PMZ promotes firm veteran to Modesto post

Ben Balsbaugh has been appointed president of PMZ Real Estate's Residential Brokerage Division. He will oversee the Modesto-based firm's 575 real estate agents in 24 offices.

Balsbaugh, 39, joined PMZ's staff 12 years ago, and he has held several management positions at the company.

"Ben has led a number of highly successful residential division initiatives," explained Jon Zagaris, PMZ's corporate vice president and broker of record.

That included launching the company's residential brokerage operations in Stockton and on Carpenter Road in Modesto.

In his new role, Balsbaugh will guide PMZ's effort to "expand our market dominance in the Central Valley and open up operations in the Bay Area," said Michael Zagaris, PMZ's president and chief executive officer.

"We've hired a lot of agents, and we're still growing," Balsbaugh said. The company recently opened offices in San Jose and Pleasanton, and he said it is focused on expanding its presence in San Joaquin County and the East Bay.

PMZ is a family-owned real estate services organization that includes residential and commercial brokerage, Scenic Oaks Funding, PMZ Insurance Services and Liberty Property Management.

Founded by Paul M. Zagaris, who began his real estate career in 1947, PMZ is among the top 100 residential real estate brokerage services in the nation. It reports annual sales exceeding $1 billion.

Since the start of the year, Balsbaugh said PMZ agents have represented buyers or sellers in about 5,000 home sales. He said last year the company brokered about 5,400 home deals.

"It's a challenging market," Balsbaugh said, noting the unusually low supply of homes for sale. He said there are more people looking to buy homes than properties on the market.

Balsbaugh grew up in Escalon, earned a bachelor's in business administration from California State University, Stanislaus, and a master's from the University of Phoenix. He previously held management positions at Costco and as an advertising sales representative for The Bee.

His office will be moving to the company's headquarters on Modesto's Scenic Drive.

Bee staff writer J.N. Sbranti can be reached at jnsbranti@modbee.com or (209) 578-2196.