The best realtor I have ever worked with. He's fantastic and has a wonderful team as well. They turned our college student rental into a gorgeous coastal gem in a matter of hours. They went above and beyond marketing it, and we received multiple offers above asking price within a day of it listing. Highly recommend. read more

Ben Strock was the most caring, creative and professional broker I have ever met. We watched many real estate videos and interviewed at least 7 brokers before choosing Ben. BTW, his team makes the best Real Estate videos anywhere on Youtube! When we initially interviewed him at our beach house in Santa Cruz, he brought all his key team members (not just other Realtors from his office). No other Realtor had this "integrated team approach" advantage. It was amazing to work with a professional team that all had and were allowed to provide good inputs and suggestions and handled so much of the process smoothly. Ben staged the home at his cost, made several video versions for our property (very professional and entertaining) handled all the details, found a buyer in about a month and aced the negotiations. Fantastic job Mr Strock! If you are selling or buying a home I would strongly advise giving Ben and his team the opportunity to represent your property. You will be glad you did! Five Stars!!!!!! read more

Ben Strock - Strock Real Estate - Real Estate Agents Near Me - Aptos, California

Ben is a truly an experienced and professional agent in our Silicon Valley's coastal communities. Bens' years of experience has made you the knowledge broker that every home buyer or seller would need. You are not only a leader in the marketplace to peers around you but your track record of helping your home buyers and sellers with their housing dreams speaks for itself! I would welcome the opportunity to work with you in the future. You are truly a pro Ben! read more

It was a pleasure working with the Strock Team as they were extremely helpful in developing an excellent plan to get the property prepared for sale. The work was high quality and expedient which along with the marketing plan contributed to a quick sale at a price beyond our expectations. From the initial meeting and throughout the process, each team member was professional in their approach and responsive to all our needs and concerns. I would highly recommend Strock Realty! read more

I bought my beautiful beach house in Aptos from Ben and what an amazing experience! Having scoured the area for two years suddenly Ben called me and said your name is on this beach house Carol! Ben was right! Not only did he handle the transaction in a timely and professional manner I now have a wonderful friend for a lifetime! Thank you Ben! And of course I highly recommend Strock Real Estate! Next plan is to have Ben find me a $3 million dollar house on the cliff. Look out Ben! read more

Great company. Very knowledgeable and helpful getting our home ready to sell. Always communicating clearly and professional. Highly recommend. read more

Ben and his team, lead by Sarah, ruined our Pasatiempo home, spent the staging money painting the house white, breaking the bathroom mirror, and ripping out our gardens. In addition to making us feel like strangers in our own home, it cost us at least $200,000. If you are thinking of using this real estate group, just don't. read more

Having Ben as our agent, was the key to success. His skills , patience, and team assisted us greatly in what could have been a difficult transaction. I have been in real estate for 50 years and Ben will be our first choice here on the coast, his knowledge of the area and getting us to the right broker for financing was a seamless transition for us . His skill in handling this transaction was unparalleled Thank You Ben Bill and Alycia Kennedy read more

Ben and his Team have been a solid resource for my family and I. We are grateful for their compassion and patience with our community. Thanks for leading the way! read more

Ben Strock and his capable staff really helped out with the 'fix up' work, listing, and sale during the Covid round 1 restrictions. This was our vacation home so we could not travel to the Aptos house and help. So Ben and his crew helped out and really came thru. They have a really efficient system for getting pre sale work done on houses. HIGHLY recommended. read more

Ben and his team were remarkable from start to finish. We met with multiple listing agents and we undoubtably made the right choice. Everything from meeting with the design team regarding improvements, to the closing documents - everything was seamless and professional. Without a doubt, Ben and his design team had a vision that others did not which in turn created a higher selling price for us. Very personable yet professional and I would recommend them to anyone. I read a review that seemed negative and we did not have any negative experiences with the updates and our we're rather extensive. We look forward to working with them when we purchase another property in Aptos/Capitola. This is my second post ever on yelp so I think it speaks volume! read more

