6 Questions With Venture Philly:

Zach Matz Shares His Philly Favorites, Real Estate Advice, & Info For New Residents to Philadelphia.

Meet Zach.

Growing up in Montgomery County and now living in Philadelphia working as both a Paramedic with the Philadelphia Fire Department and a Realtor, Zach has a unique and in-depth understanding of the city’s diverse neighborhoods. By combining his experience as a tech entrepreneur, real estate investor, and emergency responder; you can rely on Zach for effective marketing and negotiation strategies, insightful market data, and compassion for your needs throughout the home buying process. Zach goes above and beyond to serve his community daily and will do the same for you in all of your real estate pursuits. Zach chose to join VPG to be further immersed in Philadelphia both geographically and culturally. He’s excited to be a part of a team approach to real estate, learn from leaders in the industry, and provide the best possible service to his clients.

What is your favorite Philadelphia neighborhood and why?

I love the Manayunk/Roxborough area for its equal access to a social scene on Main Street and nature with the Wissahickon trail. The trails are my escape from city life while still having access to the main highways within 5 minutes. I also admire all the old houses in the area and enjoy its small town feel.

Available Manayunk/Roxborough Properties:

Why did you decide you wanted to get into the real estate business?

In 2019 I bought and moved into a condo in Fairmount as part of a residency requirement for working with the fire department. 2 years later I bought a duplex in Roxborough to have more space for my now fiance and I to move in together. Both properties were house-hacks and my colleagues at the fire department would ask how they could do the same thing. I was giving out a ton of free advice and figured I could help them more if I were a Realtor, so I got my PA license in 2022. I love being able to help my peers with their real estate needs and still actively invest myself.

If you were to buy an investment property in 2022 and plan on selling in 2027, which neighborhood would you target and why?

I like the Powelton Village area for investment. The properties are not overly expensive so there’s an easier entry point into the investment. It’s just North of University City which continues to expand its reach with easy access to both Penn and Drexel. Personally I like value-add properties so the ideal investment needs a bit of work. These will cost less and with some elbow grease you get built in equity, higher rents to a revolving student population, and/or a higher sales price as the universities continue to expand over the next 5 years.

Available Powelton Village Properties:

If you were entertaining an out of town guest who has never been to Philadelphia before, what restaurant would you take them to first?

My favorite place to bring out-of-towners is Reading Terminal Market. It’s basically like 80 restaurants in one but to me it’s a Philadelphian culinary and historical landmark with something for everyone. In a “city of neighbors” where else can you get decades-old staples from Chinatown, the Italian market, and even the Amish all in one place?!

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When you're not assisting clients with their real estate needs, what do you enjoy doing in your downtime?

I’m a huge sports fan which can be such an emotional roller coaster in Philly; between the anticipation, gametime, and the aftermath it brings, Philly fandom is basically a full time job! Seriously, the whole city’s vibe changes with its most recent sporting event and everyone feels they had a role to play in the team’s outcome. It’s a Philly thing! Individually I like to slow things down with a nature walk or mediation, and I love to exercise (lifting or swimming...not running) whenever I can. I also try to always have a trip on the books to explore a new place.

One piece of advice you would give a first time home buyer before starting the process?

Surround yourself with an all-star team of people you trust and let them take care of you. There are a lot of moving pieces and people when it comes to the home buying process. Doing the prep work to build a support system of experts around you BEFORE looking for a home will help everything move smoother. Your team will give you the best chance of getting YOUR home to closing table.

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