Seattle property management companies often provide the same core services, including leasing, tenant screening, rent collection, maintenance coordination, and financial reporting. However, each company has a different service area, pricing structure, team model, and property focus. This guide compares five established companies serving Seattle and the surrounding region: Lori Gill & Associates, Maple Leaf Property Management, Real Property Associates, SJA Property Management, and The Joseph Group.
Disclosure: SJA Property Management publishes this article and is one of the companies included. To keep the guide balanced, the companies appear in alphabetical order and are not ranked. We reviewed public information from each company’s official website on August 5, 2026. Services, fees, and contract terms can change at any time, so owners should request a current written proposal before choosing a manager.
Seattle Property Management Companies at a Glance
| Company | In business | Property types highlighted | Main geographic focus | Published pricing snapshot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lori Gill & Associates | Since 2001 | Single-family homes and condos | Seattle, Bellevue, Mill Creek, King and Snohomish counties | Cites a typical Seattle range of 8% to 12%; contact for current rates. Tenant placement is typically one month's rent. |
| Maple Leaf Property Management | Since 2010 | Single-family, condos, multiplexes, apartments, some commercial | Seattle and nearby Puget Sound communities | 10% monthly. Leasing is one month's rent, $1,500 minimum. Renewal is 25%, $300 minimum. |
| Real Property Associates | Since 1991 | Single-family, multifamily, office, retail, industrial | Greater Seattle, Bellevue, Everett, Tacoma | Custom quote |
| SJA Property Management | Since 2009 | Single-family, condos, townhomes, small multifamily | Seattle, Bellevue, the Eastside, King and Snohomish counties | 8.9% single-family. Multifamily is 6.9% to 8.9%. Leasing is 60%. Minimums apply. |
| The Joseph Group | Since 2012 | Single-family, townhomes, small multifamily | Seattle, Bellevue, Edmonds, Tacoma, Kitsap, Whidbey | 10% monthly. Leasing is one month's rent. Renewal is 3% of the new lease value. |
Years in business can help show experience, but they should not be the only factor. Owners should also weigh experience with their specific property type, the services included, the communication model, the maintenance process, and total fees.
How We Compared These Companies
We reviewed each company using the same factors: service area and property types, leasing and screening, maintenance and emergency support, owner communication and reporting, published pricing and contract terms, related real estate services, and overall business approach. We did not assign scores or rank the companies, because a single rating hides important differences. One company may assign a dedicated property manager while another divides the work among specialized teams, and a third may combine management with construction or sales. Public reviews can provide context, but they come from owners, residents, applicants, and vendors whose experiences differ widely. For that reason, this guide focuses on details owners can verify through official websites and written proposals.
Lori Gill & Associates
Lori Gill & Associates has specialized in residential property management and leasing across King and Snohomish counties since 2001, according to its website. The firm is led by owner and designated broker Lori Gill, who has worked in the industry for over 30 years, and it maintains offices in Seattle, Bellevue, and Mill Creek.
The company says it specializes strictly in property management and leasing, with services centered on single-family homes and condominiums. Published services include rental pricing and marketing through platforms such as Zillow and the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, tenant screening and lease preparation, rent collection and financial reporting, maintenance coordination with 24/7 emergency support, and semi-annual property visits with photo documentation. The firm also offers relocation support, including a Cartus partnership for people moving to the region. Owners work with a dedicated property manager, a structure that may appeal to those who prefer one main contact.
On pricing, the company's Seattle page cites a typical local range of 8% to 12% for full-service management, depending on the services included, and one month's rent as the typical Seattle tenant-placement fee. It directs owners to contact the company for current rates, so treat those figures as market context rather than a rate card. When requesting a quote, ask which rate applies to your property, what the monthly fee includes, whether renewal or inspection fees apply, and what the cancellation terms are.
Lori Gill & Associates may be relevant to owners of single-family homes or condos who value local offices, a dedicated manager, and a firm focused only on management and leasing.
