and fire exposure. Bay-side and creek-side homes may need flood insurance; hillside homes may need fire documentation.
- Check the license yourself. Confirm a "Licensed" status with a current broker on the DRE lookup.
Menlo Park questions we hear
Is there a city transfer tax in Menlo Park?
The County Clerk-Recorder’s page lists the county tax of $1.10 per $1,000 and names only the City of San Mateo for an extra city tax. Confirm the total on your escrow estimate.
Why does the Census show the median home value as "$2 million or more"?
The American Community Survey’s value scale stops at $2 million. When a city’s median is above that, Census tables report only the cap.
Did Menlo Park change its ADU rules?
Yes. The City says its Council adopted an updated ADU ordinance on June 9, 2026, which took effect July 10. Check the current standards for your lot.
Is West Menlo Park part of the city?
No. West Menlo Park is unincorporated, so San Mateo County handles planning and permits there.
Is the agent order a ranking?
No. Our broker is listed first because we publish the guide; everyone else is alphabetical by last name.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- Census Reporter, Menlo Park profile (ACS 2024 5-year)
- San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder, documentary transfer tax
- City of Menlo Park, accessory dwelling units
- San Mateo County Planning
- CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal, Fire Hazard Severity Zones
- Agent profiles on coldwellbankerhomes.com, compass.com and mlslistings.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: Atherton
Related: Menlo Park real estate guide · Menlo Park home valuation · San Mateo 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.
