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Zell Associates Zell Associates, Inc. stands out among San Jose property management companies by bringing expert, customized services to the entire Silicon Valley. We have been effectively serving investors, owners, and landlords since 1974. Our talented staff specializes in residential and commercial real estate management, and our customers will tell you that we treat each property as if it is our own.

Our team is available and accessible. Whether you have a question about what's going on with your property or your tenants need help with emergency maintenance, you can reach us 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
Services
The mission of Zell Associates is to deliver superior Silicon Valley property management, and to provide owners and investors with the peace of mind, customer service, and expertise that they need to be successful. With a team of over 60 talented and experienced professionals, we are able to exceed the expectations of our clients, and provide the best real estate management to investors in San Jose and the surrounding areas.
We own over 150 rental units ourselves, so we are in a unique position to approach management from the perspective of an owner. We understand what it's like to struggle with leasing, maintenance, and turnover. Our expert services are custom-designed to manage your apartment, house, or investment portfolio.
What can owners and investors gain from Silicon Valley property management through Zell Associates? More than you'd imagine. Working in the local real estate market for 40 years gives us a unique perspective on the current state of the rental market in San Jose, Campbell, and surrounding areas. We understand the rental prices, the property demands, and how we can position your property to earn more.
We always want to hear from our current clients, as well as property owners and investors who have questions or want to hear more about our Silicon Valley property management services. Or, you can give us a call or stop by an office.
Reviews (29)
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Joe Cooper
Jun 24, 2022
Very patient and understanding during this entire process and I could not have asked for anything better. I would highly recommend this property management for anyone trying to find a place to live in.
Chadwick G.
May 27, 2022
Zell Associates, Inc. was recommended to us by a friend. Very much thankful to all the staff for their prompt responses and excellent guidance and insider information! Very professional and took the time to answer all of my concerns as well as provide me with beneficial real estate investing advice and information as well as offer other sites that could be useful.
Rudyard Johnson
May 17, 2022
Excellent service! The team at Zell Associates, Inc. was really helpful in getting me the information I needed to finish a client's tax return on time. She promised information and followed through on it! She was my lifeline during a hectic tax season! Great service, great abilities and great knowledge in property management.
Marjorie Mendez
May 06, 2022
Zell Associates is the place to go if you want to list your property. We have rented and sold properties with their thorough and highly professional help. Their knowledge of the market and professionalism surpasses any other company we have explored. Also, the agents were always prompt to respond to emails and helpful, especially during the subleasing process.
Stefano Menti
May 05, 2022
WORST SERVICE EVER! I wish I could give zero stars. On moving day Chris was expected to give us the code of the property but she went missing in action, she didn't respond to texts or calls and wasn't at the office as she said. We wasted 3 hours on an already packed day for her lack of professionalism. I'm writing this as I'm still waiting for the codes to the property, so it can very well be worst that this. Hate this company already!
Sharron K.
Apr 26, 2022
The best real estate manager I have worked with. The online portal was very simple, the property was as advertised and there was no frustration. They also realize that you are in a difficult situation and are very understanding when you focus on actually maintaining a truly professional relationship with them. Everything was repaired on time.
Sherry Mullen
Mar 07, 2022
Their expertise and ownership of my property demonstrate to me that they treat it as if it were their own. We were able to find well-qualified renters in a reasonable amount of time because of their ad, which was created to elicit curiosity and enthusiasm about the property.
Ulric Clemons
Jan 31, 2022
Extensive knowledge and incredible to work with! Great communication is complemented with thorough feedback, thoughtful responses, and the support that everyone would be lucky to get in a realtor. They have been very responsive, promptly addressing any issue that has come up.
Sam S.
Oct 09, 2021
Horrible customer service! Linda is so unprofessional and an embarrassment to my community!
Deeezy Martini
Jun 01, 2021
They lied about one of my neighbors having lung cancer when they couldn't pin who was smoking near the units and we were caught ONCE. We of course stopped but the threats didn't stop even after we proved we weren't the only ones that happened to break rules. Complete lunatics, save yourselves! Manager even threatened us. Look at picture review for proof!
Daniel Kenny
Mar 01, 2021
Management responds quickly to service requests. If I could give more stars I would've :
Elias H.
May 21, 2020
Worse experience living at 445 N 26th St. My family and I lived there 6 years. During the rainy season we had the sealing fall on us literally. They took months to fix the whole on the sealing. Our furniture got ruined and they refused to pay us for the damage. The pipeline is so old we had clogged pipes constantly. The manager onsite never warned us about the humidity of the storage. Again, we lost furniture that we placed in the storage and other belongings and again the manager said the company would not reimburse us on the contrary they would charge us to throw away our ruined furniture. Our family and I feel defrauded living there, we never missed a payment and that's how poorly we were treated.
John R.
May 02, 2019
Jeff zelle I could go through point for point hope your whole statement but it do a waste of time I don't believe there was one thing that I said that was untrue. But you want to talk about airing dirty laundry I mean one the apartment that you allow me to continue to live in and got a credit check and all that stuff after Chrissy passed away remember Chris he was working for you when she died so take that For What It's Worth to the Improvement that were made to the apartment we're done do negotiations of the whole a complex and you remember we went to we went to mediation and it would never have been charge to me anyways that was part of the negotiation for Capital Improvements so you can raise the rent remember I do And after Chrissy passed away yes I requested to get the Carpet and Floors replaced because they were quite old when we moved in there and got it already been six or seven years we have been there at that point so that carpet and linoleum had to go and as far as however you want to say that I left the apartment I asked if we had to do a walk-through Eric told me no so when I signed that paper and turned in the key I was told that the apartment was going to be gutted anyways don't worry about it I thought we were done I would make you treated us very well everything I said to you personally I meant I know her rent was below Market because it was that way because of the negotiations to arbitration I rent was that much lower and you can only raise it 3 to 5% each year and each year after that it was getting raised the same as everyone else has percentages it must be as much as you were allowed to do it so I don't know if you're whining about on that one thing you did do was allow me to get out of my lease I appreciate that but saying that you notified me hell I spoke to you for weeks after I moved out would have been nice to know I owed money then I was just shocked when I got that letter saying that I owe money and I told that guy you can go jumping a lake hell I gave you three stars shouldn't be that mad like I said there's nothing I said in my statement that wasn't true so go duck yourself Jeff
Dee F.
Mar 13, 2019
I used to live in Griffith apartment and all I wanna tell you is look for somewhere else. Yes, I know this place is slightly cheaper than others in the same area. But you get what you paid for. The windows in that building are the original casement windows from 1950s, probably 1951. It is not only not soundproof, but also not totally windproof either.

