ZiaGroup Testimonials & Recommendations

"I have bought and sold many homes over the years and I must say that this sale (Daniel represented me as the seller) was the best so far. Daniel was on top of things from the beginning to the end.  It seemed like he was always one step ahead of what needed to be done.  He did a good job working with the other Realtor and kept on top of the escrow proceedings.  I would highly recommend him to anyone who is looking for a good Realtor" Larry Mills, owner of Inspection Pros

"Recommending Daniel is the easiest thing in the world as I can't imagine how our home purchase could have gone any smoother. The service that my family and I received while purchasing our Santa Barbara home was exceptional. We told Daniel what we were looking for and he was there every inch of the way letting us know about new houses on the market, the positives and potential negatives for each, resale value, remodel ideas, etc. Daniel has such an impressive grasp on the real estate profession that every question my family and I had was immediately answered and elaborated on. This kind of service really set us at ease and gave us confidence in our search for a home. Once we decided on a purchase, a complicated process filled with what seemed like a million signatures and initials and faxes ensued. Daniel made this process completely manageable, explaining everything along the way and making sure we had all our bases covered. In all honesty, I cannot imagine better service than that which we received from Daniel. If you live in the Santa Barbara area and are looking for a property, I highly recommend Daniel Zia as a real estate agent."  Ben Murphy

"Daniel was a very professional Realtor with unending patience with our needs. We were moving from Colorado to Santa Barbara and I had started looking for houses through Daniel and the MLS as soon as we knew of our move. Daniel e-mailed me every time a suitable property came on the market, he went and previewed several houses for us, so that when we came to visit we had several planned to see. He was very courteous and polite during all our interaction and went far above and beyond what we would have expected, without even knowing if he would be successful in finding us an affordable property. I have only positive remarks to make about Daniel, his great ethics and moral character, and his boundless energy to seek the property that may just be the right one for us, and this was a challenge with such a distance between us and few visits to view properties. I would highly recommend Daniel to anyone looking for a Realtor – they could not have a better person on their side." Susan and John Merrick

"We found out about Daniel from his website so, as you can imagine, we were skeptical. But his site looked very well done, so we figured he must be on top of it (and he is). We looked at numerous places, made three offers, and ended up with exactly what we were looking for. Daniel knows the market and listens to what is important to you. That’s why he won best real estate agent in Santa Barbara. Daniel has the energy and motivation to focus for you. For a while, we felt bad because we were looking at  so  many places and not making offers, but Daniel never pressured us into buying something we weren’t happy with. This was really the best part about working with him. Daniel understands that you have to work quickly if you want to get what you’re looking for. There were multiple late nights and early mornings when we had to get a hold of him and he always got back to us within a few hours. Daniel is the hardest working person I know." Jesse Hunt & Robyn Ledenbach

"My husband and I met Daniel a few years ago when I was looking for a summer rental in Santa Barbara. I thought he was so kind and generous with his time-for just a rental. We fell in love with Santa Barbara and always toyed with the idea of purchasing a summer home there. An unexpected opportunity fell into my lap in September 2009. I am now officially the owner of a property purchased through Daniel, with the transaction taking place while I was in the comforts of New York, in less than 30 days. As luck would have, Daniel sent an e-mail to us and we pretty much took his word on the condition of the property. He emailed us photos immediately and followed through exceptionally well. Whatever we didn't know, Daniel did. His no pressure attitude, in conjunction with his confidence in himself and the property he had found for us, was undeniable. He was forthcoming with even the smallest details about the property. His honesty and his attention to detail were apparent from the beginning. We put great faith in him, as this was a long distance purchase on a property that we had not seen.  I really could go and on about his professionalism. There was not one question that stumped him during this very untraditional purchase. He did his research and kept us abreast to all progress. His professionalism and knowledge were paramount. Let me say that finding Daniel Zia was an absolute gift to us! He facilitated me purchasing my dream summer home in a matter of 30 days and he has continued to offer his services post transaction.  He has checked in on the house since we are not there. Knowing he is still available to me really puts my mind at ease. He puts his heart and soul into his work and you would be very fortunate to have him on any side of your real estate transaction!" Aileen Zemel

“Daniel is one of the most intelligent and motivated Realtors I have seen. His devotion to the customer and his integrity in business make him a great choice as a Realtor. Not only will Daniel deliver, he will exceed your expectations." Matt Kaddatz

