**Exhibit 10.20(a)****ZipRealty Inc.****J. PATRICK LASHINSKY EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT**     This Agreement is entered into this 13th day of September, 2007 by and betweenZipRealty Inc. (the “Company”), and J. Patrick Lashinsky (“Executive”).     1. Duties and Scope of Employment.          (a) Title; Board Membership. Effective June 4, 2007 (the “Effective Date”), Executive waspromoted to the position of President and CEO of the Company and in such position reports to theCompany’s Board of Directors (the “Board”). Upon the Effective Date, Executive was also appointedto serve as a member of the Board. So long as Executive remains the President and CEO, the Boardagrees to nominate him as a member of the Board when Executive is up for Board election andExecutive agrees to serve in such capacity without additional compensation.          (b) Position and Duties. As Chief Executive Officer, Executive shall perform the duties,responsibilities and authority customarily associated with such position as the Company’s mostsenior executive officer, including responsibility for the overall management of the Company.Executive agrees to the best of his ability and experience that he will loyally and conscientiouslyperform all of his duties and obligations to the Company. During Executive’s employment, Executivefurther agrees that he (i) will devote substantially all of his business time and attention to thebusiness of the Company; (ii) will not render commercial or professional services of any nature toany person or organization, whether or not for compensation, without the prior written consent ofthe Board which (subject to the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines as referred to below)will not be unreasonably withheld; and (iii) will not directly orindirectly engage or participate in any business or activity that is competitive in any manner withthe business of the Company. Nothing in this Agreement will prevent Executive from: (A) serving onadvisory boards or boards of charitable organizations, so long as such service does not undulyinterfere with the performance of Executive’s duties to the Company; or (B) serving on the board ofdirectors of a private company of which Executive is currently a member of and has disclosedto the Company. Note however that the Company’s Corporate Govemance Guidelines providethat no officer of the Company (including the Chief Executive Officer) will accept or seriouslydiscuss joining the board of any public or private for-profit company without first seeking thepermission of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee of the Company. While Executive isan executive officer and director of the Company, the Company will assist Executive in satisfyinghis reporting obligations under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “ExchangeAct”). The period of Executive’s employment under this Agreement is referred to herein as the“Employment Term.”     2. At-Will Employment. The parties agree that Executive’s employment with the Company will be“at-will” employment and may be terminated at any time with or without cause or notice subject tothe provisions set forth herein. Executive understandsand agrees that neither his job performance nor promotions, commendations, bonuses or the likefrom the Company give rise to or in any way serve as the basis for modification, amendment, orextension, by implication or otherwise, of his employment with the Company. Executive agrees toresign from all positions he
 

 
holds with the Company, including, without limitation, his position asa member of the Board, immediately following the termination of his employment if the Board sorequests.     3. Compensation.          (a) Base Salary. For all services to be rendered by the Executive pursuant to this Agreement,the Company agrees to pay the Executive during the Employment Term a base salary (the “BaseSalary”) at an annual rate of not less than $350,000. The Base Salary shall be paid in accordancewith the Company’s regular payroll practices. The Company may review the Base Salary and make suchincreases therein as the Board may approve.          (b) Bonus Eligibility. During the Employment Term, Executive shall be eligible to participatein the Management Incentive Plan, or such other bonus programs as established by the Committee fromtime to time. For the current fiscal year, Executive shall be eligible to receive a target cashincentive bonus of up to eighty percent (80%) of his Base Salary as set forth in this Agreementsubject to the terms of the 2007 Management Incentive Plan.     4. Employee Benefits. During the Employment Term, the Executive shall be entitled toparticipate in employee benefit plans or programs of the Company, if any, to the extent that hisposition, tenure and other qualifications make him eligible to participate, subject to the rulesand regulations applicable thereto. The Company reserves the right to cancel or change the benefitplans and programs it offers to its employees at any time.     5. Equity Awards.          (a) Stock Option Award. Subject to Executive’s execution of this Agreement, the CompensationCommittee of the Board (the “Committee”) will grant Executive on September 13, 2007, a stock option(the “Option”) to purchase 300,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock with a per shareexercise price equal to the closing price of a share of the Company’s common stock as reportedon the Nasdaq Global Stock Market on September 13, 2007. The Option shares will vest and becomeexercisable at the rate of 25% of the total number of Option shares on the first anniversary of theVesting Commencement Date (which will be June 4, 2007, the Effective Date) and 1/48th ofthe total number of Option shares on the first day of each month thereafter. Vesting will bedependant on Executive’s continued and continuous service relationshipwith the Company. The Option will be subject to the terms of the Stock Option Agreementbetween Executive and the Company. Except in the context of a termination of Executive’s employmentfor Cause, Executive will be able to exercise those Option shares that were vested onExecutive’s last day of service to the Company for 12 months following such last day.          (b) Restricted Share Grant. Subject to Executive’s execution of this Agreement, the Committeewill issue Executive on September 13, 2007, 225,000 shares of the Company’s Restricted Stock(“Restricted Shares”). The Restricted Shares will be subject to vesting and forfeiture in the eventof Executive’s termination of employment or continued service prior to June 4, 2011. Suchforfeiture rights shall lapse at the rate of 28,125 shares every six months, beginning on the datesix months after June 4, 2007 (the “Vesting Commencement Date”) and continuing every six monthsthereafter. Vesting will be dependant on Executive’s continued and continuous service relationship
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with the Company. The Restricted Shares will be subject to the terms of a Restricted StockAward Agreement between Executive and the Company.          (c) Subsequent Equity Awards. Subject to the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directorsand the Committee, Executive may be eligible to receive additional grants of stock options or otherequity awards from time to time in the future, on such terms and conditions as the Board orCommittee shall determine as of the date of any such award.     6. Severance.          (a) Involuntary Termination Not for Cause or Resignation for Good Reason. If Executive’semployment with the Company terminates other than for “Cause” (as defined herein) or Executiveresigns for “Good Reason” as that term is defined herein, and Executive signs and does not revokethe Company’s severance and release agreement, then Executive shall be entitled to receivecontinuing payments of severance pay (less applicable withholding taxes) at a rate equal to hisBase Salary rate, as then in effect, for a period of six (6) months from the date of suchtermination, to be paid in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll policies.          (b) Voluntary Termination; Termination for Cause. If Executive’s employment with the Companyterminates voluntarily by Executive without Good Reason or for Cause by the Company, then (i) allvesting of any options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock shall terminate immediatelyand all payments of compensation by the Company to Executive hereunder will terminate immediately(except as to amounts already earned), and (ii) Executive will only be eligible for severancebenefits in accordance with the Company’s established policies as then in effect.          (c) Cause. For all purposes under this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean (i) willful failure bythe Executive to substantially perform his duties hereunder (other than a failure resulting fromthe Executive’s complete or partial incapacity due to physical or mental illness or impairment)after receipt of a written warning and failure to cure anysuch non-performance within ten (10) business days of receipt of such warning (ii) a willfulact by the Executive which constitutes gross misconduct and which is injurious to the Company,(iii) a willful breach by the Executive of a material provision of this Agreement, or (iv) amaterial and willful violation of a federal or state law or regulation applicable to the businessof the Company. No act, or failure to act, by the Executive shall be considered “willful” unlesscommitted without good faith without a reasonable belief that the actor omission wasin the Company’s best interest. No compensation or benefits will be paid or provided to theExecutive under this Agreement on account of a termination for Cause, or for periods following thedate when such a termination of employment is effective. The Executive’s rights under the benefitplans of the Company shall be determined under the provisions of those plans.          (d) Good Reason. For all purposes under this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean without theExecutive’s express written consent (i) a significant reduction of the Executive’s duties, positionor responsibilities; (ii) a significant reduction by the Company in the Base Salary of theExecutive as in effect immediately prior to such reduction; (iii) a material reduction by theCompany in the kind or level of employee benefits to which the Executive is entitled immediatelyprior to such reduction with the result that the Executive’s overall benefits package issignificantly