Some windows already broken and all the screens are broken. So the maintenance is terrible. The walls are extremely thin as well. You can hear what ever your neighbors doing around you, include your downstairs! Amazing! Right? Before I moved in that building, I never knew that I could even hear the downstairs' steps in an apartment building. For some spots in the building you may get some long time residents who are quiet, but most likely your neighbors close by would move out and move in frequently and you never know when will the shared walls start bothering you day and night.

It is not include the outside noise, the window is definitely gonna be a problem, the constructions in the street outside sounds exactly like your bedroom is under construction. Because of the windows and walls are not thick enough to block the sounds, they are also not good at keeping your room temperature at a pleasant level. So be aware, find a better place, otherwise you will post the next 1 star review about that apartment.
Denise S.
Feb 09, 2019
I too got an increase immediately after they took over. They do the bidding of the owners. We have greedy owners. Owners will never get better than section 8 if they continue to push the good people out with high rents. Not everyone makes 6 figures especially in bad areas of the city like this place. The owner of my building (if they don't sell it soon) will be answering to me.

The owner lied & pretended they sold the building. He/She keeps switching management companies. He has had 3 in 13 months they have owned my building. Last company sent a letter stating the owner had decided to sell the building. We as residents can't blame the management companies as their clients whom are the owners are the real devil's.

