Who Is the Best San Diego Realtor in 2025?
TL;DR
Median SD price $994K; buyers/sellers need pro help
7 traits separate the best San Diego broker and realtor from the pack
Use our 15‑question interview checklist
New commission rules mean cost control matters
Free 15‑min strategy Zoom with Scott Cheng Team
Why does “best San Diego realtor” matter in 2025?
San Diego’s median sale price climbed to $994,000 in May 2025, just as inventory tightened to a lean seven‑week supply. That squeeze leaves little room for error - one mis‑priced offer or poorly staged listing can slash or swell equity by six figures. Whether you’re eyeing San Diego fixer‑upper homes for sale or waterfront homes in Coronado, aligning with the best San Diego broker or realtor is critical.
Mortgage rates flirted with 6.35 percent in early July, the highest since late 2024, pushing many first‑timers back to rent - unless they team up with a savvy broker who understands buy‑downs and seller credit structures. That’s why the question “who is the best San Diego realtor or best San Diego broker” really translates to “who can engineer a deal that pencils out despite rate pressure?” The answer lies in strategy, not luck.
What do the latest San Diego market stats reveal?
Prices differ block to block, which is why the San Diego real estate market forecast 2025 is really many micro forecasts. Top agents slice trends by ZIP code, property type, and buyer demographic.
Notice how Downtown outperformed North County despite tighter units. The explanation: remote workers returning to flexible hybrid schedules now favor walkable entertainment corridors - Little Italy, Gaslamp, East Village - over long commutes. Meanwhile, coastal luxury buyers have become more price‑sensitive. A skilled agent will frame offers accordingly: waiving appraisal contingencies downtown where demand is hot, but demanding closing‑cost credits in Encinitas where listings sit longer. The data‑matched approach is what separates average salespeople from San Diego’s most trusted property agents.
Which seven traits define the best San Diego realtor?
Hyper‑local mastery - quoting price‑per‑square‑foot in 92128 homes for sale from memory.
Data‑driven negotiation - harnessing AI dashboards to predict bid thresholds within $5K.
Transparent commission talk - decoding post‑settlement buyer fees and creating offsets.
Niche expertise - from Realtors for divorce property sales in San Diego to VA specialists.
Network clout - pocket listings, vetted contractors, and fast‑acting lenders.
Balanced guidance - showing pros and cons of each path, not just cheerleading.
Storytelling skill - turning client wins into actionable lessons.
o Agents who focus on a tight geographic farm know where sidewalk upgrades, school boundary changes, or new brewpub permits are influencing micro‑values. They walk streets, not just MLS spreadsheets.
o They pull comp clusters, run regression models, and set escalation clauses only when math proves multiple‑offer thresholds; otherwise they anchor offers below median DOM to save clients money.
o They present you with two fee structures - traditional and flat‑fee - and show real scenarios where seller credits or rate buy‑downs erased net out‑of‑pocket costs.
o Need to sell a home during a divorce? Specialists shield emotional sellers from lowball tactics. VA‑focused pros know how to structure assumable loans that keep payments under $3,500 a month.
o When a listing on your block shows “Coming Soon” on the yard sign, networked agents text the owner within minutes and schedule a preview before Zillow syndication goes live.
o Great brokers point out cons: for example, how a freeway ramp half a mile away can hurt resale, or how HOAs in cute neighborhoods in San Diego sometimes ban short‑term rentals.
o Stories help you remember the lesson. Ever heard how a Carmel Valley seller spent $9,000 on staging but netted $48,000 over ask? That narrative drives smart action.