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reduced; (iv) the relocation of the Executive to a facility or a location more than50 miles from the Executive’s then present location; (v) a substantial reduction, without goodbusiness reasons, of the facilities and perquisites (including office space and location) availableto the Executive immediately prior to such reduction; (vi) any material breach of this Agreement bythe Company; or (vii) any failure or refusal of a successor company to assume the Company’sobligations under this Agreement.     7. Right to Advice of Counsel. The Executive acknowledges that he has consulted with counseland is fully aware of his rights and obligations under this Agreement.     8. Successors. The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, bypurchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/orassets of the Company to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same mannerand to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such successionhad taken place. Failure of the Company to obtain such assumption agreement prior to theeffectiveness of any such succession shall entitle the Executive to the benefits described inparagraph 6 of this Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions therein.     9. Assignment. This Agreement and all rights under this Agreement shall be binding upon andinure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective personal orlegal representatives, executors, administrators, heirs, distributees, devisees, legatees,successors and assigns. This Agreement is personal in nature, and neither of the parties to thisAgreement shall, without the written consent of the other, assign or transfer this Agreement or anyright or obligation under this Agreement to any other person or entity; except that the Company mayassign this Agreement to any of its affiliates or wholly-owned subsidiaries, provided, that suchassignment will not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder. If the Executive should diewhile any amounts are still payable to the Executive hereunder, all such amounts, unless otherwise providedherein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the Executive’s devisee,legatee, or other designee or, if there be no such designee, to the Executive’s estate.     10. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications called for hereundershall be in writing and shall be deemed given (i) on the date of delivery, or, if earlier, (ii) one(1) day after being sent by a well-established commercial overnight service, or (iii) three (3)days after being mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, prepaid andaddressed to the parties or their successors at the following addresses, or at suchother addresses as the parties may later designate in writing:     If to the Executive: J. Patrick Lashinsky, at the Company while Executive remainsan employee of the Company, with a copy the last known residential address on record for Executive
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        If to the Company: Zip Realty Inc.  2000 Powell St., Suite 300  Emeryville, CA  94608or to such other address or the attention of such other person as the recipient party haspreviously furnished to the other party in writing in accordance with this paragraph.     11. Waiver. Failure or delay on the part of either party hereto to enforce any right, power,or privilege hereunder shall not be deemed to constitute a waiver thereof. Additionally, a waiverby either party or a breach of any promise hereof by the other party shall not operate as or beconstrued to constitute a waiver of any subsequent waiver by such other party.     12. Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted insuch manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of thisAgreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable lawor rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect anyother provision or any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement will be reformed, construed andenforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal orunenforceable provision had never been contained herein.     13. Arbitration.          (a) Arbitration. In consideration of Executive’s employment with the “Company”, its promise toarbitrate all employment-related disputes and Executive’s receipt of the compensation, pay raisesand other benefits paid to Executive by the Company, at present and in the future, Executive agreesthat any and all controversies, claims, or disputes with anyone (including the Company and anyemployee, officer, director, shareholder or benefit plan of the Company in their capacity as suchor otherwise) arising out of, relating to, or resulting from Executive’s employment with theCompany or the termination of Executive’s employment with theCompany, including any breach of this agreement, shall be subject to binding arbitration under the arbitration rulesset forth in California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1280 through 1294.2, including Section1283.05 (the “Rules”) and pursuant to California law. Disputes which Executive agrees to arbitrate,and thereby agrees to waive any right to a trial by jury, include any statutory claims under Stateor Federal law, including, but not limited to, claims under Title VII ofthe Civil Rights Act of1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of1967, the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, theCalifornia Labor Code, claims of harassment, discrimination or wrongful termination and anystatutory claims. Executive further understands that this agreement to arbitrate also applies toany disputes that the Company may have with Executive.          (b) Procedure. Executive agrees that any arbitration will be administered by the AmericanArbitration Association (“AAA”) and that a neutral arbitrator will be selected in a mannerconsistent with its national rules for the resolution of employment disputes. The arbitrationproceedings will allow for discovery according to the rules set forth in the *National Rules for theResolution of Employment Disputes.*Executive agrees that the arbitrator shall have the power to
