Meet Steve Hise and Tricia Garcia

Steve Hise

Marketing, pricing, and negotiation · CA DRE #01702055

Before real estate, Steve spent 20 years in IT as a data center manager for Countrywide Home Loans and, after the buyout, Bank of America. He led teams of server engineers, network engineers, and IT specialists who built, secured, and maintained the systems that kept the company running. He earned his real estate license years earlier to handle his own investment deals, and when his sister Tricia, already a working agent, asked whether he still had it and wanted to partner up, he made the career change. Today they run Real Estate Toolbox together at eXp Realty.

Steve's IT background is a real advantage for sellers. He uses it to market homes in ways many agents can't, and pairs it with strategic pricing and strong negotiating to put more money in his clients' pockets. Clients also thank him for his time: he doesn't rush tours or decisions. And he's known for walking buyers and sellers through inspection reports, explaining which items are worth fixing, which are easy fixes, and which requests matter most in a negotiation.

One recent example: a seller needed to sell within 45 days in a Simi Valley community where similar homes had been sitting for months. Steve laid out a plan (staging, a sharp price that didn't give money away, open showing times, and a strong marketing push), and the home was in escrow within two weeks.

Steve has lived in Simi Valley for more than 35 years. He moved here a year out of high school and bought his first home with his two brothers. He loves the small-town feel of a city of about 126,000, the friendly neighbors, and the community events.

Outside of work, Steve hosts Simi On Video on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, promoting local small businesses and community events at no charge. He's a regular on Simi Valley's pickleball courts ("look for me, I'd love to play a couple of games"), tinkers with woodworking and computers, and spends time with his kids and his two Boston Terriers. Friends describe him as generous, caring, and laid-back, someone who always puts other people first. In his words: "I serve people, I serve the community, and I serve God."

Tricia Garcia

Senior Downsizing and Inherited Property Specialist · CA DRE #02032007

From the numbers to the neighborhoods

I've always loved real estate, but for a long time the timing wasn't right. For 20 years I was the accounting manager for a computer wholesale company. I ran accounts payable and receivable across roughly 300 domestic and international accounts. Outside of work, I was raising young kids, staying very involved at their school, and caring for my grandmother, the woman who helped raise me. There simply wasn't room for anything more.

After my grandmother passed away, I finally pursued what I'd always wanted and earned my real estate license. That was 10 years ago, and I've been practicing ever since. My accounting background shows up in everything I do: I'm detail-driven, organized, and careful with the numbers, because every one of them affects my clients' bottom line. Caring for my grandmother gave me something just as valuable, which is a real understanding of what older adults and their loved ones are going through when it's time to make a move.

Why I focus on seniors and inherited homes

It's personal. My mother passed away when I was eight months old, and my paternal grandmother stepped in to help raise my siblings and me. Years later, I was the one caring for her. After she passed, I sold her home, and more recently I sold my maternal grandparents' home too. I know what it feels like to sort through a lifetime of memories while also making big financial decisions.

What made me want to specialize was watching a close friend lose both parents and then get taken advantage of during the sale of the family home. No one should go through that at the most vulnerable time of their lives. Sadly, it happens far more often than most people realize. Older homeowners are frequently targeted and taken advantage of, often when they're grieving, overwhelmed, or simply trying to make the right decision for their future. Seniors and their loved ones deserve someone in their corner who will protect their interests, explain every option, and never rush them.

I also feel I have so much to learn from seniors. I soak up every story and every piece of wisdom they're willing to share with me, and it's truly an honor. Helping them through one of life's biggest transitions is one small way I can give back.

What clients thank me for

The thing I hear over and over again is "thank you for the communication." Buying or selling a home is stressful, especially when it's not something you do every day, and a lot has changed since many of my clients last bought. So I walk them through the process step by step, in a way that never feels overwhelming. At every stage they know what's happening now, what comes next, and anything that's needed from them.

My clients also know they can reach me however it's easiest for them, whether that's a call, a text, or an email. When they reach out, I respond right away. I pick up the phone and I don't make them wait, because a question that's sitting unanswered can feel enormous in the middle of a big transition.

Some things haven't changed, though. I am my clients' voice and their advocate. I stand up for them and I get the job done, staying empathetic to their situation, professional at every turn, and focused on getting them the best possible result.

Moments that stay with me

One of my favorite moments was helping two best friends buy a home together in a senior community. Each of them needed support, both emotionally and financially, and by making the move together they had each other to lean on. It was an honor to be part of that journey. It's a beautiful reminder of how people pull together for one another, and how things work out when they do.

Another one is more recent. First-time buyers came to us through a referral from a past client, and they put their trust in us to walk them through every step. Their gratitude when they got the keys was so moving. Afterward they gave us the best gift of all, a thoughtful handwritten note thanking us for helping them into a home that meant so much to them. That note meant just as much to me.

Rooted in the San Fernando Valley and Ventura County

I was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, and I know it like the back of my hand. Ventura County is my second home. It's just minutes away, my office is in Simi Valley, and all of my family lives in Ventura County. My husband's family is in the Santa Clarita Valley, so I'm driving across both counties several times a week. That means I know these neighborhoods the way a local does, not the way a map does.

Many of the people I work with are exploring 55+ communities. Leisure Village in Camarillo is one I'm asked about all the time, by people who want to know what it's like to live there and what the community offers. There are wonderful options across the region, in Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Simi Valley, Chatsworth, and beyond. The right fit depends on the lifestyle you want: fully independent living or a close-knit community feel, a place with prepared meals and services or something else entirely. I help my clients weigh those options so the home they choose truly fits the next chapter of their life.

Outside of work

Outside of work, you'll usually find me in my garden. I grow plants, flowers, fruit trees, and vines, and it's how I relax. At home I have four dogs who keep life lively.

Family is at the center of everything for me. My husband and I have two children, a son and a daughter, who are young adults now finding their own paths. I'm also one of eight kids, and with nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews, we're well past 30 at this point. Honestly, we've lost count, and it's so much fun. Our kids are all close in age and grew up together more like brothers and sisters than cousins. Most of us live near each other, so we spend a lot of time together, and I even get to work alongside my brother. These days I also help care for my dad as he ages and works through a number of health challenges. Having such a big family is a true blessing, because we all pitch in and support one another while we take care of Dad. It's also one more reason I understand what my clients are going through.

Ask my friends and family to describe me and they'll tell you I'm honest. If you want the truth, I'll tell you. I'm detail-oriented, and I'll do anything for the people I love. And God always comes first.

Let's talk

Whether you're planning a downsize, settling an inherited home, or exploring 55+ communities like Leisure Village, I'd love to help you map out your next step, even if it's a year or more away. Book a free 30-minute call or reach me at 805-424-6226 or [email protected].