Best Realtors in Rio Vista, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Rio Vista is a Solano County city of about 10,500 people on the west bank of the Sacramento River, where Highway 12 crosses into the Delta. Census figures show an older, mostly owner-occupied population, with almost half of residents 65 or older, consistent with the city’s large active-adult community alongside older homes near the riverfront downtown. Waterfront, levee and flood questions come up on many purchases here.
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’s own office that matches the brokerage the agent represents.
- A named brokerage. Each agent’s DRE record shows the brokerage they work under or the broker’s own license.
- A public page that names Rio Vista. We opened each agent’s profile on homes.com or RE/MAX and confirmed it names Rio Vista as an area served or in the agent’s listing history.
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.
Rio Vista housing in numbers
| Census measure | Rio Vista |
|---|---|
| Population (July 1, 2025 estimate) | 10,523 |
| Owner-occupied housing unit rate (2020–2024) | 83.9% |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020–2024) | $489,700 |
| Median gross rent (2020–2024) | $1,724 |
| Median household income (2020–2024) | $89,306 |
| Persons per household (2020–2024) | 2.01 |
| Persons 65 years and over | 46.4% |
| Mean travel time to work (2020–2024) | 40.3 minutes |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Rio Vista city, with American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates. These are survey estimates, not current sale prices.
The long average commute reflects Rio Vista’s distance from the job centers in Fairfield, the East Bay and Sacramento. Ask agents for recent closed sales that match the setting you want, since a riverfront home, an older house near downtown and a newer home in a planned community trade very differently.
Downtown, the riverfront and the planned communities
Downtown Rio Vista sits along Main Street and Front Street near the river, with older homes on the streets behind it. Newer subdivisions and the active-adult community spread west and north of the older town, many with homeowners associations and age-related occupancy rules. Riverfront and slough-side homes may come with docks, levee setbacks and flood insurance requirements, and the farmland and islands across the river follow County rules. For more on the city, see our Rio Vista real estate guide, flood, levee and insurance records and waterfront permit history.
Costs and rules specific to a Rio Vista purchase
- Transfer tax. Under Solano County Code Section 11-60, the county documentary transfer tax is 55 cents per $500 of consideration ($1.10 per $1,000): about $539 on a $489,700 sale. Rio Vista’s own real property transfer tax, Chapter 3.24, is 27.5 cents per $500, and Section 11-67 of the county code credits a half-rate city tax like this one against the county tax, so the combined charge should be $1.10 per $1,000. Confirm the amount on your escrow estimate. Our California transfer tax guide explains who usually pays.
- HOAs and age-restricted communities. In planned and active-adult communities, read the HOA budget, reserves, design rules and any age-related occupancy rules before you remove contingencies.
- Mello-Roos and special assessments. Newer subdivisions can carry special tax or assessment districts. Sellers must make a good-faith effort to give buyers the notice described in Civil Code section 1102.6b; check the property tax bill for line items.
- Flood and levees. Read the natural hazard disclosure report for flood zone status, check the FEMA Flood Map Service Center for the address, and get a flood insurance quote early for riverfront and low-lying homes.
Rio Vista 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 Rio Vista. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc DBA Diamond Real Estate Group, DRE #02163490
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Lee (licensed as Mary Elizabeth Lee) | Mary Lee, Broker, Lodi | Broker #00831869 | Rio Vista, Acampo, Lodi, Wilton |
| Dana Lira (licensed as Dana June Lira) | California Delta Living, Rio Vista | Salesperson #02120972 | Rio Vista, Lodi, Antioch, Vallejo |
| Ralene Nelson | RE/MAX Gold | Salesperson #01503588 | Rio Vista, Isleton, Walnut Grove, the California Delta |
| Diane Shafer (licensed as Diane Marie Shafer) | Shafer Real Estate, Rio Vista | Broker #01390213 | Rio Vista |
| Juliet Watson | Coldwell Banker Kappel Gateway Realty, Fairfield | Salesperson #01824897 | Rio Vista (listing history); Fairfield, Vacaville, Green Valley, Suisun City, Benicia |
On the DRE record, Dana Lira is licensed under California Delta Living (DRE #02440230) in Rio Vista, Ralene Nelson under Norcal Gold Inc (DRE #01215931), which operates RE/MAX Gold, and Juliet Watson under K K & G Inc. (DRE #01935235). Diane Shafer holds her own broker license with a main office in Rio Vista, and Mary Lee holds her own broker license with a main office in Lodi. For more agents across the county, see our Solano County agents guide.
How to vet a Rio Vista agent
- Ask about flood zones and levees. Ask how the agent checks FEMA flood zone status, levee district assessments and flood insurance costs before you write an offer.
- For waterfront homes, ask about docks and permits. Ask how they confirm permits for docks, bulkheads and additions near the river.
- Read HOA documents early. In planned and active-adult communities, ask for budgets, reserves, design rules and any age-related occupancy rules.
- Check for special taxes. Ask for the property tax bill and any Mello-Roos or assessment district disclosure.
- Drive the commute. Highway 12 links Rio Vista to Fairfield and Lodi; drive it at commute time before you buy.
- Check the license yourself. Confirm a "Licensed" status with a current responsible broker on the DRE lookup.
Rio Vista questions we hear
Is there a city transfer tax in Rio Vista?
Yes. Municipal Code Chapter 3.24 sets 27.5 cents per $500, which Solano County Code Section 11-67 credits within the county’s $1.10 per $1,000; confirm the total on your escrow estimate.
Why is the median age in Rio Vista so high?
Census QuickFacts estimates that 46.4% of residents are 65 or older, consistent with the city’s large active-adult community.
What is the median home value in Rio Vista?
Census estimates put the median owner-occupied value at about $489,700 for 2020–2024. Ask an agent for recent sales of similar homes.
Do I need flood insurance in Rio Vista?
It depends on the address. Check the FEMA flood map and the natural hazard disclosure, and get a quote before you remove contingencies.
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)
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Rio Vista city
- Solano County Code Chapter 11, Article IV, Documentary Transfer Tax (Sections 11-60 and 11-67)
- Rio Vista Municipal Code Chapter 3.24, Real Property Transfer Tax
- California Civil Code section 1102.6b (FindLaw copy of the state code)
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center
- Agent profiles on homes.com and remax.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: Isleton · Walnut Grove · Suisun City
Related: Rio Vista real estate guide · Rio Vista home valuation · Solano 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.
