Best Realtors in Sacramento, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Sacramento is the state capital and the largest city in Sacramento County, with about 536,000 residents spread from Natomas in the north to Meadowview and the Pocket in the south. Older central neighborhoods such as Midtown, Land Park, Curtis Park and East Sacramento sit alongside postwar tract areas and newer subdivisions, and the city charges its own transfer tax on top of the County’s.
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 Sacramento. Each agent’s brokerage profile names Sacramento or a Sacramento neighborhood, or the agent appears on the roster of a brokerage office in the city.
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.
Sacramento housing in numbers
| Census measure (ACS 2024 1-year) | Sacramento city |
|---|---|
| Population | 535,787 |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes | $515,800 (±$18,676) |
| Median household income | $91,387 (±$3,799) |
| Per capita income | $43,869 |
| Persons per household | 2.7 |
| Median age | 36.6 |
| Mean travel time to work | 25.3 minutes |
| Housing units | 211,869 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, as presented by Census Reporter.
Census Reporter puts the city’s median owner-occupied value below the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom metro figure of $605,500, and its median household income below the metro’s $98,775. These are survey estimates of the existing housing stock, not current sale prices. Values vary widely between a Land Park bungalow, a Natomas tract home and a downtown condo, so ask any agent for recent sales in the specific neighborhood.
Midtown, Land Park, East Sacramento and the newer edges
Sacramento’s central grid, Midtown and the neighborhoods just south and east of it hold many of the city’s older homes, including bungalows and Craftsman houses from the early 1900s. Land Park, Curtis Park and East Sacramento are known for tree-lined streets and older single-family homes, while Natomas, North Sacramento and the south area hold more postwar and newer subdivisions. Downtown and the Railyards add condos and townhomes. For more, see our Sacramento real estate guide, our notes on older-home records and inspections, condo and townhome ownership costs and comparing housing settings.
Many addresses with a "Sacramento" mailing address, including Arden Arcade, Carmichael and Fair Oaks, are outside city limits. Confirm the jurisdiction on the tax bill or with the agent, because it changes the transfer tax and the short-term rental rules.
Costs and rules specific to a Sacramento purchase
- County transfer tax. The Sacramento County Clerk-Recorder charges documentary transfer tax of $0.55 per $500 of value and says the City of Sacramento is the only city in the county with its own transfer tax: about $567 on a $515,800 sale.
- City transfer tax. The City of Sacramento’s real property transfer tax page sets the City’s tax, under City Code chapter 3.16, at $2.75 per $1,000 of the full purchase price on non-exempt transfers inside city limits: about $1,418 on a $515,800 sale. The City says buyer and seller decide in escrow who pays, and that the buyer is responsible if it is not paid through escrow. Our California transfer tax guide explains common practice.
- Short-term rentals. The City’s short-term rental FAQ requires an annual permit under City Code 5.114 for stays of 30 days or less, a business operations tax account and 12% transient occupancy tax. A home that is not the host’s primary residence needs a Conditional Use Permit once it is rented more than 90 days a year. See the City’s short-term vacation rental page.
- Older homes. In the central neighborhoods, ask for permit history on additions and conversions, and budget for sewer lateral, electrical and foundation inspections.
- Flood and hazard disclosures. Much of the city sits behind river levees. Read the natural hazard disclosure report, check the parcel on FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center, and get an insurance quote before you remove contingencies.
- Special taxes. Some newer subdivisions carry Mello-Roos or other special assessments; ask for the amount and term before you write an offer.
