The Lease-Up

Campuses and student housing are no longer just a place to sleep for students, but rather the space that promotes connection and supports overall mental health. Whether it's through fostering a sense of inclusivity, offering tailored amenities, or design, student communities are now embracing a more wellness-centric approach by integrating certain amenities and decisions that help them connect, study and feel better.As we acknowledge Mental Health Awareness Month, I interviewed Beryl DePalma Alder, AIA associate and senior project designer at Moody Nolan, about what it means to design student housing projects with wellness in mind. Since well-being is not limited only to amenities and green spaces, Alder shared some insights on integrating natural light, biophilic design, adaptable layouts and certain colors into communities to foster connection and support students' mental health.Even the smallest architectural or design decisions can make or break an environment. If done right, thoughtful design creates a sense of belonging and reduces stress. “Design is preventive care,” believes Alder and it can help reduce burdens by incorporating wellness into the daily lives of students.Here's what we talked about:What is purposeful design? (1:45)Elements that can make or break thoughtful design (03:20)A closer look at Moody Nolan's work (07:02)How can wellness-focused design make a difference? (10:42)What's in and what's out for thoughtful design (13:30)Incorporating nature and flexibility into student housing (15:12)Amenities that shine (18:10)More listening, less designing (22:23)

In this episode, NAA Vice President of Meetings and Expositions Elizabeth Ambacher joins MHN's Denile Doyle to preview Apartmentalize 2025, which kicks off on June 11 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.From smart networking tips to can't-miss programming to strategies for navigating a conference of this scale, this episode is your guide to planning your experience and getting more out of Apartmentalize, whether it's your first time or you're a regular attendee.Here are a few highlights from this episode:• What Apartmentalize is all about and its purpose (2:08)• Navigating the conference as a first-time attendee (3:26)• How to break out of your bubble and network with intention (7:25)• Creative session formats that go beyond the standard panel (12:05)• The professional impact of Apartmentalize on attendees (14:47)

Back in the '90s, Jessica Melendez was studying finance at the University of Miami. At one point, she decided to take an art class, which immediately sparked an interest in real estate.“What really motivated me is not seeing many women in the development world at that time,” Melendez said in the May episode of the Mission Success: Women in Multifamily podcast series.  Today, she is the senior vice president of development at Related Group, a company with a 40-year track record. It was founded by Jorge Perez, often dubbed “the condo king of South Florida.”Tune in for a conversation about leveraging relationships and pushing deals forward in one of the hottest multifamily markets in the country.

Although it recently showed some cooling off and is influenced by the volatile economic environment, student housing remains a hotspot for investors. Tier 1 institutions have kept their strong fundamentals, including high preleasing rates, despite an overall decrease in rent growth. Several headwinds, such as construction slowdown and affordability, still pose challenges in the sector, but student housing remains high on investor appetite and has shown resilience in the face of broader multifamily volatility.In this episode of Student Housing Unlocked, Coastal Ridge's Co-Founder and & Co-CEO Patrick McBride joins me as we discuss the company's history from a localized business to a national-scale company that is now present in over 50 markets, mostly focused on institutions in high-growth markets. Investment success largely hinges on experience, which can significantly influence your overall strategy. McBride offers an overall look at investors' appetite in today's climate and shares the lessons that helped him scale the business, along with early-stage risks and affordability pressures. How did three college roommates go from investing in a single student asset to an almost $5.1 billion platform? McBride explains.Here's what we touched on:From college roommates to business partners (01:41)No shortage of early challenges in student housing (03:52)Mitigating risks and redefining investment strategies (05:48)Tier 1 markets remain the main hotspot (06:41)Is the student housing market cooling? (08:31)Where can you find opportunities in the sector? (09:54)How's investor appetite in student housing? (11:03)A value-add strategy is the go-to (12:00)Coastal Ridge's management approach to resident retention and satisfaction (14:11)Affordability remains one of the top concerns (16:45)

What does it take to build a purpose-driven, lasting career inmultifamily? In this episode, John Carlson, CEO of Mark-Taylor Cos., joins MHN's Denile Doyle to discuss what inspires someone to stay and grow in multifamily property management over the long term.Carlson's journey—from resident to CEO—is rooted in what he calls a “growth mindset.” He shares how a supportive company culture and leaders who invest in their teams are essential for long-term success. It all begins with onboarding, he says, which presents the first opportunity to create an environment that supports growth.Here are a few highlights from this episode: How onboarding sets the stage for long-term career growth (6:53)The value of both accidental and intentional mentorship—and why expanding your network matters (11:40)The role leaders play in accelerating employee growth and nurturing potential (16:44)Why explaining the “why” and “how” is critical to developing a strong, engaged workforce (18:24)Carlson's leadership philosophy and how it can elevate an entire organization (21:41)

Carly Stevenson started her 20-year real estate career as a leasing consultant and climbed the ranks organically to her current role: executive vice president of property management with Avanath Capital Management. While she admits that affordable and workforce housing property management is a tough business—particularly in the current economic environment—her conviction for her mission is unwavering."There's something about equating the homes to souls that just does it for me, where it helps me center and understand how sacred it is to do what we do on a daily basis," she told MHN's Laura Calugar in this month's Mission Success: Women in Multifamily podcast episode. Press play to hear the entire episode!

