Student Housing Insight

wes@studenthousinginsight.com

Connecting you with the people who bring student housing to life.

  1. 16 hrs ago

    AI-Enhanced, Human-Centered: The Future of Student Housing - SHI 1040

    🎙️Episode Summary In this latest episode, Student Housing Insight Ambassador Anais Estrella sits down with Jennifer Love, SVP of Multifamily and Student Housing at Verbaflo, to unpack how AI is reshaping leasing, resident communication, and on-site team roles across the student housing industry. The conversation dives into the real balance between automation and hospitality — how AI can field 85-90% of routine inquiries instantly while freeing on-site staff to focus on the relationship-building and complex problem-solving that only humans can deliver. Jennifer and Anais also tackle head-on the industry's biggest anxieties: whether AI threatens jobs, how to keep interactions transparent and human-feeling for Gen Z renters and their parents, and why voice AI — not just chatbots — is becoming the true test of a platform's sophistication. Beyond the tactical advice, the episode offers a bigger-picture takeaway: AI should be treated less like a one-time software install and more like a new employee that needs ongoing training, feedback, and refinement. Listeners will come away with actionable insights on measuring AI success through outcomes (not just activity), using sentiment tracking to catch unhappy residents before they leave a bad review, and why staying flexible — rather than betting on one "perfect" AI platform — will be the real competitive advantage for property operators in the years ahead.   ⏱️Time Stamps 00:00:00 - Intro & Industry Evolution 00:03:00 - Balancing Trust and Automation 00:06:40 - AI Transparency and Authenticity 00:08:50 - Staffing Models vs. Automation 00:11:15 - Operational Blind Spots 00:14:15 - AI as a Continuous Journey 00:16:15 - Proactive Reputation Management 00:17:55 - Global Tech Adoption (US vs. UK) 00:19:55 - Outro & World Cup Discussion   🤝Sponsors Spotlight: VerbaFlo is a conversational AI platform designed for real estate operators, bringing voice, chat, text, email, and other communication channels together through a single AI-native platform. In student housing, the platform is positioned to help teams automate repetitive leasing, resident support, renewal, maintenance, and communication workflows while allowing onsite staff to focus on higher-value human interactions. Learn more and explore VerbaFlo: https://www.verbaflo.ai/   📎Resources Mentioned: Gallup — Gen Z's AI Adoption Steady, but Skepticism Climbs — Anais references Gallup research stating that 51% of Gen Z uses generative AI at least weekly and discusses the increase in negative sentiment toward AI. Gallup's 2026 research confirms that 51% of Gen Z respondents report using generative AI daily or weekly, while excitement and hopefulness have declined and negative sentiment has increased. Read the research: https://news.gallup.com/poll/708224/gen-adoption-steady-skepticism-climbs.aspx

  2. Jul 17

    He asked students what they pay in rent. 1 Video Hit 120k Views! Elijah Wang Chen - SHI 1039

    🎙️Episode Summary How much do students actually pay for rent, and why does that number often differ from what operators think they're charging? In this episode of the Student Housing Insight Podcast, host Wesley Deese sits down with Elijah Wang-Chen, a finance student at the University of Texas at Austin and creator of RateMyRentUT, a student-built platform that brings unprecedented transparency to off-campus housing costs. Elijah shares how his own frustrating apartment search inspired him to create a crowdsourced database where students anonymously compare rents, concessions, utilities, parking costs, and overall housing experiences. The conversation explores what student housing operators can learn from student-generated data, how pricing transparency influences leasing decisions, and why seemingly small issues like elevator reliability can have a major impact on resident satisfaction. Wes and Elijah also discuss the growing role of social media, AI-powered no-code development, and student-led innovation in shaping the future of student housing technology. Whether you're an owner, operator, marketer, or campus housing professional, this episode offers valuable insight into how today's students evaluate value, fairness, and the overall resident experience.   ⏱️Timestamps: 00:00:00 Introduction and Today's Student Housing Challenge 00:03:00 Why Students and Operators Define Rent Differently 00:04:02 Meet Elijah Wang-Chen and the Story Behind Rate My Rent UT 00:06:02 Why Student Rent Transparency Matters More Than Ever 00:08:31 Growing Pressure for Pricing Transparency in Student Housing 00:10:03 Viral Street Interviews Reveal How Students Think About Rent 00:12:14 The Personal Housing Frustration That Sparked Rate My Rent 00:14:05 Discovering They Overpaid and Building a Better Solution 00:15:07 Using Viral Social Media to Collect Student Housing Data 00:17:25 How Rate My Rent UT Lets Students Compare Rent 00:20:52 Why Students Feel They Didn't Get a Good Deal 00:22:19 What Student Housing Data Reveals About Rent Trends 00:26:05 The Biggest Complaints Students Have About Their Apartments 00:28:02 Why Transparency Matters More Than Public Reviews 00:30:06 Student-Led Innovation Is Reshaping Housing Technology 00:31:39 Building the Platform with AI-Powered No-Code Tools 00:32:59 Expanding Rate My Rent Beyond the University of Texas 00:34:24 The Future of Student Housing Transparency 00:35:37 Final Takeaways and Closing Remarks   🤝Sponsor Spotlight:  Opiniion | AI-Visibility As AI increasingly influences where prospective residents search for housing, Opiniion helps student housing operators stay visible where it matters most. Their AI Visibility platform shows how communities appear across leading AI platforms and provides a personalized action plan to improve discoverability, reputation, and online presence. In addition, Opiniion offers reputation management tools and Social Pro to simplify portfolio-wide social media management. Learn more: https://opiniion.com/platform/ai-visi...   🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned in the Episode: SHI Events Page: https://www.studenthousinginsight.com... ShopTalk.Info: https://www.shoptalk.info/ Rate My Rent UT: https://ratemyrentut.com Rate My Rent Instagram:   / ratemy.rent   The Daily Texan Article: https://thedailytexan.com/2026/05/01/...