“The service that my family and I received while purchasing our Santa Barbara home was exceptional. We told Daniel what we were looking for and he was there every inch of the way letting us know about new houses on the market, the positives and potential negatives for each, resale value, remodel ideas, etc. Daniel has such an impressive grasp on the real estate profession that every question my family and I had was immediately answered and elaborated on. This kind of service really set us at ease and gave us confidence in our search for a home. Once we decided on a purchase, a complicated process filled with what seemed like a million signatures and initials and faxes ensued. Daniel made this process completely manageable, explaining everything along the way and making sure we had all our bases covered. In all honesty, I cannot imagine better service than that which we received from Daniel. If you live in the Santa Barbara area and are looking for a property, I highly recommend Daniel Zia.” Ben Murphy

"Daniel helped my wife and I purchase a condominium by long distance since we don't live in California. His website was very helpful in that we were able to "shop" by computer, and then he was always available to help us follow up on making offers. He gave us very good advice regarding the market and what offers to make and also in assisting us in finding a very good and efficient lender to work with on a loan. We found Daniel to be very responsive by both e mail and phone and we wouldn't hesitate to use his services again if the need arose. We highly recommend Daniel to anyone looking to buy or sell real estate in the Santa Barbara area." Bill (& Joyce) Hunt

"Daniel was a great agent to work with, he is honest and responsive.  I would recommend the Zia Group to anyone who is in the market of buying or selling their home" Kyle Jolly

"My husband and I were first time buyers when we came to Dan, and knew little to nothing about the process of buying a home. Not only was Daniel an invaluable source of knowledge, advice, and information – he quickly became a kind of counselor to us, working with us through our questions and confusion, and was always listening and adjusting to us throughout our decision making process.  He was flexible to our needs, knew when to encourage us when we felt intimidated, and knew when to caution us when emotions started running high. We knew and felt throughout the process that he was our advocate; doing his absolute best to bring us the best possible results. I would (and have) recommended Dan to anyone and everyone who is looking into purchasing a home." Megan Phillips

"Working with Daniel was a very pleasant experience.  He found us a great home and was very knowledgeable throughout the entire process.  He answered every question we had and made us feel at ease every step of the way.  He was always available to us anytime.  We would definitely recommend him enthusiastically to anyone looking for a Realtor." Kai Iselin

"This was the first home purchase for both of us. We actually thought of trying to go it alone, but I’m so glad we didn’t! Daniel was always responsive, available for questions throughout the day and flexible with his time.  He took the time to describe all the paperwork and to walk us through anything we were concerned about.  He explained inspections, what our expectations should be, and looked out for our needs every step of the way.  I particularly appreciated his suggestion to take the time to write a thoughtful letter of introduction to include with our offer.  It allowed us to connect with the out-of-town sellers in a way that I don’t think would have been possible otherwise.  I also particularly appreciated his willingness to communicate electronically, which is a standard in my daily business practice and probably the only way I could have fit house-hunting/offering/financing into my busy life. Our overall experience with Daniel was terrific!  I especially appreciated his sincere attention to retaining a relationship after the sale.  I feel like I have a realtor I can count on for life." Loren Banner and Steve Shephard

"The ZiaGroup team was hard working, trustworthy, and respectful. Responsiveness was the best feature of their service."  Wendy and David Little

"Daniel Zia provided exceptional service to my family and I when we chose his service to represent the sale of our family home. In addition to Daniel's great service he also exercised impeccable integrity and conscience in his duties. He was extremely knowledgeable regarding the local real estate market and provided a stress free selling experience." Mark Weber

"Daniel is extremely diligent, works very hard and strives to understand the needs of his clients. He goes the extra mile to make the process of finding and buying a home as stress free as possible. He also negotiated with great skill, has a very good heart with a very bright mind, which turns a business deal into a very humane process. We highly recommend him and look forward to working with him in the future." Danielle & Hugh Levi-Alvares

"You've been the most helpful part of the entire process of buying a home. In a business filled with awkwardness and difficulty, you made things understandable and enjoyable. I look forward to referring anyone in need of buying or selling a home to you. I couldn't ask for anything more from you." Chris Phillips 

"As part of our TV show, 'A Place in the Sun: At home or Away' one of the biggest difficulties is finding the right house, in the right area, of a city that we've never been to before. We often view 20-25 houses over 2-3 days in a city before selecting the final 3 that we show our house hunters. Working with Daniel on such a project was a God-send, as not only did he have a great portfolio to show us, but he had detailed knowledge of all the areas in and around Santa Barbara. He was quick to grasp what our needs were and was able to find us some very unique houses to show our clients. He was by far the best prepared and most efficient agent we’ve ever had the pleasure to work with, and was always armed with a great can-do attitude and sincere smile. We had a very tricky schedule and he was a key player in helping us pull off what was a complicated shoot. Daniel was not only a pleasure to work with but he went out of his way and beyond the call of duty to help find us what we need. I wouldn't have any hesitation in recommending Daniel Zia for anyone who is house hunting, and would instead rather urge anyone to get in touch with him as he offers a complete 5-star service with a warm and friendly manner to boot." Stefania, Associate Producer for A Place In The Sun – Home or Away, Channel 4 Television, UK

