How to Choose a Realtor in Santa Clarita
To choose the best realtor or real estate agent in Santa Clarita, ask three questions before you sign anything: Do they actually sell homes here? What do their clients say? And do they handle your exact situation? The right answers come with numbers you can check, not just promises.
1. Do They Actually Sell Here?
Count homes sold, not years in business. Ask how many homes they've sold in the Santa Clarita Valley in the last 2 months and the last 12 months, and how many active listings they have right now. The market shifts daily, weekly and monthly, so an agent who's closing deals and listing homes right now knows today's prices, today's buyers, and how to negotiate in today's market. Active listings also mean they're hearing what buyers think every week, from showings, open houses and offers.
2. What Do Their Clients Say?
Look for hundreds of reviews, not a handful. Read reviews on Zillow, Google and Yelp from clients who bought or sold in Valencia, Saugus, Canyon Country, Newhall, Stevenson Ranch and Castaic. Look for details like communication, negotiation and problem-solving, not just five stars.
3. Do They Handle Your Exact Situation?
Selling a family home, relocating from Los Angeles, buying and selling at the same time, settling a trust, or moving a parent into a 55+ community all take different skills. Ask how many clients they've helped in your exact situation, and what went wrong and how they fixed it.
Questions to Ask If You're Selling
- How do you set the asking price? (It should come from a detailed market analysis, not from what you'd like to hear.)
- How many active listings do you have right now, and how are they doing?
- How will you market my home, and how fast do your listings sell?
- How often will you update me, and how? Phone, text or email?
- Will you handle my sale personally, or hand me off to someone else?
Questions to Ask If You're Buying or Relocating
- Do you know the neighborhoods, schools and commute routes?
- Do you know which homes have Mello-Roos? Many Santa Clarita neighborhoods carry Mello-Roos taxes that change your monthly payment. Agents from outside the area sometimes miss it, and buyers find out too late that they no longer qualify.
- Do you have access to homes before they hit the market?
- Will you personally show me homes and negotiate my offer, or hand me off to someone else?
- Are you a full-time realtor?
Red Flags
- They talk about years in business but not how many homes they sold this year.
- They can't name recent sales in your neighborhood.
- They promise a price before they've seen your home or the comps.
- You can't get them on the phone before you've even signed.
How Cherrie & Zach Answer These Questions
Cherrie & Zach (Cherrie Brown and Zach McReynolds of Equity Union Real Estate) have ranked #1, #2 or #3 in the Santa Clarita Valley for over a decade, average more than 100 home sales a year, and have more than 900 five-star reviews. They're listing specialists, Santa Clarita relocation experts, and pros at selling and buying at the same time. Cherrie and Zach work with their clients personally, and they never hand a buyer off to someone else. Cherrie is a certified Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES). Cherrie brings 23 years of experience and Zach brings 16.
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Buying, selling, or both? Send us a note and Cherrie or Zach will call you personally. No pressure, just straight answers about your home and today's Santa Clarita market.
Contact Cherrie & Zach
Cherrie & Zach | Equity Union Real Estate, 25124 Springfield Ct, Suite 100, Valencia, CA 91355. Call 661.312.2536. Cherrie Brown, DRE #01421885. Zach McReynolds, DRE #01904568. Last updated October 2026.