Choosing a Real Estate Agent in San Pablo, CA
By Matthew Martinez
San Pablo is a compact west Contra Costa County city of about 32,000 people, surrounded almost entirely by Richmond, with older single-family homes, small multi-unit buildings and condos along San Pablo Avenue and the I-80 corridor. A San Pablo agent should be able to confirm whether an address is in San Pablo or Richmond (which has its own transfer tax), read an older home’s permit history and explain HOA documents on a condo.
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 to use this agent guide
Start with the property questions below, then compare the publisher and five regional candidates. Public profiles and licensing records answer different questions: a license establishes regulatory status, while a profile describes claimed service areas. Neither establishes local sales experience, quality of service or suitability for your transaction. Some candidates name neighboring communities or the county rather than San Pablo itself; the profile evidence is shown explicitly. Interview more than one agent and ask for recent, relevant examples.
San Pablo housing in numbers
| Census measure | San Pablo |
|---|---|
| Population (July 1, 2025 estimate) | 31,678 |
| Owner-occupied housing unit rate (2020–2024) | 42.0% |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020–2024) | $551,700 |
| Median gross rent (2020–2024) | $2,018 |
| Median household income (2020–2024, 2024 dollars) | $79,478 |
| Persons per household (2020–2024) | 3.18 |
| Mean travel time to work (2020–2024) | 32.3 minutes |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, San Pablo city, California.
Most San Pablo homes are renter-occupied: the 2020–2024 owner-occupancy rate was 42%, and households averaged more than three people. The median owner-occupied value was about $552,000. These are five-year survey figures, not current sale prices. To price a specific home, an agent should pull recent sales of the same property type nearby.
San Pablo settings: older homes, small rentals and condos
San Pablo’s housing is mostly older single-family homes on small lots, mixed with duplexes, small apartment buildings and condo complexes, especially near San Pablo Avenue. Because the city is surrounded by Richmond and unincorporated areas such as North Richmond and El Sobrante, nearby streets can sit in different jurisdictions. Older homes call for a careful look at permit history and inspections, tenant-occupied homes call for early questions about leases and local rules, and condos come with HOA budgets and rules. Our guides to comparing San Pablo housing settings, older-home records and inspections and condo and townhome ownership costs go into more detail. See also our San Pablo real estate guide.
Costs and rules specific to a San Pablo purchase
- Transfer tax. The Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder charges the county documentary transfer tax at $0.55 per $500 of value. The Recorder’s page lists separate city taxes only for El Cerrito and Richmond, so a San Pablo sale typically carries the county tax only. On a $550,000 sale, the county tax is $605. Who pays is negotiable; confirm the figure on your escrow estimate.
- San Pablo or Richmond? Because San Pablo is surrounded by Richmond, confirm the city on the title report. A Richmond address adds the City of Richmond transfer tax, $7 per $1,000 for sales under $1 million, which a San Pablo address does not.
- Older-home records. Compare the seller’s disclosures with permit records for additions, conversions and other work; our San Pablo older-home records guide covers the basics.
- Tenant-occupied homes. With most homes renter-occupied, ask early what leases, notices and local rules apply to a property with a tenant, and confirm them with the City.
- Condos and townhomes. Request the HOA budget, reserve study, rules and any special assessments before you remove contingencies. Our San Pablo condo and townhome costs guide explains what to review.
- Ownership budget. Our San Pablo homeownership budget guide lists the recurring costs to plan for.
- Hazards. The natural hazard disclosure report shows whether an address is in a mapped earthquake fault, landslide, flood or Fire Hazard Severity Zone.
Agent profiles to compare for a San Pablo transaction
Matthew Martinez, Diamond Real Estate Group (publisher)
Matthew Martinez is the Founder, CEO and Managing Broker of Diamond Real Estate Group, based in Sonoma County. Contact him to discuss representation for your specific property and location. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc #02163490.
Five regional interview candidates
These profiles are drawn from the local and broader county research. The final column records the location evidence in each public profile; a nearby town or county reference does not establish completed transactions in San Pablo. Ask each candidate to demonstrate relevant experience before hiring them. This is an interview starting point, not a ranking or a claim that every agent specializes in this community.
| Agent / public profile | Brokerage as described by the profile | DRE record | Geographic evidence in the source profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sindy Anderson | Coldwell Banker Realty, Berkeley office | Salesperson #02203627 | Pinole, San Pablo, El Sobrante, Richmond, Orinda, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Concord |
| Lisa Chilton | Coldwell Banker Realty, Berkeley office | Salesperson #02155460 | Pinole, San Pablo, El Sobrante, Richmond, Rodeo, Hercules, Crockett and other Bay Area cities |
| Dessy Gueorguieva | Coldwell Banker Realty, Walnut Creek office | Broker #01301988 | San Pablo, Richmond and many other Bay Area cities |
| Karlene Lopez-Piedra | Coldwell Banker Realty, Berkeley office | Salesperson #01980076 | Oakland, Richmond, Emeryville, San Pablo, Vallejo, El Cerrito, Albany, Berkeley, El Sobrante, Pinole, Hercules |
| Jason Caskie | Coldwell Banker Realty | Salesperson #01347068 | Danville office |
For a wider comparison, read the county agent guide. Verify current license status and brokerage affiliation on the linked DRE record, and agree on representation terms in writing.
How to vet a San Pablo agent
- Ask how they confirm the city. An agent should check whether the address is in San Pablo, Richmond or unincorporated county land, since that changes the transfer tax and which rules apply.
- Ask for comparables from the same property type. A single-family home, a duplex and a condo trade in different ranges; make sure the agent prices from the right sales.
- For an older home, ask about permits and inspections. Ask which inspections they usually recommend (sewer lateral, foundation, roof, electrical) and how they compare permit records with what was built.
- For a tenant-occupied property, ask what applies. Ask how they review leases and estoppel information, and which local rules they confirm with the City.
- Ask for a net sheet. An estimate should show the county transfer tax, title and escrow costs, HOA fees if any and the commission terms you agreed to.
- Verify the license yourself. Look up the agent on the DRE site and confirm the responsible broker matches the brokerage they name.
San Pablo questions we hear
Does San Pablo have its own transfer tax?
The Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder’s transfer tax page lists city taxes only for El Cerrito and Richmond, so a San Pablo sale typically shows the county tax of $0.55 per $500. Confirm the figure on your escrow estimate.
How can I tell if a home is in San Pablo or Richmond?
Check the title report or the County Assessor’s parcel information rather than the mailing address. The answer matters because Richmond adds its own city transfer tax.
Are many San Pablo homes rentals?
Yes. The Census Bureau’s 2020–2024 figures show an owner-occupancy rate of 42%, so most San Pablo homes are renter-occupied. If the home you want has a tenant, ask early what rules apply.
How do I check a San Pablo agent’s license?
Search the name or license number on the DRE public lookup. The record shows license type, status and responsible broker. Every agent in our table links to the record we checked.
Should I interview more than one San Pablo agent?
Yes. Interview at least two or three, ask each for recent sales near the homes you are considering, and compare how they explain pricing, inspections and tenant questions for that address.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: San Pablo city, California (V2025 population estimate; 2020–2024 ACS figures)
- Agent profiles at Coldwell Banker Realty, linked in the table
- Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder: documentary transfer tax and City of Richmond transfer tax
- State Fire Marshal: Fire Hazard Severity Zones
- License records checked October 2026 on the California DRE public lookup. Last reviewed October 2026 by Matthew Martinez.
Related: San Pablo real estate guide · San Pablo home valuation · Contra Costa 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.
