*Accelerate Tier

First-Time Landlord Property Management in San Jose, CA

Lease in 21 Days. Management takeover in 48 Hours. Or Get $200 Credit if We Miss.

Plus, save $1,500 average with our $0 tenant-placement fee.

Get My Unit FilledSwitch Current Management

  • Renewals: 98%

  • Occupancy: 99%

  • Average Fill Time: 18 days

  • 5-star Rating

  • 2.9-Year Avg. Stay

  • Owner Replies: ~1-3hrs

  • 24/7 Emergencies

  • 99% Online Rent

  • Licensed CA

  • Fair Housing & Rent Control

This Month's Onboarding Spots

4/5 remaining (onboarding capped monthly for service quality)

Credit-Backed Promise System

Get $200 Credit if We Miss A Promise.

Get paid extra if we ever miss a promise. Highest quality property management for owners in the South Bay.

  • Promise

    Leased in 21 days

    or a $200 credit.

  • Promise

    Management switched in 48hrs

    or a $200 credit.

  • Promise

    Less than 24hr owner & tenant replies

    or a $200 credit - per incident, once per month.

Trusted by Bay Area Owners

We manage 180 units across 21 cities with 45 years combined PM experience and 24/7 emergency response. Licensed in California (DRE 02202568).

Built for Owners Like You

Whether you’re an accidental landlord or scaling multis, we’ll meet you where you are.

  • 1st Time / Accidental Landlord

    Job relocation or inherited home? Turn life’s surprises into steady income.

  • Out-of-Area Owner

    Out of town? Remote-friendly portal, 24/7 emergencies handled.

  • Small Multi Investor (2–16 units)

    Pro screening + coordinated maintenance. Save with more units.

  • Switching Property Management Firm

    Onboard in 48 hours or get a $200 credit (Accelerate).

Three Plans. One Goal: Fewer Vacancies, Fewer Surprises.

Choose Essential, Accelerate (Most Popular), or Prime.

Essential

7.5%/monthly rent

Management features: listing, marketing, leasing, rent collection, compliance, 24/7 emergencies, tenant communications, owner portal, accounting & 1099s,

make-ready, keys/lockbox, evictions, rent increases.

  • Set-up fee: $199
  • Maintenance markup: 10% (min $25, limit $150)
  • Lease Renewal: $299
  • Tenant placement: 50% one month's rent
  • Inspections: $79.99 each (two required annually)
Get Essential Management

Prime

10.5%/monthly rent

Everything in Accelerate plus

  • Tenant placement: up to 2 annually (if needed)
  • $0 lease renewal
  • Bonus move-in video for records
  • 5 years document vault retention
  • Quarterly owner ROI mini-report
Get Prime Management

6-Step Management

One playbook—from listing to renewal.

We use a consistent process across cities to shorten time-to-lease and keep renewals predictable.

Marketing properties for our clients to rent them faster.

1 - Pricing & Prep

MLS + Zillow/HotPads/Trulia + pro copy/photos. 

Close up of us communicating with tenants.

2 - Showings & Screening

Credit, criminal, eviction, income & rental history.

Enforcing lease terms, paperwork close-up.

3- Lease Drafting with e-Sign

State-compliant, executed PDFs.

4- Owner Visibility

Buildium statements, 1099s, document vault retention by plan.

5- Maintenance Engine

Vendor network (38 partners), savings passed on, completion avg 6 days; emergencies 1–4h.

6- Renewals & Inspections

Plan-based renewals ($299 / $199 / $0) and inspections included (0 / 1 / 2).

If it doesn’t rent faster or stay occupied, it doesn’t count.

Portfolio-wide 99% occupancy, average tenant stay of 2.9 years, and 35 tenants placed annually on average. Serving San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Mountain View, Milpitas, Palo Alto, and more.
Residential property management in San Jose, arial view of neighborhood.

  • 99%

    occupancy

    High tenant retention with 99% unit occupancy.

  • 3 years

    average tenant stay

    Our carefully selected tenants stay in our units for an average of 3 years.

  • 35

    Every year, an average of 35 new tenants are placed as we expand our management across the Bay Area.

  • 21 cities

    and counting

    Serving all 16 cities in Santa Clara County and even beyond for special cases.

Owner Portal (included with all tiers)

Statements, work orders, notes, and documents—24/7.

We run Buildium for transparent accounting: view rent status, invoices, and docs; download 1099s; and track inspections & renewals. Owner payments queue on the 10th each month.

Help Me Set It UpRequest Demo

Maintenance Snapshot

24/7 emergency line, vetted vendors, and photo proof.

Average response to maintenance requests is 24 hours; emergencies average 1–4 hours. Vendor network spans 38 active partners, with average 5-year relationships; we pass along ~20% discounts on average.

California Compliance, Baked In

Rent control, Fair Housing, and proper notices—handled.

Licensed in California (DRE #02202568). We operate with Fair Housing and local rent-control compliance, and we coordinate notices and legal process steps as needed.

Real Testimonials In & Near Santa Clara County, CA

What Local Owners & Tenants Say

Feature stories highlighting faster leasing, clear communication, and maintenance responsiveness.

