Best Realtors on the Russian River, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
The lower Russian River runs through redwood country in west Sonoma County, from Forestville past Guerneville, Rio Nido and Monte Rio toward Duncans Mills and the coast at Jenner. The area is a mix of year-round homes, river cabins and vacation rentals, and the agents who work it are based in Guerneville, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol and Petaluma.
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 a Russian River town. "Russian River" is an area, not a town, so we looked for profiles that name the river communities themselves: Guerneville, Monte Rio, Rio Nido, Forestville, Cazadero or the "Russian River community." A profile that named only the "Russian River Valley" wine region, which also covers inland areas around Santa Rosa and Windsor, did not count by itself.
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.
Russian River housing in numbers
| Census measure (ACS 2024 5-year) | Guerneville CDP | ZIP 95471 (Rio Nido) |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,100 | 394 (±183) |
| Housing units | 3,181 (±250) | 498 (±155) |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes | $600,600 (±$39,141) | $603,400 (±$109,330) |
| Median household income | $81,281 (±$18,958) | N/A |
| Persons per household | 1.8 (±0.1) | 1.4 (±1) |
| Median age | 51.7 (±5.7) | 54.5 (±28.2) |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates, as presented by Census Reporter for Guerneville CDP and ZCTA 95471. There is no Census geography for the river as a whole; Guerneville is its largest community. Treat these as rough guides, not sale prices.
Small households and a high count of housing units relative to residents reflect how many river homes are second homes or rentals.
Guerneville, Monte Rio, Rio Nido and the river towns
All of the lower river communities are unincorporated, so Sonoma County handles zoning, permits and code enforcement. Guerneville is the commercial center, with homes on the flats near Main Street and in the hills above. Rio Nido sits in a canyon just upriver, Monte Rio and Villa Grande downriver, and Forestville closer to Sebastopol on the edge of vineyard country. See our Russian River real estate guide for more.
Costs and rules specific to a Russian River purchase
- Transfer tax. The river towns are unincorporated, so only the county tax applies. The Sonoma County Recorder’s transfer tax page lists it at $0.55 per $500 of value, or $1.10 per $1,000: about $661 on a $600,600 sale. Our California transfer tax guide explains who usually pays.
- Flood zones. The Russian River floods in some winters, and many lower lots in Guerneville, Rio Nido and Monte Rio are near or in mapped flood zones. Look up the parcel on FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center, ask about the home’s flood history and any elevation work, and get a flood insurance quote early.
- Wastewater. Some homes are on a sewer system and many others on septic; ask which applies and get the records. Our wells, septic and rural utilities article covers what to request.
- Vacation rentals. Many river homes are rented short term under County permit rules. Read our Sonoma County vacation rental rules article before you count on rental income.
- Hillsides and fire. For homes above the river, check the State Fire Marshal’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps and read the natural hazard disclosure report for landslide and fire zones.
Russian River 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 on the Russian River. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc DBA Diamond Real Estate Group, DRE #02163490
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doug Bohling (licensed as Douglas K Bohling) | Artisan Sotheby’s International Realty, Sebastopol | Broker #00924996 | Guerneville sales; Russian River Valley, Sebastopol, Santa Rosa |
| Theresa Disbro (licensed as Theresa Helen Disbro) | Keller Williams Realty, Santa Rosa | Broker #01928995 | Guerneville, Monte Rio and Cazadero sales; Forestville, Sebastopol |
| Doug Hecker (licensed as Douglas Michael Hecker) | Coldwell Banker Realty, Petaluma | Salesperson #01347843 | Guerneville, Forestville, Occidental, Sebastopol, Sonoma County, among others |
| Kimberly Maffia (licensed as Kimberly Ann Maffia) | Coldwell Banker Realty, Santa Rosa | Salesperson #02033450 | Guerneville listing; Santa Rosa |
| Sue Mobley (licensed as Susan P Mobley) | Russian River Realty Co., Guerneville | Broker #01027088 | Russian River community; Guerneville, Rio Nido, Monte Rio, Forestville, Cazadero |
| Mary Mount (licensed as Mary E Mount) | Russian River Realty Co., Guerneville | Salesperson #01308731 | Guerneville, Forestville and Cazadero sales |
| Michael Pellegrini (licensed as Michael Anthony Pellegrini) | HomeSmart Advantage Realty, Santa Rosa | Salesperson #02044192 | Russian River area; Guerneville, Rio Nido, Monte Rio, Camp Meeker |
| Connie Schlabach (licensed as Connie Lee Nordine Schlabach) | Vanguard Properties, Guerneville | Salesperson #01086685 | Guerneville office; Rio Nido, Monte Rio, Forestville, Cazadero sales |
| Molly Stokeld (licensed as Molly Leia Stokeld) | Compass, Santa Rosa | Salesperson #01974121 | Monte Rio and Guerneville listings and sales; Sonoma County |
| Micah Suard (licensed as Micah Victor Suard) | W Real Estate, Santa Rosa | Salesperson #02141180 | Guerneville listings; Forestville, Camp Meeker, Russian River Valley |
On the DRE record, Artisan Sotheby’s International Realty agents are licensed under Artisan Realty Group, Inc.; Keller Williams Realty (Santa Rosa) agents under Santa Rosa Capital Holdings Inc, whose record lists Keller Williams Realty as a business name; Coldwell Banker Realty agents under NRT West, Inc.; Russian River Realty Co. is a business name of broker Susan P Mobley, with a main office on Main Street in Guerneville; HomeSmart Advantage Realty agents under PL HomeSmart Advantage Realty Corp.; Vanguard Properties agents under Vanguard Properties, Inc.; Compass agents under Compass California II, Inc.; and W Real Estate agents under W Real Estate. For agents elsewhere in the county, see our Sonoma County agents guide.
How to vet a Russian River agent
- Ask which river towns they sell most. Guerneville flats, Rio Nido canyon lots and Monte Rio hillsides raise different questions.
- Get the flood history. Ask the agent to find out whether the home has flooded, been elevated or had flood claims.
- Ask about vacation rental rules. If you plan to rent, ask how County permit rules apply to that address.
- Check wastewater and permits. Ask whether the home is on sewer or septic, and pull permit history for additions and decks.
- Get insurance quotes early. Flood and fire insurance can change what a river home costs to own.
- Check the license yourself. Confirm a "Licensed" status with a current broker on the DRE lookup.
Russian River questions we hear
Is there a city transfer tax on the Russian River?
No. The river communities are unincorporated, so only the Sonoma County tax of $1.10 per $1,000 applies, per the County Recorder.
What do homes cost on the Russian River?
Census estimates put the median owner-occupied value at about $600,600 in Guerneville for 2020–2024. Prices vary widely by flood exposure, access and condition, so ask for recent sales.
Is "Russian River Valley" the same as the Russian River towns?
No. Russian River Valley is a wine region that also covers inland areas around Santa Rosa, Windsor and Sebastopol. The river towns are Guerneville, Rio Nido, Monte Rio, Forestville and their neighbors.
Who handles permits on the river?
Sonoma County, since none of the river communities has a city government.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- Census Reporter, Guerneville CDP (ACS 2024 5-year); Census Reporter, ZCTA 95471
- Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder, Documentary Transfer Tax
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center
- CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal, Fire Hazard Severity Zones
- Santa Rosa Capital Holdings Inc DRE record; Artisan Realty Group, Inc. DRE record
- Agent profiles on homes.com, coldwellbankerhomes.com and compass.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: Rio Nido · Occidental · Santa Rosa
Related: Russian River real estate guide · Russian River home valuation · Sonoma 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.