I am giving 3 stars because at least Jeff came to talk to me and he tried to act like he cared. Their jobs sucks because we complain & give them headaches because they work for greedy owners. They are just the middle man. At times they are the devil for example Louis from Atlantis Properties moved in 3 drug dealers(they share same apartment) & 1 prostitute in 2017 because the rent was so high no one decent wanted the last two he had open.

They both sat empty for 6 months. He didn't even run a criminal background check! Our 1962 Apartments are just under 500 square feet. A cheap thin book shelf was throw up as an after thought it's a partial wall so they can charge for 2 bedroom. Can you imagine under 500 SQ ft 2 bedroom for 2k? There is no dishwasher, no garbage disposal & everything falls apart in my unit, it's slowly being replaced.

Some stuff just partially fixed & painted over. I am giving Zell a chance as Jeff sounded like he knows how to deal with drug dealers. I hope you do Jeff because I will hold you to it. I am a ball buster but I am a good tenant!
Stan L.
Feb 02, 2019
Can you spell slum lord? I have been fighting crime for a long time and these hooligans think they can come in and just demand more money for their car payment. It seems people have lost all empathy for the wrong reasons. It does not take much for me to get a feel for people and apparently this company can't feel shit, even while they walk around with sticks up their asses. I've been around for a while and greedy people are the worst. This is the first entry of what may become a long endeavor.
Luis A.
Aug 15, 2018
They are the worst company ever I have an issue with the manager right now because she always come and threaten us that if we don't do anything she wants. That we will see what's going to happen to us. The manager's name is majaleth hernandez and het husband Luis antonio torres. They are in charge of the apartments that they are located on the corner of Eden and Cadillac Drive San Jose.

Half of the tenants that live here they are already sick and tired of all this manager the other half they are new tenants and they are her friends. Please don't rent in this area with them they are the worst managers they don't have manners to tell you things they even say if they send you a notice 24 hours before they can get into your apartment with or without your permission and there's nothing you can do or else you have to attend the consequences they're always threat the tenants for no reason.
Peter A.
Jun 26, 2018
1. Super high rent payment for a miserable reduced living property with no A/C or hitter included. 2. Maintenance is horrible here at San Jose west apartments. laundry room has literally no washer machine working and what is worse there is putrid water inside the machines. no jokes! 3. If own more than one car your life turns into a nightmare there is never parking near since friends and families "save parking" to each other 4. let's not talk about management no professional people and other than that they never answer when needed. 5.

If anybody knows where or how to fight /protest against high rent increases in San Jose Ca please let me know I need to do something. I believe everybody deserves decent homes/places to leave without killing yourself working just to pay rent for places like this.
Jon L.
Sep 04, 2017
Robert Burba from Zell Associates manages a single-family property for our elderly mother in Cupertino. He is professional, efficient, and treats tenants with respect and empathy -- building and maintaining a win-win-win environment. He also has gone above and beyond the call of duty, adding value as a trusted family resource. Robert under-promises and over-delivers. We recommend him highly for managing any property or real estate matters in Silicon Valley.
Natanael D.
Aug 19, 2017
I currently live in one of the zell apartments and I had just moved in this month, today at 7 o'clock, they knocked on my door to tell me to move my car from the parking garage, to a street parking that requires a permit, they are making a lot of noise on a weekend. Yes I understand it's a Saturday morning but no one notified us that there would be painting going on today. It was very unprofessional.
D. D.
May 09, 2017
Urchins They are refusing to follow the new rent control law in mountain view and are threatening to evict tenants who are paying their legal rent. They are going after individual tenants instead of the city as its easier for them. This after raising rent 20% since October 2015. Please don't rent with them, they don't care about you.
Ray M.
Apr 28, 2017
I had the pleasure of renting a unit in Mountain View on California Street for 11 years. I was fortunate to have on site property management with Marie Jasinsky. She is professional, caring, very timely with tenant requests, and a tremendous asset to Zell Associates Inc. I highly recommend any potential renter to give Marie a call or email when searching for the right apartment or house to rent.
A. R.
Jan 16, 2017
I have lived at a Zell Property in Mountain View for almost 2 years. They raised my rent 23.5% after my first year. After this past election, Measure V passed, and the landlords threw a fit. The rent rollback got put on hold until when.? I just received a notice of another rent increase of 6.8% That's over 30% in under 2 years. Additionally, Zell used to pay for Water, Trash and Sewer.

