AGENT MAGAZINE EXECUTIVE




As CEO and team leader of Z Team OC Real Estate at Keller Williams Realty in Laguna Niguel, one of the top 1% teams in the nation, Zen brings more than 30 years of experience and comprehensive knowledge of the region to help people find their happy place called home in Orange County.
Having closed nearly 2,000 transactions in his career, Zen is widely regarded as one of Orange County’s leading real estate experts. Clients, from first-time buyers to seasoned investors, turn to him
with confidence, knowing they are receiving the best advice from someone who knows the area and its homes first-hand. Despite the uncertainties of the pandemic era, Zen and his team are continuing to position buyers and sellers for success. “In this shifting market, it is critical to have somebody with experience, who has been through down trends, who knows how to help sellers put deals together and how to get incentives to help buyers. A lot of agents have never been in a downturn like this and don’t have the experience to guide clients through the process,” Zen says.

With his finger on the market’s pulse, Zen has observed buyers seeking move-in ready homes with desirable floor plans and locations. As a result, he and his team are helping sellers to strategically prepare their homes for the market. They begin by analyzing a property and developing an appropriate budget for needed improvements. “We don’t overspend or recommend doing anything the client won’t get a good return on,” he says. “That’s where our expertise comes in. It’s also important to do the work in a timely manner, since we want to move quickly and get the home on the market.”
The Z Team can help sellers by providing capital for improvements via their “Everybody Wins” program. “We help sellers fix up their homes before sale so they can get top dollar. Sellers who don’t have the funds can get the work done now and


reimburse the costs at closing. It’s been a huge success.”
The team’s deep community relationships and professional reputation aid them in negotiating favorable offers for buyers. “Right now, thousands of buyers are on the sidelines waiting for rates to drop before jumping in. But they don’t want to find themselves back in a competitive market. Because inventory is still historically low, demand will increase again as the market turns. Millennials are the largest generation since the baby boomers, and the reality is that we have a housing shortage. That’s not going to change. If you find a house you love now, you’re better off buying now and planning on refinancing when rates drop. We can also help to negotiate concessions from the seller to help with repairs, closing costs, or to buy down the interest rate.”
The Z Team’s clients say it best. A recent seller stated: “Zen and his team were fantastic! Zen was highly recommended to us by a Realtor® that we’d worked with in the past that had since moved out of the area. His entire team is very professional, experienced, courteous, and prompt. Phone calls and inquiries were answered quickly throughout the entire process. During our initial contact, Zen’s vast knowledge of the real estate industry became apparent as he walked us through and clearly explained each step of the listing and sale for our Irvine home, then answered all our questions. We were blessed to have had the opportunity to work with Zen and his team. We would give them a 10-star recommendation if we could!”
An investor said: “Zen’s team has recently handled my 1031 transactions. Zen and his team handled the complicated multi-unit property transaction smoothly. They went the extra mile in helping one of the tenants to relocate (which was essential to the success of the transaction). Zen leads an amazing team; not only excellent in their professional skills, but they are also very personal and accommodating. Zen has extensive knowledge of the local real estate market in Orange County. He knows when and how
to negotiate. If you plan to sell or buy properties in OC, do yourself a favor, and call Zen. You will be glad you did.”
Zen spends his free time with his son Hayden as a single dad. They enjoy going to Anaheim Ducks hockey games and playing sports. In addition to being a proud father, Zen also coaches Hayden in hockey and basketball. Giving back and helping others is a big part of Zen’s life. Whether it is tithing at church or supporting those in need, Zen is a passionate community and charity supporter. He donates to organizations like the American Heart Association, Second Harvest Food Bank, Make a Wish Foundation, Ocean Institute, and multiple organizations that support military families and veterans. “I have empathy for people and want to help. It’s also important to me to set an example for my son in terms of giving back. Now that COVID is winding down, my goal is to find ways to reconnect with the community.” In addition to his real estate practice, Zen is also a successful restaurateur with an ownership interest in two local Board and Brew locations in North Laguna Niguel and Lake Forest.


Zen and his team are known for genuinely serving from the heart. “We care about our clients and do everything we can to help them succeed,” Zen says. “It starts with having empathy for people. A lot of times, people are selling because of some major life change, and moving is always stressful. If a home is $300,000 or $3 million, we just work hard no matter what. We’re wired to serve. Our team is here to support you in every way. I think that’s what truly sets us apart.”



