Daniel Zia is the founder and CEO of the Zia Group , a boutique real estate sales and investment group backed by eXp Realty. Daniel serves as the primary Realtor and Broker-Associate for the Zia Group, and through his sales achievements has helped his team become #1 real estate team in the greater Santa Barbara area, selling more homes than any other team. He has been voted the #1 Realtor by both the Santa Barbara Independent's and Santa Barbara News Press' Best of Readers' Polls. These are the two largest publications in the greater Santa Barbara area with a readership of approximately 120,000. Daniel commented on being voted these prestigious awards over the past handful of years by saying:"My focus is NOT on business growth, but on finding ways to continue to improve my service, put better systems in place, and above all, to find creative ways to add value to every person I encounter. People sense my desire to serve, and to put their best interest above my own. I give the same neutral counsel to someone I just met, as I would to a close friend or family member."As a successful and experienced entrepreneur, Daniel applies his creativity and out-of-the-box thinking to his leadership of the Zia Group and to his approach to helping buyers locate homes not yet on the market (approx 15% of homes in our area sell this way every month). When Daniel founded a successful company in the automotive industry in 2000, which earned the best reputation in the industry for customer service and lifelong client care, the National Association of the Self-Employed labeled Daniel as the "Future Entrepreneur of the Year". Daniel and his team apply that same client-centered approach to real estate, believing that ethics, innovation, and customer service must be the foundation of any company that will successfully ride the waves of market trends.Daniel spent the first eight years of his career with Prudential California Realty, where he quickly rose to the top level of production in the Santa Barbara area and was within the top 1% of Prudential agents worldwide. He was later recruited by Keller Williams Realty for his sterling reputation and high sales achievements, and quickly earned the Keller Williams Platinum Level Award for being in the top 1% of KW agents worldwide. In 2021 Zia Group proudly joined eXp Realty California.Daniel enjoys teaching and working to improve the standard of practice in the real estate agent industry. He has been brought in as a guest lecturer and trainer for other agents in Prudential and KW offices and at the Santa Barbara Association of Realtors. His topics range from technology to his belief in a different business and life philosophy where one focuses on "adding value" to one's clients, versus pursuing relationships as a means to a sale. Daniel has even been a guest speaker at Keller William's Family Reunion, a real estate convention with approximately 15,000 agents, where he has spoken about such topics as using social media and internet marketing to sell luxury properties and how to grow and run a successful real estate team.Offering the analytical mind of an investor and a gift for listening and understanding the emotions involved in buying or selling a home, Daniel and his team can guide you into making a good investment and securing your future.