Maple Leaf Property Management
Maple Leaf Property Management was founded in 2010 and is a locally owned Seattle company. It describes its approach through ideas such as stewardship, neighborliness, and long-term relationships, and its public team page names the individual managers and staff who do the work. Its service area includes Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Bothell, Everett, Lynnwood, Mill Creek, Renton, and other nearby communities.
Maple Leaf manages a broad property mix, including single-family homes, condos, multiplexes, multifamily buildings, apartments, and some commercial properties. Published services include leasing and marketing, rent collection, maintenance coordination with 24/7 emergency support, financial reporting, owner and resident portals, and fair-housing compliance.
Maple Leaf publishes its fees. Its owner FAQ lists a 10% monthly management fee, a leasing fee of one month's gross rent with a $1,500 minimum, a 25% renewal fee with a $300 minimum, a $300 occupied-property administration fee, and a $500 account reserve. The company does not charge a management fee while a property is vacant, because the fee is based on rent collected. Either party may end the management agreement with 30 days' written notice. If the agreement ends during the first three months, Maple Leaf publishes a $1,000 early-termination fee, along with reimbursement of any marketing or leasing expenses it incurred. Owners should ask which services are included in the monthly rate, how often inspections occur, and whether items such as court appearances or renovation oversight are billed separately.
Maple Leaf may be relevant to owners who prefer a relationship-focused local company or need management across a wider range of residential and commercial properties.
Real Property Associates
Real Property Associates, often called RPA, was founded in 1991 by Gordon Stephenson and Jay Young, who still own and operate the company. RPA serves Greater Seattle, Bellevue, Everett, and Tacoma. Its website states that the company manages more than 4,500 residential and commercial units.
RPA manages a broad mix of residential and commercial properties, including single-family homes, condos and townhomes, multifamily buildings, offices, retail, and industrial space, and it describes its niche as small to mid-size owners, with residential buildings up to around 50 units and commercial spaces up to around 5,000 square feet. Published services include marketing across roughly 50 listing sites, tenant screening, rent collection and owner payments, financial reporting, move-in and move-out inspections, lease renewals, and compliance support. A distinctive feature is its in-house maintenance department, which also runs a 24-hour emergency line for residents. An in-house team can simplify scheduling, though owners should still ask how jobs are priced, approved, and documented.
RPA does not publish a standard fee schedule. Owners request a custom quote, and a written proposal should spell out management and leasing fees, renewal and inspection charges, maintenance labor rates, setup costs, and cancellation terms. It is also worth asking who your main contact will be and whether different teams handle residential and commercial properties.
RPA may be relevant to owners who want an established regional company, need commercial management, or value an in-house maintenance operation.
SJA Property Management
SJA Property Management was founded in 2009 and has served the Puget Sound region for more than 17 years. The company states that it was cofounded by two attorneys, and CEO Devin Easterlin previously practiced as a real estate attorney. The company reports more than 1,000 homes and over $500 million in assets under management, with a team of about 40 people. Its service area covers Seattle, Bellevue, the Eastside, and communities across King and Snohomish counties.
SJA focuses on long-term residential rentals, including single-family homes, condos, townhomes, small multifamily buildings, and small to midsize portfolios. It does not position itself as a manager of large commercial or institutional properties. The company uses a team-based structure in which leasing, management, maintenance, accounting, and administrative work are handled by specialized staff. Published services include marketing and in-person showings, tenant screening and lease preparation, rent collection, maintenance coordination with 24/7 emergency response, annual inspections, financial reporting, renewals, and compliance support. SJA also publishes eight written service guarantees covering areas such as communication, cancellation, leasing time, tenant replacement, pet damage, eviction support, and rent deposits. Each guarantee has conditions, so owners should review the full terms.