  3. Jul 17

    Why Everyone at OPTECH Was Talking About AI with Tyler Holmes - SHI 1038

    🎙️Episode Summary At OPTECH, the student housing industry's premier technology conference, host Wesley Deese and Tyler Holmes of PeakMade Real Estate discussed the practical innovations reshaping property operations. A major focus of their conversation was the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence—specifically the shift toward agentic AI. Rather than simply generating content, these advanced AI tools can now automate complex operational tasks and support centralized leasing teams, ultimately freeing onsite staff to focus entirely on delivering exceptional resident experiences. Beyond the impressive demonstrations of robotics and emerging tech, Holmes emphasized that the conference's true value lies in peer collaboration and evaluating real-world use cases. He noted that successful technology adoption comes from exchanging actionable insights with fellow operators, rather than just purchasing the newest software. By learning from one another, organizations can implement proven solutions that drive operational efficiency, generate higher-quality leads, boost renewals, and elevate the overall resident experience. ⏱️Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction to the OPTECH interview series and overview of the conference's importance to the student housing industry. 00:00:18 - Sponsor message featuring Allegion's Resident Key in Wallet mobile access solution. 00:01:05 - Wes Deese welcomes Tyler Holmes of PeakMade Real Estate and asks for his overall impressions of OPTECH. 00:01:25 - Tyler explains why OPTECH is valuable for learning directly from fellow operators and understanding practical technology implementation. 00:02:00 - Discussion on moving beyond product demonstrations to real-world use cases and implementation strategies. 00:02:30 - Tyler identifies artificial intelligence as the conference's biggest trend and discusses AI-powered centralization in marketing and leasing. 00:03:05 - Conversation shifts to agentic AI and how automation can eliminate repetitive operational work while improving the resident experience. 00:03:45 - Final reflections on robotics, AI innovation, operational efficiency, lead quality, and resident satisfaction. 00:04:00 - Closing remarks and conclusion of the interview.     🤝Sponsor Spotlight: Allegion’s Campus-to-Community Student Living solution helps bridge the gap between on-campus and off-campus student living by allowing students to use a singular mobile credential experience for seamless property access. The solution is designed to improve the resident experience while also reducing lockouts, improving turnover efficiency, and supporting stronger operational performance for property teams. Learn more about Allegion and the Campus-to-Community Student Living solution here: https://lp.allegion.com/student-housing.html