Welcome back, or welcome to, Top Marketers, a Multi-Housing News production with Senior Associate Editor, Jordana Rothberg.Breaking into any new career path or industry is a daunting task. But with the advice of a veteran, that move can be a bit easier. That's why for this month's episode I spoke with Amanda Parker-Wolery, vice president of marketing, Organized Living, about her transition into marketing and how she views the industry now. Parker-Wolery has an expertise in strategic marketing, project management and team leadership. She has been with Organized Living since 2021 but was previously in academia. Tune in to listen to her transition into marketing, what it's like to market in a multifamily-adjacent space, and her advice to people in roles similar to her own. Follow along as we discuss:·        How Parker-Wolery got into marketing and her role as a creative problem solver (0:50)·        The transition from higher education to marketing (3:30)·        Parker-Wolery's advice for anyone looking to get into marketing (5:15)·        Why marketing is such an exciting field right now (7:00)·        The results from leaning into AI (9:50)·        What it's like to market in a multifamily adjacentspace (11:00)·        Parker-Wolery's advice on marketing to both owner/developers and residents from a manufacturing perspective (13:45)·        Listening to pain points, asking questions and adapting (16:00)·        Challenges that Parker-Wolery has faced in hermmarketing career and the lessons learned (18:45)

In this episode, Laura Khouri, president of Western National Property Management, joins MHN's Denile Doyle to share her perspective on creating value and impact on the people side of property management. At Western, Khouri oversees a portfolio of more than 170 communities. As someone who started out as a “gopher” and worked her way up to president of the company in 2010, she has amassed a wealth of knowledge and insights into people. She credits a 10-year stint in human resources for helping her to discover her passion for guiding people to the right decisions. Khouri discusses her people-first philosophy and how she transformed her company's approach to leadership. From site visits to making thoughtful operational decisions that impact associates, and oftentimes residents, she offers her strategies for leadership that makes a difference. Here are a few highlights from this episode:How Khouri created cohesion across her company, from the corporate level to the site level (3:50)The impact of using mystery shopping not only as a teaching tool but also a recognition tool (12:28)The biggest mistake she sees owners making during downturns (17:53)Her objective during official and unofficial site visits (20:21)Her advice for leaders on how to make the most impact on their teams (27:39)

March is National Women's History Month, a period reserved for the celebration of women's achievements. And while it's true that we at Multi-Housing News do that every month on the Mission Success: Women in Multifamily podcast, it still feels special to be able to share the voice of strong women who have left their mark in the multifamily industry.My guest is an experienced architecture and urban design specialist and a life-long resident of Los Angeles, an area that was recently devastated by the most destructive wildfires in California's history. Alexandria Hoevel is multifamily studio leader & vice president of Corgan's Los Angeles office, and she agreed to share her thoughts about what her hometown has been through.

Multifamily housing is dependent upon so many factors: economics, government, policy, locations, demographics, etc. To create successful multifamily brand or campaign, a marketer needs to understand all of these things, and so much more. So, who better to discuss the dynamics behind the role than someone with a background in communications, marketing, government and multifamily? In this episode of Multi-Housing News' Top Marketers podcast, Eric Bederman, the vice president & director of communications at Community Preservation Corp., joins MHN Senior Associate Editor Jordana Rothberg to look at the industry at large.In his current role, Bederman oversees marketing and communications efforts to promote CPC's nonprofit mission and its lending and investing platforms, as well as positioning CPC as a thought leader in the multifamily housing industry. Prior to joining CPC in 2015, Bederman served as the press secretary for the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development for six years, spanning both the Bloomberg and de Blasio administrations, and has held other positions as a marketer and communications professional over the course of his career.Tune in to hear the two go over:·       How Bederman got to his current role and the factors that made the difference (1:20)·       Similarities and differences between working for a city agency and a nonprofit (6:40)·       Bederman's favorite marketing resources at CPC (9:15)·       The importance of thought leadership (11:05)·       How to stretch marketing dollars with a limited budget (13:10) ·       Campaigns that make Bederman proud and the communication strategies behind them (15:20)  ·       What's changed in marketing and real estate and where the industry is going now (21:40)

In this episode, MHN's Denile Doyle chats with Avery Rouse, a regional maintenance director at The Breeden Co. and recipient of the Rising Star Award at our 2024 MHN Excellence Awards. We look at the challenges and best practices behind managing maintenance teams at multifamily properties.Rouse discusses how maintenance leaders can eliminate inefficiencies and how training staff well can help minimize costs and improve resident satisfaction. He shares his practical strategies for keeping costs down and maximizing the quality of service.

In today's complex environment that makes it hard to secure favorable financing terms, The Clear Blue Co.—a developer and owner-operator of workforce and affordable multifamily properties based in Nashville, Tenn.—has found a way to make its projects pencil out. The company does acquisitions and rehabilitations by leaning in on its relationship with long-term partners.“We've been creative and changed our acquisition strategy a little bit as a result of acquisition-rehab and preservation really becoming more complicated,” said Ashley Stockton-Massie, the firm's recently appointed director of affordable acquisitions and development, in the February episode of the Mission Success: Women in Multifamily podcast series.Press PLAY to hear the entire conversation!

Returning to Multi-Housing News' quarterly podcast with the National Multifamily Housing Council for the third time, President Sharon Wilson Géno is looking to 2025 with “consistent caution,” as well as high enthusiasm. There are a lot of policies and initiatives that she is campaigning for, as well as some notable potential changes to keep an eye on.   Wilson Géno holds more than 30 years of experience in the housing industry. Having served counsel both in-house and outside for various organizations, she is well versed in housing law and policy, government and non-government contracts, nonprofit organizations, legislation and policy around affordable housing and more.  In this episode, Wilson Géno and Multi-Housing News Senior Associate Editor Jordana Rothberg discuss what a new administration could mean for multifamily, how sentiment has changed since last year and some ways the industry might trend in 2025.   Listen in as the two talk about:·        The sentiment around multifamily as expressed in NMHC's annual meeting (1:00)·        If multifamily still real estate's “darling child” (2:30)·        Scott Turner's confirmation and the impacts he might have (4:20)·        The Bipartisan Real Estate Caucus and how it can shape national housing (5:50)·        Policies that Wilson Géno has her eye on for 2025 on the national, state and local level (7:45)·        What multifamily and individuals can to do advocate for more housing (11:45)·        NMHC's focus for the year ahead (14:10)·        How the Fed will impact multifamily in 2025 (16:00)·        Multifamily transaction and deal volume trends (17:20)·        NMHC's quarterly survey of apartment conditions results and what they reflect (19:15)·        Why advocacy matters (22:45) Recorded February 5, 2024

With GDP growth in 2024 averaging 2.5 percent, the American economy is in good shape at the beginning of this year. The labor market remains strong, wage growth is elevated and nobody is forecasting a recession. However, stringent immigration policies from the current White House administration could pose risks.Paula Munger, vice president of research at the National Apartment Association, talks to Multi-Housing News Senior Editor Laura Calugar in the latestNAA Insights podcast.