SJA publishes its pricing. Standard rates are 8.9% of monthly rent for single-family homes with a $235 monthly minimum, 6.9% to 8.9% for multifamily with a $185 per-unit minimum, a leasing and onboarding fee of 60% of one month's rent with a $1,850 minimum, and a 25% renewal fee with a $500 minimum. The full fee schedule is available online. Owners should ask how the minimum affects the effective rate on a lower-rent property and which guarantees apply to their situation.
SJA may be relevant to residential owners who value a team-based structure, in-person leasing, published pricing, and written service commitments.
The Joseph Group
The Joseph Group was founded in 2012 and is based in Edmonds. It serves Seattle and Bellevue along with Edmonds, Tacoma, the Kitsap Peninsula, and Whidbey Island. Its service area extends beyond the central Seattle and Eastside markets and includes several Puget Sound counties.
The Joseph Group combines property management, real estate sales, construction, and maintenance within one organization, so an owner can lease, renovate, or eventually sell through the same team. Management services include rental marketing, tenant screening, rent collection, lease enforcement, maintenance coordination with 24/7 support, inspections, financial reporting, and owner portals. All residential lease agreements include a resident benefits package, with a monthly resident charge that varies by service level and is listed for each property and in the lease. The company also promotes performance guarantees, including a Rent Shield guarantee that promises a tenant within 21 days or the company pays the rent until the home is occupied. As with any guarantee, review the full terms and exclusions.
The Joseph Group publishes its pricing: a 10% monthly management fee on collected rent, a leasing fee of 100% of one month's rent, a lease renewal fee of 3% of the new lease value, and custom packages for multi-property portfolios. Because this renewal fee is based on the total value of the new lease rather than one month's rent, owners should ask the company to show the expected renewal charge in dollars. Owners should also ask which maintenance work is done in-house, how construction projects are priced, and whether the additional real estate services are optional.
The Joseph Group may be relevant to owners who want one integrated team for management, maintenance, construction, and future sales, or whose properties sit outside the core Seattle and Eastside markets.
How to Choose Among Seattle Property Management Companies
The lowest monthly percentage is not always the lowest total cost, and it may reflect a different level of service. These five areas reveal the most.
Match the company to the property
Ask how many similar properties the company currently manages nearby. A single-family home, a downtown condo, a fourplex, and a commercial space each call for different systems, and recent experience with your property type often matters more than a company's total unit count.
Compare the complete fee schedule
Ask every company for the same costs in writing: monthly management and minimums, leasing and renewal fees, setup and inspection charges, maintenance or project-management fees, account reserves, and cancellation costs. Comparing a full year of costs, including one tenant turnover, gives a truer picture than comparing monthly percentages. As the profiles above show, even published fees are structured differently from company to company.
Understand the service model and maintenance process
Some companies assign one main property manager, while others divide responsibilities among specialized teams. Some, including Real Property Associates and The Joseph Group, promote in-house maintenance or construction capabilities, while others mainly coordinate work through outside vendors. Ask who sets the rental price, attends showings, screens applicants, approves repairs, and responds after hours, and what happens when your main contact is unavailable. On maintenance, confirm who performs the work, how repairs are approved, how labor and materials are billed, whether invoices include a markup, when competing bids are requested, and whether completed work is inspected. Clear pricing and oversight matter more than the model itself.
Evaluate Seattle compliance experience
Seattle's rules affect screening, notices, registration, and inspections. Under the city's First-in-Time rule, landlords generally must publish screening criteria, time-stamp applications, process them in order, and offer the rental to the first qualified applicant who submits a complete application. Most Seattle rentals must also be registered through the Rental Registration and Inspection Ordinance program, which includes periodic inspections. Statewide, Washington's rent cap under House Bill 1217 limits most increases after the first 12 months of a covered tenancy to 7% plus inflation or 10%, whichever is less. The Department of Commerce set the 2026 maximum at 9.683%, and the published limit for 2027 is 10%. Exemptions apply, and every manager should also follow the federal Fair Housing Act. Ask each company how it tracks law changes, updates leases and notices, maintains RRIO registration, and decides when legal counsel is needed. Our guides to Seattle's tenant screening requirements and Seattle landlord laws provide more background, and our guide on when a guest becomes a tenant covers one of the most common lease-enforcement questions.
