The Lease-Up

"Nothing is beneath you," said Jacqueline Kluger in this month’s Mission Success: Women in Multifamily podcast episode. Originally trained in hospitality management, Kluger began her career with Marriott before realizing she wanted to be on the ownership side of real estate. Since joining Philadelphia-based Post Brothers in 2018, she has helped close more than $1.4 billion in financing a...

In this episode, I sit down with Village Green CEO Diane Batayeh to talk about leading a 106-year-old company. Our conversation goes beyond operations, diving into lessons from Batayeh’s decades-long career, including getting comfortable with being uncomfortable, learning from “fresh mistakes” and mentoring the next generation of leaders. Batayeh shares how she bridges resident expectations with i...

In proptech, it’s estimated that only about 10 percent of company founders are women. Narrow that focus to multifamily proptech, and the percentage likely drops below one. Why? "From my perspective, it’s not a capability thing, it’s more about capital allocations and who has access,” said Jessica Beck, co-founder & CEO of Alfred, in a conversation with Multi-Housing News Senior Editor Lau...

Guided by seven fundamentals, dubbed return on environment, Mary Cook Associates is known for bringing art and science into the spaces the firm designs, driving measurable results for both residents and its collaborators. In the student housing space, rather than focusing on current trends , the firm positions itself as a “design choreographer” by co-crafting experience beyond just interiors. In t...

Housing economist George Ratiu joined the National Apartment Association as vice president of research a few months ago, after 15 years working for trade associations, Fortune 500 companies and the federal government. In his first podcast with MHN’s Laura Valean, he dives into the association’s latest research, but also touches on how AI is changing multifamily operations, and the metrics he monit...

Multifamily fundamentals continue to be strong, with record demand and annual absorption at high levels, Newmark’s second-quarter multifamily capital markets report found. Investors continue to favor the Sun Belt, but some Rust Belt markets like Milwaukee and Columbus have also been showing strong absorption.    "Because of affordability and stable employment basis and perhaps lower supply gr...

Once considered a nice-to-have, digital concierge serviceshave become essential in multifamily living. From AI leasing to intuitive resident apps, they streamline operations, elevate customer service and shape the way communities connect and thrive. In this episode of Multi-Housing News ' Top Marketers podcast, we explore the transformative power of digital concierge services in the multifamily wo...

For owners and operators, an underperforming property can negatively impact renewals, resident engagement and even on-site teams. My guest for this episode is John Griggs, co-founder & co-CEO of Presidium. We talk about how operators can identify problems early and get properties back on track, without your residents losing faith in you. Even the small issues, like a broken window or a candy w...

September is National Preparedness Month, making it the perfect time to rethink what readiness really means for multifamily property managers. In this episode of Management Diaries, MHN’s Denile Doyle sits down with Stacy Brown, Vice President of Property Management Enablement at Real Property Management, to dig into what preparedness really looks like for today’s operators. Here are a few highlig...

One in eight Americans go to bed hungry each day, while 92 billion pounds of food is wasted annually. Hunger is a blind disease, and food insecurity is rampant across the country. But the multifamily industry can play a key role in combating this phenomenon.   When people move, they tend to throw away a lot of food. This is when your onsite staff can provide them with a food collection bag and enc...

Immersive marketing is rapidly transforming how prospective renters discover and connect with apartment communities. From interactive tours to fully immersive media platforms, today’s marketing landscape is all about meeting renters where they are—digitally. In this month’s episode of Multi-Housing News’ Top Marketers podcast, Izzy Carunungan, industry principal at Yardi and former chief marketing...

When it comes to student housing management , operators often need to adopt a more targeted approach due to the sector’s unique leasing cycles and seasonal “turn” periods. Operators need to have a deep understanding of regional fundamentals while still upholding branding consistency. With 60 years of experience in the field and over $2 billion of student housing assets under management, Campus Apa...

For property managers who want a seat at the table, it starts with thinking differently about your role and showing the value you bring beyond the day-to-day operations. In this episode of Management Diaries, MHN’s Denile Doyle chats with Kelley Brine, president of Rose Valley Management, to explore how property managers can go beyond day-to-day operations and take on a more strategic role. Here a...

With tight supply and inelastic demand, manufactured housing is one of the most resilient and strategic sectors in the real state landscape, according to Kristin Millington, a Managing Director in the Manufactured Housing and Self Storage groups of Crow Holdings Capital. "I think it’s one of the most unique supply and demand stories that we see in real estate," Millington said in the Jul...

In this episode, Joe McDiffitt, Managing Director of Property Management at Coastal Ridge Real Estate, joins MHN’s Denile Doyle to share lessons from overseeing a diverse portfolio that includes student housing and traditional multifamily properties. Operators need to have a strong framework, understand their residents and be responsive when things change, shares McDiffitt. Managing multiple prope...

"You need culture to create a thriving company,” is the phrase that shaped Amy Steadman’s career. While studying at UCLA, she heard one of her professors say this and it stuck with her ever since. Today, she's MidPen Housing's Chief People Officer, even though she doesn't have a multifamily background. But it's precisely that outside perspective that's helping her come up...

1 in 5 Americans plan to quit their job this year, with 1 in 2 even considering switching industries, accord to a recent study from SideHustles.com. If multifamily is on their radar, they will definitely need some guidance through all of the different career paths that the industry has to offer. To cater to the needs of those entering or currently in the residential property management industry, t...

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, s...

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 Apartmen...

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 senio...

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...

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 leader...

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 unwaver...

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 m...

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 o...