Rising construction costs and economic volatility bring setbacks in the student housing landscape, although developers and investors are turning to in-house construction teams or more capital-light options. Yet, with so many opportunities in the sector, some are turning to data-driven insights to choose the best sites and ensure higher ROI as well as operational efficiency. That's also the case with Subtext, which is active in 15 markets across the U.S. and relies on its in-house data team for better market selection and to ensure higher occupancy rates. With a portfolio of over 19 communities and 10,000 beds, the company focuses on major institutions and a hospitality-centric, experience-based approach in its projects, thus guaranteeing resident satisfaction. In this podcast episode of Student Housing Unlocked, Associate Editor Olivia Bunescu discusses what it takes to have success in the student housing sector in this era of data and how the company is leveraging it to overcome challenges and deliver high-quality communities that students want to live in with Subtext's Founding Partner & Co-CEO Brandt Stiles. Here's what they discussed about: What's defining student housing today? (01:45) Data points that matter when it comes to development (04:05) Affordability is the number one challenge in student housing (06:33) Taking as much information as you can is key to success (09:12) How can data influence the outcome of a project (13:35) Addressing underutilized space in student housing (15:30) Occupancy growth goes hand in hand with reputation (18:25) Strategies that contribute to residents' satisfaction: going back to basics (20:10) Experience-based design and hospitality as amenities (23:18) Subtext's flagship projects across the country and next moves (28:30) How will student housing development perform in 2025? (36:30)

When it comes to firms that design for multifamily, there are two sides to marketing. First, the company must create its own brand and promotional material. Then it assists in marketing for the client that it serves. In this month's episode of Multi-Housing News's Top Marketers podcast, Chief Visionary Officer & Founder of Loft Six Four, Brandon Reed, joins MHN Senior Associate Editor Jordana Rothberg to talk about just that. Loft Six Four assists architects and developers in creating rooftop and outdoor living experiences and amenity spaces. Started in 2013, the company uses landscape, urban and rooftop design to customize multifamily, hotel and resort projects. Reed has been in the project management and design space for real estate for more than 20 years. Tune in to hear his insights on: ·      How he got into design and founded Loft Six Four (1:00) ·      Finding passion and value in landscape design (3:45) ·      The Loft Six Four marketing approach (5:00) ·      The “immersive experience method” and how it drives business (9:55) ·      Collaborating with multifamily companies' internal marketing teams (15:10) ·      Hurdles in communicating value to multifamily owners and developers (16:30) ·      The evolving space of outdoor living and adapting marketing to keep up (20:35) ·      How Loft Six Four is leveraging the importance of amenities in its branding (24:00)

For property managers, understanding what today's renters really value is essential to staying competitive. In this episode, Denile Doyle speaks with Jeff Bush, president of Heritage Properties, about the shifting priorities of renters and why understanding resident perception is key to retaining current renters and attracting prospects. Bush shares how remote work, rising costs and evolving generational preferences are reshaping housing decisions. He emphasizes that in a market full of options, it's important to create an experience that residents don't want to leave—one that goes beyond the basics and delivers real value. Here are a few highlights from this episode: -Understanding renter perceptions of luxury and value (4:45) -His approach to finding the sweet spot between technology and operational efficiency (8:49) -Why he thinks cost will always be a factor for many renters (17:24) -What multifamily operators can learn from the hospitality industry (22:05) -How picking up a piece of trash taught him an important lesson (28:04)

Launched in 1990, BREEAM is the world's first green building rating system. The science-driven methodology made it onto U.S. territory in 2016 and four years later, the residential standard was launched. Nearly 100 multifamily assets were certified over the past two years alone, and the person who has been instrumental in propelling sustainable advancements and promoting BREEAM standards across the country is Breana Wheeler. As the U.S. operations director of Building Research Establishment U.S., Wheeler organizes and oversees the strategic direction of the business, including the development and maintenance of the BREEAM USA technical standards. This month, the Mission Success: Women in Multifamily podcast series turns four years old. Since 2021, you've been hearing amazing success stories each month, with tens of female leaders sharing details about how they left their mark in the multifamily industry. Tune in again for yet another vivid discussion!

Multifamily marketing is a niche of its own. But when you break it down, the processes between unique property types within multifamily can also look vastly different. Mary Herrold, vice president of marketing with the Evergreen Real Estate Group, knows exactly how to keep her marketing strategies tailored and specific. In this month's episode of Multi-Housing News's Top Marketers podcast, Herrold joins MHN Senior Associate Editor Jordana Rothberg to talk about the different resources, audiences and modes of communication she deploys when marketing for affordable versus market rate communities. In her role, Herrold leads Evergreen's marketing efforts including property management, acquisitions, construction and development. Her key responsibilities include brand development and promotion, culture and organizational success and Evergreen's portfolio of more than 13,500 units. In her career, Herrold has gained more than 20 years of experience working across various property and marketing technologies as well as asset classes and national markets. Listen in as the conversation covers: ·        Herrold's path to Evergreen and the people that led her there (1:30) ·        How marketing for affordable versus market rate multifamily developments looks different (4:00) ·        Managing specific budgets between different multifamily property types (5:50) ·        Market rate and affordable audiences, how to cater to each and a meaningful example of something that worked (7:00) ·        Differing modes of communication (10:15) ·        Herrold's top marketing resources (13:00) ·        The importance of referrals and tracking the data behind them (13:50) ·        Reputation's role in marketing (15:30) ·        A serious challenge Herrold has set out to solve to make affordable leasing easier (18:35) ·        The upcoming projects that Herrold is looking forward to (21:10)

Katy Slade's first job was in Washington, D.C., for a company that did a lot of retail and mixed-use development, which fit perfectly into her passion for community building and figuring out what makes people come together in cities. Later, after going back to her hometown Dallas and working for a few years at Gables Residential, she decided to start her own company together with a business partner. Mintwood Real Estate came to life in 2018 and, since then, has been focusing on mixed-use and mixed-income developments. Tune in to hear all about her work philosphy!

