The NAA Apartmentcast

Where does your rent payment actually go? In this episode of the NAA Apartmentcast, Director of Advoacy Research Leah Cuffy returns to break down NAA's latest Dollar of Rent research and follow each cent from mortgage payments and operating expenses to property taxes, payroll and more.

We explore what's driving the cost of providing rental housing, why expenses are rising faster than revenue and what shrinking margins mean for housing providers, residents and the broader housing affordability conversation.

To learn more about NAA's Dollar of Rent Tool, visit https://naahq.org/research/dollar-rent-tool

To learn more about the 2025 dollar of rent, visit https://naahq.org/news/where-dollar-rent-went-2025

Please note that as is the case for all The NAA Apartmentcast episodes, nothing contained within this podcast should be treated as legal advice. The information presented is for educational purposes only.

The rental housing industry has moved beyond asking whether AI will change the business. Now, the question is, "what is working?"

In this sponsored episode of the NAA Apartmentcast, the official podcast of the National Apartment Association, we sit down with Paul Yount, Industry Principal for Yardi, to look past the buzz to explore where AI has genuinely changed operations in multifamily, not just leasing but maintenance, resident experience and the parts of the business that don't get talked about as much. We also dive into where AI is creating real value, where expectations are running ahead of results and what operators are learning as adoption grows.

If you're looking for a practical conversation about the opportunities, obstacles and next phase of AI in rental housing, this episode is for you.

For more on Yardi, visit https://www.yardi.com/

Please note that as is the case for all NAA Apartmentcast episodes, nothing contained within this podcast should be treated as legal advice. The information presented is for educational purposes only.

If you’ve spent any time talking with operators recently, you’ve probably heard some version of the same challenges: Finding great people, keeping great people and helping them grow.

At a time when staffing pressures remain high, burnout continues to affect onsite teams and technology is reshaping how work gets done, the future of talent has become one of the most important conversations in rental housing.

In this episode, we sit down with Kelli Lea, Senior Regional Manager for Greystar and 2025-2026 President of the NAAEI Board of Directors, and Pam Weber, NAAEI Senior Vice President, to discuss what they’re seeing from across the industry, emerging workforce trends leaders should be paying attention to, and how education and professional development are evolving to meet the moment.

We also explore how AI is changing professional development, why credentials still matter and what every rental housing professional can do today to future-proof their career.

To learn more about how the National Apartment Education Institute can yhelp you succeed in the rental housing industry, visit https://naahq.org/naaei

Please note that as is the case for all The NAA Apartmentcast episodes, nothing contained within this podcast should be treated as legal advice. The information presented is for educational purposes only.

In this sponsored episode of the NAA Apartmentcast, the official podcast of the National Apartment Association, we sit down with Miguel Lopes, Senior Manager at Yardi Breeze, and Matt Seashols, Director at Yardi, to tackle a huge question facing the industry: How do we do build resident loyalty that lasts?

Resident loyalty isn't built through a single interaction. It develops through every touchpoint, from move-in to renewals and the everyday resident experience. Lopes and Seashols discuss how incentives and rewards can help rental housing providers deepen resident engagement and encourage valuable behaviors.

If you're looking for a practical discussion about designing loyalty experiences that are convenient, relevant and connected to broader operational goals, this episode is for you.

For more on Yardi Breeze, visit https://www.yardibreeze.com/.

Please note that as is the case for all NAA Apartmentcast episodes, nothing contained within this podcast should be treated as legal advice. The information presented is for educational purposes only.

Welcome to NAA's Apartmentcast, the official podcast of the National Apartment Association. On this sponsored episode, we sit down with Krista Hurley, Industry Principal, Agentic AI Workforce, RealPage, Inc., and Sarah Covington, CAM, HCCP, Operations Specialist at Summit Property Management, to explore one of the rental housing industry's most pressing questions: How do we do more with the teams we already have?

Across the industry, the conversation is shifting from staffing shortages to something even more fundamental: Capacity. As onsite teams manage increasing complexity, resident expectations, and operational demands, the question is no longer simply how to hire more people; it's how to enable existing teams to accomplish more.