"You've been a big help. I appreciate all the work you did." Rick Beller, 1031 Exchange Client

"We worked with Daniel Zia for over 2 years looking for the right house and he was always extremely helpful and courteous. Daniel worked hard to find what we were looking for and was always available for questions. He understands the area and the market. We would highly recommend him as our real estate agent.” Alan & Monica Gross

"A special thanks to Dan for his hard work and professional attitude through this whole, complicated process. We'll continue to look forward to working with you in the near future." Nathan Walker

"As your agent, Daniel will chew through walls for you." Josh Gustafson

"Working in British television can often be a demanding and stressful occupation. Expectations of UK viewers, producers and commissioning editors are incredibly high and as a tv crew you have to be confident and able to make the right decisions quickly. The key to the success of any show is having the right people on board to make it happen. Daniel was one such person that we fully relied upon to help us produce our tv show during our recent filming and short stay in Santa Barbara.   Daniel immediately understood the criteria for our property search and worked hard to offer us lots of choice, showing us some wonderful properties and suggesting locations to film in. Daniel was on hand and willing to help us with many of our demands – often at short notice.   Thankfully Daniel delivered on every single request and was always prepared to go the extra mile. Drawing on his business expertise he provided us much needed information and additional facts that have made it into the final script. Daniel was reliable, punctual, polite, a great communicator and easy to get a long with but above all he made working in Santa Barbara an enjoyable and memorable experience.   In fact Daniel’s contribution was so impressive that he even made it into the filming! He makes a special personal appearance in the show with ‘A Place In The Sun’ presenter Jasmine Harman!  To sum up, Daniel delivered."  Michael Prince, Producer/Director A Place In The Sun – Home or Away, Channel 4 Television, UK

"Daniel continued to impress me with his knowledge, experience, and capacity as a realtor." Javin Oza

"I also want to say thank you to Dan for all the "above and beyond" assistance you provided us in trying to answer all the questions regarding the house purchase" Ron Walker

"Daniel is a smart, energetic agent who is willing to go the extra mile for his clients." Josh Yager

"Daniel is a highly motivated individual ready to help you with all your real estate needs.  He is excellent to work with.  Right off the bat you know he has your best interest in mind, finding you your perfect home" Jason Copus

"When our financial Advisor recommended Daniel to me, we had already been dialoguing with another agent. We had even found a property that was listed above my set budget, but when we brought it to that other agent's attention, he basically said to forget that ever being possible. Daniel, however, said he would drive up to the house right away, take pictures and video clips, and reacquaint himself with the property. After doing so, Daniel wrote a very complete email describing his impressions of the property and what he knew of the seller's situation and motivation. He then agreed to submit a low offer and even added some good phrases to the important introduction letter. Without his valuable assistance, this transaction would never have taken place and we are certainly very happy to have this particular property. During the transaction Daniel exuded confidence and from the very beginning told us exactly how he would look for a property on our behalf. He asked excellent questions to help understand the exact kind of property WE wanted—no other agent had done that. He sent us a weekly email of properties that fit our description which helped us to be familiar with the market and be updated quickly to changes.  Daniel was always available to us, which was extremely important, since we were not there in Santa Barbara. We felt he had a number of suggestions that would not have occurred to us and showed his was knowledgeable about real estate beyond just selling houses. We also appreciated his honesty about the potential drawbacks and the negative aspects of the different properties we were considering.  Throughout the transaction he seemed so knowledgeable about Santa Barbara and we always felt he welcomed our questions and responded honestly. And after the transaction was over, the closing gift and thoughtful note was further evidence of Daniel's exceptional way of conducting himself and doing more than just 'business'. Daniel went above and beyond the call of duty, and we can recommend Daniel without reservation. We hope to keep in touch with him when we finally become 'neighbors'." Wayne & Susan DuPont.

"Thanks for all your attention to me.  I know that whatever I do, it'll be because you have been such a great agent!  I also know that you won't get rich on a sale to me, but I'll be a loyal referral source forever!" Joan Winter

"Thanks again for your great help. Your service was very good and we are very satisfied.  We already miss our interactions with you!" The Hadian Family

"The sale of our condo in Santa Barbara was a total success. It was on the market less than a week and there were two strong buyers. We sold it for more than the asking price. Every aspect of the sale went smoothly which is especially unusual because I live in the Bay Area and was selling the condo “long distance.” But that was never a problem for Daniel who kept me informed every step of the way and gave clear instructions for what I needed to do. The notary who came to my home exclaimed that the quick sale of the condo was nothing short of a miracle since most stay on the market for at least nine months or more. In a nutshell: Daniel is easy to recommend because he is an honest, creative, hardworking and knowledgeable realtor. He was a pleasure to work with and I wouldn’t hesitate a minute to have Daniel sell any other property I owned." Andy Kim

"I really appreciate their professionalism, and the speed with which they “get things done”. Thanks for your patience with me, it’s a highly useful trait!"  Allan Hasson.