  • “Angel Zapien was truly a real professional from start to finish. I first set up a meeting in person to talk about my expectations regarding a move I wanted to make. I gave all my information and he said he would call me in a couple of weeks. He did just that. He asked had I thought about what I wanted to do regarding my move. I had decided, so we set up a date to start looking for a rental property that would fit my needs. We set up a date and time for me to begin my search. Two weeks later he had four places to look at. The drive was about fifty minutes away. It would take up most of his day. He never complained, and had a great sense of humor. We drove to all four places that he had picked out. I fell in love with the very first property but he insisted I look at the other rentals, before I decided. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Angel listened to my wants. And never pushed me. I felt he wanted me to be happy with my choice. He guided me and had exceptional knowledge about the whole rental experience. Thank you for the opportunity to share with you all about my amazing experience with Angel Zapien.”

    Close up of us communicating with tenants.
    Carmen Boueche
    Happy Teanant
    +0 Stars
Frequently Asked Questions

Quick Answers—and a Deeper Dive

We believe in clear, written policies. Here are your most common questions—answered.

On or about the 10th of each month via the portal.

What you see in the plan is what you pay.

Typical owner reply 1–4 hours; 24/7 emergencies.

Yes—processes are compliant in California.

With full-service property management (Essentials/Accelerate/Prime)

Two safety inspections are required annually for all our management services. Free inspections included by Management-Tier are: Essential: 0/2, Accelerate: 1/2 (save $79.99/yr), Prime: 2/2 (save $159.98/yr).

Without full-service property management (Stand-alone service)

$299 for move-in inspection only, with pictures and documentation provided, which can later be used to redeem security deposit if necessary from unexpected property damage by tenants. Due to some tenants staying for years or sometimes even decades, move-out inspections are not included.

Cannot find your question

 Don't hesitate to call! We're happy to chat. Sun-Sat: 10AM - 8PM, 365

Contact us
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Author: Angel Zapien
Expertise: Certified Property Manager, Realtor
Last Updated: October 17, 2025

First-Time Landlord Property Management in San Jose, CA

Nervous about your first rental? You’re not alone. San Jose is fast, regulated, and high-stakes. We make it simple, safe, and profitable.

Call: (408) 618-1827  |  Email: [email protected]  |  ZapienPropertyTeam.com  |  See our Google Reviews

Why new landlords choose us

  • 180 units managed across 21 cities (as of Oct 2025).
  • 99% occupancy and 2.5 weeks average to fill a vacancy.
  • Owner replies in 1–4 hours. Emergencies: 24/7.
  • Average tenant stay: 2.9 years. Evictions are rare (0.5%).
  • Buildium owner portal for statements, 1099s, and real-time updates.

Made for first-time landlords

We keep everything clear and easy. No jargon. No guesswork. We handle listing, leasing, rent, maintenance, and rules—so you don’t have to.

Upfront Rent Plan

We set price using comps and a days-to-lease window. You see the data. You pick your goal: max price or faster fill.

Screening That Sticks

Full credit, income, rental history, and ID checks. We follow fair-housing rules. Good tenants stay longer.

Move-In Proof

Pro photos and checklists at move-in. Clear records protect your deposit decisions later.

Fast Repairs

32 work orders per month on average. 38 vetted vendors. Typical response in 24 hours.

San Jose rules (simple version)

  • Rent caps on some apartments: Many pre-1979 multi-unit buildings in San Jose have a max 5% rent increase per 12 months under the Apartment Rent Ordinance (ARO). Learn more on the city site: San José Apartment Rent Ordinance.
  • Just-Cause rules: The Tenant Protection Ordinance requires a valid reason to end a tenancy. See: San José Tenant Protection Ordinance.
  • California rent cap: For most multi-unit homes not under local rent control, state law (AB 1482) caps rent increases at 5% + inflation (CPI), max 10% in 12 months. Read a state overview: CA Dept. of Justice: Tenants & Landlords.
  • Rent Registry: Covered San Jose apartments register with the City’s Rent Registry. Help: San José Rent Registry.
  • City program fees: The City charges ARO/TPO admin fees per unit each year. See the current chart: Rent Stabilization Program Fees.
  • Property tax dates (Santa Clara County): Installments are due in November and February; last day to pay without penalty is Dec 10 and Apr 10. Details: County Tax Timeline.

Not sure if your home is covered? We’ll check your property type and year built, and tell you which rules apply.

Local knowledge that protects your rent

San Jose is a patchwork of micro-markets. Tech job cycles, school lines, commute routes, and transit all move demand. Here’s how we adjust strategy by area.

Willow Glen

Tree-lined streets, custom homes, and a lively Lincoln Ave core. Great curb appeal helps. We stage simply, highlight parking, and push for longer leases.

About Willow Glen

Rose Garden

Historic charm near the 5.5-acre Municipal Rose Garden (3,500+ shrubs, 189 varieties). Photos at first bloom drive clicks and higher inquiry rates.

Municipal Rose Garden

Berryessa / North San José

Transit is an edge. The BART station at Berryessa/North San José pulls renters who value easy rides to Diridon and beyond. We feature commute time in ads.

