Zach Penland

Agent

NextHome Partners

Collaboration. Integrity. Courage.

About Zach Penland

Hi,

This is Zach. I dislike speaking of one's self in the third person. So here, written by me, is my lore, factoids and things I think you should know about me when when considering a real estate agent.

I am a true born Asheville native that can trace my family lineage back 7 generations to a land grant dating in the 1850s. My family were potters and homesteaders in settling an area of Candler known locally as Jugtown. Papaw was one of 12 kids, his daddy, my Great Grandpa, truck farmed and was an original employee of the Enka mill. That mill would later become BASF and then morph into several other smaller cohabitating manufacturers. That site now is soccer fields, Amazon fulfillment, other light industry and is slated for a Costco. The local expertise I bring to clients is first hand accounting of the growth path and an ingrained understanding of our area's evolution through time.

Professionally, I went to work the day I turned 15 and spent right at ten years in food and bev. I think this time was crucial to developing my attachment to the work and a service mindset. I'm proud of my ties to our area's service industry and hospitality background. 

At 25 I overcame my personal demons, found recovery and embarked on a new but related career in sales. I worked in furniture consolation and interior design for about five years. I got to awaken and feed my lifelong interest for everything realty in this era. I repaired my credit, saved diligently and bought my first home, all on my own. We got married in our front yard. I became a hands on, self taught expert at renovation and DIY home improvement. My wife and I then bought our first investment property where we founded Real World Transitional, a sober living community. First time homebuyers and making home ownership attainable continues to be my "why". I am approachable and down to earth by remembering where I came from. 

When we welcomed my second daughter I left my retail management gig for better hours and balance. I got into business to business technology sales. This was an important time of professional development for me. I learned corporate structures and strategy across different industries. Many of my friends are professionals in the helping space and I have been able to navigate leases for their start ups. This experience has also been valuable in growing Real World from a small, part-time, giveback to a premiere program, housing over 40 residents across 8 properties. 

Then Covid hit and I had to pivot. At this point I had been through about a dozen of my own real estate transactions, a few flips, full renos, multi-family buys and unconventional deals. I was always hesitant to be a full time agent with no guaranteed earnings and a family to support. But God did for me what I couldn't do for myself and forced me to take a chance. I found the class to be a filling in of framework I had already been building and I passed my exam on my first try. I hit the ground running and am blessed enough to have been a busy full time agent ever since. I am highly reviewed on Google, personally referred by my past clients regularly. I am well liked and respected by other industry professionals. All of this is really unbelievable because it still feels new to me and most days I find myself learning.

As of this writing, New Years 2026, I have been practicing real estate 5 years. I have newly joined a supergroup of local agents in Next Home Partners. This firm, I believe, best aligns with my values and will help me grow as an agent and in turn better serve the community and my clients.  

Personally, my hobbies include junk and thrift I collect anything weird. I travel often and drive old cars. I run. I am a coffee aficionado and I like steak. I am involved in the recovery community and try and be of service and not talk about it. I will promote the Pisgah High School marching band, my eldest plays the flute and I am the boosters vice president.  Most importantly, I am a father and husband. I have three amazing daughters and a beautiful wife and they will both come first and motivate all I do.

 

Thank you for reading the story of my life. I hope this serves as an authentic vibe check. If you think we could be a good fit working together please reach out. I would love to hear your story.

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