The NAA Apartmentcast

This year’s Apartmentalize education program is stacked - and we’re going behind the scenes. In our latest episode, we sit down with Clark Ebbert, NAA’s Conference Education Programming Director, who curates the entire learning experience for the industry’s biggest event. We talk about the can’t‑miss topics, the trends shaping the industry and the sessions guaranteed to level you up. If you want t...

Insurance costs are rising faster than almost any other expense in rental housing — and the impact is reshaping operations, underwriting and long‑term strategy. In this episode, National Apartment Association Manager of Industry Research Eri Bajomo breaks down the data behind today’s multifamily insurance cost acceleration and what it means for owners, operators and investors. Drawing from her rec...

Get ready—this episode of the NAA Apartmentcast is all about celebrating the heartbeat of our industry: RPM Careers Week! We’re joined by Shellie Sims, Director of Workforce Development and Career Awareness at the NAA Education Institute, for an inside look at why this nationwide celebration is bigger, bolder and more important than ever. We’re spotlighting the dynamic, people‑first career paths t...

On this episode of the NAA Apartmentcast, we’re joined by Leah Cuffy, NAA’s Director of Advocacy Research, for a deep dive into the economics behind the Dollar of Rent —NAA’s data‑driven tool that breaks down exactly where each rent dollar goes and why it matters. Cuffy reveals how that dollar is stretched across operating costs, taxes, maintenance, payroll, insurance and more — painting a clear p...

On this episode of the NAA Apartmentcast, we're joined by a trio of NAA’s Federal Legislative Affairs Directors, Joe Riter, Maria Spencer and Jason Lynn, who are here to preview NAA’s Advocate conference and Lobby Day ( March 24-25, register at Advocate | National Apartment Association ), walk through important matters of housing policy and detail what matters right now in Washington and why...

This special edition episode of the NAA Apartmentcast features guest hosts Scott Wilkerson, Chief Investment Officer and Chair of the Investment Committee for Ginkgo Residential, and Chris Carter, Regional Vice President for Carter-Haston, both members of NAA’s Operations Committee. They are joined by Brad Dockser, CEO and Co-Founder of GreenGen for an intriguing conversation focused on ESG (Envir...

Welcome to NAA's Apartmentcast, the official podcast of the National Apartment Association. On this sponsored episode, we sit down with Kyle Nelson, Vice President of Corporate Strategy at Snappt, and Maitri Johnson, Vice President, Tenant and Employment at TransUnion, to discuss how fraud prevention isn’t just an operational task anymore; it’s shaping the renter experience and influencing wh...

Welcome to NAA's Apartmentcast, the official podcast of the National Apartment Association. On this sponsored episode, we sit down with Ken McDonald, CEO of Leonardo247, as he shares how property operators can leverage AI and their unique operational playbook to drive NOI growth. In this episode, he reveals proven strategies to turn operational data into AI-powered optimizations that improve...

There are more than 40 million apartments in the United States, of which half are owned and operated by small portfolios, otherwise known as independent rental owners (IRO).  On this episode of the NAA Apartmentcast, we're joined by Demetrio Jimenez, President and Owner of Tropicana Properties in El Paso, Texas, and 2026 Chair of the NAA Affordable Housing Committee; and Megan Orser, CEO and...

Welcome to NAA's Apartmentcast, the official podcast of the National Apartment Association. On this episode, we are joined by Kelli Lea, Senior Regional Property Manager for Greystar and 2025-2026 President of the National Apartment Association Education Institute (NAAEI) Board of Directors, to provide an update on all the exciting things happening at National Apartment Association Education...

Welcome to NAA's Apartmentcast, the official podcast of the National Apartment Association. On this episode, we sit down with NAA’s Director of Federal Legislative Affairs Maria Spencer, who, now that the government has reopened, is here to walk us through the Congressional FY26 appropriations process and the prospective impacts on the rental housing industry, especially as it relates to bala...

Welcome to NAA's Apartmentcast, the official podcast of the National Apartment Association. On this episode, we sit down with NAA’s Director of Conference Education Programming Clark Ebbert, as well as Peter Lynch, Chief People Officer at Cardinal Group Companies and Emcee of NAA’s Cultivate event, Feb. 17-18, 2026 in Nashville.  They’re joining today to talk about this unique, intimate and h...