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decide any motions brought by any party to the arbitration, including motions for summary judgmentand/or adjudication and motions to dismiss and demurrers, prior to any arbitration hearing.Executive agrees that the arbitrator shall issue a written decision on the merits. Executive alsoagrees that the arbitrator shall have the power to award any remedies, including attorneys’ feesand costs, available under applicable law. Executive understands the Company will pay for anyadministrative or hearing fees charged by the arbitrator or AAA except that Executive shall pay thefirst $125.00 of any filing fees associated with any arbitration Executive initiates. Executiveagrees that the arbitrator shall administer and conduct any arbitration in a manner consistent withthe rules and that to the extent that the AAA’s National Rules for the Resolution of EmploymentDisputes conflict with the rules, the rules shall take precedence.          (c) Remedy. Except as provided by the rules, arbitration shall be the sole, exclusive andfinal remedy for any dispute between Executive and the Company. Accordingly, except asprovided for by the rules, neither Executive nor the Company will be permitted to pursue courtaction regarding claims that are subject to arbitration. Notwithstanding, the arbitrator will nothave the authority to disregard or refuse to enforce any lawful Company policy, and the arbitratorshall not order or require the Company to adopt a policy not otherwise required by law which the Company has not adopted.          (d) Availability of injunctive relief. In accordance with Rule 1281.8 of the California Codeof Civil Procedure, Executive agrees that any party may also petition the court for injunctiverelief where either party alleges or claims a violation of the employment, confidentialinformation, invention assignment agreement between Executive and the Company or any otheragreement regarding trade secrets, confidential information, nonsolicitation or Labor Code §2870.In the event either party seeks injunctive relief, the prevailing party shall be entitled torecover reasonable costs and attorneys fees.          (e) Administrative relief. Executive understands that this agreement does not prohibitExecutive from pursuing an administrative claim with a local, state or federal administrative bodysuch as the department of fair employment and housing, the equal employment opportunity commissionor the workers’ compensation board. lbis agreement does, however, preclude Executive from pursuingcourt action regarding any such claim.          (f) Voluntary Nature of Agreement. Executive acknowledges and agrees that Executive isexecuting this agreement voluntarily and without any duress or undue influence by the Company oranyone else. Executive further acknowledges and agrees that Executive has carefully read thisagreement and that Executive has asked any questions needed for Executive to understand the terms,consequences and binding effect of this agreement and fully understand it, including that Executiveis waiving Executive’s right to a jury trial. Finally, Executive agrees that he/she has beenprovided an opportunity to seek the advice of an attorney before signing this agreement.     14. Integration. This Agreement, together with the 2004 Plan, the Executive’s Stock OptionAgreement, Executive’s Restricted Stock Award Agreement and the Zip Realty Employee ProprietaryInformation Agreement represents the entire agreement and understanding between the parties as tothe subject matter herein and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous agreements whether written ororal. No waiver, alteration, or modification of any of the provisions of this Agreement will bebinding unless in writing and signed by the Company.
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     15. Headings. The headings of the paragraphs contained in this Agreement are for referencepurposes only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision ofthis Agreement.     16. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with theinternal substantive laws, and not the choice of law rules, of the State of California. Executivehereby consents to the exclusive personal jurisdiction and venue of the courts of the federal andstate courts in the State of California.     17. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, none of whichneed contain the signature of more than one party hereto, and each ofwhich shall be deemed to be an original, and all of which together shall constitute a singleagreement.     18. Tax Withholding. All payments made pursuant to this Agreement will be subject towithholding of applicable taxes.     19. Acknowledgment. Executive acknowledges that he has had the opportunity to discuss thismatter with and obtain advice from his private attorney, has had sufficient time to, and hascarefully read and fully understands all the provisions of this Agreement, and is knowingly andvoluntarily entering into this Agreement.
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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this Agreement, in            thecase of the Company by their duly authorized officers, as of the day and year first above written.           COMPANY:             ZipRealty Inc.                        By: /s/ Donald Wood   Date: 9/13/07                        Title: Chairman of Board, Zip Realty                                         EXECUTIVE:             /s/ J. Patrick Lashinsky   Date: 9/13/07           J. Patrick Lashinsky        
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