Best Realtors in Redwood City, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Redwood City is the San Mateo County seat, a city of about 82,000 people midway between San Francisco and San Jose. Its market runs from downtown condos and older bungalows near El Camino Real to hillside homes on the west side and townhomes and houses on the bay at Redwood Shores. Agents who name Redwood City on their profiles work from a Coldwell Banker office on the Redwood City-San Carlos line and from Compass and Sotheby’s offices nearby.
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 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 Redwood City. We opened each agent’s profile or office roster and confirmed it names Redwood City, as a service area, in the bio, in Redwood City sales, or as the name of the agent’s 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.
Redwood City housing in numbers
| Census measure | Redwood City |
|---|---|
| Population (July 1, 2025 estimate) | 82,178 |
| Owner-occupied housing unit rate (2020–2024) | 48.6% |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020–2024) | $1,801,700 |
| Median gross rent (2020–2024) | $2,968 |
| Median household income (2020–2024, 2024 dollars) | $157,814 |
| Persons per household (2020–2024) | 2.69 |
| Mean travel time to work (2020–2024) | 24.3 minutes |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Redwood City city, California.
Fewer than half of Redwood City homes are owner-occupied, the lowest share among the nearby mid-Peninsula cities we checked, which reflects the large number of downtown and bayside apartments. The Census median of about $1.8 million blends condos with single-family homes; ask agents for recent sales of the same property type in the neighborhood you want.
Downtown, the west-side hills and Redwood Shores
- Downtown and the El Camino corridor. Newer condos and apartments near the Caltrain station and courthouse square sit beside older single-family streets.
- West of El Camino. Neighborhoods such as Mount Carmel, Woodside Plaza, Farm Hill and Edgewood rise toward the hills, with more single-family homes and some hillside lots. Unincorporated Emerald Hills borders the city on the west and is governed by the County.
- Redwood Shores. A planned bayside area of lagoons, townhomes and houses east of Highway 101, part of the city but with its own set of flood and levee questions.
For local topics, see our Redwood City real estate guide, housing settings comparison and condo and townhome ownership costs pages.
Costs and rules specific to a Redwood City purchase
- Transfer tax. The San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder levies the documentary transfer tax at 55 cents per $500, or $1.10 per $1,000 of value: about $1,982 on a $1,801,700 sale. The only city conveyance tax the Recorder mentions is the City of San Mateo’s, so Redwood City buyers and sellers should confirm on the escrow estimate that only the county tax applies. Our California transfer tax guide explains who usually pays.
- Flood zones near the bay. Redwood Shores and other low-lying areas east of El Camino can sit in or near mapped flood zones. Check the address on FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center and ask your lender whether flood insurance is required.
- Hazard disclosures. The natural hazard disclosure report covers flood, earthquake and fire hazard designations; read it before you remove contingencies.
- Fire hazard on the west side. Hillside streets near Emerald Hills and Farm Hill can carry State Fire Marshal Fire Hazard Severity Zone designations. In High or Very High zones, sellers must provide defensible space documentation or an agreement for the buyer to obtain it; see our AB 38 guide.
- HOA documents. Many downtown condos and Redwood Shores townhomes are in homeowners associations. Read the budget, reserve study and recent minutes before you remove contingencies.
Redwood City 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 Redwood City. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc DBA Diamond Real Estate Group, DRE #02163490
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Branden Abuyaghi (licensed as Branden R Abuyaghi) | Coldwell Banker Realty, Redwood City – San Carlos office | Salesperson #02067401 | Redwood City – San Carlos office |
| Derek Cappiello (licensed as Derek Robert Cappiello) | Sotheby’s International Realty | Salesperson #01983178 | Redwood City, Woodside, Atherton, Menlo Park, Los Altos, Half Moon Bay |
| Karen Clarke-Hoffmann | Coldwell Banker Realty, Redwood City – San Carlos office | Salesperson #01989076 | Redwood City – San Carlos office |
| Stephanie Nash | Compass, Woodside | Salesperson #01104524 | Redwood City, San Carlos, Woodside, Portola Valley |
| Makeda Nueckel | Coldwell Banker Realty, Redwood City – San Carlos office | Salesperson #01802920 | Redwood City – San Carlos office |
| Patrick Ryan (licensed as Patrick Joseph Ryan) | Compass, Woodside | Salesperson #01044049 | Redwood City, Menlo Park, Burlingame, Half Moon Bay (listings and sales) |
| Peter Tao (licensed as Peter Shu-Dar Tao) | Coldwell Banker Realty, Redwood City – San Carlos office | Salesperson #01348092 | Redwood City – San Carlos office |
| Pam Tyson (licensed as Pamela A Tyson) | Compass, Menlo Park | Salesperson #01721213 | Redwood City (bio and sales), San Carlos, Emerald Hills, Menlo Park, Woodside |
On the DRE record, Coldwell Banker Realty agents are licensed under NRT West, Inc. (DRE #01908304), Compass agents under Compass California II, Inc. (DRE #01527235), and Derek Cappiello under Sotheby’s International Realty Inc (DRE #00899496). The Coldwell Banker agents appear on the roster of the Redwood City – San Carlos office at 580 El Camino Real. License status and brokerage affiliations change; check the DRE record before you hire anyone.
How to vet a Redwood City agent
- Ask for sales in your neighborhood and property type. Redwood Shores townhomes, downtown condos and west-side houses are separate markets.
- Ask about flood zones and insurance. For bayside homes, ask how they check flood maps and when to get a flood insurance quote.
- Ask how they handle competitive offers. Ask about pre-offer inspections, offer review dates and contingency strategy.
- Read HOA documents with them. For condos and townhomes, ask what they look for in reserves, special assessments and litigation disclosures.
- Ask for a net sheet. It should show the county transfer tax and the expected supplemental property tax bill.
- Check the license yourself. Confirm a "Licensed" status with a current broker on the DRE lookup.
Redwood City questions we hear
Does Redwood City have a city transfer tax?
The San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder mentions only the City of San Mateo’s conveyance tax in addition to the county tax of $1.10 per $1,000. Confirm the total on your escrow estimate.
Is Redwood Shores part of Redwood City?
Yes. Redwood Shores is a neighborhood of the City of Redwood City east of Highway 101, so city rules and services apply.
Is Emerald Hills part of Redwood City?
No. Emerald Hills is an unincorporated area next to the city’s west side, so San Mateo County handles its planning and permits.
What is the median home value in Redwood City?
The Census estimates the median owner-occupied value at $1,801,700 for 2020–2024. It blends condos and houses, so ask an agent for recent sales of comparable homes.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Redwood City city, California
- San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder, documentary transfer tax
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center
- CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal, Fire Hazard Severity Zones
- Coldwell Banker Realty Redwood City – San Carlos office roster; 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: San Carlos · Emerald Hills · Woodside
Related: Redwood City real estate guide · Redwood City 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.