As branding becomes a defining factor for resident satisfaction and retention, property managers must align their operations to deliver on brand promises consistently. In this episode, Denile Doyle speaks with RKW Residential's Joya Pavesi, president of brand & strategic services, and Kevin Owens, president of property management, about how branding and operations intersect to shape resident experiences and build long-term value. “Operations are where the brand truly comes to life,” says Owens. The executives share strategies for creating consistent, cohesive branding from development through move-out. Here are a few highlights from this episode: – How branding is about creating a feeling, not just a look (6:12) – Why operational consistency is key to delivering on branding promises (10:45) – The importance of early collaboration in branding new developments (15:08) – How operations teams can ensure every resident touch point reflects the brand (19:33) – Best practices for maintaining authenticity and alignment across communities (25:01)

Digital marketing moves fast, in every sense. And with the help of AI and modern technology, it's about to get even quicker. But Kim Boland, the director of digital marketing, Morgan Properties, knows how to keep up. Boland leads the development, implementation and maintenance of digital marketing initiatives for the company's expanding portfolio. She brings 15 years of experience to the table and in her role, she heads up Morgan Properties' online presence and supports its promotional efforts for both apartment communities and corporate ventures. Throughout her tenure at Morgan Properties, Boland has earned numerous accolades and awards. In this Top Marketers podcast episode, Boland talks with Multi-Housing News Senior Associate Editor Jordana Rothberg about where she has seen the industry change so far and what initiatives she is prioritizing moving forward. Spoiler alert: social media and digital tours are big. Listen in to learn more about: ·        Boland's background with car dealerships and how she got to Morgan Properties (1:00) ·        The changes Boland has seen in digital marketing since she first started marketing (4:05) ·        Marketing techniques that have been phased out (5:40) ·       The importance that social media plays in Morgan Properties' marketing strategies (7:35) ·        How the increasing use of AI as a search engine changes social media techniques (9:00) ·        The initiatives that Boland is the most focused on now (12:25) ·        Why it's important to evaluate and update chatbots (15:15) ·        Geofencing and targeting preferred employers (18:10) ·        Boland's #1 initiative and the marketing techniques backing it (19:50) ·        The pros and cons to implementing virtual tours (21:45) ·        How does a marketer choose what to do? And how do they implement it? (23:05) ·        Changes that are coming to the marketing industry, like it or not (24:45)

“When I think about mixed-use, I use the word balance,” Katie Bucklew said in the November episode of the Mission Success: Women in Multifamily podcast series. As vice president of mixed-use and development with AvalonBay Communities Bucklew specializes in identifying, structuring and closing new mixed-use opportunities. In this podcast with Multi-Housing News Senior Editor Laura Calugar, Bucklew talks about what it takes to strike the right balance between what residents want and the commercial tenants' success.

The student housing sector has been keeping a steady pace with a 94.5 percent preleasing rate and more than 41,430 beds under development. Major universities in Texas remain among the top institutions with the strongest fundamentals including rent growth and inventory. However, some investors are looking towards a new strategy: moving away from flagship universities and investing in smaller markets where supply demand is strong, and enrollment remains robust. That's the case with Palladius Capital Management, which focuses on value-add and core-plus assets in markets with high demographic trends and economic potential. In this episode of Student Housing Unlocked, the company's CEO Nitin Chexal shares his insights on the key factors that drive the Texas student housing market, as well as his approach to making communities desirable. Here's what they discussed about: Texas student housing market trends and population-driven demand surge (01:24) Key growth drivers for growth at public and private universities in Texas (02:16) Addressing limited supply: Why strategic markets thrive despite challenges (04:27) Occupancy rates and their link to Texas's growing population and supply-demand (05:30) Policies that sometimes create noise in the sector (07:57) Shuttle-stop properties: A hidden ROI opportunity in student housing investments (09:00) Evolving student preferences for amenities and community features (11:28) Sustainability in student housing: Innovations and eco-friendly initiatives (13:34) Recent acquisitions and market focus in Texas and beyond (15:00) Future outlook: Student housing will continue to grow (16:57)

Marketing for an architecture or design firm looks different than for a multifamily owner or operator. A strong reputation and meaningful marketing material can be the difference between winning or losing out on a potential project. Sarah Wortman, marketing director, MG2, is an expert in ensuring that her company brings all the materials necessary, plus more, to the table. Wortman has been in her current role since March of 2023. She heads up the marketing team for the company as well as provides rigor and support for MG2's business development strategy while working closely with the firm's principals. She has background working for multiple design firms ranging from architecture to engineering companies as well as has experience focusing on client solutions and satisfaction through marketing. In this podcast, Wortman and Multi-Housing News Senior Associate Editor Jordana Rothberg team up to talk all about her role as a marketer for a design firm and some of her favorite strategies. Tune in to hear about: ·      Wortman's background and how she became a marketer (1:00) ·      How academia has helped shape Wortman's marketing career (2:25) ·      Communicating why marketing is essential during an economic downturn to executives (3:30) ·      How marketing can aid an architecture firm in landing a project (6:50) ·      The criteria clients use to choose an architect (9:35) ·      What it looks like to market for a community throughout all the stages of its life (10:40) ·      The importance of data for a design firm's marketing team (13:45) ·      Marketing for different types of multifamily and commercial developments (15:30) ·      Some of MG2's current projects and the media behind them (18:20)

