Peter Lohmann's Podcast

Peter Lohmann
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Helping Property Managers Streamline & Grow Their Businesses Peter Lohmann shares candid interviews and actionable insights from top operators, entrepreneurs, and industry experts in property management. Whether you're managing 100 doors or 10,000, this is your playbook for building a smarter, more scalable property management business.

  1. APR 2

    Stepping in as CEO at a 6,000+ Door SFR PM Company with Dan French

    What happens when a multifamily CEO with 18,000 doors under his belt jumps into single-family… and says SFR is the bigger opportunity?! Dan French nearly went bankrupt during the Great Financial Crisis, slept in vacant units, ruined his credit for a decade, and used every lesson to eventually scale a multifamily platform from 2,500 to 18,000 doors. Now he's CEO of Northpoint, one of the largest SFR management companies in the country, and he's building something fundamentally different: separate divisions for scattered-site SFR, BTR, and small multifamily - all running on a shared platform. We discuss: (00:00:00) - Intro(00:01:45) - Dan’s background and career(00:08:39) - Northpoint(00:14:54) - Sponsor - Enterprise Bank & Trust(00:16:18) - SFR following in the footsteps of multifamily(00:26:07) - The difference between BTR and SFR(00:30:47) - The division of labor in PM(00:34:28) - Sponsor - Haven AI(00:35:57) - How a PM would implement a BTR community(00:40:51) - Northpoint and their acquisition strategy(00:45:43) - Separating unit churn from revenue churn(00:50:27) - The melting iceberg problem(00:58:19) - Dan’s experience with Crane(01:00:44) - The competitiveness of MF property management(01:04:26) - The lack of ‘scaffolding’ in SFR(01:10:15) - Getting in touch with DanWe get into the "melting iceberg" problem that's killing PM roll-ups (and why most buyers underestimate churn), how to build a trust layer with owners that actually reduces churn, why he thinks tech is not a moat (and what is), and why the Innovator's Dilemma means SFR operators are better positioned to move upmarket than multifamily firms are to come down. Dan also shares his take on NRR vs. logo churn, the talent scaffolding gap between MF and SFR, and why North Point is keeping acquired brands intact instead of rebranding day one. Learn more and connect with Dan here: NorthpointLinkedinResources for Property Managers & Real Estate Entrepreneurs Crane – Private PM Owner Community → Join a private network of property management owners and operators: https://joincrane.co/Free Weekly Newsletter → Property management insights, strategies, and industry updates direct to your inbox: https://peter.beehiiv.com/subscribeRL Property Management → Learn more about Peter’s company and services in Columbus, Ohio: https://rlpmg.com/___ Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. I may have consulting agreements with, or financial interests in, companies mentioned in this podcast. Additionally, some of the links included may be affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you purchase through these links. Always perform your own due diligence before making any financial or business decisions.

    1h 12m

  2. MAR 26

    AI Agents, PM Policy Tracking & the Pod Hybrid Model with Wolfgang Croskey

    🔗 Register for Crane's Access Granted launch (April 2) This week on Peter Lohmann's Podcast:  What if your property management company had its own AI agents?... Ones you built yourself, running on your own server? Crane co-founder Wolfgang Croskey built two custom AI agents (Bruce and Sophia) that triage emails, delegate tasks via Slack, and pull AppFolio data, all on his own server.  Chapters: (00:00:00) - Intro(00:03:09) - Meet Sophia and Bruce(00:04:23) - OpenClaw workflow wins(00:06:03) - Building agents on VPS(00:12:36) - Texting and voice assistants(00:18:03) - Crane HQ origin story(00:24:32) - Data providers and costs(00:29:00) - AI policy email alerts(00:31:33) - Crane launch details(00:36:53) - RL’s hybrid pod structure(00:43:31) - Early results and tradeoffs(00:50:09) - Phone and email setup(00:53:03) - Tech gaps and next steps(00:56:21) - Wrap up and outroWe get into the security scare that changed his approach, why messaging through your normal channels matters more than the AI itself, and what it takes to actually set this up. We also reveal a new Crane member benefit: an AI-powered local policy tracker that monitors city council, school board, and county meetings across your service area — down to cities with 2,000+ people. Then I break down something I haven't shared publicly: RL Property Management's shift from departmental to a pod hybrid model at 750 doors - the owner churn that drove it, how we structured one-person pods with centralized ops, and early results including two saves from churning clients this week. If you're thinking about AI agents, org design, or giving owners the relationship they actually want, this one covers it. 🔗 Wolfgang Croskey on LinkedIn Resources for Property Managers & Real Estate Entrepreneurs • Crane – Private PM Owner Community → Join a private network of property management owners and operators • Free TWICE Weekly Newsletter → Property management insights, strategies, and industry updates direct to your inbox • RL Property Management → Learn more about Peter’s company and services in Columbus, Ohio __ Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. I may have consulting agreements with, or financial interests in, companies mentioned in this podcast. Additionally, some of the links included may be affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you purchase through these links. Always perform your own due diligence before making any financial or business decisions.

