Millennials are America’s future. They are close to overtaking Baby Boomers as the largest living generation and are on track to being the most educated, according to Pew Research Center. Millennials also dominate the U.S. workforce at 56 million strong, based on the latest U.S. census data. Experts say that this generation wants to be trained and done so in a way to make an immediate impact on the organization. Employee training should not just cover the company’s core functions and approaches but provide personal growth. “They want to know they are being invested in,” says Katie McCaslin, Vi ..read more

The senior living market has become more competitive than ever. The National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care reported that occupancy fell to eight-year lows at one point last year. Operators face workforce challenges and aging in place is becoming more desirable. Whether independent living, assisted living or memory care, senior housing properties are being forced to rely on branding more than ever to stand out. Branding messages are being tailored to deliver the ultimate resident living experience. They are more active than previous generations, and, for many, social media an ..read more

In 1985, the Robert Zemeckis’ blockbuster success, Back to the Future, landed in theaters. The movie thrilled audiences with its nostalgic view of the past (1950s) and its futuristic predictions of the future, like 24-hour-a-day news stations. This might sound twisted, but I love the moment when Biff repeatedly thwaps George McFly on the forehead saying, “Hello McFly!” It’s my battle cry when I’m missing something obvious. I imagine Biff’s finger tapping my forehead. It’s then that I think about smart apartments, IoT, and ask myself, what we are really missing? Eeh gads! Building maintenance s ..read more

Utilities are among property managers’ top operating expenses, according to the NAA’s most recent survey of Operating Income and Expenses. Rising utility costs and unforeseen rate hikes coupled with increased utility billing regulations, as well as renter expectations of online payment options, have created a conundrum for multifamily owners who realize they must come up with an equitable way to pass those costs on to their residents. But many owners are afraid of either losing renters or running afoul of regulators by charging for utility usage. They continue to include utility costs in the r ..read more

Mixed-use properties are drawing considerable interest by investors in the multifamily and commercial spaces. Walkable communities and transit oriented development are creating new opportunities for not only developers but renters and business owners as well. Partners at Goulston & Storrs, one of the largest retail real estate law firms in the U.S., say mixed-use assets are on the rise in report by Forbes. New developments are springing up combining residential with retail, office, medical and other spaces in large urban areas. “Mega development” towers that blend luxury, conventional or a ..read more

The World Wide Web Consortium defines website accessibility to mean the inclusive practice of design and development so that people with disabilities can perceive, understand, navigate and interact with and contribute to the web. In 2019, the web has become an indispensable part of our day-to-day lives, underscoring the importance of why we need to do our best in making the web accessible to all users including Seniors.  It is assumed that web accessibility is really just for people with disabilities, but that’s a common misconception. In reality, improving web accessibility for people with di ..read more

According to AARP, Baby Boomers spend about $3 trillion annually and a whopping 78 percent are online, where they’re buying $7 billion in goods and services. As of 2017, they spent more time online than Millennials. It’s likely their time spent online will continue to grow, and they have the resources to support an increasing number of online purchases. Seniors are a very marketable set with serious spending power, and about 47 million live in the United States alone. Most Boomers have healthy retirement savings and are expected to inherit $15 trillion over the next 20 years. Yet many marketer ..read more

Hours upon hours and days upon days can be spent planning and executing student housing lease-ups. Vendor schedules must be coordinated, leases approved, apartments assigned and roommates matched. Property management technology can assist but the sweat of the brow is often necessary. Most of all, listening to students and parents as they embark upon one of the biggest events in their lives when students venture from the family nest to a place of their own, becomes more important than ever. And no matter what, industry professionals say, always expect the unexpected. It’s those unforeseen event ..read more

The perfect time to leave a truly green mark on an apartment’s landscape is during the renovation. Property rehabilitation can not only upgrade the look and feel inside but improve out-of-date landscapes with a more modern – and sensible – look that’s environmentally pleasing. Previous perceptions that green landscapes are boring and costly are being trumped by easier and less costly applications. Sustainable landscapes are more feasible for apartment operators to realize utility efficiencies and lower maintenance costs while shedding those 1980’s hedgerows (or the “gas station look,” as one s ..read more

Within the Prop Tech space, it’s easy to be confused by the myriad of system and service offerings. While there are hundreds of startup companies providing various services and solutions, institutional owners want and need a unified technology strategy. With a focused and comprehensive strategy, they can: Better control the factors that impact the performance of their investments Improve cumbersome business processes between investors and partners Make sense of the overwhelming array of technology solutions Work towards achieving world-class operational capability So how do you get started? Ge ..read more