In certain markets across the nation, rental rates have been hurt due to a strong wave of supply deliveries. And yet, the U.S. still faces a severe housing shortage partnered with affordability issues. In this episode of Quarterly with NMHC, Caitlin Sugrue Walter, vice president of research, and Bernard Fulton, vice president for housing policy and regulation, join Multi-Housing News Senior Associate Editor Jordana Rothberg to talk about just that. Caitlin Sugrue Walter's primary role with NMHC is to conduct research on multifamily trends for the company. Her areas of expertise include apartment market trends, multifamily supply and specialty apartment research topics. Bernard Fulton brings more than 30 years of experience in and around Congress as a policy advisor, legislative analyst, lobbyist, strategist and political organizer. He is well versed in housing affordability, housing supply, finance and capital markets, GSEs and housing finance reform. Tune in to listen in on the implications of this new multifamily stock as well as what policy makers and those in the industry can do to keep the needle moving. You'll hear: ·      Where new multifamily stock came online and why (1:30) ·      Why so many units hit the market at relatively the same time (3:30)   ·      How long until high-supply markets begin to absorb the excess (4:50) ·      Where multifamily development stands in the future (6:40) ·      Specific policy solutions to mitigate the impediments facing multifamily (10:30) ·      Short term solutions that would make a difference (13:05) ·      How taxes could ease or hurt multifamily cost challenges (14:15) ·      State-wide policies that Fulton hopes don't move forward (15:40) ·      Sugrue Walter's thoughts on rent growth sentiment and rent control (17:10) ·      Government programs and vouchers that can help residents find housing (18:05)   Recorded October 2, 2024

As today's residents seek both luxury and a true sense of community, property managers are increasingly turning to on-site apartment coordinators to create cohesive environments. In this episode, Daniel Ebner, president, and Tara Griffin, director of apartment life at Knightvest Residential join me to explore the unique impact of these coordinators who prioritize building authentic connections and fostering resident well-being. Ebner and Griffin share insights into how intentional relationship-building fuels thriving communities, especially in an era marked by remote work and increased isolation. Here are a few highlights from this episode: – The importance of having dedicated resources for community building (5:43) – How on-site coordinators go above and beyond to connect with residents (12:39) – The role that coordinators play in shaping a community's reputation (17:47) – What drives Knightvest's commitment to making residents' lives easier (21:30)

In this Mission Success: Women in Multifamily podcast episode, Jewell Walton, VP of public partnerships with Evergreen Real Estate Group, talks to Multi-Housing News Senior Editor Laura Calugar about her 20-year career, how she learned to deal with stigma surrounding affordable housing and where opportunities lie in the sector. Tune in now!

From a marketing standpoint, Towne Properties relies on a “source of truth.” What is it? Their CRM. In this Top Marketers podcast, Anne Baum, director of marketing with Towne Properties, talks about what it was like to first identify a source of truth, then clean the data in it and then deploy it for the greater good of the company. Of course, there were some challenges. One of them? Identifying and fixing discrepancies. But after years of practice, Baum knows how to utilize her data systems best. In her role, Baum heads up the marketing department which supports more than 100 properties, four business units and 900 employees. She has been at the company since 2019, having previously served in industries including franchise, non-profit, SMB, reverse logistics and multifamily. Tune in to listen to Baum chat with Multi-Housing News Associate Editor Jordana Rothberg about all things data. After all, she does joke that data is her middle name. You'll hear about: ·       Baum's journey from aspiring archeologist to marketer (1:15) ·       The two things Baum is most focused on in her current role (4:00) ·       How to identify a “source of truth” within a company and why it's so important (7:00) ·       Towne Properties' CRM and the data systems the company uses (9:30) ·       Classifying and dealing with data discrepancies (13:30) ·       The process of cleaning data (18:20) ·       What marketers can do to increase lead to lease optimization through data (21:00) ·       How marketers can use data to drive change internally (23:10)

As one of the largest developers and operators of student housing across the US, Landmark Properties has built a reputation for delivering high-quality, innovative communities tailored to students' needs. But when it comes to student housing, it's also important to know how to navigate risks while still capitalizing on the sector's strong fundamentals. Despite ongoing challenges in the market, the company delivered over $2 billion worth of properties last year alone and started work on other major projects in prime university markets. In this episode of Student Housing Unlocked, Associate Editor Olivia Bunescu talks with Max LaVictoire, Landmark Properties' Managing Director of Investor Relations, who discusses the unique challenges of tackling construction costs while maintaining high-quality standards. LaVictoire also shares the firm's expansion strategy, along with the importance of keeping up with students' needs. You'll also get a glimpse into their move in the SFR market and what sets this apart from their core focus on student housing. Here are the main topics LaVictoire and Bunescu talked about: Landmark's strategies for mitigating market volatility in today's unpredictable student housing market (01:33) The formula for crafting smart investment deals in the sector (03:13) How are the latest trends reflected in Landmark Properties' portfolio? (05:09) The blueprint for selecting prime university markets and why some campuses shine brighter than others (07:04) How Landmark balances high construction costs with delivering top-tier, student-friendly living spaces (08:28) A behind-the-scenes look at their standout developments, including what makes Syracuse special (09:50) Innovative design and must-have amenities shaping the future of student housing (12:44) Exploring Landmark's housing brands—The Standard, The Mark, etc.—and what sets them apart (14:00) How can operators keep a high occupancy rate across their portfolios? (15:50) Gathering feedback and a high focus on student-centered living 17:13) The opportunities of expanding into the SFR market with the Everstead brand (19:18) What's next for Landmark Properties? (21:02) Pro tips for those looking to break into the student housing market (23:07)

Eight years ago, Caroline Kovac had an “aha moment” and decided to follow her passion for design. She founded Design Identity Group, a firm that recently completed its 90th design project.   In this Mission Success: Women in Multifamily podcast episode with Multi-Housing News Senior Editor Laura Calugar, she reflects upon her professional journey and the mentors who supported her. Today, those same mentors she looked up to throughout her career in operations are her clients.

Housing providers have learned to adapt to the rapidly changing policy landscape, but the most recent idea of limiting rent hikes to 5 percent across the country has left many National Apartment Association members discouraged. Nicole Upano, assistant vice president in the organization's Housing Policy & Regulatory Affairs department, assessed that, were it to pass Congress, the White House's proposal would result in rental income loss through 2026 of no less than $28 billion. In this episode of Multi-Housing News' quarterly podcast series NAA Insights, Upano talks to Senior Editor Laura Calugar about the potential consequences of a nationwide rent cap.