    57 min

  3. MAR 19

    AI, Fraud, and Tech Bloat in Property Management with Dom Beveridge

    AI, fraud, and tech bloat are quietly reshaping property management… most operators just haven’t connected the dots yet. In this episode, I sit down with Dom Beveridge (20for20) to break down what’s actually happening inside large multifamily portfolios - and what it means for single-family operators. We discuss: (00:00:00) - Intro(00:02:23) - The 20for20 annual report explained(00:04:44) - Deep vs wide research(00:05:51) - Multifamily vs scattered-site differences(00:07:47) - Maintenance operations deep dive(00:15:52) - Sponsor - DoorLoop(00:17:28) - Cross-learning between SFR and multifamily(00:34:14) - Sponsor: Enterprise Bank & Trust(00:35:38) - Tech consolidation(00:42:00) - AI impact on property tech(00:43:54) - AI-first vs AI-enabled software(00:48:53) - PMS vendors heading toward irrelevance(00:53:04) - Data as the ultimate moat(00:56:23) - Accessing the report and speaking engagements(00:57:22) - Closing remarks We get into why fraud isn’t really about “bad actors," it’s a bad debt problem hiding in plain sight. And why a lot of screening processes (yes, even yours) are more guesswork than science. We also unpack how tech stacks ballooned to 30–40+ tools, why that’s creating operational drag, and what companies are doing to fix it. Then there’s AI. We talk about the shift from “AI-enabled” to truly AI-first software, and why that distinction is about to matter a lot more than people think. Along the way, we compare multifamily vs SFR (especially in maintenance and leasing) and where each model is ahead (and behind). Learn more and connect with Dom here: Download the new edition of the 20for20 Annual SurveyLinkedInWebsite__ Resources for Property Managers & Real Estate Entrepreneurs Crane – Private PM Owner Community → Join a private network of property management owners and operators: https://joincrane.co/Free Weekly Newsletter → Property management insights, strategies, and industry updates direct to your inbox: https://peter.beehiiv.com/subscribeRL Property Management → Learn more about Peter’s company and services in Columbus, Ohio: https://rlpmg.com/__ Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. I may have consulting agreements with, or financial interests in, companies mentioned in this podcast. Additionally, some of the links included may be affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you purchase through these links. Always perform your own due diligence before making any financial or business decisions.

    58 min

  4. MAR 5

    How PMI Built a 475-Location Property Management Franchise with CEO/Co-founder, Steve Hart

    What does it take to build a national property management franchise? In this episode, I sit down with Steve Hart, CEO and co-founder of PMI, a franchise network with nearly 500 locations and 35,000+ doors under management. We unpack how PMI grew from a startup during the 2008 financial crisis into one of the largest property management platforms in the country. We discuss: (00:00:00) - Intro(00:01:25) - Meet Steve Hart(00:05:09) - Building a franchise platform(00:07:22) - Five pillars explained(00:13:21) - HOA margins and revenue(00:16:00) - Sponsor - appgentic.ai(00:17:48) - Who should franchise(00:24:20) - Brokerage as bridge(00:29:21) - Multi-location franchise growth(00:30:08) - Acquisition engine explained(00:35:11) - Aligned incentives model(00:37:13) - Sponsor - Rentvine(00:38:19) - Breaking the 100 door plateau(00:41:31) - Stop competing on price(00:43:53) - Guarantees that build trust(00:46:21) - Churn trends and fixes(00:52:36) - Saying no to PE offers(00:55:47) - Consolidation and multi-unit owners(00:58:53) - Protecting the brand(01:01:13) - Final wrap and where to followSteve explains PMI’s five-pillar model (residential, multifamily, HOA, commercial, and short-term rentals), why HOA management is growing 60% year over year, and how their franchise partners are acquiring millions of dollars in PM portfolios annually. We also dig into some practical operator questions: Why so many PM companies stall around 100 doorsWhen to stop competing on priceHow acquisitions are changing the industryAnd why Steve has repeatedly said "NO" to private equityIf you’re thinking about scaling, franchising, or buying doors, this one’s worth a listen. Learn more and connect with Steve here: PMISteve on LinkedInLearn more & connect with me here: ⁠Crane⁠, the private community for property management business owners.⁠My Free PM Newsletter⁠⁠RL Property Management⁠