Sacramento 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 Sacramento. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc DBA Diamond Real Estate Group, DRE #02163490
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dan Ellison (licensed as Daniel Matthew Ellison) | Coldwell Banker Realty, Sacramento-Sierra Oaks | Salesperson #01929242 | Sacramento |
| Cameron Freelove | CENTURY 21 Select Real Estate, Sacramento | Salesperson #02092307 | Sacramento office roster |
| Gio Giammona (licensed as Giovanni Davey Giammona) | CENTURY 21 Select Real Estate, Sacramento | Salesperson #02384184 | Sacramento office roster |
| Susan K. Harrold | Windermere Signature Properties, Sierra Oaks | Salesperson #00584122 | East Sacramento, Arden Park, Sierra Oaks, Carmichael |
| Nancy Harvey | Coldwell Banker Realty, Sacramento-Sierra Oaks | Salesperson #01894135 | Sacramento |
| Tom Harvey (licensed as Thomas Lyle Harvey) | Coldwell Banker Realty, Sacramento-Sierra Oaks | Salesperson #01864883 | Sacramento, East Sacramento, Midtown, Land Park, Arden Park, Sierra Oaks |
| Daniel Mueller | CENTURY 21 Select Real Estate, Sacramento | Salesperson #01829919 | Sacramento office roster |
| Michael Nerby | Coldwell Banker Realty, Sacramento-Sierra Oaks | Salesperson #01975620 | Sacramento, Downtown Sacramento |
| Tim Pantle (licensed as Timothy Allen Pantle) | Coldwell Banker Realty, Sacramento-Sierra Oaks | Salesperson #01377493 | Sacramento |
| Doug Reynolds (licensed as Douglas James Reynolds) | Coldwell Banker Realty, Sacramento-Sierra Oaks | Salesperson #01734464 | Sacramento, Downtown Sacramento, Natomas, Rosemont, College-Glen |
| Michelle Smith (licensed as Michelle Renee Smith) | Coldwell Banker Realty, Sacramento-Sierra Oaks | Salesperson #02110822 | Sacramento; Sacramento County |
| Tecca Wysk (licensed as Terezinha P Wysk) | Coldwell Banker Realty, Sacramento-Sierra Oaks | Salesperson #01308218 | Sacramento, West Sacramento, Elk Grove, Folsom; Sacramento County |
On the DRE record, Coldwell Banker Realty agents are licensed under NRT West, Inc.; CENTURY 21 Select Real Estate agents under Century 21 Select Real Estate Inc, and they appear on the roster of its Sacramento office at 1555 River Park Drive; and the Windermere Signature Properties agent under William L Lyon & Associates Inc, whose DRE record lists Windermere Signature Properties as a business name. The Coldwell Banker agents work from the Sierra Oaks office at 2277 Fair Oaks Boulevard. For more agents across the county, see our Sacramento County agents guide.
How to vet a Sacramento agent
- Confirm the address is in the city. Ask the agent to confirm city limits; it decides whether the City’s transfer tax and short-term rental rules apply.
- Ask for neighborhood sales. Midtown, Land Park, Natomas and the Pocket price very differently; ask for recent sales on comparable streets.
- Get a net sheet with both transfer taxes. A seller or buyer should see the County tax and the City’s $2.75 per $1,000 and who pays each.
- Ask about older-home inspections. For pre-1950 homes, ask which inspectors the agent uses for sewer lines, foundations and wiring.
- Check flood exposure. Ask for the flood zone and an insurance quote, especially near the American and Sacramento rivers.
- Check the license yourself. Confirm a "Licensed" status with a current responsible broker on the DRE lookup.
Sacramento questions we hear
How much is the transfer tax on a City of Sacramento home?
Two taxes apply: the County’s $0.55 per $500 and the City’s $2.75 per $1,000 of the price. On a $515,800 sale, that is about $567 plus about $1,418.
Is Carmichael or Arden Arcade part of the City of Sacramento?
No. Both are unincorporated, so the City’s transfer tax and short-term rental permit do not apply there; County rules do.
Can I run a short-term rental in Sacramento?
With a City permit, a business operations tax account and transient occupancy tax registration. A property that is not your primary residence needs a Conditional Use Permit to be rented more than 90 days a year.
What is the median home value in Sacramento?
Census estimates put the median owner-occupied value at about $515,800 for 2024. Ask an agent for recent sales of similar homes in the neighborhood you want.
Do Sacramento agents also work in the suburbs?
Many do. Several agents in this guide name West Sacramento, Elk Grove, Folsom or Carmichael on their profiles.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- Census Reporter, Sacramento city profile (ACS 2024 1-year)
- Sacramento County Clerk-Recorder, documentary transfer tax FAQ
- City of Sacramento, Real Property Transfer Tax
- City of Sacramento, Short-Term Rental FAQ and Short Term Vacation Rentals
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center
- William L Lyon & Associates Inc DRE record
- CENTURY 21 Select Real Estate, Sacramento office roster
- Agent profiles on coldwellbankerhomes.com, century21.com and windermere.com, linked in the table
- License records checked October 2026 on the California DRE public lookup. Last reviewed October 2026 by Matthew Martinez.
Related: Sacramento real estate guide · Sacramento home valuation · Sacramento 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.