This overview is general information, not legal advice. Rental laws and exemptions can depend on the property and tenancy, so consult an attorney about a specific legal issue.
Review licensing and contract terms
Owners can use the Washington Department of Licensing's license lookup to confirm that a company and its brokers hold active licenses. Before signing, review the initial contract term, automatic-renewal rules, required cancellation notice, early-termination charges, guarantee conditions, insurance requirements, and how leases, deposits, keys, and records transfer. The management agreement controls the legal relationship, not the marketing page.
Questions to Ask Each Company
Using the same questions in every consultation makes the answers easy to compare:
- How many properties like mine do you manage nearby?
- Who will be my main contact, and who covers when they are unavailable?
- Who conducts showings and inspections?
- How do you follow Seattle's First-in-Time requirements?
- How are maintenance requests approved and billed?
- Which fees are not included in the monthly rate?
- How can I cancel the agreement, and what does it cost?
- What conditions apply to any guarantees?
- What services would you recommend for my property, and why?
Which Company May Fit Which Type of Owner?
Based on each company's published materials: Lori Gill & Associates emphasizes dedicated managers, local offices, relocation support, and single-family or condo rentals. Maple Leaf Property Management emphasizes relationships, community, and a broad mix of residential and commercial properties. Real Property Associates emphasizes scale, regional coverage, commercial management, and in-house maintenance. SJA Property Management emphasizes a team-based residential model, in-person leasing, published pricing, and written guarantees. The Joseph Group emphasizes combined property management, maintenance, construction, and real estate sales. These summaries describe how each company presents itself. They are not rankings or endorsements.
Final Considerations
A useful next step is to request proposals from two or three companies that manage your property type and serve your location. Give each company the same information, ask the same questions, and then compare total fees, included services, communication structure, maintenance process, experience with similar properties, and contract terms. The right choice is not always the largest or least expensive company. It is the company whose services, systems, and working style best match the property and the owner's priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Seattle property management company?
No single company is best for every owner. A landlord with one luxury home needs different services than an investor with a multifamily building, and an owner who wants one main contact may prefer a different structure than an owner who wants specialized teams. The right choice depends on property type, location, budget, communication preferences, and desired level of involvement.
How much does Seattle property management cost?
Rates published or cited by the companies in this guide currently fall between 6.9% and 12% of monthly rent, and the exact number varies by company, property type, location, and services included. Each company also structures its fees differently, with different leasing fees, minimums, reserves, and items that are or are not included in the monthly rate, and one company prices only by custom quote. For an accurate comparison, request each company's complete fee schedule in writing rather than comparing headline percentages.
Do all Seattle property management companies manage the same properties?
No. Some focus on single-family homes, condos, and small multifamily buildings, while others also manage apartments, offices, retail, or industrial space. Confirm that a company has recent experience with a property like yours in your area.
What should full-service property management include?
Full-service management generally covers rental pricing and marketing, showings and screening, lease preparation, rent collection, resident communication, maintenance coordination, financial reporting, inspections, renewals, and compliance procedures. The exact scope varies, so compare written service lists rather than assuming every plan includes the same work.
Is an in-house maintenance department better?
Not always. An in-house department can simplify scheduling and create one point of contact, while an outside-vendor model can offer more specialists and competitive bids. What matters most is how repairs are approved, how prices are set, whether invoices are clear, and how completed work is reviewed.
How can I verify a Seattle property manager?
Search the Washington Department of Licensing's license lookup, request the company's license and insurance information, review the complete management agreement, ask for a sample owner statement, and speak with current owner clients. Verify all fees and guarantees in writing before signing.
Published by SJA Property Management, a licensed Washington real estate brokerage, License #91565, offering professional property management across Seattle and the Puget Sound region. Information about other companies comes from their public websites as of August 5, 2026 and is subject to change.