A multifamily community with a pool and a gym is one thing (and it's great). But a property with a partnership with the most recent World Series winner? That's another. In this Top Marketers podcast, Jordana Rothberg, associate editor, Multi-Housing News, is joined by Nicholle Soendker, director of residential marketing, Cordish Living. Together, they talk about Cordish Living's partnerships that shape its residential communities. The Texas Rangers and the St. Louis Cardinals are among the teams at the foundation of these apartment homes where residents are steps away from stadiums or can watch the game from the property's rooftop infinity pool. But how does a marketer take into account these key partnerships and potential residents come lease-up time? Soendker has the answers. Soendker has been with the Cordish Living team since 2023, previously serving in roles in retail marketing, venue and event management, employee engagement and corporate brand management and communications. In her current role she heads up marketing efforts for the expansion of the Cordish Living portfolio as well as its existing communities. Listen in on this podcast to hear about Cordish Living's hospitality-driven marketing strategy and follow along as Soendker and Rothberg discuss: ·      Soendker's background and how she got to Cordish Living (1:00) ·      How Cordish Living is informed by the larger hospitality-driven Cordish Cos. brand (3:30) ·      An existing community with a 50/50 baseball team partnership (6:30) ·      What marketing material looks like in sports-centric residential property (8:00) ·      The upcoming Cordish Living project featuring a partnership with the Texas Rangers (9:30) ·      How a community's surroundings influence its interior (11:15) ·      Appealing to residents that aren't sports-oriented (12:45) ·      Establishing a brand in a new market (14:30) ·      Creating bespoke marketing plans for unique communities (16:40) ·      How Soendker begins the lease-up process before the community is delivered (19:45) ·      The role art plays in the resident experience (22:00) ·      Bringing everything back to the brand story (23:50) ·      How partnerships shape Soendker's marketing techniques (24:30)

A key distinction between traditional multifamily and build-to-rent communities is the unique opportunity for residents to truly create a sense of "home." In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Colleen Yeager, chief operating officer at Quinn Residences, a company that develops, owns, and operates BTR communities across the Southeast. Yeager explains that what sets successful BTR communities apart is the freedom residents have to personalize their homes. She also provides a glimpse into Quinn Residences' approach, highlighting the efficiencies her company has achieved in managing BTR communities. Here are a few highlights from our conversation: How she bridges gaps between her teams to maintain seamless collaboration (6:31) The importance of fostering the relationship between residents and the maintenance team (8:16) Why a “good day-one experience” is key to increasing the resident life cycle (10:18) How she leads her team to resolve issues and make decisions (14:01)

"A good culture can steer the ship out of storms such as a global health crisis, unstable financial markets or civil unrest," Christine Ramsey, chief administrative officer with Draper and Kramer Inc., told Multi-Housing News Senior Editor Laura Calugar in the August edition of the Mission Success: Women in Multifamily podcast series. In this interview, she highlights best practices for building and maintaining a strong company culture when remote/hybrid work seems to be challenging the status quo among organizations.

Every multifamily company varies in how it integrates technology to make employees' lives a bit easier. In this Top Marketers podcast, Christina Steeg, senior vice president of marketing & communications at Waterton, joins Multi-Housing News Associate Editor Jordana Rothberg to talk about the systems that Waterton uses and why. Steeg brings almost 30 years of professional experience in the real estate industry, previously working at Reach by RentCafe and other multifamily companies. In her current role Steeg is responsible for the oversight of the strategic direction of the company's marketing efforts. She also ensures that the Waterton brand voice is cohesive across all platforms. Now, Steeg is working on integrating a more centralized approach to her marketing and navigating the ways in which automation and AI impact Waterton. From the career pipeline to property websites to the resident experience, these systems and platforms are having an impact on almost every aspect of the company. Tune in to hear Rothberg and Steeg chat about: ·        How Steeg got to her current role at Waterton (1:00) ·        Where luxury retail marketing experience overlaps with multifamily (2:00) ·        The two platforms she utilizes and how they're leading to quicker move ins (4:00) ·        Automation and AI in property websites and a mobile-first experience (7:45) ·        Why Steeg may or may not consolidate systems in the future (10:45) ·        How Waterton is using a CRM to help onsite and leasing teams (12:35) ·        The process of integrating a centralized approach and its impact internally (14:50) ·        An all-user interface upgrade and what that means (19:20) ·        How the resident experience is impacted by these systems (21:40) ·        Technology's effects on the lead to lease funnel (25:30)

Welcome back to Management Diaries, MHN's property management podcast, where we bring you new trends, innovative strategies and real-world insights from industry experts on everything from increasing NOI to creating vibrant communities. In this episode, I welcomed Jacqueline Rogers, chief communications and operating officer at Capital Square. Rogers provided an overview of her company's expansion into property management and emphasized the importance of understanding your brand identity and clearly defining the relationship between your sub-brand and main brand as a critical first step. Here are some highlights from our conversation: How a strong brand architecture sets the stage for growth (6:25) Leveraging an established reputation to build credibility with a new audience (10:13) How to facilitate seamless integration between the sub-brand and the main brand (14:28) The potential for a new brand to increase value, foster collaboration and achieve shared goals (19:00) Rogers' advice for excelling at business expansion (24:08)

Returning to Multi-Housing News' quarterly podcast with the National Multifamily Housing Council for the second time, President Sharon Wilson Géno says that multifamily waters are a bit murkier than she had anticipated they would be in Q3. But 2024 has also had some notable successes when it comes to housing policy and legislation as well.   Wilson Géno holds more than 30 years of experience in the housing industry. Having served counsel both in-house and outside for various organizations, she is well versed in housing law and policy, government and non-government contracts, nonprofit organizations, legislation and policy around affordable housing and more.     In this episode, Wilson Géno and Multi-Housing News Associate Editor Jordana Rothberg discuss legislation and policy that Géno remains hopeful about, what building codes need to change to free up multifamily developers, changing renter sentiment and much more.   Follow along as the two dive into: ·        How the outlook for multifamily has shifted since Q1 (1:00) ·        What 2024 has held so far in terms of legislation and policy (3:45) ·        What Wilson Géno is remaining hopeful for prior to the election (6:45) ·        Shifting renter preferences and what they mean for multifamily (8:00) ·        The importance of investing in the perception of the renter (12:40) ·        Increasingly restrictive building codes and how they drive challenges (13:45) ·        What might ease the difficulties that building codes place on affordable developers (16:45) ·        How NMHC is educating multifamily about codes and costs (19:20) ·        What the rest of 2024 might hold (20:20) Recorded July 2, 2024

