Transforming Cities

**Summary:** It’s 2025, and the market is tough. Lease-ups are stalling, demand is soft, and developers are left wondering why their buildings aren’t filling. In this episode of Real Wins, Mike and Tori draw from over 200 multifamily lease-ups to break down the real reasons so many new properties are underperforming. From outdated tactics to internal disconnects, they explore how most operators ar...

When a property starts underperforming, vacancy creeps up, leads dry out, and concessions spiral, every day becomes more costly. Often, the onsite team is simply too close to the issue to see what is really broken. That is when a fresh perspective can make all the difference. In this episode, we dive into what happens when multifamily operators hit pause, zoom out, and bring in an experienced part...

On this episode of Empowered Returns, Mike welcomes Dr. Christina Stacy from the Urban Institute to tackle one of the most hotly debated issues in housing policy—rent control. Together, they unpack cutting-edge research powered by machine learning to understand how rent control policies are shaping affordability and housing supply across U.S. cities. The conversation dives into the real-world trad...

On this episode, Chris and Michael DiMella delve into the world of boutique real estate development, discussing how smaller developers can effectively compete with larger institutional players. They explore the importance of differentiation, unique branding, and creating tailored experiences for residents. Through various examples, they illustrate how boutique buildings can thrive by focusing on t...

In this episode, Chris and Michael discuss the critical importance of branding in the real estate industry, emphasizing the need for differentiation and a comprehensive brand identity. They explore the common misconceptions surrounding logos and brands, the significance of naming with intention, and how effective branding can drive business success. The conversation highlights the necessity of ali...

On this episode of Empowered Returns, Tori and Mike discuss in depth how to set competitive condo prices without leaving money on the table. If you find this and our other episodes helpful, please like and subscribe on Youtube or your preferred podcast listening app! Get more education and insight like this at Transforming Cities - https://transformingcities.io Brought to you by Authentic and Char...

On this episode of Empowered Returns, Mike and Tori welcome CHARLESGATE President of Property Management Todd Mikelonis to discuss the question: whoever wrote the rule on 95% occupancy, and how to create a strategy that leaves properties at capacity year-round. If you find this and our other episodes helpful, please like and subscribe on Youtube or your preferred podcast listening app! Get more ed...

On this episode of Real Wins, multifamily marketer Tori Lewandowski joins me while we break down the critical role of reputation scores in property visibility. We go beyond the basics and discuss real, actionable ways to build and maintain a stellar reputation—without relying on outdated, ineffective tactics in the age of AI. If you find this and our other episodes helpful, please like and subscri...

On this episode of Real Wins, Chris takes the hot seat as Tori fires off rapid-fire questions on residential real estate GTM. From industry frustrations to overlooked opportunities, Chris shares his unfiltered thoughts and opinions—plus, stick around for bonus rapid-fire takes at the end. If you find this and our other episodes helpful, please like and subscribe on Youtube or your preferred podcas...

On this episode of Empowered Returns, we’re addressing a big problem for developers: real estate agencies who focus more on their own image than selling your project. If you find this and our other episodes helpful, please like and subscribe on Youtube or your preferred podcast listening app! Get more education and insight like this at Transforming Cities - https://transformingcities.io Brought to...

On this episode of Empowered Returns, Tori and Mike dive into a critical topic—how the wrong approach to branding is costing developers millions. But here's the twist—bringing a Condo to market is way more nuanced than a pretty logo and a trendy name. Today, they have a conversation on new development condo marketing to break down the biggest branding mistakes developers are making today and h...

On this episode I’m speaking with Jeff Hreben, Senior Development Manager at Chicago-based Tandem. Within Tandem’s entrepreneurial environment, he’s been responsible for leading market intelligence research and providing direction on programming, financial feasibility, investor relations, site selection, and more. With a Master’s in City Planning from the University of Penn and a certificate of Re...