  4. Jul 3

    What Happened in Student Housing: May 2026 Wrap-Up - SHI 1037

    🎙️Episode Summary In this episode of the SHI News Wrap up, Host Wes Deese and Co-host Gretta Dare explores the biggest developments shaping the student housing industry, including The Scion Group's acquisition of Student Quarters, continued market consolidation, major public-private partnership (P3) projects, new development activity, and significant investment transactions. Hosts Wes Deese and Gretta Dare examine the strategic implications of these announcements while offering thoughtful commentary on leadership, organizational change, and the future direction of the industry. The episode also covers important legislative updates surrounding the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, Build-to-Rent policy changes, Entrata's IPO filing, and broader market trends affecting owners, operators, and investors. From technology and public market transparency to housing affordability and operational strategy, this month's news roundup provides valuable context and actionable insights for professionals looking to stay informed on the latest developments in student housing.   ⏱️Timestamps 00:01:14 Student Housing Insight Introduction 00:03:00 June 2026 News Wrap-Up Begins 00:03:55 Preview of Sly Brandon Interview and Nashville Recording 00:08:07 Major Industry Acquisition Discussion Begins 00:12:40 Interface Panel: Lessons from Student Housing Mergers 00:19:25 The Scion Group Acquires Student Quarters 00:30:25 How Consolidation Creates Operational and Insurance Advantages 00:35:05 Employee Transition and Integration Challenges 00:39:15 Is Scion Preparing for an IPO? 00:43:40 Maslow's Campus Communities Wins University of Washington Tacoma P3 00:45:45 Core Spaces Announces 3,500-Bed University of Illinois Expansion 00:48:45 New Mountain Capital Investment in Asset Living 00:50:40 Housing Legislation and Build-to-Rent Policy Update 00:57:10 Entrata Files for an IPO 01:00:35 What Going Public Could Mean for Entrata Customers 01:10:45 AI Surveillance Cameras Raise Privacy Questions on College Campuses 01:12:11 Closing Remarks   🤝Sponsor Spotlight: Allegion’s Campus-to-Community Student Living solution helps bridge the gap between on-campus and off-campus student living by allowing students to use a singular mobile credential experience for seamless property access. The solution is designed to improve the resident experience while also reducing lockouts, improving turnover efficiency, and supporting stronger operational performance for property teams. Learn more about Allegion and the Campus-to-Community Student Living solution here: https://lp.allegion.com/student-housing.html   🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned in the Episode ShopTalk: https://www.shoptalk.info/ Scion Group's Acquisition of Student Quarter/Industry Consolidation in Student Housing:: https://therealdeal.com/national/2026/06/11/scion-group-makes-1-5b-student-housing-bet/ Impact of Mergers and Acquisitions on Employees: https://therealdeal.com/national/2026/06/11/scion-group-makes-1-5b-student-housing-bet Core Spaces' 3,500-Bed Expansion Near the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2026/06/02/maslows-campus-communities-uw-tacoma-housing.html?__cf_chl_f_tk=hcDXtaA5bvwupodjYrHtYVJr8zdJA.WfCLZ.5LW4lVw-1783023755-1.0.1.1-yl6GcZslH41H48fQPqA0uqnw3sr9NbIy4sk.lOHzBEg New Mountain Capital's Acquisition of Asset Living https://news.studenthousingdaily.com/p/june-11-2026-the-scion-group-to-acquire-student-quarters The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act: https://financialservices.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=411172 Build-to-Rent(BTR) Legislation and Its Impact on Student Housing: https://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/knowledge-hub/news/senate-passes-21st-century-road-to-housing-act-now-across-the-finish-line Luxury Student Housing Reshapes College Towns: https://finance-commerce.com/2026/06/luxury-student-housing-college-town-affordability/

  5. Jun 19

    From AI to Pest Control: The surprising tech transforming Student Housing with Scott Manning - 1036

    🎙️Episode Summary: Recorded live from the OPTECH conference floor, host Wes Deese sits down with Scott Manning, SVP of Operations at Article Student Living, to discuss his key takeaways from this year's conference. With more than 23 years of experience in student housing and nearly a decade at Article Student Living, Scott shares how OPTECH provides a valuable opportunity to evaluate vendors, explore emerging technologies, and support the company's ongoing RFP process. The conversation covers the growing role of AI, virtual tours, and technology integrations across property operations, as well as the importance of maintaining strong vendor partnerships. Scott also discusses an unexpected operational challenge involving pest management and explains how even niche service providers are increasingly leveraging technology to improve efficiency and integration. The episode concludes with reflections on the relationships and industry connections that continue to make OPTECH a meaningful event year after year.   ⏱️Episode Timestamps 00:00:00 – Introduction 00:00:20 – Scott Manning's Background 00:00:45 – Initial OPTECH Takeaways 00:01:00 – Vendor Evaluation & RFP Process 00:01:35 – Technologies Under Review 00:01:55 – Looking Beyond Traditional PropTech 00:02:10 – Pest Management Technology & Integration 00:02:40 – Surprises and Industry Reflections 00:03:00 – The Networking Value of OPTECH 00:03:25 – Closing Remarks   🤝Sponsor Spotlight: Allegion’s Campus-to-Community Student Living solution helps bridge the gap between on-campus and off-campus student living by allowing students to use a singular mobile credential experience for seamless property access. The solution is designed to improve the resident experience while also reducing lockouts, improving turnover efficiency, and supporting stronger operational performance for property teams. Learn more about Allegion and the Campus-to-Community Student Living solution here: https://lp.allegion.com/student-housing.html   🔗Sources & References Mentioned: 2026 OPTECH https://rettc.org/events/optech-2026 Student Housing Insight Events Page https://www.studenthousinginsight.com/events