They now make their tenants pay that as well. I live alone with only one income. I cant afford this, I am sure MANY MANY other people can relate too. This is GREED at its finest. And it's disgusting. I'm being forced out of my home because I can no longer afford to live there. Not sure how you sleep at night SHERMAN ZELL. You are all greedy pigs.
Jeanette J.
Jul 09, 2014
I would like to give ALL 5 STARS to Dee our resident manager in Campbell. I had a very bad issue with my apartment and Dee came to the rescue and had it taken care of immediately. My place is now a HOME and Dee was 100% determined to assist me and in the end it came out PERFECT! Thank you Dee - Elisa and I appreciate you very much!
C. K.
Jun 16, 2014
We were at Sunnyvale property for more than a year. Our property manager initially was Lisa and then Ryan took over. For any complaints and problems they were a bit late on completing but the work was done properly and we appreciate that. Overall our experience was good with both the property managers.
Steve J.
Apr 30, 2014
Twenty bucks to pull my sons credit report, and ANOTHER twenty to pull mine if I cosign? You got me the first time guys, I won't be fooled again. What a good thing you got going here, I congratulate you on your money making abilities to poor individuals who are looking for a place to live! How do you guys sleep at night? FOLLOWUP: Well, at least I received a response, and wasn't totally ignored, albeit the explanation is that the fee is justified and they would lose too much money if they checked all credit scores for free.

Add One Star for not being totally ignored. Not to argue the point, but I still think 40 bucks is too much of a fee, all I'm trying to do is get my son his first apartment.
Meric O.
Apr 25, 2014
The apartment complex that I live in is managed by Zell Associates. There is a phone number to call during out of business hours, only someone would be there to pick up the phone. My apartment was under heavy smoke without any visible flame. I wanted to check with the management if there has been some kind of smoke for any reason before to call 911.

Nobody returned my call whatsoever. I wonder what they consider as an emergency situation and what is that phone number for. This review is for their management, very sloppy job I had a phone conversation today with Jeff, who seems to be in charge. I called next day afternoon to talk about what went down and for some explanation. Luckily, I had my friends with me when this happened because nobody seems to understand the condition my apartment was. Luckily, I also have the call records so I can show that I actually called the emergency number.

I stand by my review because it only reflects my experience and frustration. I would like to talk to someone when I think there is an emergency, and emergencies not always show up during business hours.
Justice G.
Apr 24, 2014
Don't rent with Zell Associates. They will not return your deposit no matter how well maintained you leave the apartment. & if they do renovations, don't count on getting your deposit Back THEY WILL FIND AN EXCUSE TO NOT REFUND YOU & will use your funds to pay for renovations. Good luck!
Scott H.
Feb 27, 2013
Absolutely the worst property management company in the San Francisco Bay Region. I frequently visited my family at the Country Club Garden Apartments at 256 La Pala Drive, San Jose, CA 95127. The complex was filled with hard-working low-income families with young children and a few obvious gang-bangers. The managers are schizophrenic with policy enforcement.

For a few weeks they implement curfews, then they take off for months and abandon all responsibilities. The young-adult children of the managers were verbally abusive to young children in the complex. Maintenance issues in apartments are left un-touched for long periods. The most troubling aspect of this complex is the utter lack of security. Locks on the exterior doors were removed long ago.

Drug deals go down on the street outside. And dozens of tiny kids play throughout. Zell's management of this property is third-world-like. Tenants are a risk and visitors are at risk. This property is a disaster in the making.