As regional banks continue to pull back—and capital for new development becomes scarcer and more expensive—more borrowers are looking outside traditional capital sources, with alternative lending becoming more of a complement to conventional financing sources. "There's a lot of market inefficiency that borrowers are seeing, and alternative lenders are really stepping in to fill that gap," Sandra Ferenz, managing director, portfolio manager & product strategy with Trez Capital, told Multi-Housing News Senior Editor Laura Calugar in this Mission Success: Women in Multifamily podcast episode. Tune in for the entire conversation!

Sometimes in multifamily, building one cohesive brand means building a thousand smaller ones. For Greystar, each of its communities is a brick in the foundation of the overall company's story. In this episode of Top Marketers, Scott Berka, senior managing director of brand and customer experience, talks about how the Greystar Family of Brands came to be. In his current role, Berka heads up consumer and property brand strategy for Greystar as well as its global portfolio of brands. He also partners with operations and technology teams to provide strategic oversight for customer experience as well as oversees the Greystar website and social media presence. Berka has been with Greystar since 2019. During his tenure, the company has developed an initiative that it hopes will turn the company into a common renter-household name. In a conversation with Multi-Housing News Associate Editor, Jordana Rothberg, Berka explains why and how the vision came to be. Tune in to hear about: ·        How Berka got to multifamily marketing in the first place (1:10) ·        What the Greystar Family of Brands really is (4:25) ·        How the hospitality industry helped to inspire the idea (6:10) ·        The kickoff and launch process of Family of Brands (7:05) ·        Consumer research that made the difference (10:35) ·        Integrating the branding process for Family of Brands into the larger Greystar vision (12:30) ·        Berka's favorite brand to talk about (15:30) ·        How Greystar aims to build and change its relationship with consumers (19:10) ·        Actionable steps Greystar is making to become a household name (24:20) ·        What renters can look forward to (26:30) ·        Marketing goals that Berka hopes these initiatives hit (28:00)

As the property management landscape continuously evolves, effective leadership during times of change becomes paramount. Whether you're dealing with market fluctuations, technological advancements or shifts in roles or responsibilities, property management leaders will inevitably need to guide their teams through change. Creating a culture of resilience involves staying agile and fostering a growth-oriented mindset, says Telisha Jones, a senior vice president at Windsor Communities. Jones manages all aspects of residential operations in the company's Central region and has more than 20 years of industry experience. Her expertise includes lease-ups, renovations, repositionings and managing stabilized assets. In this episode of Management Diaries, Jones joins Multi-Housing News Production Editor Denile Doyle to discuss building resilient teams in property management and equipping associates to navigate organizational change. Here's a preview of what they talked about: Why leaders need to create a safe space for their teams to fail (2:39) The impact small exercises such as dedicated mindset days can have on your team (5:24) How Jones positions her associates to mentor their peers and become “change champions” (10:02) The benefits of leveraging external tools and services to help teams and leaders manage stress (11:45) Her advice for agile leadership and solidifying psychological safety for teams during periods of change (17:41)

A study recently released by the National Apartment Association found that rent control leads to a reduction in housing quality. The research examined the empirical link between the quality of housing and rent control penetration, and one of the main conclusions of the analysis is that the increase in the number of rental homes that are subject to rent control in a particular community is strongly correlated to increasing reports of housing inadequacy, interior deficiencies and neighborhood problems. NAA Director of Advocacy Research Leah Cuffy shared details about the findings of the study with Multi-Housing News Senior Editor Laura Calugar in a new episode of our NAA Insights quarterly podcast series.

The ⁠rising demand for student housing⁠ has pushed developers and designers to think outside conventional solutions and come up with mixed-use developments or even innovative construction strategies to tackle costs. In this podcast episode of Student Housing Unlocked MHN Associate Editor Olivia Bunescu explores current design trends shaping the sector, how are architects building communities faster and the surge of mixed-use properties with BKV Group's Managing Partner and Senior Design Leader Jack Owen Boarman. Tune in for the discussion!

Construction industry veteran Helena Finley started in the hotel business and got her first experience in multifamily 25 years ago. Among site visits, project budgets and everything that goes into her managing director & executive vice president role at EMBREY, she still finds time for an activity that has not only brought her lots of satisfaction, but it also helps her relax.    Since forever, sport has allowed her to balance being a wife, a mother and now a grandmother. And it's not just any kind of sport. Finley has competed in lots of high-profile events, including Ironman Texas, mountain bike, adventure races and a variety of marathons. Tune in to learn about what construction and adventure races have in common!

Digital advertising has come a long way. From the times of low regulation and plenty of data to a digital awakening and an increase in competition, marketers have had to stay on top of a drastically shifting landscape. And through it all, Noah Echols, vice president of customer experience, The RMR Group, has aligned his strategies to stay on top. In his current role, Echols heads up creative marketing strategies for the company's corporate and property brands. He brings more than 17 years of experience in the digital transformation space working in industries including finance, real estate and retail. Echols has worked for CARROLL, recently acquired by The RMR Group, for more than 6 years. Together with Jordana Rothberg, associate editor, Multi-Housing News, Echols delves into where his strategies have had to change. And as a result, Echols talks about how an award-winning campaign came to be.   Listen in as Rothberg and Echols talk about: ·        Echols' path into multifamily marketing (1:00) ·        The multifamily marketing industry when Echols stepped on the scene (3:30) ·        How digital advertising transformed through the pandemic (5:00) ·        Echols' strategies during a transformative time for marketers (7:25) ·        Data first, marketing second (9:30) ·        How new technology impacts what renters respond to (10:10) ·        Why marketing is moving towards a more multichannel approach (12:50) ·        The Sounds of Summer 2022 campaign and what Echols regrets (14:15) ·        Sounds of Summer 2024 and what's different this time around (19:50) ·        The marketing goals of the campaigns (21:40)