Berryessa/North San José BART

Downtown & Japantown

Close to SJSU, San Pedro Square, and events. We time listings to academic calendars and weekend showings.

Almaden Valley

Single-family homes and outdoor life. Families value school access and storage. We stress yard care standards and appliance packages.

Evergreen & Silver Creek

Newer builds and planned communities. We lean on garage, AC, and smart-home features to win higher rent bands.

Cambrian & West San José

Strong demand for updated kitchens and baths. We cost-out small upgrades that speed leasing and cut vacancy loss.

Plans & pricing

All plans include: listing, leasing, rent collection, compliance, 24/7 emergencies, tenant communications, owner portal, accounting & 1099s, make-ready, utilities, keys/lockbox, eviction admin, and rent increases.

PlanFeeBest forHighlights
Essential7.5% of rent
Setup $199		Budget-focused ownersTenant placement: 50% of 1 month’s rent; renewals $299; inspections required (2/yr) at $79.99 each; +10% maintenance markup (min $25, cap $150).
Accelerate Most Popular8.5% of rent
$0 setup		First-time landlords who want speed and savings$0 tenant placement; $0 maintenance markup; 2 inspections included; renewals $99; pro move-in photos; tax docs; Credit-Backed Promises (below).
Prime10.5% of rent
$0 setup		Premium documentation and reportingUp to 2 placements/yr; 2 inspections included; $0 renewals; pro photos + video; quarterly ROI mini-report.

Multi-Unit Discount: 0.5% off for owners with 2+ units.

Our Credit-Backed Promises (Accelerate & Prime)

  • Lease in 21 Days → $200 credit (once per vacancy cycle)
  • Take Over in 48 Hours → $200 credit
  • Reply within 24 Hours → $200 credit (max 1/property/month)
  • Annual Cap → up to $1,000/property/year

Credits apply to future management fees. Exclusions in agreement (e.g., owner delays, force majeure).

Standalone services (no ongoing management)

  • Tenant Placement: 50–75% of one month’s rent
  • Move-In Safety Inspection: $299.99
  • Maintenance Desk (work orders): $129 per order + 15% vendor invoice (min $49, cap $250)
  • Rent Analysis (same-day): $129.99
  • Listing & Showings: $399 + $75/showing (or $99 hosted open-house)
  • Screening Only: $129.99/applicant
  • Lease Drafting & e-Signing: $899.99
  • Rent-Ready / Make-Ready: $149 setup + 10% vendor invoice (min $25, cap $150)
  • Notice Prep & Delivery: $99
  • Software Setup (Buildium): $299.99
  • Eviction Coordination (pre-attorney): $299 + court/attorney fees

How we keep you compliant (and calm)

  1. Check coverage: We confirm ARO/TPO/AB 1482 status for your unit.
  2. Set legal rent change: We time increases within the allowed window and notice rules.
  3. Register if needed: We help with the City’s rent registry when applicable.
  4. Notices done right: We draft and serve compliant notices. No shortcuts.
  5. Records: Every inspection, invoice, and repair lives in your portal.

Useful links for owners:

What results look like

  • Rent collected: ~$630,000 monthly across the portfolio.
  • Owner retention: 99% stay with us year after year.
  • Online payments: 99% adoption (ACH / debit / credit / checks accepted).

FAQ for first-time landlords

Is my home under rent control?

Many single-family homes are not under San José’s ARO, but state rules may still apply. We check your address, year built, and unit type and then tell you the exact rule set.

How fast can you place a tenant?

Our average is about 2.5 weeks. It varies by price, timing, and condition. Our 21-day placement promise adds peace of mind on Accelerate and Prime.

What are the startup costs?

Essential has a $199 setup and 50% placement fee. Accelerate and Prime have $0 setup and $0 placement (Prime covers up to two placements per year if needed).

How do you handle repairs?

Tenants submit requests online. We triage in hours, dispatch vetted vendors, and share photos and invoices. You approve larger items.

Are you licensed in California?

Yes. Zapien Property Team is licensed (DRE 02202568) and brokered by The Property Network (DRE 01166904). We follow Fair Housing and local rules.

Let’s make your first rental a win

Call or email today. We’ll review your property, rent band, rules, and steps. You’ll get a clear plan in plain English.

Call: (408) 618-1827  |  Email: [email protected]  |  ZapienPropertyTeam.com

Related local resources

Get My Unit FilledSwitch Current Management
*Accelerate Tier
First-Time Landlord Property Management in San Jose, CA

Lease in 21 Days. Management takeover in 48 Hours. Or Get $200 Credit if We Miss.

Plus, save $1,500 average with our $0 tenant-placement fee.

Get My Unit FilledSwitch Current Management

  • Renewals: 98%

  • Occupancy: 99%

  • Average Fill Time: 18 days

  • 5-star Rating

  • 2.9-Year Avg. Stay

  • Owner Replies: ~1-3hrs

  • 24/7 Emergencies

  • 99% Online Rent

  • Licensed CA

  • Fair Housing & Rent Control

This Month's Onboarding Spots

4/5 remaining (onboarding capped monthly for service quality)