Kristine Kappel

Kristine is an expert REALTOR® who specializes in San Diego area real estate and is ranked in the top 2% of all agents in the County (SDAR 2025 Gold Award) and is a top agent on the #1 Team (Kappel Realty Group) at Compass San Diego (based on number of annual sales). 

She was named one of the most Influential Leaders in Residential Real Estate in San Diego by the San Diego Business Journal (2025, 2026). She was the only REALTOR recognized for this achievement for a focus on helping first-time homebuyers achieve homeownership through down payment assistance programs. 

She has completed advanced training to better serve her clients and holds real estate certificates in Accessory Dwelling Units Expertise (C.A.R.), Military Relocation Professional Certification (N.A.R.), Accredited Buyer Representative (N.A.R.), and Pricing Strategy Advisor (N.A.R.)

Her hard work was recognized in 2022 when she was awarded the San Diego Real Producers magazine "Rise and Grind" hardest working real estate agent award. She will not rest until you are confident and comfortable with any real estate decision you need to make. Along the way, she is a compassionate listener, expert communicator, and skilled negotiator with a keen attention to detail.

Kristine is well-versed in home buying down payment and closing cost assistance programs and takes special pride in helping buyers utilize the free money resources and programs available to them, as she bought her first condo in 2008 using a free federal government down payment assistance program. In the last 3 years she has guided clients to receive nearly a quarter million dollars in free money down payment assistance to help make homeownership a reality for dozens of people.
 
Kristine and her husband own their condo in the downtown Marina District neighborhood and an investment condo in Little Italy. They live with their two cats Muffin and Biscuit - the "Dough Boys" - and they are actively involved in the community. She has condo expertise and has served on numerous HOA boards.

Kristine supports and volunteers with many causes in the community, including the San Diego Women’s Foundation, Feeding San Diego, and the San Diego Humane Society.

When she’s not busy making homeownership dreams come true for her clients, she enjoys spending time exploring the city, attending theatre shows and symphony concerts, and dining out.

Originally from North Dakota, Kristine also lived in Downtown Chicago for 18 years and where she worked in C-Suite Public Relations roles before they relocated to San Diego. She is a graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead with a degree in communications and political science and holds an Executive MBA certificate from Loyola University Chicago.

The Kappel Realty Group is the #1 Large Real Estate Team in San Diego (SD Business Journal, by units sold) and was named America's Best Top 1.5% of large teams in the country.