As the regional manager of The Habitat Co.'s market-rate and condominium portfolio in Michigan, Steven St. Louis has maneuvered crises big and small. When unexpected situations arise, he prioritizes trust, transparency and timely communication with his residents. According to St. Louis, this is crucial to maintaining credibility, whether you're addressing a dispute between two neighbors or something more jarring that impacts multiple residents.  How can managers ensure that they are effectively managing a crisis? By monitoring their response in real time—during and after the crisis—and adjusting where needed.   Here are some of the topics we cover: Why it's important to balance empathy and understanding while guiding residents through a crisis (6:20) How timely communication helps property managers stay ahead of the curve (8:53) Navigating social media's public square and controlling the narrative (11:35) His best advice for property managers to address any crisis (13:50) How he handled a major, unexpected incident that had immediate and long-term community impact (15:52) Key priorities for mitigating potential damage to reputation (20:03) Why providing emotional support to residents is as crucial as managing high-level operations (26:57)

Jennifer Rowe was studying finance and economics in Boston when she took a summer internship with a real estate firm. She liked the industry so much that she decided to deviate from her initial plans to pursue a career in investment banking. Today, she is the vice president of portfolio management at StreetLights Residential, a company that has been in Dallas for more than a decade and has since developed over 14,000 multifamily units in 11 cities across six states. In this episode of Mission Success: Women in Multifamily, Rowe talks to Multi-Housing News Senior Editor Laura Calugar about her career and lease-up strategies that work, but also shares details about her personal life.

Crafting a resident-first multifamily management company is a feat of its own. But marketing and getting the word out about it is another. Take it from Nicole Jones, senior vice president of marketing and communications, Veris Residential, who created and launched an entire program that takes residential care to a whole new level. In her second appearance with Top Marketers, Jones dives into the company's newest program, Veris Promise. Multi-Housing News Associate Editor Jordana Rothberg and Jones discuss what the program means and how it came to be in the first place. Spoiler alert: from getting everyone to buy into the program to working out its legal kinks, it was no easy task. If you haven't had the chance to listen to the previous conversation between Jones and Rothberg, it's highly recommended to go back hear about the Veris Residential brand and its pillars of ESG, philanthropy and DEI. For this podcast, listen in as the two delve into: ·        What Veris Promise actually is (1:30) ·        Where a new program like Veris Residential lives (5:35) ·        The buy-in process and making alterations along the way (8:15) ·        Learning to love feedback (14:45) ·        The initiatives that make up the Veris Promise and Jones's personal favorite (17:00) ·        How Veris Promise has been received internally (23:00) ·        Resident reactions to the new program (24:40)

The cost of insurance for multifamily communities isn't going down. Instead, owners and operators are having to find ways to adapt. But it doesn't have to be entirely on the plates of multifamily to solve problems brought about by increasing insurance prices. Policy solutions have the potential to offer some help too. In this episode of Quarterly with NMHC, Multi-Housing News Associate Editor Jordana Rothberg is joined by the National Multifamily Housing Council's Kevin Donnelly, vice president of government affairs, technology and strategic initiatives, and Caitlin Sugrue Walter, vice president of research. Together the three discuss how insurance costs are impacting affordable housing, how these prices might change in the future and what policymakers can do to ease high insurance cost impacts. Follow along as this podcast goes over: ·       The current multifamily insurance landscape (1:30) ·       What factors are lending towards high insurance prices (4:30) ·       Where high interest rates do and don't play a role (8:00) ·       The impact of high insurance costs on the national housing shortage (12:00) ·       How high insurance costs directly affect affordable housing (14:45) ·       Strategies firms are implementing to navigate a high insurance landscape (19:30) ·       The importance of high-quality data and modern technology (24:00) ·      Policy solutions that could help (27:00) ·      How experts foresee the future of multifamily insurance costs (33:00)

Despite ongoing volatility and uncertainty in the economic sector, the student housing market has performed better than other assets, maintaining an uptick both in preleasing and units under construction.  Major players in the field, such as Core Spaces, managed to pencil student housing deals and even kick off projects nearing 2,000 beds. With a portfolio of 70 properties, serving over 40 institutions and almost 3,000 units under development, the company has been at the forefront of a localized market, as Brendan Miller, Chief Investment Officer of Student Housing believes. In our third episode of Student Housing Unlocked with Multi-Housing News' Associate Editor Olivia Bunescu is joined by Miller to discuss the challenges in the sector when it comes to developing and delivering new communities, what students want nowadays, as well as Core Spaces' business approach and values. Here are the main ideas discussed in this episode: Tailoring projects to fit the needs of today's students (01:13) Student housing is a very localized business, particularly for developments (2:50) The construction timeline is one of the major challenges in the sector (3:50) Effective strategies for tackling rising construction costs (6:13) Choosing the right partners for student housing projects (9:04) “You can be a quarter mile from campus, but you could be a quarter mile from the wrong side of campus.” (10:32) Core Spaces' portfolio performance (13:00) Factors that make projects stand out (14:33) How can you successfully enter a new market? (17:09) The calculus on how to pick a market (18:45) Advantages of being vertically integrated (21:11) How to become a “people company” (22:33) Keeping the focus on Top Tier markets and being an active buyer (24:35) Trends that will further shape the student housing sector (26:20)

Though her official title is Director of Development, Marquette Cos.' Ann Reckelhoff plays a huge role in all aspects of projects, including branding and design, construction management, hiring and operations, management and lease-up. In this episode of Mission Success: Women in Multifamily, Reckelhoff reveals to Multi-Housing News Senior Editor Laura Calugar what it takes to be successful in today's complicated economic context. With extensive experience in both development and operations, Reckelhoff admits that the people that she surrounds herself with are a key ingredient of her accomplishments.