Best Realtors in Pacific Grove, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Pacific Grove is a small coastal city of about 14,700 people at the tip of the Monterey Peninsula, between Monterey and Pebble Beach. Many of its homes are older cottages and Victorians on small lots, with more than 1,350 structures on the City’s historic inventory, and every agent below works from one of two offices on Lighthouse Avenue.
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 the agent works under.
- A named brokerage. Each agent’s DRE record shows the brokerage they work under.
- A public page tied to Pacific Grove. We opened each agent’s brokerage profile or the roster for their Pacific Grove office and confirmed it places them in Pacific Grove.
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.
Pacific Grove housing in numbers
| Census measure | Pacific Grove | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,659 | July 1, 2025 estimate |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes | $1,190,400 | 2020–2024 |
| Owner-occupied housing rate | 50.4% | 2020–2024 |
| Median gross rent | $2,455 | 2020–2024 |
| Median household income | $106,065 | 2020–2024 |
| Persons per household | 2.08 | 2020–2024 |
| Mean travel time to work | 22.1 minutes | 2020–2024 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Pacific Grove city (population estimate V2025; other figures from the American Community Survey 2020–2024). These are estimates, not current sale prices.
About half of Pacific Grove’s homes are owner-occupied, so many homes are rentals or second homes, and the estimated median owner-occupied value is well above the Monterey County figure of $808,600 shown on Census Reporter’s county profile (ACS 2024 1-year).
Cottages, the shoreline and the historic downtown
Pacific Grove is an incorporated city, so the City’s Community Development Department handles zoning, building permits and historic review. Older cottages and Victorians cluster near downtown and the shoreline along Ocean View Boulevard, while the forested neighborhoods toward the Pebble Beach gate hold more postwar homes. For more, see our Pacific Grove real estate guide, our coastal home inspections notes and our Pacific Grove property records page.
Costs and rules specific to a Pacific Grove purchase
- Transfer tax. Monterey County Code Chapter 5.32 sets Monterey County’s documentary transfer tax at 55 cents per $500 ($1.10 per $1,000), about $1,309 on a $1,190,400 sale, often paid by the seller by local custom; your contract decides. The County code credits a qualifying city tax; we did not find a separate Pacific Grove transfer tax, so confirm on your escrow estimate. See our California transfer tax guide.
- Short-term rentals. The City’s short-term rental program page says new short-term rentals are allowed only in the Coastal and Commercial areas, licenses are capped at 250 citywide, and only one is allowed per parcel with a 55-foot exclusion zone around existing ones. Renting a room while you live on site requires a Home Sharing License and is allowed citywide. Do not assume a home’s rental history transfers with it; ask the City.
- Historic inventory. The City’s historic resources page says its Historic Resources Inventory includes over 1,350 structures, with changes reviewed under Chapter 23.76 of the zoning code and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards. Check the HRI database before you plan exterior changes.
- Water. Pacific Grove is in the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, which requires a water permit to set a new meter or intensify use on an existing connection. Ask about water before you plan an added bathroom or ADU.
- Coastal and hazard disclosures. Read the natural hazard disclosure report, and for shoreline homes ask whether the parcel is in the coastal zone, which can add a permit step for remodels.
Pacific 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 Pacific Grove. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc DBA Diamond Real Estate Group, DRE #02163490
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Bluhm (licensed as William C Bluhm Jr) | Sotheby’s International Realty, Pacific Grove | Broker #01075634 | Pacific Grove office roster |
| Chandler Bluhm | Sotheby’s International Realty, Pacific Grove | Broker #02012679 | Pacific Grove office roster |
| Lucie Campos | Coldwell Banker Realty, Pacific Grove | Salesperson #01345594 | Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Carmel, Carmel Valley |
| Mark Capito | Sotheby’s International Realty, Pacific Grove | Salesperson #00797423 | Pacific Grove office roster |
| Becky Jones | Sotheby’s International Realty, Pacific Grove | Broker #01250885 | Pacific Grove office roster |
| Piper Loomis | Sotheby’s International Realty, Pacific Grove | Salesperson #01867933 | Pacific Grove office roster |
| Monique Ryan | Coldwell Banker Realty, Pacific Grove | Salesperson #01358578 | Pacific Grove office |
| Joe Smith (licensed as Joseph B. Smith) | Sotheby’s International Realty, Pacific Grove | Salesperson #01335794 | Pacific Grove office roster |
| Laraye Sullivan | Sotheby’s International Realty, Pacific Grove | Salesperson #01910918 | Pacific Grove office roster |
On the DRE record, the Sotheby’s agents are licensed under Sotheby’s International Realty Inc (DRE #00899496) and appear on the MLSListings roster for its 574 Lighthouse Avenue office. The Coldwell Banker agents are licensed under NRT West, Inc. (DRE #01908304) and appear on the roster for its 650 Lighthouse Avenue office. For agents elsewhere on the Peninsula, see our Monterey County agents guide.
How to vet a Pacific Grove agent
- Ask whether the home is on the historic inventory. Listed homes can face added review for exterior changes; ask the agent to check the HRI database before you write an offer.
- Ask about water before you plan changes. An added bathroom or ADU may need a Water Management District permit.
- If you want rental income, ask about the zone. New short-term rentals are limited to Coastal and Commercial areas under a 250-license cap.
- Ask for permit history on older cottages. Many have additions; ask the City for the permit file.
- Ask for a net sheet. It should show the county transfer tax, supplemental property tax and any assessments.
- Check the license yourself. Confirm a "Licensed" status with a current broker on the DRE lookup.
Pacific Grove questions we hear
Can I run a vacation rental in Pacific Grove?
Only in the Coastal and Commercial areas, under a citywide cap of 250 licenses and one per parcel, according to the City. Home sharing while you live on site is allowed citywide with a license.
What is the median home value in Pacific Grove?
Census estimates put the median owner-occupied value at about $1,190,400 for 2020–2024. Ask an agent for recent closed sales near the home you want.
How do I know if a house is historic?
Search the City’s Historic Resources Inventory database, linked from its historic resources page, and ask Community Development about review for changes.
Is there a city transfer tax in Pacific Grove?
We did not find a separate city tax, only Monterey County’s $1.10 per $1,000 under County Code Chapter 5.32, often paid by the seller by local custom; your contract decides. Confirm on your escrow estimate.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Pacific Grove city
- Census Reporter, Monterey County profile (ACS 2024 1-year)
- Monterey County Code Chapter 5.32, Documentary Transfer Tax (county rate of $0.55 per $500, with credit for a qualifying city tax)
- City of Pacific Grove, Short-Term Rental Program
- City of Pacific Grove, Historic Resources
- Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, water permits
- MLSListings roster, Sotheby’s International Realty, Pacific Grove; Coldwell Banker Realty Pacific Grove office roster
- License records checked October 2026 on the California DRE public lookup. Last reviewed October 2026 by Matthew Martinez.
Related: Pacific Grove real estate guide · Pacific Grove 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.