When we first starting thinking about putting our house on the market we interviewed five of the top rated realtors in town. After meeting with Ben and his team we were won over by their professionalism, knowledge, experience, and strategy. During the six months leading up to actually putting our house up on the market, the Stock Team was integral to understanding the best repairs and updates to invest in to gain the most attention from the right buyers. When we updated our tired old 1950's kitchen they not only referred some of the best contractors we've worked with they took on all of the design work and project management including picking out paint colors, purchasing fixtures, scheduling, estimating, budget tracking and they even paid all of the costs upfront so we didn't have to come out of pocket. As a construction manager myself I was so shocked when I first heard this was a service they provided. This allowed us to deal with the inconvenience of living in a construction zone without all of the added headaches of managing the project. It would have cost us $1,000s of dollars to hire a project manager or 100s of hours to do it ourselves. When the time came to start marketing the house the design team came through and staged every room beautifully for photos. Again this service was at no cost to us and made the house look like something out of Sunset Magazine. Let's face it, dealing with selling your home is a huge hassle! Every single person we came into contact with from the Strock Team was a pleasure to deal with and made the process so much easier just by being themselves. Whether it was helping us understand part of the process, calming our nerves, jumping in to help or showing up with a smile we couldn't have gone through this difficult experience as peacefully as we did without each of them. When the house went into contract was when Ben really won our trust. At each turn he was there to tell us our options, his thoughts on the best actions and always lead with integrity. Not only would we refer Strock Real Estate we would absolutely use them again. read more

I can't say enough about Ben. We had a fantastic experience with him when we bought our new home in Aptos this month. There were problems of course, as there are with any real estate deal. But the great thing about Ben is how he handles them. He is always a calm and reassuring voice on the phone and he has the experience and know-how to make the problems go away quickly. Ben is an excellent communicator as well. We were always made aware of any changes. Process steps were explained to us in exactly the right level of detail, and at exactly the right level for us (we are NOT real estate experts!). Ben was the person who showed us the houses in Aptos. But he went way beyond that, pointing out highlights of the communities (including Capitola and Santa Cruz). He gave us recommendations on everything from restaurants to hiking trails. He made us feel very welcome to our new home town. Ben also provided personal recommendations (including phone numbers) for gardeners, maids, handymen, contractors, and roof repair men. He gave a description of each one to us so we would know what to expect. These are all people that Ben has used for years and they are excellent. If you are looking for a real estate professional who has a high "care factor" for your well-being, then search no further. read more

Ben sold me my first house. I had casually spoken to a couple of other realtors at open houses, but none were as knowledgeable about the area of Aptos and Santa Cruz as Ben. What also makes Ben different from other realtors is he won't sell you a house just to sell you a house. He wants to get the right house for you. He gets to know his clients and what they want. The deal for my house was not easy. It was a short sale. Short sales are anything but short! He invested a lot of time into helping me get the house I wanted. The house was a diamond in the rough, but Ben helped me see it's potential. I am very thankful I chose Ben to be my realtor for my first house. I love my house! read more

Strock Real Estate was a breath of fresh air. Off the mark, Ben Strock and partner Shawndy Linquist were prepared professionals and remarkable, caring people. Their breadth and depth in real estate is truly impressive and their evaluation of our home was spot on. Ben and Shawndy really listened to us--our financial goals, our budget for home repairs and our wish to retain the charm of our older home. We've bought and sold a few houses, and no real estate company in our experience (or that of our friends) has the degree of understanding about moving as Strock Realty. They know it's hard. Supporting the seller and making relationships with them is built into their mission and structure. How many times did they ask us 'How can we help you?" I lost track. Ben and Shawndy offer competent workers, handy persons, design service and so much support. Their marketing services use state of the art tech and their long experience in the community made us feel tremendously at ease with the showings and confident about selling. When we moved out of state and left the house in their hands, Ben and Shawndy sent us weekly updates, answered our many questions, and gave us well-informed, professional recommendations. And, when the house was in contract, that long distance process, ending in closing, was quite smooth. We are in awe of Strock Real Estate's success and vision as a full service agency, and the amazing people who make that happen. Thank you, thank you, Ben and Shawndy. read more

After a year long struggle of trying to find an agent, my son did some research, called me and said "Mom, I think you ought to check out Ben Strock". I called Ben and he immediately offered important information that the other 2 agents I'd met with had not. That, of course, impressed me and made me feel that "this guy really knows what he's talking about". We met at the property and Ben offered advice that the other agents had outright skipped over. He is a very focused young man with an artistic eye. This was a very emotional, bittersweet experience for me and Ben was empathetic throughout the whole process . He asked me what my wishes were and moved extremely quickly from the start. He and Sara are both very professional and driven individuals. I highly recommend them!!! You will NOT be disappointed. read more

