Home appraisals in Monterey County, by tomorrow

Every city and town in Monterey County, same fee, same 24 hours, written and signed by me.

Monterey County takes in Pacific Grove's Victorians, Carmel's cottages, newer homes on old Fort Ord land in Seaside and Marina, Salinas Valley farm towns from Castroville to King City, and ranch land in Carmel Valley and toward Big Sur. When a long-held house passes to the next generation or a trust has to be settled, I can start from your photos.

Seat: Salinas24 ZIP codesToday or any past dateWithin 24 hours

What I look at in Monterey County

  1. 1

    Carmel-by-the-Sea homes have no street numbers, so I identify yours by street, cross street and parcel number. On small lots with strict design rules, small differences in setting carry real weight.

  2. 2

    On the Monterey Peninsula, water limits shape what can be added to a house. I check whether extra baths or a guest unit were permitted, since unpermitted space is valued differently.

  3. 3

    Down the valley in Soledad, Gonzales, Greenfield and King City, I compare within the valley, never with the coast. Homes on acreage in Prunedale or Corral de Tierra get rural comparisons.

Across Monterey County

Monterey County runs from foggy Peninsula neighborhoods and the Big Sur coast to the long Salinas Valley and the ranch country around King City. A Pacific Grove cottage and a Greenfield ranch house share almost nothing, so I keep every comparison local.

County seatSalinas
2026 tax appeal deadlineNovember 30 (filing opened July 2)
Probate casesSuperior Court of California, County of Monterey

Cities I’ve written about in Monterey County

Salinas
Monterey County
Monterey County

What to photograph

Near the coast, photograph the ocean or bay view honestly, from inside and from the deck, plus any rust or wood rot from salt air. Inland, show the land, the well and outbuildings. In Carmel, include the cross street.

Front and backKitchen and bathsEvery main roomUpgrades and problems

Upload photos after you order, or attach them to an email. Phone photos are fine.

Homes typical of Monterey County

Monterey County questions

Can we keep Mom's low property tax on her Pacific Grove house under Prop 19?
Sometimes. Under Prop 19, a parent's tax base can carry over only when a child makes the home their primary residence, and only up to a limit tied to market value. That's why the value on the transfer date matters. I provide it; your tax adviser and the assessor apply the rule.
Does an unpermitted granny unit count in a Monterey home appraisal?
It counts, but not like permitted space. I describe it, give it the value the market supports and say plainly that it lacks permits. On the Peninsula, water rules can make legalizing a unit harder, and buyers factor that in.
When would I get the report for a Monterey County home?
Within 24 hours of the moment I have both your payment and your photos, weekends and holidays included. If you're not in a rush, the regular schedule is 5–10 business days at $299 or $449.

“I've prepared desktop appraisals for every purpose on this list. Some situations still call for an in-person appraisal, though, so check with your attorney or tax advisor first to make sure a desktop report is right for yours.”

Brian Ward
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Nearby pages

San Benito CountyCentral CoastSanta Cruz CountyCentral CoastSanta Clara CountySan Francisco Bay AreaSan Mateo CountySan Francisco Bay AreaAll areasCalifornia

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