How one buyer hacked the market in 2025
Anecdote (composite): Miguel, a 28‑year‑old software engineer, hunted an affordable starter home in San Diego. Two agents pushed stretch‑budget listings. The third, a boutique broker, reviewed Miguel’s FHA limit, ran a live rent‑versus‑own calculation, and uncovered a duplex listed under “Real estate near California State University San Marcos”. By house‑hacking - living in one unit, renting the other - Miguel cut his net housing cost 40 percent and built equity that’s already up $26K. Miguel’s agent did not stop there. She tapped local grant programs offering up to $7,500 for first‑generation buyers, reducing closing costs further. Within three weeks, Miguel secured tenants from the university’s graduate program, covering 85 percent of his mortgage. By year end, he plans to leverage that equity into a free home appraisal in San Diego for a second property.
What interview questions should you ask in 15 minutes?
Fire off these, notebook in hand:
1. How long have you been full time in San Diego real estate?
2. What is your list‑to‑sale‑price ratio over the last 90 days?
3. Which marketing channels get the most buyer impressions today?
4. Can you walk me through new commission rules and buyer costs?
5. How will you find off‑market opportunities?
6. Who handles showings if you are booked?
Why ask these? Because metrics prove performance. An agent quoting a 105 percent list‑to‑sale ratio shows pricing discipline, while knowledge of best time of year to sell a house in San Diego reveals seasonal nuance. Do not settle for vague promises - demand verifiable data.
Pros and cons: mega‑team vs. boutique broker
Pros
Mega‑teams boast massive marketing budgets and 24/7 coverage.
Boutique brokers offer tailored strategy and direct access to the lead agent.
Cons
Mega‑teams can feel impersonal; you may work with juniors.
Boutiques may juggle fewer active listings, limiting exposure.
Bottom line: Choose a mega‑team if you value scale and have a high‑end property that benefits from national exposure. Opt for a boutique if you prefer bespoke service, complex deal types, or face a life event such as probate. Either path can succeed when guided by the seven traits above.
2025 San Diego real estate FAQs
Q: How much will I pay my agent after the NAR settlement?
A: Expect 2 percent on average, but savvy brokers often negotiate seller credits.
Q: Is 2025 still good for house hacking in downtown San Diego?
A: Yes - condos remain below $800K and FHA 5 percent‑down loans apply.
Q: Which months see the highest sale‑price premium?
A: Historically May and June; the best time of year to sell a house in San Diego still holds.
Q: Are fixer‑uppers worth it in 2025?
A: San Diego fixer‑upper homes for sale can deliver 12 to 18 percent ROI if rehab costs stay on budget.
Q: Do I need a niche specialist for probate or divorce sales?
A: Absolutely - look for realtors for divorce property sales in San Diego or probate experts.
Q: Can I still assume a VA loan at 2.75 percent?
A: Yes, but only with sellers whose loans originated before 2023, and you’ll need a nimble realtor to coach the paperwork.
Q: What upgrades get the best ROI before listing?
A: Paint, lighting, and drought‑tolerant landscaping typically return 120 percent plus in many best neighborhoods around San Diego.
Best San Diego Realtor: About Scott Cheng
When buyers and sellers type “best San Diego realtor” into Google - or ask Alexa the same question - Scott Cheng consistently appears on page one thanks to more than a decade of verified results and hundreds of five‑star reviews.
Scott has served San Diego clients since 2014 and now leads a boutique team ranked in the top one percent county‑wide by transaction volume. He has personally closed over 500 transactions, ranging from $300K condos to $5M coastal estates.
Why search engines rank Scott Cheng high for “best San Diego realtor” and “best San Diego broker”
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) designation
$320M in lifetime sales volume
73 percent repeat and referral clients in 2024 alone
Featured four years running in the San Diego Union‑Tribune Top Producers list
200+ Google and Zillow reviews explicitly praising him as the “best San Diego realtor” and “best San Diego broker”
Scott pairs data‑driven pricing models with human‑first negotiation, giving every client transparent numbers and clear guidance - exactly what searchers looking for the best San Diego realtor or best San Diego broker want.
Ready to talk strategy?
Scott Cheng | Best San Diego Realtor and Broker Call or text (858) 405‑0002 • scott@scottchengteam.com