Welcome to NAA's Apartmentcast, the official podcast of the National Apartment Association. On this episode, we sit down with NAA’s AVP of Housing Policy & Regulatory Affairs Nicole Upano to talk public policy, advocacy, government shutdowns and some inside baseball on what's happening in Washington. Visit naahq.org/advocacy for links to the policy issues library, industry priorities...

Welcome to NAA's Apartmentcast, the official podcast of the National Apartment Association. On this episode, we sit down with NAA’s VP of Research George Ratiu to talk the economics of residential real estate, as well as review all of the insightful research NAA has recently released.  Visit the research section on NAA’s website to explore all of NAA’s research offerings, including Income/Exp...

Welcome to NAA's Apartmentcast, the official podcast of the National Apartment Association. On this sponsored episode, we sit down with two leaders, Chris Ulep, Vice President at Yardi Breeze, and David Franklin, Industry Principal of AI at Yardi, to explore how artificial intelligence is not just for the big players. They share how Yardi is making AI tools more accessible, affordable and use...

Welcome to NAA's Apartmentcast, the official podcast of the National Apartment Association. On this episode, we sit down with NAA’s AVP of Federal Legislative Affairs Owen Caine, who walks us through the Congressional reconciliation package that dictates the future of tax policy following the One Big Beautiful Bill Act being signed into law on July 4.  For those of you out there who are inter...

Welcome to NAA's Apartmentcast, the official podcast of the National Apartment Association. On this episode, we are joined by Kelli Lea, Regional Property Manager for Greystar and 2025 President of the National Apartment Association Education Institute (NAAEI) Board of Directors, who provide an update on all the exciting things happening at National Apartment Association Education Institute,...

Welcome to NAA's Apartmentcast, the official podcast of the National Apartment Association . On this episode, guest host Todd Hignite, Vice President of Hearth Management and a member of both the 2025 NAAEI Board of Directors and NAA’s DE&I committee, sits down with rental housing affinity group leaders, including Steve Hatten, Regional Sales Executive at Kwikkit and representing Once A W...

Welcome to NAA's Apartmentcast, the official podcast of the National Apartment Association. On this sponsored episode, we sit down with Appfolio's Stacy Holden, Vice President and Industry Principal, and Adam Feinstein, Vice President of Product Management, to review the findings of Appfolio's renter preferences research and discuss how those discoveries can translate to maximizing...

Welcome to NAA's Apartmentcast, the official podcast of the National Apartment Association. On this episode, we sit down with NAA's industry Research Analyst Eri Bajomo to dive into the findings of NAA’s latest research project, “The Ongoing Evolution of Amenity Spaces.”  Visit the research section on NAA’s website to explore this new report as well as all of NAA’s research offerings, in...

Welcome to NAA's Apartmentcast, the official podcast of the National Apartment Association. On this episode, we sit down with NAA’s VP of Research Paula Munger, who after an illustrious career in commercial real estate research and nine years at NAA, has announced her retirement. Listen as we walk through her career and lessons learned, and maybe even a prediction or two about the future stat...

Welcome to NAA's Apartmentcast, the official podcast of the National Apartment Association. On this episode, we sit down with NAA’s AVP of Federal Legislative Affairs Owen Caine to walk through the rental housing industry's federal legislative priorities for the 119th Congress.  For those interested in learning more about housing policy, NAA has a wealth of resources, including a policy...

Welcome to NAA's Apartmentcast, the official podcast of the National Apartment Association . On this episode, we are once again joined by Leah Cuffy, NAA Director of Advocacy Research, to discuss the key findings and implications of “ Behind the High Cost of Rent ,” which is recently released research sponsored by NAA and NHMC that examines the unintended consequences of overregulating the re...

This episode of the NAA Apartmentcast is the third in a series discussing women in technology, supported by and featuring NAA's Technology Committee. We're joined for an engaging discussion NAA Tech Committee Member Marysa Raymond, who at the time of the conversation was Vice President Institutional Sales, Strategic Accounts & Affordable Sales for Entrata and now is Director of Asset...

Welcome to NAA's Apartmentcast, the official podcast of the National Apartment Association. On this episode, we are once again joined by Kim Hurd, Executive Vice President of Property Management for KCG Companies in Indianapolis and 2024 President of the National Apartment Association Education Institute (NAAEI) Board of Directors, who walks us through all the great things that happened at NA...