California real estate agents
Real estate agents in California
How California's agency law, disclosures and licensing work, what agents charge, and 432 agents and 246 brokers listed in California.
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- Facts sourced and dated
California real estate agent rules
| Who licenses agents | California Department of Real Estate (DRE) |
|---|---|
| Agency relationships | California allows an agent to represent the seller, the buyer, or both (dual agency) with written disclosure and consent. Agents must give the state's Disclosure Regarding Real Estate Agency Relationship form. |
| Forms you will see | Disclosure Regarding Real Estate Agency Relationship (Civil Code 2079.16); Written buyer representation agreement (California law since January 1, 2025) |
| California-only duty | AVID: in sales of 1 to 4 unit homes, California listing and buyer's agents must each make a reasonably competent and diligent visual inspection of the accessible areas and disclose what they see (often on the Agent Visual Inspection Disclosure form). |
| Seller disclosures | California sellers of 1 to 4 unit homes generally give a Transfer Disclosure Statement (TDS) and a Natural Hazard Disclosure (NHD), plus other required statements depending on the home and location. |
| Inspections | California buyers normally hire their own home inspection during the contract's investigation period; some cities require their own reports at sale (for example San Francisco's 3R report). |
| Becoming a salesperson | 135 hours: Real Estate Principles (45), Real Estate Practice (45) and one approved elective (45), then the state exam and a sponsoring broker |
| First renewal | First renewal: 45 hours including specific three-hour courses (such as ethics, agency, fair housing, trust fund handling, risk management, implicit bias and management/supervision) |
| Renewal and continuing education | Every 4 years; 45 hours per 4-year renewal, including consumer-protection hours |
| Becoming a broker | Broker license: 2 years of full-time salesperson experience in the last 5 years (or qualifying degree) plus 8 statutory courses |
Checked 2026-11-11. Sources: California Department of Real Estate · California Civil Code 2079 (agent visual inspection duty) · The CE Shop: California real estate FAQs (hours cross-check). Rules change; confirm with the California Department of Real Estate (DRE).
Agents by city in California
- Los Angeles (58)
- San Diego (57)
- Irvine (49)
- San Francisco (34)
- Napa (33)
- Sonoma (31)
- San Jose (25)
- Sacramento (23)
- Santa Ana (20)
- Newport Beach (18)
- Long Beach (14)
- Costa Mesa (14)
- Santa Rosa (11)
- Bakersfield (11)
- Anaheim (11)
- Rancho Cucamonga (10)
- Oakland (10)
- Carlsbad (10)
- Beverly Hills (10)
- Huntington Beach (9)
- Glendale (9)
- Fresno (9)
- Stockton (8)
- Santa Monica (8)
- Roseville (8)
Real estate agents listed in California
- Colin Tyler WinnAgent · Irvine, CA
- Colter No FairmanAgent · Danville, CA
- Susan EpsteinCompass · Agent · Napa, CA
- Therese NugentCompass · Agent · Sonoma, CA
- [Office lead — Compass Hollywood]Compass · Agent · Los Angeles, CA
- [Office lead — Compass San Diego Del Mar HQ]Compass · Agent · San Diego, CA
- [Office lead — Compass Santa Rosa]Compass · Agent · Santa Rosa, CA
- Natasha MartinezCompass · Agent · Sonoma, CA
- Cassie BostCompass · Agent · Sonoma, CA
- Heather HanlonCompass · Agent · Sonoma, CA
- Michael StudebakerCompass · Agent · Sonoma, CA
- Tiffany KnefCompass · Agent · Sonoma, CA
- Nancy GillespieCompass · Agent · Sonoma, CA
- Phoebe BrookbankCompass · Agent · Sonoma, CA
- John GrayCompass · Agent · Sonoma, CA
- Tracy ReynesCompass · Agent · Sonoma, CA
- Sharon LangordCompass · Agent · Sonoma, CA
- Charleen PriceCompass · Agent · Sonoma, CA
- Brooke BakerCompass · Agent · Sonoma, CA
- Katie McQuearyCompass · Agent · Sonoma, CA
- Suzanne AshimineCompass · Agent · Sonoma, CA
- Kathleen LeonardCompass · Agent · Sonoma, CA
- Kelly StoberCompass · Agent · Sonoma, CA
- Audrey KrafftCompass · Agent · Sonoma, CA
What a real estate agent does
A real estate agent helps you buy or sell a home: pricing, marketing or finding homes, arranging showings, writing and negotiating the offer, coordinating inspections, appraisal, financing and title, and keeping the deal on schedule to closing. Every agent works under a licensed broker, and the brokerage, not the individual agent, holds the agreement with you and is responsible for the agent's work.
