The deal was sealed Tuesday as Zia Realty Group’s James Chrobocinski, left, purchased Los Alamos Commercial Real Estate from Terry Salazar. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Zia Realty Group owner/qualifying broker James Chrobocinski signed the papers Tuesday to purchase Los Alamos Commercial Real Estate from owner/qualifying broker Terry Salazar.
“With this acquisition, Zia Realty Group now has 206 listings for a total of $67,561,381 in listed properties,” Chrobocinski told the Los Alamos Daily Post. “Not all of these properties are listed in the MLS yet and with commercial properties, some organizations request private listings.”
Chrobocinski and Salazar met at the Zia Realty Group’s downtown Los Alamos headquarters Tuesday morning to finalize the acquisition. Salazar and his associate broker Michael Seivold will now go to work for Zia Realty Group.
“With Terry being the leader in commercial real estate in Los Alamos for so long, I’m really happy to have him join us,” Chrobocinski said. “I think this acquisition will bring both of us an elevated level of success.”
James Chrobocinski, left, and Terry Salazar close the deal. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Salazar has been in the real estate business in Los Alamos and northern New Mexico for some 18 years. He also is a residential and commercial investor and builder of new and remodeled homes.
“Over the past five years my commercial real estate business has become so large that it has reached a point where I need help,” Salazar said. “James is the perfect fit and the timing is just right.”
The men met two years ago this month when Chrobocinski was driving around looking for an office to rent for his new real estate firm. Salazar spotted him driving slowly through a parking lot and approached him to ask if he was interested in leasing space. He was and Salazar leased him his first office in town.
“I had just started Zia Realty Group … it was just me and my laptop … no office, no brokers and no listings,” Chrobocinski said.
Today, Zia Realty Group employs 24 brokers covering Los Alamos, Espanola Valley, Santa Fe and the Jemez Mountains, he said.
“We just acquired Jemez Valley Properties last month from Bob Bootzin, who retired after 53 years,” Chrobocinski said. “My Executive Assistant Carrie Montoya Pegg was very instrumental in helping make that happen.”
Chrobocinski said he plans to open a Rio Rancho office next summer.
“We’re actively recruiting brokers,” he said, adding that they just signed two new brokers last week.
In his spare time, Chrobocinski serves as president of Los Alamos Little League, vice president of Mountain Elementary School PTA, is a member of the Rotary Club of Los Alamos and the Los Alamos Housing Partnership. He also is running for one of four seats on the Los Alamos County Council. He can be reached at James@ZiaRealtyGroup.com or 505.662.8899.