If you're looking for ways to boost efficiently, improve resident experience and get more impact from your teams, this episode is for you.

For more on RealPage's Lumina AI suite, visit https://www.realpage.com/platforms/lumina-ai/

Please note that as is the case for all NAA Apartmentcast episodes, nothing contained within this podcast should be treated as legal advice. The information presented is for educational purposes only.

Every so often, something happens in Washington that people have been talking about for so long that it's easy to wonder whether it'll ever actually happen. For housing policy, that moment arrived with the passage of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act.

The legislation has been called the most significant housing bill in decades, bringing together a broad package of reforms aimed at increasing housing supply, improving affordability and modernizing federal housing programs. For NAA and the rental housing industry, it's also the culmination of years of advocacy and engagement.

On this episode, NAA AVP of Federal Legislative Affairs Owen Caine sits down to discuss exactly what made it into the bill, what it means for housing providers and what happens next. So what exactly made it into the bill? What does it mean for housing providers? And what happens next?

To learn more about the passage of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, visit https://naahq.org/news/what-new-housing-law-means-rental-industry. For more on rental housing advocacy, visit https://naahq.org/advocacy

Please note that as is the case for all The NAA Apartmentcast episodes, nothing contained within this podcast should be treated as legal advice. The information presented is for educational purposes only.

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 to walk into the conference already ahead of the curve, this episode is your shortcut. Listen now and get the inside scoop - and stick around for a special registration code somewhere in this episode!

Learn more and register now for Apartmentalize, June 17-19 in New Orleans at https://naahq.org/apartmentalize

Please note that as is the case for all The NAA Apartmentcast episodes, nothing contained within this podcast should be treated as legal advice. The information presented is for educational purposes only.

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 recent analysis for NAA, Bajomo explains why premiums are climbing nationwide, how reinsurance markets are driving volatility and which regions are experiencing the sharpest increases. We also explore how rising insurance costs affect budgeting, deal feasibility, risk management and property performance across the multifamily housing sector.

If you work in real estate, property management, asset management or multifamily investment — or you simply want to understand one of the industry’s most disruptive trends — this conversation offers clear, actionable insight into the forces reshaping insurance in 2025 and beyond.

For more on NAA’s Research offerings, visit https://naahq.org/research

Please note that as is the case for all The NAA Apartmentcast episodes, nothing contained within this podcast should be treated as legal advice. The information presented is for educational purposes only.

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 that make residential property management such a powerful place to grow. From April 20 through April 24, we’re calling on the entire industry to jump in and make some noise. Follow the daily themes, share your stories, shout out your teams and nominate the standout professionals who keep our communities thriving. And with the RPM Careers Week Toolkit, participating has never been easier.

Every post, every nomination, and every moment of recognition fuels our mission to attract new talent, strengthen our workforce and remind RPM professionals just how essential—and appreciated—they truly are. This is your week to celebrate, elevate and amplify the incredible people behind the properties.

For more on RPM Careers Week and to access the Toolkit, visit RPM Careers Week | National Apartment Association. To learn more about NAA’s Education Institute, visit https://naahq.org/naaei.

Please note that as is the case for all The NAA Apartmentcast episodes, nothing contained within this podcast should be treated as legal advice. The information presented is for educational purposes only.

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 picture of what it truly takes to provide rental housing today.

We dig into the pressures shaping the industry, the misconceptions that fuel policy debates and why understanding the cost structure of rental housing is essential for meaningful conversations with lawmakers.

For more on the Dollar of Rent Tool, visit Dollar of Rent Tool | National Apartment Association. If you want to explore NAA’s broader advocacy work—including policy resources, industry priorities, legislative trackers and grassroots tools—visit Advocacy | National Apartment Association

Please note that as is the case for all The NAA Apartmentcast episodes, nothing contained within this podcast should be treated as legal advice. The information presented is for educational purposes only.

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 your voice in D.C. counts.