I purchased my condo at age seventy 10 years ago. I had no real estate experience whatsoever. A friend reccomended I try talking to Ben and we were ' off and running' with one of the most positive relationships possible. After reading other reviews about Ben and his staff, I've concluded that most of us feel that we were treated with great care and expertise. I've also realized after ten years of knowing him that solutions rather than problems exist in his everyday world. It's an attitude that builds confidence and affection for your realtor. Thank you so much, Ben......Your friend and Client, Marilyn M. read more

We recently purchased our first home in Santa Cruz county. Honestly, we were nervous and full of questions at this new intimidating process. The Ben Strock team was incredibly supportive and helpful. Our realtor, Tarra along with the team provided guidance and patience while we navigated thru the home buying process. I will forever be grateful and highly recommend. In the Santa Cruz market, one needs an expert that's highly committed. Their prowess combined with relatable perspectives were exactly what we needed. We now have a beautiful home for our family to grow in, a dream come true. read more

The Strock Team was outstanding in helping us find and purchase our retirement hime. With low inventory in the current turbulent housing market now is a difficult time for a buyer. However, Rose our Strock agent worked hard with us to understand the market dynamics, the area and help us determine our requirements. Her attention to detail was amazing and appreciated. Rose and Ben (Strock owner) helped us navigate through 3 purchase offers to ultimately securing a condo that truly fits our needs. The closing was smooth and uneventful thanks to the efforts of the extended Strock Team including Tara and Gina. We loved working with the Strock Team and recommended them highly. read more

I worked with Rose Wood at Strock. She was fantastic. She showed a huge amount of interest and determination and getting us what we wanted and helping to protect us. She also has a huge amount of market knowledge. By far she is the best realtor I have ever worked with. read more

Buying or selling a home? You must check out Strock Real Estate. There's a reason why Ben and his team have become titans of the industry in such a short period of time. They are attentive, knowledgeable, efficient, and easy to work with. We give him our highest recommendation! read more

We cannot give Ben Strock and his team high enough praise! They did a fantastic job selling our house. The whole process from start to finish was straightforward. Everyone at Strock is very professional and service oriented. Highly recommend working with Strock! You will not be disappointed! read more

Ben was very thorough, patient and responsive throughout the entire process. He has my highest recommendation.

Ben and Shawndee are the best. They kept us well-informed and had great suggestions to make sure our home was marketable. Their marketing strategy was well honed - resulting in many potential buyers looking at our home. read more

Ben was referred to us by our realtor selling our home in San Luis Obispo. We were is a 1031 exchange which can be very stressful due to the timing of the sale and new purchase. Ben knows the greater Santa Cruz area and really listens to what your needs are. He knows structural issues with a building and truly can scout out possible challenges with a home. He is an excellent Realtor, very professional, and great to be with! WE needed extra hand holding, and he went to bat for us during the purchase and closing!! We were buying in Santa Cruz and living in Southern Calif., So most everything was by phone or computer. We felt very fortunate that we found Ben Strock so don't miss the opportunity to have a great experience with your sale or purchase of your first or next home! C&J Friel read more

Ben Strock has a commanding understanding of California real estate. Coming from a strong real estate background he has been a great resource for me. After dealing with many real estate professionals its been refreshing to work with high caliber individual such as Ben. Jon P read more

I am always amazed at the local knowledge, patience and great customer service provided by Ben. His knowledge and understanding of personal finance, investments and real estate put him ahead of the game for sure. He will always give an honest opinion no matter the outcome and would never allow the possibility of a sale to influence his advice. The office is not only beautiful and clean but comfortable and in a great location. Ben is always happy to sit and chat or arrange a truly one of a kind housing tour with all the latest listings. A great start to your home buying adventure or resource for you investment interests. read more

Ben Strock was incredibly honest, forthright and hard working when it came to selling my Aptos, CA property. We agreed on goals for the sale, and Ben accomplished everything I asked of him within two months of our first discussion. At no point did I feel Ben not working 100% in my best interests. I heartily recommend Ben Strock and his group for all your real estate needs. read more