Types of agents
- Listing (seller's) agent: represents the seller, prices and markets the home and negotiates for the seller.
- Buyer's agent: represents the buyer, finds and evaluates homes, writes the offer and negotiates for the buyer.
- Dual agent, transaction broker or intermediary: one brokerage working with both sides. Whether this is allowed, and what it is called, depends on the state (see the state rules on each state page).
- REALTOR®: a licensed agent or broker who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and follows its Code of Ethics. Not every agent is a REALTOR.
- Broker: holds a higher license, can run a brokerage and supervises agents.
The buyer agreement before you tour
Since August 17, 2024 (NAR settlement practice changes), REALTORS and other MLS participants working with a buyer must have a written agreement with that buyer before touring a home. The agreement states what the agent will be paid, and the amount cannot be open-ended.
Real estate commissions are not set by law. They are negotiable between you and the brokerage, and offers of buyer-agent compensation can no longer be published on the MLS.
Pros and cons of hiring an agent
Why people hire one: local pricing knowledge, access to showings and off-market leads, negotiation, contract and deadline management, and a network of lenders, inspectors and title companies. Sellers typically get wider exposure through the MLS and professional marketing.
Why some go without: to save or negotiate the fee, when buying from a builder's sales office, or between family members. Going alone means you handle the contract, disclosures, deadlines and negotiation yourself; many people still hire an attorney or pay a flat fee for parts of the work.
Questions to ask before you sign
- Who exactly will represent me, and is your brokerage also working with the other side?
- What will you be paid, by whom, and is it a percentage or a flat fee? What happens if the seller offers to pay?
- How long does the agreement last, and how can I end it?
- How many homes like mine have you sold or helped buy in this area in the past year?
- Which inspections do you recommend here, and who do you suggest (and do you have any financial tie to them)?
Inspections and disclosures
Sellers in most states must disclose known material problems, and federal law requires a lead-based paint disclosure for homes built before 1978. Buyers protect themselves with an inspection contingency or option period, a general home inspection, and specialty inspections where they matter: termite (wood-destroying organisms), roof, sewer line, septic and well, radon, mold, wind mitigation or four-point inspections for insurance in some states, and a survey. Some cities require their own reports or inspections at sale.
Property types agents work with
Single-family homes, new construction from builders, condos and townhomes, manufactured and modular homes, land and lots, farms and ranches, luxury homes, 2 to 4 unit income property, and commercial property (which is often a separate specialty). Ask whether the agent regularly handles your property type.
Brokerages, pay and splits
Agents are usually independent contractors paid only when a deal closes. The fee paid to the brokerage is split between the brokerage and the agent according to their contract; models include traditional percentage splits, capped splits, 100% plans with monthly or per-deal fees, revenue-share and cloud brokerages, and team splits. Out of their share agents pay their own business costs: MLS and association dues, licensing and renewal fees, continuing education, marketing, technology, and in many cases errors-and-omissions (E&O) insurance.
Licensing, renewal and continuing education
Every state requires pre-license education, a state exam, a background check and a sponsoring broker before an agent can practice, and continuing education to renew. Hours, fees and renewal cycles differ by state; the state pages below list the requirements with sources. Before you hire someone, look up the license on the state regulator's site.
More for California
Questions people ask
Is dual agency allowed in California?
California allows an agent to represent the seller, the buyer, or both (dual agency) with written disclosure and consent. Agents must give the state's Disclosure Regarding Real Estate Agency Relationship form.
How do I become a real estate agent in California?
135 hours: Real Estate Principles (45), Real Estate Practice (45) and one approved elective (45), then the state exam and a sponsoring broker. First renewal: 45 hours including specific three-hour courses (such as ethics, agency, fair housing, trust fund handling, risk management, implicit bias and management/supervision). Licenses renew every 4 years.
Do I have to sign an agreement before touring?
Since August 17, 2024 (NAR settlement practice changes), REALTORS and other MLS participants working with a buyer must have a written agreement with that buyer before touring a home. The agreement states what the agent will be paid, and the amount cannot be open-ended.
Is the commission negotiable?
Real estate commissions are not set by law. They are negotiable between you and the brokerage, and offers of buyer-agent compensation can no longer be published on the MLS.
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