If you are interested in learning more about NAA’s mission to improve the public policy environment at all levels of government for the rental housing industry, visit Advocacy | National Apartment Association for links to the policy issues library, industry priorities, Apartment Advocate newsletter, registration for the monthly Advocacy and Legal Webinar, legislative and regulatory trackers, grassroots action center, and much more. And of course, register now for NAA’s Advocate, March 24-25, by visiting Advocate | National Apartment Association

Please note that as is the case for all NAA Apartmentcast episodes, nothing contained within this podcast should be treated as legal advice. The information presented is for educational purposes only.

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 (Environmental, Social and Governance), which itself sits at a really interesting crossroads in rental housing: Touching asset management, finance, operations, climate strategy, resident experience, and the future of real estate.

There is a case to be made that ESG isn't a cost center for rental housing providers, it's a competitive advantage and a driver of value. Housing providers that integrate ESG into their operations can unlock new revenue opportunities, future-proof their assets and deliver better outcomes for residents and investors.

For more information and resources on ESG, sustainability, asset management and NAA's Operations Committee, visit https://naahq.org/

Please note that as is the case for all NAA Apartmentcast episodes, nothing contained within this podcast should be treated as legal advice. The information presented is for educational purposes only.

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 where people choose to live.

Trust-building technology is becoming a competitive edge for multifamily communities: From faster approvals for qualified applicants to stronger protections against fraud, we discuss how modern tools enhance the leasing journey, support onsite teams, and attract high-quality renters. We also break down how trust and transparency can function as powerful amenities that boost operational efficiency and elevate resident satisfaction.

Visit https://snappt.com/

Please note that as is the case for all NAA Apartmentcast episodes, nothing contained within this podcast should be treated as legal advice. The information presented is for educational purposes only.

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 efficiency, strengthen resident retention and boost profitability.

Visit https://leonardo247.com/

Please note that as is the case for all NAA Apartmentcast episodes, nothing contained within this podcast should be treated as legal advice. The information presented is for educational purposes only.

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 Business Strategist for Smart Apartment Solutions and Smart Moves in Howell, Michigan, as well as the 2024 Chair of NAA’s Independent Rental Owners Committee, to dive deep into the real stories behind the rental housing market and discussing something that affects millions of Americans: Affordable housing.

But we’re not just talking policy or theory. We’re talking to the people who are in the trenches: IROs, rental owners, small-scale investors and property managers who are shaping the future of housing, one unit at a time. Is affordability a moral obligation, a market failure, or a business opportunity? Listen to find out.

For more information and resources for IROs, including the NAA Click & Lease small owner package, visit https://naahq.org/

Please note that as is the case for all NAA Apartmentcast episodes, nothing contained within this podcast should be treated as legal advice. The information presented is for educational purposes only.

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 Institute (NAAEI), including the latest on the growth of its credentialing programs, new skills based professional development and what’s on tap for 2026.

Learn more about NAAEI credentials, as well as online training and continuing education credits, courses and resources available through the Visto, NAAEI’s online learning platform. And don't miss the new Career Map Tool from NAAEI.

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 balancing the priorities of creating new supply while preserving the present affordable housing stock.

For those of you out there who are interested in learning more about housing policy, including insight into Congressional reconciliation and appropriation, NAA has a wealth of resources, including a policy issues library, the Apartment Advocate and Apartment Advocate Pro newsletters, and much more, all on NAA’s website.

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 highly strategic event, where the education offerings are designed by rental housing leaders and are acutely focused on current issues and how to solve them, with the vibrant location serving as the perfect backdrop to grow your network with the next generation of senior leaders.

Learn more and register for Cultivate!

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 https://naahq.org/advocacy for links to the policy issues library, industry priorities, Apartment Advocate newsletter, registration for the monthly Advocacy and Legal Webinar, legislative and regulatory trackers, grassroots action center and much more. If you’d like to get in touch to assist on some of the topics mentioned, please email communications@naahq.org with the subject line “advocacy involvement.”

Visit NAA’s website for industry resources and live shutdown updates.

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/Expense IQ data, industry trends, housing policy research, the apartment market pulse, dollar of rent and much more, including Behind the High Cost of Rent, Regulations and Rents and Navigating Challenges in the Apartment Industry.