When we first started looking for a house in Santa Cruz County, Ben took the time to give us an extensive tour of the area, and to describe the character of each community to us. He showed us where to go go hiking and biking, explained where to find less crowded beaches, told us where to take our dog, and recommended where to get the best breakfast. As he drove us around the different towns, he pointed out various houses and told us how much they'd sold for; he knew which houses were going to come on the market ahead of time; and he listened carefully to what we wanted so he didn't waste our time. Ben is incredibly knowledgable about the area and about real estate transactions. He is well-connected in the community, and knows literally everyone -- from contractors to people who work at the county offices to other brokers. He is thoughtful about the strengths and weaknesses of different properties, and honest about his opinions. He is also very proactive about getting access to properties -- on several occasions he even did a voice-over video tour for us with narration of a property he'd seen that he thought we might like. Once we finally found a place, Ben expertly guided us through the inspection process (which turned out to be quite complex on a coastal property) and helped us negotiate a price that reflected both the value of the property and its inherent risks. He was always available by phone and text to answer our many questions, and was ready with a bottle of champagne when we finally closed the deal. We would not hesitate to work with him again or recommend him to others. read more

If you need a realtor in the Santa Cruz area, Ben Strock should be your first and only choice. Ben is extremely knowledgeable on anything related to housing within the Santa Cruz area as he is just dialed in. He lives locally and his Strock Real Estate offices are in the heart of Aptos. He has insider knowledge on homes that aren't even listed on the MLS and he has myriad of contacts that can help assist you on anything you need to do to a house in order to get it "sellable" or if you are a recent buyer and you need house improvements to make it "livable". He's extremely professional, an excellent negotiator, hard working, fun, easy to work with, and his follow-up on all issues was un-paralleled. My husband met Ben around 8 months ago when we first started looking at vacation houses in the Santa Cruz area. Ben showed him some houses but we realized that we really were not ready to purchase a house yet as we needed to sell our vacation home in Tahoe first. My husband was impressed with Ben's knowledge of the area and he especially liked that Ben didn't pressure him like other agents we had met in the past. Six months later we did sell our Tahoe house after the ski season ended and we were finally in a position to seriously look for a replacement vacation beach home in the Santa Cruz area. By chance, we worked with a few other local agents and put a couple of offers on homes but it never worked out. After being frustrated and disappointed, we reflected on why we had been so successful at buying/selling several vacation homes in Tahoe. Partly it was because we had the best agent in the Tahoe area and realized we needed to work with best in the Santa Cruz area if we wanted to ever get a chance at getting a home. So we contacted Ben. He remembered my husband and Ben had also done his homework and knew a little about us in general as we had previously been at an open house the weekend before that was hosted by one of his agents. To make a long story short, within a week we found a home we loved in Aptos that checked all the boxes of our must haves. This house had multiple offers but Ben worked his magic and we were able to close on this house 2 weeks after our offer was accepted. Ben just knows the house buying process so well and he anticipates everything that needs to happen to make it actually happen. Ben took care of all the logistics such as the inspections and anything else that needed to happen. We don't live locally so it was a big plus to have him handle everything. We are now looking forward to coming over the hill whenever we can to enjoy everything that Aptos has to offer! We are extremely grateful that we worked with Ben on this whole house buying experience as he made it happen for us! read more

We've been working with Ben for a couple years (we live out of the area) as we look for our perfect retirement home. He has spent so much time trying to help and advise us. He is EXTREMELY well-informed- I trust him with everything. If he doesn't know something (a real rarity), he will find out immediately! Over the years, I've worked with other realtors, and instead of dealing with a "car salesman" type, I feel like I've found a life-long friend in addition to a realtor. He will be honest and frank with you, which I appreciate. You won't find a better realtor...I promise! read more

Just wanted to update my review from a few years ago since my husband and I have had the opportunity to work with Ben again recently. We were looking for an investment property in the area and Ben took us out to show us several places that met the criteria we gave him. We were both extremely impressed with Ben's knowledge and what really blew us away was that when we were walking around the neighborhood, we couldn't go more than a block without someone stopping to ask him real estate advice, or a former client stopping to say hello to him like he was an old friend or family member. We are DEFINITELY in the best of hands with Ben and would tell anyone to work with him. Everyone in the area knows him and trusts him-- I love it. read more

