# Essex Property Trust

Essex Property Trust is an other based in San Mateo, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** other
- **Headquarters:** San Mateo, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** San Mateo, CA, United States
- **Founded:** 1971
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** essexpropertytrust.com
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/essex-property-trust

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

Essex Property Trust was founded in 1971 as a real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on acquiring and developing apartment communities in select West Coast markets. Michael Schall has served as CEO since 2006, leading a firm that operates as a public company listed on the NYSE under the ticker ESS. The wealth allocated by the firm is sourced from public equity and institutional investors, not a single family. The strategy centers on owning, developing, and managing multifamily properties primarily in supply-constrained coastal markets. Asset classes include stabilized apartment communities, value-add redevelopments, and ground-up development projects. The firm's geographic footprint spans California and Washington, with particular concentration in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles County, San Diego, and Seattle. Essex typically targets mid-to high-end rental housing and has a track record of executing joint ventures with institutional partners. As of early 2025, Essex Property Trust's portfolio comprised over 60,000 apartment units across roughly 250 properties. The firm employs approximately 3,000 people and maintains additional offices in Boston, Miami Beach, and Park City. Essex also maintains a wholly-owned property management subsidiary that handles day-to-day operations for its portfolio. Essex Property Trust's structural differentiator is its focused West Coast multifamily strategy. Unlike many REITs that diversify across property types or regions, Essex concentrates exclusively on apartment communities in high-barrier-to-entry West Coast markets. This narrow mandate gives it deep local expertise and relationships in development and acquisition, but also exposes it to geographic concentration risk and regulatory headwinds.

## Sectors

- Real Estate
- Infrastructure

## Offices

- Boston, MA, United States
- Miami Beach, FL, United States
- Park City, UT, United States

## People

- Michael J. Schall — CEO
- John W. Burkart — COO
- Angela L. Kleiman — CFO

## Questions

### How does Essex Property Trust generate investment returns?

Essex generates returns primarily through rental income from its owned apartment communities and through capital appreciation from property values. The firm also engages in development and redevelopment projects to add value to its portfolio. As a REIT, it is required to distribute at least 90% of taxable income to shareholders as dividends.

### What geographic markets does Essex Property Trust focus on?

Essex concentrates its portfolio on supply-constrained coastal markets in California and Washington. Key submarkets include the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles County, San Diego, Orange County, and the Seattle metropolitan area. The firm avoids other US regions, maintaining a narrow geographical focus.

### Who leads investment decisions at Essex Property Trust?

CEO Michael Schall, who has led the firm since 2006, oversees overall strategy. CFO Angela Kleiman handles financial planning, and COO John Burkart manages operations. Investment decisions are made by the executive team and the firm's board, subject to standard public company governance.

## Related profiles

- [Newmark](https://altss.com/profile/newmark)
- [SilverEdge Government Solutions](https://altss.com/profile/silveredge-government-solutions)

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

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