Essex Property Trust, Inc. operates as a real estate investment trust. The company is headquartered in San Mateo, California and currently employs 1,750 full-time employees. The firm is engaged primarily in the ownership, operation, management, acquisition, development and redevelopment of predominantly apartment communities, located along the West Coast of the United States. The firm operates through three segments: California, Northern California and Seattle Metro. The firm owns approximately interests in 256 operating apartment communities, aggregating 63,480 apartment homes. The firm owns all of its interest in its real estate and other investments directly or indirectly through Essex Portfolio, L.P. The firm invests primarily in apartment communities that are located in predominantly coastal markets within Southern California, Northern California, and the Seattle metropolitan area. The firm focuses on acquiring and developing apartment communities in supply constrained markets and redeveloping its existing communities.