On this episode, Victoria hosts our first-ever round table live, with guests Michael DiMella, Autumn Hunt, and Steven Rea, on the complexity of the renter journey today. Related links for this episode: Victoria's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriakaylewandowski/ Be sure to support this podcast by subscribing and reviewing! Get on the list at https://transformingcities.io for future...

On this episode of Empowered Returns, Mike welcomes Dom Beveridge, Principal at 20for20, to discuss his recent whitepaper on Centralization for third-party management as we dig deeper into the work that still needs to be done when operating properties at scale. If you find this and our other episodes helpful, please like and subscribe on Youtube or your preferred podcast listening app! Get more ed...

On this episode of Real Wins, Chris welcomes Authentic Co-Founder Bryant Hughes to discuss what goes into Authentic's multifamily playbooks, and how they've evolved for customers over time. If you find this and our other episodes helpful, please like and subscribe on Youtube or your preferred podcast listening app! Get more education and insight like this at Transforming Cities - https://transform...

On this episode of Real Wins, Chris welcomes Authentic Creative Director Melody Sorenson to discuss the behind-the-scenes of what actually goes into a successful brand experience. If you find this and our other episodes helpful, please like and subscribe on Youtube or your preferred podcast listening app! Get more education and insight like this at Transforming Cities - https://transformingcities....

On this episode of Real Wins, Chris hits Mike with 9 rapid-fire questions about his multifamily, real estate, and Boston experiences. Stay tuned for the bonus question in this fast-paced format. If you find this and our other episodes helpful, please like and subscribe on Youtube or your preferred podcast listening app! Get more education and insight like this at Transforming Cities - https://tran...

On this episode of Real Wins, Chris and Mike dive into how leasing can be improved even in a post-stabilized situation by thinking through team structure and vacancies with a different mindset. If you find this and our other episodes helpful, please like and subscribe on Youtube or your preferred podcast listening app! Get more education and insight like this at Transforming Cities - https://trans...

On this episode of Real Wins, Chris and Mike discuss how brand can increase property value, both in an initial lease-up or sell-through phase, but also long term. If you find this and our other episodes helpful, please like and subscribe on Youtube or your preferred podcast listening app! Get more education and insight like this at Transforming Cities - https://transformingcities.io Brought to you...

On this episode of Real Wins, Chris and Mike rip the bandaid off a controversial opinion about leasing: that the entry-level property management role makes no sense. If you find this and our other episodes helpful, please like and subscribe on Youtube or your preferred podcast listening app! Get more education and insight like this at Transforming Cities - https://transformingcities.io Brought to...

On this episode of Real Wins, Chris and Mike welcome Tori to the show as we dig into her experience at the property level, and how the right brand positioning makes all the difference. If you find this and our other episodes helpful, please like and subscribe on Youtube or your preferred podcast listening app! Get more education and insight like this at Transforming Cities - https://transformingci...

On this episode of Real Wins, Chris and Mike discuss a few of the common pushbacks to starting a multifamily go-to-market game plan early, including construction delays and the winter leasing season, among others. If you find this and our other episodes helpful, please like and subscribe on Youtube or your preferred podcast listening app! Get more education and insight like this at Transforming Ci...

On this live episode of Transforming Cities, I was joined by Mike Brewer of the Multifamily Media Network and the Multifamily Collective, and Mike DiMella of Charlesgate. During our live event, our guests debated and discussed staging as it relates to leasing success, AI and automation, and the balance of both moving forward. We also threaded in a few audience questions during and after the debate...

On this episode of Real Wins, Chris and Mike dive into the topic of property management centralization, and more specifically, Charlesgate's pod model approach. What it is, how it works, and what it solves for in multifamily. If you find this and our other episodes helpful, please like and subscribe on Youtube or your preferred podcast listening app! Get more education and insight like this at...

On this episode of Real Wins, Chris and Mike chat about the best practices for a renter nurturing game plan. When to roll it out, what to include or exclude, and the overall timeline heading into a property's CO date. If you find this and our other episodes helpful, please like and subscribe on Youtube or your preferred podcast listening app! Get more education and insight like this at Transformin...