MarinCountyGuide

Top 10 Best Real Estate Agents in Marin County, California (Updated 2026)

This list shows the best real estate agents near you in Marin County, California, with the address, phone number and website for each.

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Real estate agents in California are licensed by the state Department of Real Estate (DRE), and an agent with a salesperson license may only work under a licensed broker. Before you sign with an agent in Marin County, check the license status, the responsible broker and any disciplinary action on the DRE license lookup. More than eight in ten owner-occupied homes in Marin County are detached single-family houses, the Census Bureau reports.

California real estate license types: salesperson and broker

The Department of Real Estate (DRE) issues two licenses to people who sell property for others. The difference is who may work alone.

License What the holder may do What DRE requires to qualify
Salesperson Licensed real estate activities under the supervision of a licensed broker Age 18 or older, three college-level courses, a written exam
Broker The acts listed in the Real Estate Law, and acting as the responsible broker for salespersons Age 18 or older, eight college-level courses, a written exam, and two years of full-time salesperson experience in the last five years, or equivalent experience, or a four-year degree with a major or minor in real estate

DRE's license requirements state that a salesperson without a responsible broker may not perform acts requiring a real estate license. State law also bars a salesperson from taking pay for licensed work from anyone but that broker. The licensed acts include leasing and collecting rent, which is why property managers hold the same license.

How to check a real estate agent's license

DRE runs a public license lookup that searches by name, company name or license ID. Each record shows the license type, the expiration date, the license status, the responsible broker and a comment line for disciplinary action.

DRE's advice to consumers is to make sure the status is "Licensed", that an agent with a salesperson license works for a broker, and to look into any prior disciplinary action or restrictions on the license. DRE's public information line is (877) 373-4542.

Realtor is a membership, not a license

DRE's reference book chapter on trade associations explains that Realtor is a collective membership mark owned by the National Association of Realtors. The right to use the term is granted only through membership in that association.

The same chapter states that all real estate licensees, whether Realtors or not, are under the jurisdiction of the Department of Real Estate.

Seller's agent, buyer's agent and dual agent

More than eight in ten owner-occupied homes in Marin County are detached single-family houses, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey, table B25032.

California's agency disclosure law starts at Civil Code section 2079.13 and names three roles an agent can play in a sale. The disclosure form in section 2079.16 describes each one.

Role Who the agent represents Fiduciary duty owed to
Seller's agent The seller only, under a listing agreement The seller
Buyer's agent The buyer only, even if the seller pays some or all of the agent's compensation The buyer
Dual agent Both the seller and the buyer, and only with the knowledge and consent of both Both parties

In every role the agent owes both sides reasonable skill and care, honest and fair dealing, and disclosure of known facts that materially affect the property's value or desirability. A dual agent may not, without express permission, pass one party's confidential information to the other, such as a seller's willingness to accept less than the listing price.

A seller's agent must hand over the form before entering into the listing agreement. A buyer's agent must give it to the buyer as soon as practicable before the buyer signs a representation agreement and an offer.

Buyer representation agreements in California

Civil Code section 1670.50 requires a written buyer-broker representation agreement to be signed as soon as practicable, and no later than the buyer's offer to purchase. The agreement must cover at least these terms.

  1. The compensation of the real estate broker.
  2. The services to be rendered.
  3. When compensation is due.
  4. How the contract can be terminated.

The agreement cannot last longer than three months from the date it was made, unless the buyer is a corporation, limited liability company or partnership. It cannot renew automatically, and a renewal must be in writing, dated and signed by all parties. An agreement that breaks these rules is void and unenforceable.

Buyers can also find mortgage lenders, home inspectors and appraisers in the real estate section of the directory.

Complaints and the DRE Consumer Recovery Account

DRE investigates written complaints against licensees, and against unlicensed people doing work that needs a license. Its complaint page sets out the process.

  1. Fill out the Licensee/Subdivider Complaint form (RE 519), or use the Enforcement Online Complaint System.
  2. Describe what happened in order, with who said what, when and where, and name any witnesses.
  3. Attach copies of the transaction documents, such as listings, offers, escrow papers and checks.

If DRE proves a violation, a formal hearing can end in suspension or revocation of the license. DRE cannot order money refunded, contracts cancelled or damages awarded, and it tells consumers with that kind of problem to consult an attorney.

DRE also runs a victims' fund, the Consumer Recovery Account. It is for a person who was defrauded, or had trust funds converted, by a licensee in a licensed transaction. The person must first get a final civil judgment, arbitration award or criminal restitution order, then apply to DRE within one year. Payment covers actual out-of-pocket loss, up to $50,000 per transaction and $250,000 per licensee. Local courts are covered on the Marin County government and services page.

Questions about real estate agents in Marin County

Who licenses real estate agents in Marin County?

The California Department of Real Estate (DRE) issues every real estate broker and salesperson license in the state, including those held by agents in Marin County. There is no county license. DRE can also suspend or revoke a license for violations of the Real Estate Law.

Does a real estate agent need a license in California?

Yes. State law makes it unlawful to act as, or advertise as, a real estate broker or salesperson without first getting a real estate license from the department. A salesperson who has no responsible broker may not perform any act that requires a license, even with a valid salesperson license.

How do I check a California real estate agent's license?

Search the agent's name or license ID on the DRE public license lookup. The record shows the license type, expiration date, license status, responsible broker and any disciplinary action. DRE also takes license questions on its public information line at (877) 373-4542.

Is a Realtor the same as a licensed real estate agent?

No. DRE's reference book says the term Realtor is a collective membership mark owned by the National Association of Realtors, and the right to use it comes only through membership. The license comes from DRE. All real estate licensees, whether Realtors or not, are under DRE's jurisdiction.

Can one agent represent both the buyer and the seller in California?

Yes, but only with the knowledge and consent of both sides. The Civil Code calls this a dual agent. Without express permission, a dual agent may not tell one party the other's confidential information, such as a seller's willingness to take less than the listing price.

How do I file a complaint against a real estate agent in California?

File a written complaint with DRE, either on the Licensee/Subdivider Complaint form (RE 519) or through DRE's Enforcement Online Complaint System. DRE can investigate and can suspend or revoke a license. It cannot order refunds, cancel contracts or award damages, and it tells consumers with those problems to consult an attorney.

How this list is put together

Listings come from public business profiles and from businesses that add themselves. We leave out profiles that show signs of being lead-generation fronts and not local firms, and businesses that have closed. Listings marked "Claimed" are run by the business itself, which checked its own details, and they appear first. If your business is missing, add it here.

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