Zach Proto

Zach

Agent Details

Meet Zach

REALTOR ASSOCIATE®

TELL US ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY TO REAL ESTATE. WHY DID YOU BECOME A REAL ESTATE AGENT?

My path to real estate is a tale of hammers, stethoscopes, and unexpected plot twists! It all started when I was a kid, learning the ropes of home improvement alongside my family. This early exposure led me to construction jobs during my school years, but life had other plans - I became an ER nurse but the real estate bug never left me.

I took the plunge 10 years ago and bought my first property - a 4-plex in Paradise, CA. Spoiler alert: It later met a fiery end in the Camp Fire, but it illuminated the true potential of real estate, sparking a journey that has led me to invest across California, Hawaii, and Ohio. Two years ago, I decided to also become a real estate agent to help others cut through the noise while representing myself in transactions.

 

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY?

I've worn the hats of real estate investor, property manager as well as real estate agent for more than a decade.

 

DO YOU HAVE ANY NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS/AWARDS/SALES VOLUME (IF YOU WANT TO SHARE)?

I've invested, renovated, managed, and sold a diverse portfolio of single-family, multi-family as well as short-term rental properties in and outside of California.

 

IF YOU ARE NEW TO REAL ESTATE, DOES ANYTHING FROM YOUR PREVIOUS JOB HELP YOU AS AN AGENT? (MARKETING SKILLS, SOCIAL SKILLS, MANAGEMENT, WORKING WITH LOANS, ETC.)

My diverse experiences have equipped me with a unique toolkit that's invaluable in real estate: construction know-how, property management, financing expertise, negotiation skills, and network of key stakeholders to get things done for me and my clients.

 

WHICH AREAS DO YOU FOCUS ON? (TYPE OF HOUSING, MULTI-UNITS, SHORT-SALES, INVESTMENTS, COMMERCIAL, ETC.)

My focus is primarily centered on residential investments, with an emphasis on properties with strong potential for value-add renovations, long-term and short-term rental opportunities.

 

DO YOU SPECIALIZE IN A SPECIFIC CITY OR CITIES?

San Francisco, CA; Honolulu, HI; Akron, OH.

 

WHAT MOST EXCITES YOU ABOUT YOUR WORK?

I love giving old houses new purposes, breathing fresh life into their stories while creating value. It's incredibly rewarding to preserve a piece of history, reimagine its potential, turn it into a dream home and a profitable investment.

For me, it's the perfect blend of honoring the past, creating for the present, and building wealth for the future.
 
 

WHAT ARE THREE WORDS YOUR CLIENTS WOULD USE TO DESCRIBE YOU?

Driven, hardworking yet laid-back.
 
 

WHY CHOOSE YOU VS. ANOTHER AGENT? WHAT DO YOU OFFER THAT OTHER AGENTS DON’T? WHAT MAKES YOU STAND OUT? (CUSTOMER SERVICE, KNOWLEDGE, TRUSTWORTHY, HANDS-ON, DEPENDABLE, FAST RESPONSE TIME, ETC.)

I am a straight shooter with no hidden agendas. You'll get my honest opinion on what it takes to make a house work for you, backed by years of renovation experience and a keen intuition for potential. No BS, just real estate reality.

 

DESCRIBE YOUR INVOLVEMENT WITH ANY ORGANIZATIONS, CLUBS, GROUPS, MEETUPS, NONPROFITS, SPORT TEAMS, CHURCH, PTA, SPECIAL INTEREST, ETC.?

I love attending different real estate meetups to network, share knowledge, and build connections.

 

WHERE HAVE YOU LIVED? AND WHERE DO YOU LIVE NOW? WHERE DID YOU GO TO SCHOOL/COLLEGE AND WHAT DID YOU STUDY?

I am a Bay Area native and live with my wife, our soon-to-arrive son, and our dog Hiccup in Potrero Hill. I went to Chico State and have been an RN at SF General and UCSF St. Mary's while investing in real estate over the past decade.

 

WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A NEIGHBORHOOD?

Easy street parking, safety, and vibrant community.

 

WHAT BAY AREA CITY WOULD YOU LIKE TO LIVE IN AND WHY?

I have lived in San Francisco for the last 10 years. I love my neighborhood Potrero Hill - the sunniest neighborhood with an amazing downtown SF and Bay view.

 

WHAT ARE THE FIVE THINGS YOU CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT?

Family, super spicy food, good friends, traveling, and snowboarding.
 
 

WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU WHEN YOU'RE NOT WORKING?

Hanging out with family/friends or snowboarding if it is a powder day.
 
 

WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR DREAM VACATIONS?

Heli skiing in Valdez, Alaska. Just went early this year.

 

IF YOU COULD BE ANY ANIMAL, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

Honey badger - it is never scared.
 
 

WHAT IS THE STRANGEST ACTIVITY ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

Climb Denali.

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