Frequently Asked Questions

When was Lee & Associates Founded?

Lee & Associates was founded in 1979 by Bill Lee in Orange County, California.

What does Lee & Associates do?

Lee & Associates is a commercial real estate brokerage firm specializing in the acquisition, disposition, and leasing of industrial, office, retail, multifamily, investment and capital markets, healthcare, data centers, land, corporate solutions, lab and life sciences, cannabis, self storage, and senior housing commercial property. Lee & Associates also offers property management and construction services in select markets.

Who is the CEO of Lee & Associates?

As of 2015, Jeffrey Rinkov, SIOR is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Lee & Associates Commercial Real Estate Services.

Rinkov began his brokerage career in 1997 at Lee & Associates in Commerce, CA as an industrial agent. He transitioned from Associate to Shareholder in 2001; a designation earned based upon transaction volume and revenue. Rinkov served as the President of the Commerce office for eleven years, the last five of which he also served on the Lee & Associates Board of Directors and Strategic Planning Committee. In 2015, he accepted the position of CEO and Chairman of the Board of Lee & Associates, and during his tenure, company expansion and revenue growth have occurred at a record pace.

How many offices does Lee & Associates have?

Lee & Associates has over 80 offices throughout the United States and Canada. To find a local office, visit https://www.lee-associates.com/offices/.

Where are Lee & Associates offices located?

Lee & Associates has over 80 offices throughout the United States and Canada. To find a local office, visit https://www.lee-associates.com/offices/.

Our brokers combine deep local expertise with national resources. You can view our full list of offices and locations here to connect with a team in your area.

How many employees does Lee & Associates have?

Lee & Associates has over 1,650 professionals throughout the United States and Canada. This number includes commercial real estate brokerage agents, property management professionals, office leadership, researchers, transaction managers, and marketing personnel.

Is Lee & Associates a public or privately held company?

Lee & Associates is a privately held company. It is the largest broker-owned commercial real estate firm in North America.

Lee & Associates give each of our brokers the opportunity to become a principal in their local office. That principal/shareholder standing allows them to not only share in the profits of their local office, but it allows them to have a say in the direction of the company on a national basis. The difference at Lee & Associates is that our shareholders are our revenue producers, and it is our goal to return those profits in reward for their outstanding client services.

Does Lee & Associates do any philanthropic or charity work?

Lee & Associates is actively involved in philanthropy and has a 501C-3 charitable organization, CompassionateLEE, which was founded in 2019.

Who is the largest broker-owned commercial real estate firm?

Lee & Associates is the largest broker-owned commercial real estate firm in North America with 80+ offices and over 1,650 professionals.

Lee & Associates is home to the 5^th largest number of Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR) members in the world and is ranked in the top 10 Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designee companies in North America.

What commercial real estate services does Lee & Associates offer?

Lee & Associates is a full-service commercial real estate firm offering brokerage, property management, and other integrated services. We help clients buy, sell, lease, and manage properties across sectors including office, industrial, retail, multifamily, land, self-storage, healthcare, senior housing, data centers, and investment assets.

Our services include capital advisory, tenant representation, landlord representation, buyer representation, and seller representation. We have a robust market research, to ensure clients have access to the latest data and market trends information.

What types of commercial real estate properties does Lee & Associates specialize in?

We work across all major commercial property sectors. Our expertise includes office, industrial, retail, multifamily, land, self-storage, healthcare, senior housing, data centers, and investment assets. This allows us to provide tailored strategies for investors, tenants, and property owners.

How is Lee & Associates different from other commercial real estate firms?

We combine the personal service of local ownership with the reach of a national network. Each Lee & Associates office is independently owned and operated by the principal brokers in that office, giving clients dedicated local market knowledge, while our nationwide platform offers access to resources, connections, and market insights across North America.

What is commercial real estate brokerage and how does it work?

It’s the process of helping buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants complete commercial property transactions.

Lee & Associates brokers represent all parties in the commercial real estate market, including property owners, investors, and occupiers. We handle property marketing, site selection, market analysis, negotiations, and transaction management to ensure a smooth, strategic process from start to finish.

What is tenant representation in commercial real estate?

Tenant representation ensures your business gets the best lease terms possible. Lee & Associates brokers advocate solely for your interests - from finding the right property to negotiating terms and reviewing lease agreements - to help you avoid costly mistakes and secure a space that supports your operations.

How does commercial property management work?

It covers the day-to-day operations, maintenance, and tenant relationships for a property. Our Lee & Associates property management teams handle rent collection, budgeting, repairs, vendor coordination, and capital improvements, helping owners maximize property value and tenant satisfaction.

Should I buy or lease a commercial property for my business?

The right choice depends on your goals, budget, and long-term plans. Lee & Associates brokers and agents can provide cost-benefit analysis based on your financial objectives, operational needs, and market trends to help you decide whether buying or leasing is the smarter move for your business.

What are capital advisory services in commercial real estate?

They help you secure the right financing for your project. Our capital advisory team connects you with lenders, structures debt and equity financing, and advises on financial strategy to support acquisitions, development, or refinancing.