"Your excellent communication and creative ways of looking at opportunities in the real estate market have won us over." Karen Stone & Su-Ann Ng.

"When we met you two, we knew immediately that you were good, honest people and we felt that we could trust you…not to mention we just liked you. One of the most valuable things you did for us was let us in on unpublished information and assist us in moving quickly in the sale to avoid other competition.  We would never have known about this place, and had we waited too long, it probably would have been scooped up! You were very available to show us prospects, even when we had such a broad spectrum of needs.  Overall, you were very professional but not to the point that we felt like one of your many clients (even though we may have been).  We felt like we had your undivided attention.  You made us feel like you were working for us and with us. The closing gift (Antique Teracota Dog) was so thoughtful of you two, and it meant so much to us.  Thank you for everything!  We love our house."  Jessica Foster and John Dougherty

“Daniel Zia runs his business with a professional demeanor and conviction for finding and fulfilling his clients desires.  He is ambitious and committed to succeeding in whatever he puts his mind to. He places a great effort on researching his field and is able to go beyond meeting his customers' expectations. His ethical standards and cordial manner will set him apart from his competition.” Karl Smerecnik

"Daniel, it's been a pleasure working with you.  This transaction would not have happened if it weren't for your expertise and sensitivity."  Jim Dew & Vivian Ling

“Daniel's baseline is that of a great businessman. He goes beyond that through his passion, determination, confidence, and client-service orientation. He's a true entrepreneur and is a creative thinker always open to new information and ideas.” Will Wiersma

“Daniel is a very hard-working, honest individual who is passionate about making a positive impact in the world. In addition to being a pleasure to work with Daniel follows through on his word and puts his heart into everything he does, which means he can always be counted on.” Nick Burwell 

“In business dealings that predate his current occupation as a Realtor, I was always impressed with the forward thinking that Daniel brought to all areas of work in his role as a part of Lucid's Management Team. During the initial development of the B.O.S.S. software he laid the successful foundation for a tech-forward company that will succeed based on his software design and development work. In addition, Daniel exhibits the type of commitment and determination required to succeed as an entrepreneur. In more recent dealings in his profession as a Realtor I have been impressed with his integrity and will, with no second thoughts, send him an endorsed referral to anyone looking to purchase a home in/on the Central Coast.”  Brett Myers

“Daniel is creative, inspirational, sincere and knowledgeable. Our discussions with him related to our real estate needs have been helpful and we appreciate his low-key, but energetic style. He has been fantastic and both Dorothy and I want to express our appreciation for all his work. We will happily recommend him to our friends.” Dana & Dorothy Alexander 

"I was delighted to meet Daniel and was very impressed with him as a bright guy who asked all of the right questions. He was also extremely helpful with the information he provided me. Many thanks for your good input and excellent attitude!" Bob Ornstein

"Thank you so much for your work, it’s obvious why you are successful in the business." Ryan Judy

"You are sincerely very good at what you do- wish I could create a business around you as I'm sure it would do very well." Marc Kieler

“Daniel is the consummate "giver". Whether it be his time or expertise, Daniel is passionate about helping others. Daniel quickly built a successful real-estate firm founded on results, a strong reputation, and honesty and integrity. In addition to being a successful professional, Daniel is passionate about helping the world. He donates his time and resources to multiple non-profits and organizations. Daniel has the quality of being "honest to a fault", which is a rare but valuable quality in today's world."  Kevin Sturm

"We want to thank you for the time you've spent with us, preparing us to buy a home and enthusiastically coaching us through all the ups and downs. Your knowledge and expertise are truly outstanding. We have learned a great deal about the process of buying a home. We would be more than happy to work with you again." Brad & Brian Jensen

"Working with Daniel changed my whole opinion of real estate agents. He went above and beyond at every step, was always on the lookout for deals, and helped us find a great house when other Realtors had told us it would be impossible with our parameters. He never gave up and was always on our side. He never tried to 'sell' us on anything, never pushed something that wasn't right. He gave us honest feedback and advice all the time and stuck with us on a search that lasted over six months. Without Daniel, I think we would have given up and called it quits; with him, we found a great house at a fantastic price. Thanks for everything Daniel!" Jason Brown

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