    1h 2m

  5. MAR 2

    PM News Recap March 1, 2026 (Investor Ban Update, HUD Section 8 Changes, NARPM Broker/Owner Dates)

    Here’s a quick recap of what happened in property management last week. 00:00:15 — White House Clarifies Proposed Investor BanWe finally have more details on the White House’s proposed restriction on large investors buying single-family homes. The threshold is 100+ homes. Existing owners would not be required to sell. Build-to-rent communities are excluded. So are investors who “heavily renovate” homes before renting them out. This proposal now heads to Congress. We’ll keep an eye on it. 00:01:39 — HUD Proposes Section 8 Eligibility ChangesHUD issued a proposed rule that would significantly revise Section 8 requirements. The overall practical impact is likely tighter eligibility, especially for mixed-status households. If you operate in markets with heavy voucher concentration, this is something to watch closely. It could materially affect demand. 00:02:39 — NARPM Broker/Owner Conference DetailsThe National Association of Residential Property Managers released more details about its Broker/Owner Conference. It’s happening April 27–30 in New Orleans. Registration opens at 4:00 p.m. Monday. The main conference kicks off Tuesday. There’s a party Tuesday night inside the Caesars Superdome. If you’re coming in for a short window, plan around that. The event wraps Thursday afternoon with a closing keynote that hasn’t been announced yet, but I’m told it’ll be worth staying for. That’s your property management news for the week of March 1, 2026.

    4 min

  6. FEB 23

    PM News Recap Feb. 23, 2026 (Zillow vs Compass, FL Condo Kickbacks, Rentals in ChatGPT)

    Here’s a quick recap of what happened in property management last week (with Danny Piñeyro). Links and resources to each story are included below… 00:00:19 — Zillow vs. Compass Portal Fight Compass tried limiting listing distribution through “private exclusives,” Zillow pushed back with a broad-sharing rule, and a federal judge denied Compass’s request to block it. Bigger picture: this is a fight over who controls inventory — and control of inventory means leverage. 00:01:38 — Miami Condo Kickback Scheme A Miami condo manager is accused of approving payments to an unlicensed contractor and receiving roughly $95,000 in kickbacks. This is almost always a controls issue — too much authority, not enough oversight. 00:02:55 — Rentals Now Searchable Inside ChatGPT Zumper launched rental search directly inside ChatGPT, and renter use of AI search tools has more than doubled year over year. If attention shifts to AI interfaces, lead generation — and platform power — may shift with it. That’s all the news I have for you this week. Have a good one. 📩 My Newsletter: https://www.peterlohmann.com/newsletter🎙️ My Podcast: https://www.peterlohmann.com/podcast Crane: Joincrane.co