My husband and I are in the very beginning stages of looking at buying a home here within budget, live out of the area and need to sell a home(s) which makes it a lengthy process. We're very undecided at this point on location, price range, whether to go w a permanent home or a vacation rental. Despite our situation Ben has taken the time to take me on tours of the general area, pointing out much info, been most helpful, not pushy but is direct and to the point too which I like. He's energetic, interested, answers all my questions and takes your needs to heart. Ben's obviously very knowledgeable, experienced, has all kinds of professional resources we'd need. We'll definitely work with Ben and I've already recommended him to a friend in the area. read more

I am new to the area. I met Ben at an open house that I didn't belong at. He impressed me with his friendliness and sincere interest in me. A year later I remembered him when I decided to sell my mountain Aptos home. Like most folks I did some research on-line. I learned that Ben's father had founded their company. Then it all clicked -- Ben looks and acts like a kid (has energy, is still happy, etc.) but he was learning real estate at the dinner table when we were all struggling with basic math. He made my house so beautiful I wondered why I selling. We met our buyer at the first open house. Then things got very, very complicated. Ben's assistant Megan Lenz was instrumental in getting documents, people, governmental agencies found. She would call everyday and ask -- when is this going to be completed, if you can't do this, who can or where can I find this or that. She was relentless, never worn down and always kept her humor. The following can be said about the attitude all the folks emulate at Strocks Real Estate, especially Ben: "Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing." -- Muhammad Ali read more

Ben is an excellent real estate agent. He did a great job introducing us to the Aptos/Santa Cruz area. We had very little prior knowledge of the area and he was able to educate us quickly on what neighborhoods would fit our lifestyle and budget well. He also went beyond just housing and showed us a lot of great city features, such as good restaurants, grocery stores, parks, hiking, etc. We felt very comfortable with him and the advice he gave. He was very helpful throughout our whole transaction from offer to closing, patiently answering all our questions and concerns quickly. We will work with him again when the time comes and would definitely recommend him. read more

Ben is very knowledgeable in the world of real estate. He helped my husband and I find our perfect home. We felt he truly wanted what was best for us. He returned all my texts/calls right away, and was very flexible with our difficult schedule. He has a great reputation among other realtors , and we could tell he has networked extensively in the Santa Cruz area. We are so glad we were given his name by a friend, and would recommend him to anybody! Thank you Ben read more

When we decided to put our Seacliff home on the market we knew we had to meet with Ben. Not only is his office in Seacliff, but he also lives in and loves the neighborhood. Selling your 1st home isn't always the easiest. We had a lot of questions and concerns. Ben was always available for advice and informative. He is very professional and really knows Real Estate. We needed a little yard maintenance and Ben connected us with a great landscaper that was affordable and dependable. The landscaper's wife was a cleaner. We hired her the day we moved out and she was amazing, as well. After our selling experience, we are happy to call Ben a friend and we would love to use him as our agent again. read more

I can't say enough about the Strock Realty team. We met the team in October during an open house. They took the time to get to know us as a family. Ben is a straight shooter and not one of those guys that sells you just for a commission check. He knows the greater Santa Cruz market like the back of his hand. You'll be stunned when you see how well networked and respected he is. Ben was so helpful to us while he explained the local nuances of each home as well as the quality/value of each home andneighborhood. He was patient with us and showed us every new listing the day it was listed. Finally the perfect home popped up in April and Ben got us a very fair deal in a red hot market. All I can say is impressive! Today we are friends with the entire team and you won't be surprised to hear that when we have any question Ben and team are right by our side. read more

I recently reached out to Ben to discuss selling the property he helped me purchase nearly 12 years ago. After listening to my updated housing questions, he addressed them while providing insights regarding the benefits of a 1031 exchange. This helped solidify next steps. Another great experience. read more

I have bought many homes over the years, but this was my first time selling one. I was referred to Ben by a co-worker and I can't thank my co-worker enough. Ben was by far the most knowledgeable, responsive, organized agent I have ever worked with. He made what could have been a difficult situation smooth and seamless. I had to sell my home on rather short notice due to a work relocation. Ben and his team handled everything for me smoothly and with as little effort from me as possible. Ben sold my home in 4 days for much more than asking price, and handled every detail along the way. I can't thank Ben and his team enough. If anyone is looking for an agent in the Santa Cruz market. Ben should be your only choice! read more