Best Real Estate Agent in Long Beach, CA: Rick J. Lee

The best real estate agent in Long Beach, CA is the one whose DRE license, recent local closings and client reviews hold up when you check them against public sources. The same checks apply whether you are listing a home or buying one of the current Long Beach, CA homes for sale.

Key Takeaway

Real Trends ranks Rick J. Lee's operation as the #1 agent and mid-size team in Long Beach. Over the past 12 months it closed 55 transaction sides for more than $53 million in sales volume. Rick has more than 120 five-star client reviews.

Who This Guide Is For

Long Beach and Lakewood home buyers and sellers comparing agents before they hire one.

Related guides: How to choose a realtor in Long Beach, Questions to ask a realtor in Long Beach.

Choosing a Long Beach Agent at a Glance

• DRE Public License Lookup shows status, issue date and responsible broker.
• Buyers sign a written agreement before touring, three months maximum.
• May 2026: $852,500 median sale price, 41 median days on market.

Why Rick J. Lee Is a Strong Choice in Long Beach, CA

Rick covers all areas of residential real estate and represents buyers, sellers and investors. Handling a steady volume of deals keeps his read on local property values current and his negotiation practiced, because he is pricing homes and working through offers every month. He breaks the buying or selling process into clear steps so clients know what decision comes next and what it depends on. That structure applies whether the client is selling a long-held family home, buying a first condo or adding a rental property.

Rick J. Lee's Sales Record and Real Trends Ranking

1. Ranking: Real Trends lists Rick J. Lee as managing the #1 agent and mid-size team in Long Beach, CA.
2. Recent production: Over the past 12 months, Rick and his team closed 55 transaction sides for more than $53 million in sales volume.
3. Career totals: Over his career, he has completed more than 150 real estate transactions, representing more than $170 million in sales across Southern California.

A transaction side is one party's half of a sale. A deal where one agent represents both buyer and seller therefore counts as two sides.

Ask each agent, Rick included, for a list of recent closings by address, with the side represented, beds, baths, square footage and close month. That list shows whether the agent has sold homes like the one you are buying or selling. Check whether those addresses fall in your target neighborhood and price range, not just somewhere in the region.

Rick J. Lee Reviews from Long Beach Buyers and Sellers

Rick J. Lee has earned more than 120 five-star reviews from buyers and sellers. The feedback centers on patience, clear communication and his ability to simplify the process. First-time buyers in particular describe how he walks them through approvals, appraisals and paperwork before each step arrives.

Reviewers mention his willingness to schedule late-evening showings, set up virtual meetings and keep group communication going even on holidays. Sellers and buyers handling multi-generational moves or clearing out long-held family properties describe long-term guidance without pressure. Several point to his network of reliable mortgage lenders and his effort to keep deals moving.

To read the reviews yourself, ask the team which platforms carry them and read them on those platforms. There you can see each review's date and whether it came from a buyer or a seller.

How to Judge the Best Real Estate Agent in Long Beach

These three checks apply the same standard to every Long Beach agent before you sign anything.

1. License: The California Department of Real Estate Public License Lookup shows:

   • the agent's current status;
   • the date the license was issued;
   • for a salesperson, the responsible broker.

   The issue date is a firmer measure of experience than a self-reported count of years in the business. Some disciplinary information may have been removed from a record under Business and Professions Code §10083.2(c), so contact the DRE directly if you need a complete discipline history. Search Rick J. Lee by name to see the same details.

2. Sales: Compare each agent's recent closed sides and volume against a named, dated source, and ask how many of those sides were listings versus buyers. An agent who mostly lists may run a buyer search differently from one who mostly represents buyers.

3. Reviews: Look at the total count and how recent the reviews are, and read them on more than one platform. A long run of recent reviews tells you more than a handful of old ones. Give more weight to reviews that name a concrete result, such as a first purchase completed or the sale price against the asking price, than to general praise.

Once these checks narrow the field, choosing a realtor comes down to a finalist interview that tests response time, the marketing plan and negotiation results.

Rick J. Lee's Experience by Long Beach Neighborhood and Property Type

Rick's work concentrates on Long Beach and neighboring Lakewood. Each property type brings its own checks.

• Historic Craftsman and Spanish-style homes: Owners of a designated landmark, a home in a historic district or a home eligible for landmark status can apply for a Mills Act contract. The contract lowers property taxes in exchange for restoring or maintaining the home.
  • Contracts run at least 10 years and transfer to the new owner at sale. A buyer therefore takes on an existing contract's maintenance commitments along with its tax relief, so ask whether the home already has one.
  • Exterior changes to a landmark or a home in a historic district need a Certificate of Appropriateness before work starts, even when no building permit is required. This includes windows, doors, repainting, re-roofing and fencing.
• Waterfront homes in Naples and Belmont Shore: Check the parcel's flood zone before you write an offer, because required flood insurance changes the monthly cost of ownership.
• Condos downtown and in Alamitos Beach: Buyers weigh building amenities, parking and association rules alongside the unit itself.
• Single-family homes in East Long Beach and Lakewood Village: These include the 90808 area around his office, where yard size, lot layout and updates drive price differences.
• Lakewood: Single-family homes make up the bulk of what he shows and lists there.