    4 min

  7. FEB 19

    Managing 360 Doors with No Employees (using AI) with Matt Luke

    What if you could manage 360+ units with no W2 employees?? That’s exactly what Matt Luke is doing in Sioux Falls. In this episode, we break down his lean, AI-powered property management model - from AI leasing agent “Serena” to AI maintenance coordinator “Max,” automated workflows in AppFolio and LeadSimple, and a vendor-first partnership strategy that keeps his margins high. 00:00 - Intro02:19 - Matt’s backstory04:42 - “No employees” explained06:35 - Pre-leasing playbook09:35 - The lean tech stack (including Haven.ai - https://www.usehaven.ai/)13:23 - AI leasing agent ‘Serena’15:36 - AI maintenance agent ‘Max’18:00 - Sponsor - Crane23:08 - Owner comms automation26:29 - Accounting without a bookkeeper28:53 - Application screening workflow30:43 - Process philosophy34:02 - AI tools that fell short38:09 - Margins & unit economics40:38 - Delinquency & evictions45:53 - The vendor partnership model50:46 - Touchless move-in52:58 - Inspections at scale55:05 - From property manager to wealth advisor01:03:06 - Pricing, adoption & upsell ideas01:05:42 - Wrap-upWe dig into how he pre-leases units 90 days out, runs daily bank recs without a bookkeeper, automates owner communication, and keeps friction out of the system (his word, not mine).But here’s the part that really stood out: Matt doesn’t just do property management. He positions himself as a wealth advisor, moving owners from day-to-day oversight into true asset management. Learn more and connect with Matt here:  Luke PropertiesLuke Properties on LinkedInLearn more & connect with me here: ⁠Crane⁠, the private community for property management business owners.⁠My Free PM Newsletter⁠⁠RL Property Management⁠

    1h 9m

  8. FEB 16

    Property Management News - Feb. 16, 2026 (Institutional Landlord Ban Update + $1M HOA Fraud + New Appfolio Benchmark Report)

    Here’s a quick recap of what happened in property management last week. Links and resources to each story are included below…00:00:20 — Housing for the 21st Century Act Passes (No Investor Ban Included) - House Republicans and Democrats just passed the Housing for the 21st Century Act. It’s largely a “build more housing, faster” package — clearing federal review delays, reducing regulatory bottlenecks, and making it easier to develop missing middle and small multifamily housing. It also includes faster voucher lease-ups and some manufactured housing provisions. https://nypost.com/2026/02/11/real-estate/congress-advances-housing-bill-without-trumps-proposal-to-ban-investors/(One important note: the proposed ban on institutional investors buying single-family homes did not make it into the final bill. That piece was left out. So for now, there’s no federal restriction coming on large-scale homebuyers. The supply-side reforms advanced. The investor restrictions didn’t. Worth watching how that evolves.) 00:01:20 — HOA Manager Accused of Stealing $1M+An HOA manager has been accused of stealing more than $1 million in 2025, including at least $600,000 from one condo association. Allegations include forged checks and misdirected settlement funds. Wild story. But zoom out for a second — this is almost always a controls issue. One person had too much access and not enough oversight. Basic financial guardrails likely would have prevented this. Dual approval on disbursements, separation of reserve and operating accounts, bank statements going directly to board members. Processes are like plumbing — invisible when they work, a disaster when they don’t. https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/hoa-manager-allegedly-scammed-people-out-of-1-million-over-4-years/00:02:08 — AppFolio Releases 2026 Property Management Benchmark Report! AppFolio just released its 2026 Property Management Benchmark Report, and a few things jumped out. https://www.appfolio.com/resources/library/benchmark-reportThe top two challenges operators reported were higher vacancy and rising operating costs. That’s not surprising, but it’s validating to see it confirmed at scale. In response, 86% of property managers say they’re prioritizing resident experience — especially communication and reducing friction around move-ins.Fraud continues to go mainstream. More than half of respondents reported an increase in application fraud last year. That’s huge. Screening and verification are becoming table stakes.And then there’s AI. Forty-four percent of respondents say they’re already using AI tools, and those users expect faster portfolio growth than non-users. Interesting correlation. If you’re not experimenting yet, this might be your sign to start small and see what actually moves the needle.That’s all the news I have for you this week. Have a good one.📩 My Newsletter: https://www.peterlohmann.com/newsletter🎙️ My Podcast: https://www.peterlohmann.com/podcast__Disclaimer: The content of this news segment is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. I may have consulting agreements with, or financial interests in, companies mentioned in this podcast. Additionally, some of the links included may be affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you purchase through these links. Always perform your own due diligence before making any financial or business decisions.

    3 min
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About

Helping Property Managers Streamline & Grow Their Businesses Peter Lohmann shares candid interviews and actionable insights from top operators, entrepreneurs, and industry experts in property management. Whether you're managing 100 doors or 10,000, this is your playbook for building a smarter, more scalable property management business.

Information

  • Creator
    Peter Lohmann
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    119
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Peter Lohmann
  • Show Website
    Peter Lohmann's Podcast

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