  6. Jun 12

    The New Marketing Playbook: AI Search, GEO & Social Media Optimization in 2026 - SHI 1035

    🎙️Episode Summary: In this episode of the Student Housing Insight podcast, host Wes Deese brings together three marketing experts in a webinar style discussion to tackle what he calls "The New Marketing Playbook" — a forward-looking discussion on how the student housing industry must adapt to AI-driven search, generative engine optimization (GEO), and a rapidly evolving social media landscape. The panel explores how AI platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity are changing the way students and parents research housing, and why the vast majority of apartment brands are currently invisible in these searches. Guests share practical, zero-budget strategies — from building a Reddit presence and leveraging university journalism programs for earned media backlinks, to creating lifestyle-driven social content and establishing ownable content series. The conversation also touches on the emerging concept of "search everywhere optimization," where TikTok, Instagram, YouTube Shorts, and Reddit all function as search engines that operators need to show up on.   ⏱️Time Stamps: 00:00:00 — Welcome & Introduction 00:01:00 — Housekeeping & Webinar Format 00:02:00 — Upcoming Events & Industry Announcements 00:07:00 — Panel Introductions 00:09:00 — Are Students Actually Finding Properties Through AI? (Poll + Discussion) 00:14:00 — Defining SEO vs. GEO vs. AI Search 00:16:00 — AI Visibility Tools & GEO Audits 00:20:00 — Reddit as a Search & GEO Platform 00:28:00 — "Search Everywhere Optimization" & Social Content Strategy 00:34:00 — Content Formats, Longevity & YouTube Shorts 00:38:00 — Who Will Win the AI Search Race? (Gemini, ChatGPT, Perplexity) 00:40:00 — Earned Media & Backlinks for AI Visibility 00:45:00 — Pinterest & Other Platforms (Audience Q&A) 00:47:00 — Monthly Checklist for Site Managers & AI Content Prompting Tip 00:51:00 — Zero-Budget GEO Strategy Anyone Can Execute Tomorrow 00:53:00 — Predictions: Where Is AI Marketing Headed in the Next 12 Months   🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned in the Episode: SHI Events Page: https://www.studenthousinginsight.com/events ShopTalk Website: https://www.shoptalk.info/ 10X Digital: https://10xdigitalinc.com/ Holly Rollins’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollyrollins/ Student Quarters: https://livesq.com/ Misty William’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mistyywilliams/ Reddit Marketing Playbook for Students by Misty Williams: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mistyywilliams_how-reddit-increases-ai-visibility-in-student-ugcPost-7470870736165875712-y7xW/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAADcXRUBXY6zO9_kkgWQjKBgjw7DgmoHrPc Studio + Commerce: https://www.studioandcommerce.com/commerce Ross Laurence’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-laurence/

  7. Jun 8

    How to Find and Retain BETTER Residents - SHI 1034

    🎙️Episode Summary: In this episode Host Wes Deese leads a panel of three student housing experts discussing strategies for attracting, managing, and retaining student residents — especially first-time renters. The conversation centers on the 19–21-year-old demographic, described as "adults in training with selective competence," and what that means for property management. Topics include proactive communication, move-in day best practices, international student retention, early renewal ordinances, resetting standards after management takeovers, and pitching amenity investments to ownership groups. The episode blends real-world examples with actionable tactics from operators across portfolio sizes.   ⏱️Time Stamps: 00:00:00 — Introduction & Welcome 00:05:00 — Upcoming Events & Industry Calendar 00:05:50 — Sponsor Spotlight: With Me (Print With Me & Sip With Me) 00:10:50 — Setting the Stage: Who Actually Lives in Student Housing? 00:18:10 — Communication Touch points & Reducing Resident Anxiety 00:28:00 — Staff Training & Internal Communication Standards 00:28:50 — Early Renewal Ordinances — Navigating the Legal Landscape 00:33:15 — Attracting & Retaining International Students 00:40:40 — Move-In Day as the Foundation of the Resident Relationship 00:47:45 — Resetting Standards After a Management Takeover 00:53:25 — Amenity Strategy — Aligning Owner Vision with Resident Needs 00:57:20 — Wrap-Up & Closing Remarks   🤝Sponsor Spotlight: This episode is proudly sponsored by With Me, the leading provider of fully managed, tech-enabled printing and coffee amenity solutions for multifamily and student housing communities. With Me operates two products: Print With Me, which provides residents and staff with reliable, always-stocked printers, and Sip With Me, a bean-to-cup coffee solution sourced from craft roasters that delivers a high-quality café-style experience right in your community’s common areas. Learn more and get in touch at https://go.withme.com/student-housing   🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned in the Episode: SHI Events Page: https://www.studenthousinginsight.com/events ShopTalk: https://www.shoptalk.info Abby Jarvela's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abby-jarvela-605682a/ Zach Bishop's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-bishop-a7194b1b Sydney Everett's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydney-p-everett