What the Current Long Beach Market Means for Buyers and Sellers

As of May 2026, the Long Beach, CA market showed these figures:

• Median sale price: About $852,500
• Median days on market: 41 days
• Sold above list price: About 44%
• Months of supply: 3.8 months

With 3.8 months of supply, buyers have alternatives. Sellers therefore need a list price that holds up against recent comparable sales from the first day, and Rick sets list prices from those sales. With about 44% of homes selling above list, buyers should still expect competition in some segments.

The citywide median hides wide differences by neighborhood and property type, so judge the Long Beach housing market in your target area from recent comparable sales there.

How Rick J. Lee Works with Sellers

A listing moves through six stages.

1. Valuation and list price: He starts with an accurate home valuation built on recent comparable sales.
2. Preparation: He identifies what to fix, clean or clear before photos so the home shows well from the first day.
3. Marketing: He uses targeted marketing to reach qualified buyers.
4. Showings: He schedules showings and reports buyer feedback.
5. Offer review and negotiation: He compares offers on price, financing, contingencies and timing, then negotiates terms.
6. Escrow: He tracks the buyer's contingency deadlines through closing.

Commission is negotiable and set in the listing agreement at the first consultation. How long it takes to sell a home in Long Beach depends on its condition, location and pricing strategy, which is why the list price comes first.

How Rick J. Lee Works with Buyers

The buyer process runs in five stages, each with its own paperwork or deadline.

1. Consultation and pre-approval: You start with a lender pre-approval.
2. Written agreement: The NAR settlement practice change has been in effect since August 17, 2024. Under it, you sign a written buyer agreement before an MLS agent tours a home with you.
   • California's AB 2992 (Civil Code §1670.50), effective January 1, 2025, also requires the agreement no later than your offer.
   • The agreement cannot last longer than three months or renew automatically.
   • You must receive the agency disclosure form before you sign.
3. Search and offers: Settle on your target neighborhoods first, weighing each one's trade-offs against your budget and commute, so tours focus on areas that fit.
   • He then sets up the search by price, property type and area, including single-family homes and condos.
   • In multiple-offer situations, he structures terms to compete beyond price alone.
   • If you find a home sold by its owner, tell him before you contact the seller so your representation is settled in writing.
4. Inspection and contingencies: The current C.A.R. Residential Purchase Agreement (revised December 2025) sets these default periods unless different numbers are written in:
   • 17 days after acceptance for the inspection and appraisal contingencies;
   • 21 days for the loan contingency.
5. Closing: He coordinates with your lender and escrow through signing and the transfer of keys.

A price ceiling far below the citywide median, such as $300,000, narrows the field sharply, so include condos as well as houses in the search. Ask about homebuyer down-payment assistance programs, which can lower the cash needed to close.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I Use a Specialized Realtor for Historic Homes or Waterfront Properties?

Yes, if the home is designated historic, sits in a historic district or is on the water. Ask how many such homes the agent has closed. Also ask whether they have handled a sale where an existing Mills Act contract transferred to the buyer.

Will I Work with Rick J. Lee Directly or with a Member of His Team?

Rick manages the team and meets with clients at the first consultation. Ask at that meeting which team member will handle your showings, paperwork and escrow updates, so you know who to call at each stage.

Can Rick J. Lee Help Me Sell My Current Home and Buy the Next One at the Same Time?

Yes, he represents both buyers and sellers, so one agent can coordinate both transactions. The first decision is yours. Selling first frees your equity but may require interim housing, while buying first means carrying two homes for a time. That choice sets the timing for listing, offers and closing on each side.

Does Rick J. Lee Help Investors Buy or Sell Income Property?

Yes, he represents investors as well as owner-occupant buyers and sellers. Bring your target price, financing and rental goals to the consultation so the search covers the right property types and areas.

Does Rick J. Lee Charge for a First Consultation or Home Valuation?

Ask about any fee when you contact the office to book the consultation. Sellers should bring basic home details such as age, square footage and recent upgrades.

About Rick J. Lee & How to Get in Touch

Rick J. Lee is a real estate agent with Real, a real estate brokerage in Long Beach, California, providing representation for buyers, sellers and investors throughout Southern California.

The team operates out of its local office at 4429 E Village Rd, Long Beach, CA 90808. Reach out to Rick J. Lee and his team at Real through his website or at the office to schedule a consultation and discuss your real estate needs. If you would prefer to work in a language other than English, say so when you book so the team can tell you who can help.

Sources

• Your Guide to the California Residential Purchase Agreement (Form RPA, Revised 12/25)
• C.A.R. Residential Purchase Agreement contingency periods