I rarely leave negative reviews, but I feel it’s important to share my experience.I applied to lease one of Leo’s listings and promptly submitted everything requested, including my application and supporting documentation. Throughout the process, I was told I had the strongest application and that things looked promising, but I was also repeatedly told I would have an answer “in a day or two.” Those updates never came unless I reached out first.Over the course of more than 10 days, I had to follow up multiple times just to get any information. Each time, I was given another explanation—the owners were reviewing applications, then the wife was out of town, then the owners were traveling, and I was encouraged to “hang tight” because he believed everything would work out. I even received the HOA’s contact information to begin planning logistics for moving my POD, which understandably gave me the impression that approval was likely.What made this especially frustrating was that I was transparent from the beginning that I had another approved rental waiting for my decision, but this home was my first choice. I also explained that school was about to start for my 15-year-old daughter, and I needed to secure housing so I could enroll her. Despite knowing the time-sensitive nature of my situation, I was never proactively updated. Every conversation required me to initiate contact.In the end, after all of the delays and assurances, I was simply told the owners had decided hold off on moving forward.I understand that owners can change their plans, and I don’t fault anyone for that. What I do fault is the lack of transparent, timely communication. Had I been kept informed honestly throughout the process, I could have made other arrangements much sooner instead of being strung along for over a week and a half.Professional communication is one of the most important parts of a real estate transaction, and unfortunately, that was missing here. I hope this feedback encourages better communication with future applicants, especially when people’s housing timelines are involved.

Our experience with Leo Chen regarding a rental property was incredibly disappointing and ultimately cost our family significant time, money, and stress. From our very first conversation, we made it clear that we had a small dog. Leo assured us that this would not be a problem and encouraged us to move forward with the application process. Based on his guidance, we asked our current landlord for an early termination of our lease. Fortunately, our landlord agreed and even began showing our home to prospective replacement tenants. We submitted our application, and Leo informed us that it had been accepted and that the house was ours. We then paid first month’s rent, last month’s rent, the security deposit, and a pet deposit. We also transferred utilities including electric, water, trash, and internet service to the new property and began preparing for the move. Throughout this process, Leo continued to communicate as though the lease signing was simply a formality and that everything was moving forward. However, after several weeks, we noticed that the landlord still had not signed the lease and that the “For Lease” sign remained posted on the property. The day before we were scheduled to receive the keys, we reached out to coordinate key pickup. That was when Leo informed us that the landlord no longer wanted to rent to us because of our dog. This was shocking because we had disclosed our dog from day one and had repeatedly discussed it throughout the process. Leo apologized and returned our deposits, but by that point the damage had already been done. As a result of relying on the information we were given, we had already: * Begun packing our home * Transferred utilities * Changed our address * Scheduled movers, electricians, and cleaners * Made significant plans around a move that we believed was finalized To make matters worse, we noticed the “For Lease” sign was removed almost immediately afterward. Whether this situation was caused by poor communication with the landlord or a failure to properly confirm key details before telling us the home was ours, the result was the same: our family was left scrambling at the last minute after being led to believe for weeks that we had secured the property. Thankfully, our current landlord was willing to let us stay, although at a higher rent than before. Had he not been so accommodating, we could have found ourselves without housing through no fault of our own. Mistakes happen, but this was a major breakdown in communication and professionalism that had real financial consequences for our family. I would strongly encourage future renters to make sure a lease is fully executed by all parties before relying on any assurances that a property is theirs.

I went to Leo’s open house yesterday and was very impressed with the way he handled everything. He welcomed me in a friendly and professional manner. He guided me through the home, pointing out key features and details, and answered all of my questions thoroughly. I also appreciated that he allowed me time to explore the rooms at my own pace. Before leaving, he provided his contact information and offered to follow up if I had more questions. It was also clear that he knows this home inside and out, having also represented the current owners when they purchased it a few years ago. Overall, Leo came across as knowledgeable, approachable, and attentive—qualities I would value in a real estate agent.

I would not recommend hiring this agent to list or represent a buyer. The agent’s conduct at the open house did not reflect the level of professionalism typically expected in such settings. He does not say a simple hello ,no welcome whatsoever. I found the agent’s approach during the open house to be lacking in courtesy and attentiveness. Unfortunately, the experience at the open house was below expectations due to the agent’s demeanor and lack of engagement. There were aspects of the open house that suggested the agent may benefit from further training in client relations and presentation.”

Thank you Leo for your help with buying our home. Your knowledge and expertise made the process smooth and easy to understand for us. It was reassuring to understand what we were signing for and the details and risks of our deal.

Our family recently located back to OC after 10 years living abroad. Leo was knowledgeable with the areas and communities best suited for our needs. He helped us negotiate our agreement and worked diligently. He was always available when we had questions. We really appreciate the how quickly he was able to find us a new home.