  8. Jun 8

    What Happened in Student Housing: May 2026 Wrap-Up - SHI 1033

    🎙️Episode Summary In this May 2026 wrap-up episode, host Wesley Deese and co-host Gretta Dare cover the most significant news stories, market data, and policy developments shaping the student housing industry.The episode opens with a major $910 million portfolio acquisition by Scion Group and Ares from Harrison Street, followed by a deep dive into declining international student enrollment and its downstream effects on the US student housing market. Then Wes & Gretta analyze the current pre-leasing season, which is tracking at historic lows not seen since 2015, and explore the rising tide of student-led rent transparency initiatives like Rate My Rent UT at the University of Texas. The conversation also covers Core Spaces' landmark $1.64 billion capital raise, NAHB data on student housing construction investment, emerging ESA policy changes from HUD, and the outlook for new development leasing professionals. The episode closes with a look ahead to the Apartmentalize conference in New Orleans and upcoming industry webinars.   ⏱️Time Stamps 00:02:00 – Intro: Welcome, About the Platform & Shop Talk Overview 00:05:00 – Shop Talk Preview: BTR & Cottage Housing Legislation Warning 00:08:00 – Shop Talk: Mental Wellness Month / Hi How Are You Foundation 00:09:00 – NEWS: Scion Group & Ares Acquire Harrison Street's $910M Student Housing Portfolio 00:15:00 – Host Commentary on Scion Deal & International Student Reliance 00:16:00 – NEWS: International Student Enrollment Falls 20% Amid Visa Restrictions 00:21:00 – NEWS: Student Housing Emerges as Top Real Estate Investment in China (CBRE) 00:24:00 – NEWS: HUD Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Policy Shift – NYT Internal Memo 00:28:00 – NEWS: Core Spaces Capital Raise & Investor Confidence 00:31:00 – Pre-Leasing Data: Year-Over-Year Gap & Five-Year Trend Analysis 00:41:00 – NEWS: Student-Led Housing Advocacy at UT Austin / West Campus 00:47:00 – Operator Warning: Pre-Leasing Pressure Tactics & Legislative Backlash Risk 00:53:00 – Construction Spending: Private Fixed Investment in Student Housing Q1 2026 00:59:00 – Apartmentalize (NAA) Conference Discussion & Closing / Sponsor Outro   🤝Sponsor Spotlight: Allegion’s Campus-to-Community Student Living solution helps bridge the gap between on-campus and off-campus student living by allowing students to use a singular mobile credential experience for seamless property access. The solution is designed to improve the resident experience while also reducing lockouts, improving turnover efficiency, and supporting stronger operational performance for property teams. Learn more about Allegion and the Campus-to-Community Student Living solution here: https://lp.allegion.com/student-housing.html   🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned in the Episode Student Housing Insight – https://www.studenthousinginsight.com ShopTalk Monthly Webinar – https://www.shoptalk.info Student Housing Insight Events Page – https://www.studenthousinginsight.com/events NMHC – National Multifamily Housing Council – https://www.nmhc.org Walker & Dunlop – https://www.walkerdunlop.com Hi, How Are You Foundation – https://hihowareyou.org Pet Screening – https://www.petscreening.com Scion Group & Ares Management Team Up to Buy $910M in Student Housing: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-20/ares-partnership-buys-910-million-us-student-housing-portfolio Core Spaces Closes $1.64 Billion Flagship Student Housing Fund: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260513581634/en/Core-Spaces-Closes-$1.64-Billion-Flagship-Fund-Underscoring-Strong-Investor-Confidence-in-Student-Housing Fall 2026 Preleasing Rebounds After Slow Start, Hits 68.2% in April: https://www.realpage.com/analytics/april-2026-student-housing-update/ International Student Enrollment Plummets 20% Amid Visa Restrictions - https://nomadlawyer.org/international-student-enrolment-falls-visa-restrictions-may-2026 Student-led initiatives highlight housing concerns in West Campus - https://thedailytexan.com/2026/05/01/student-led-initiatives-highlight-housing-concerns-in-west-campus/

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About

Connecting you with the people who bring student housing to life.

Information

  • Creator
    wes@studenthousinginsight.com
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2017 . All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Student Housing Insight

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