Best Realtors in Oceanside, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Oceanside is North County San Diego’s largest city, with about 170,000 people, a beach and harbor west of Coast Highway, and inland neighborhoods along the San Luis Rey River and the Sprinter line. The Coast Highway line decides a lot here, from coastal permits to short-term rental rules, so the agent you hire should know which side of it a home falls on and what that means.
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 profile and DRE record show the brokerage they work under.
- A public profile that names Oceanside. We opened each agent’s brokerage or team profile and confirmed it lists Oceanside among the areas served.
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.
Oceanside housing in numbers
| Census measure | Oceanside |
|---|---|
| Population (July 1, 2025 estimate) | 170,483 |
| Owner-occupied housing unit rate (2020–2024) | 58.3% |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020–2024) | $770,300 |
| Median gross rent (2020–2024) | $2,303 |
| Median household income (2020–2024, 2024 dollars) | $97,737 |
| Mean travel time to work (2020–2024) | 28.7 minutes |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Oceanside city, California.
The Census Bureau’s median owner-occupied value for Oceanside is well below nearby Carlsbad’s, but it blends beach-area condos with inland tract homes and mobile homes. These are five-year survey figures, not current sale prices. Ask an agent to price a home from sales in the same setting: west of Coast Highway, along a watershed or inland.
Oceanside settings: the coastal strip and inland neighborhoods
The City of Oceanside says its Coastal Zone covers all property from the inland side of Coast Highway to the ocean, plus land along parts of the San Luis Rey River, Loma Alta Creek and Buena Vista Lagoon. Its Local Coastal Program was certified in 1986 and is being updated, including a coastal hazards adaptation plan.
Inland, buyers often look near Sprinter stops such as Melrose Drive, Rancho Del Oro and Crouch Street listed on NCTD’s station lot page. Oceanside is the end of both the COASTER to downtown San Diego and the Sprinter to Escondido. Water and sewer come from Oceanside Water Utilities, though the Vista Irrigation District serves parts of the city. For more, see our Oceanside real estate guide.
Costs and rules specific to an Oceanside 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 $880 on an $800,000 sale. We did not find a separate Oceanside city rate on an official source, so confirm with escrow. Our California transfer tax guide explains who usually pays.
- Short-term rentals. The city’s STR FAQ says hosted STRs are allowed in all zones, non-hosted STRs are prohibited in residential zones outside the Coastal Zone, and permits do not transfer to a new owner. A pending coastal amendment would cap non-hosted permits west of Coast Highway; it is not in effect until the Coastal Commission certifies it.
- Coastal permits. Many Coastal Zone projects need a coastal development permit or exemption, and the Coastal Commission keeps appeal jurisdiction in some areas near the beach and watersheds.
- Hazards. Check the FEMA Flood Map Service Center, the California Geological Survey tsunami maps and the State Fire Marshal’s fire hazard severity zones. In high and very high zones, sellers may need to provide AB 38 defensible space documentation.
- Special taxes. Sellers must make a good-faith effort to provide a notice of special tax districts under Civil Code section 1102.6b. Review the actual tax bill.
Oceanside 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 Oceanside. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc DBA Diamond Real Estate Group, DRE #02163490
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cat Adair | Coldwell Banker Realty, North County San Diego office (Vista) | Salesperson #01374153 | Vista, San Marcos, Carlsbad, Oceanside, Escondido |
| Dana Andrews | Coldwell Banker Realty, Carlsbad office | Salesperson #01342809 | Carlsbad, Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos, Encinitas |
| Jen DiJulio (licensed as Jennifer A. Di Julio) | eXp Realty of California, Inc. (Whissel Realty team) | Salesperson #02067359 | Oceanside, Vista, Chula Vista, San Diego |
| Cheree Dracolakis | Coldwell Banker Realty, Carlsbad office | Salesperson #01299672 | Carlsbad, Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos |
| Keith Elliott | Coldwell Banker Realty, Carlsbad office | Broker #01097485 | Carlsbad, Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos, Escondido |
| Lynette Fox | Coldwell Banker Realty, Carlsbad office | Salesperson #01983283 | Oceanside, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar |
| Lori Merino | Coldwell Banker Realty, Carlsbad office | Broker #01398367 | Carlsbad, Encinitas, Vista, Oceanside, Poway |
| Tracy Perusse | Coldwell Banker Realty, Carlsbad office | Broker #01353478 | Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, Oceanside |
| Mike Resnik | Coldwell Banker Realty, North County San Diego office (Vista) | Salesperson #02121528 | Vista, San Marcos, Carlsbad, Oceanside, Escondido |
| Angie Spooner | Coldwell Banker Realty, North County San Diego office (Vista) | Salesperson #01292299 | Oceanside, North County San Diego |
Coldwell Banker Realty is a trade name of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Company, the responsible broker on those DRE records; broker-licensed agents work as broker associates. Jen DiJulio’s DRE record shows eXp Realty of California, Inc. as her responsible broker.
How to vet an Oceanside agent
- Ask which side of Coast Highway the home is on. A good Oceanside agent should explain whether the parcel is in the Coastal Zone or a Coastal Commission appeal area, and what that means for remodels.
- Don’t rely on a seller’s STR permit. Ask how the agent confirms whether the address could get its own permit, since Oceanside permits do not transfer.
- Ask about pending coastal rules. The agent should know the status of the city’s LCP update and STR amendment and treat proposals as proposals.
- Ask for comparables from the same setting. A beach condo, a river-valley home and an inland planned-community home should not share comparables.
- Ask about hazard maps and insurance early. Flood, tsunami and fire maps can affect insurance quotes and loan terms.
- Verify the license yourself. Look up the agent on the DRE site and confirm the brokerage matches what they tell you.
Oceanside questions we hear
Does Oceanside have its own transfer tax?
We did not find an Oceanside city transfer tax 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. Ask escrow to confirm the total for your sale.
Which Oceanside homes are in the Coastal Zone?
The city says the zone runs from the inland side of Coast Highway to the ocean, plus land along parts of the San Luis Rey River, Loma Alta Creek and Buena Vista Lagoon. Confirm a parcel with planning staff.
Can I buy an Oceanside home to use as a vacation rental?
It depends on location and type. Per the city’s STR FAQ, non-hosted STRs are prohibited in residential zones outside the Coastal Zone, and a buyer must apply for their own permit.
Can I commute by train from Oceanside?
Yes. The COASTER runs to downtown San Diego, and the Sprinter runs inland to Escondido. Walking distance to a station varies by street.
Should I interview more than one Oceanside agent?
Yes. Interview at least two or three, ask each for recent sales in the setting you are considering, and compare how they explain coastal permits and STR rules for the address.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Oceanside city, California (V2025 population estimate; 2020–2024 ACS figures)
- Coldwell Banker Realty agent profiles: Carlsbad office and North County San Diego office
- Whissel Realty team page
- City of Oceanside: Local Coastal Program update · short-term rental FAQ · Water Utilities
- California Coastal Commission: Local Coastal Programs
- NCTD COASTER · Sprinter · station lots
- Vista Irrigation District service area
- San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk: recording and transfer tax
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center · California Geological Survey tsunami maps · State Fire Marshal fire hazard severity zones
- 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: Oceanside real estate guide · Oceanside 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.
