Best Realtors in Soledad, CA (2026 Guide)
By Matthew Martinez
Soledad is a Salinas Valley city of about 26,000 people on Highway 101, roughly 25 miles southeast of Salinas and the gateway to the west side of Pinnacles National Park. Most homes are single-family houses, and three of the agents below work from an office in Soledad.
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, broker-associate or officer 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 tied to Soledad. We opened each agent’s profile or office roster and confirmed it places them in a Soledad office or names Soledad; for three agents the profile names Monterey County or South Monterey County rather than Soledad, and we note that in the table.
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.
Soledad housing in numbers
| Census measure | Soledad | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 26,357 | July 1, 2025 estimate |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes | $595,900 | 2020–2024 |
| Owner-occupied housing rate | 58.0% | 2020–2024 |
| Median gross rent | $1,698 | 2020–2024 |
| Median household income | $96,862 | 2020–2024 |
| Persons per household | 4.16 | 2020–2024 |
| Mean travel time to work | 30.0 minutes | 2020–2024 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Soledad city (population estimate V2025; other figures from the American Community Survey 2020–2024). These are estimates, not current sale prices.
Soledad’s estimated median owner-occupied value is below Salinas’s $687,700 (ACS 2024 1-year, Census Reporter), and households average more than four people, so bedroom count, garage space and room for an ADU matter to many buyers. The average commute of 30 minutes is longer than in Salinas.
Tract neighborhoods, downtown and the valley
Soledad is an incorporated city, so the City’s Community and Economic Development Department handles zoning, building permits and ADUs. Older homes sit closer to downtown, newer subdivisions sit toward the edges of town, and farmland surrounds the city on the valley floor. For more, see our Soledad real estate guide, our Soledad association and assessment costs page and our inspection and insurance planning notes.
Costs and rules specific to a Soledad purchase
- Transfer tax. Monterey County Code Chapter 5.32 sets Monterey County’s documentary transfer tax at 55 cents per $500 ($1.10 per $1,000), about $655 on a $595,900 sale. The County code credits a qualifying city tax, and we did not find a separate Soledad transfer tax. Settle who pays in the purchase contract and confirm on your escrow estimate. See our California transfer tax guide.
- ADUs. The City’s ADU page offers four pre-approved detached ADU plans from 495 to 749 square feet, developed with the City of Salinas, and notes that impact fees do not apply to ADUs under 750 square feet, though school fees apply above 500 square feet.
- Assessments on newer homes. Newer subdivisions may carry special taxes or assessments on the property tax bill. Ask for the Mello-Roos and assessment disclosures and the latest tax bill before you remove contingencies.
- Hazard disclosures. Read the natural hazard disclosure report, which covers mapped flood and fault hazards in the valley.
Soledad 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 Soledad. Contact Matthew · Broker #01869679 · Diamond Group Estates Inc DBA Diamond Real Estate Group, DRE #02163490
| Agent | Brokerage | License | Areas named on profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Juan Del Real (licensed as Juan Ignacio Del Real) | RE/MAX Property Experts, Salinas | Broker #01453441 | Soledad, Salinas, Seaside, Monterey, Carmel |
| Tom Folliard (licensed as Thomas Joseph Folliard) | Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Real Time Realty, Salinas | Salesperson #01126658 | Monterey County (county named, not Soledad) |
| Darryl Jansen | Coast & Country Real Estate Group, Soledad | Salesperson #01701074 | Soledad office roster |
| Oscar M Martinez | Coast & Country Real Estate Group, Soledad | Salesperson #02032230 | Soledad office roster |
| Deanna Pond (licensed as Deanna Laura Pond) | Coast & Country Real Estate Group, Soledad | Broker #01743835 | Soledad office roster |
| Starlette Sanchez (licensed as Starlette Gadomski-Sanchez) | RE/MAX Property Experts, Salinas | Broker #01247690 DRE record name: Gadomski-Sanchez, Starlette. | Monterey County, Salinas, Monterey (county named, not Soledad) |
| Kim Tankersley (licensed as Kimberly Kay Tankersley) | Oak Shores Realty, King City | Broker #01412138 | King City, South Monterey County (not Soledad by name) |
On the DRE record, Coast & Country agents are licensed under Coast & Country Real Estate Group Inc (DRE #01893708), of which Deanna Pond is an officer; RE/MAX Property Experts agents under Bay Capital Real Estate, Inc.; Tom Folliard under Real Time Realty Inc. (DRE #01900835); and Kim Tankersley as a broker associate of Oak Shores Realty (DRE #02201406). For more Salinas Valley agents, see our Salinas guide and our Monterey County agents guide.
How to vet a Soledad agent
- Ask how often they sell in Soledad. Only three of the agents below work from a Soledad office; ask the others for recent Soledad sales.
- Ask about assessments on newer homes. Ask the agent to pull the tax bill and any Mello-Roos or assessment disclosures early.
- If you want an ADU, ask about the pre-approved plans. Ask whether the lot fits one of the City’s four designs and the four-foot setbacks.
- Settle the transfer tax in the contract. Ask the agent who customarily pays in Soledad and put it in writing.
- Ask about financing programs. If you plan to use a first-time buyer or down payment assistance program, ask which lenders the agent has closed those loans with.
- Check the license yourself. Confirm a "Licensed" status with a current broker on the DRE lookup.
Soledad questions we hear
Is there a city transfer tax in Soledad?
We did not find a separate city tax, only Monterey County’s $1.10 per $1,000 under County Code Chapter 5.32. Confirm on your escrow estimate.
What is the median home value in Soledad?
Census estimates put the median owner-occupied value at about $595,900 for 2020–2024. Ask an agent for recent closed sales near the home you want.
Does Soledad offer pre-approved ADU plans?
Yes. The City offers four pre-approved detached designs from 495 to 749 square feet.
Who handles permits in Soledad?
The City’s Community and Economic Development Department, through its Planning and Building and Safety divisions.
Sources & notes
- California DRE public license lookup (individual records linked in the table)
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Soledad city
- Census Reporter, Salinas profile (ACS 2024 1-year)
- Monterey County Code Chapter 5.32, Documentary Transfer Tax (county rate of $0.55 per $500, with credit for a qualifying city tax)
- City of Soledad, Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)
- MLSListings office roster, Coast & Country Real Estate Group, Soledad
- Agent profiles on remax.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.
Related: Soledad real estate guide · Soledad home valuation · Monterey 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.
