🎙️Episode Summary

In this month’s wrap-up, host Wes Deese and co-host Gretta Dare welcome 2026 with a breakdown of the major shifts in the student housing industry rankings. Special guest Jason Fort, EVP at Asset Living, joins the show to discuss Asset Living’s historic rise to the number one spot on the Student Housing Business Top 25 Managers list, overtaking American Campus Communities. Jason shares insights into their organic growth, the increasing trend of multifamily-to-student conversions, and the importance of operational flexibility in today's market.

The team also dives into significant development news, including Core Spaces' massive 2,352-bed "ōLiv Columbia" project and a unique hotel-to-student housing conversion Columbia, SC and a rare new dev/conversion in Manhattan by BDB Construction. Finally, Wes and Gretta analyze the latest Fall enrollment data, highlighting a surge in community college attendance and sparking a candid conversation about degree requirements for industry professionals.

⏱️Timestamps

00:00:00 – Sponsor Message: Introduction to Social Pro from Opiniion.

00:02:08 – Intro & Weather Reports: Wes and Gretta catch up on the winter storms hitting North Carolina and College Station.

00:05:00 – Top 25 Managers Rankings: Analysis of the new industry rankings and Asset Living taking the #1 spot.

00:06:40 – Guest Interview: Jason Fort of Asset Living joins to discuss their growth strategy and the shift from multifamily to student housing operations.

00:16:27 – Third-Party Management & Shared Services: A look at the Top Third-Party Managers list, Cardinal Group crossing the 100k bed threshold, and the rise of "white label" management services.

00:20:00 – Industry Consolidation: Discussion on recent mergers, including Yugo and Campus Advantage.

00:23:00 – Top 25 Owners List: Reviewing the top owners, including American Campus Communities, Scion, and the rapid growth of Core Spaces.

00:31:30 – Development News (CORE Spaces): Breakdown of the massive ōLiv Columbia project and the operational challenges of managing mega-developments.

00:43:00 – Manhattan Conversion Project: BDB Construction’s conversion of a Financial District hotel into the world’s tallest student accommodation.

00:52:00 – Enrollment Data Analysis: Insights from the National Student Clearinghouse and Chronicle of Higher Education regarding Fall 2025/2026 enrollment trends.

01:00:00 – The Degree Debate: Gretta and Wes discuss the necessity of college degrees for various roles within the student housing industry.

💡Sponsor Social Pro by Opiniion This episode is sponsored by Social Pro from Opiniion, the number one social media management platform designed specifically for property management. Social Pro allows you to create beautiful, optimized content in seconds and publish it across every major social network with just one click. From AI-powered content creation to a unified inbox for all comments and DMs, Social Pro elevates your brand and simplifies resident engagement.

Click here to learn more: https://opiniion.com/shi/

📎Sources & Links:

Student Housing Insight: https://www.studenthousinginsight.com/

ShopTalk Webinars: https://www.shoptalk.info/

Student Housing Business: https://studenthousingbusiness.com/

National Student Clearinghouse:

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/2026/01/15/fall-enrollment-increased-1-international-students-declined

CORE Spaces: https://studenthousingbusiness.com/core-spaces-to-break-ground-on-2350-bed-mixed-use-development-near-university-of-south-carolina/

BDB Construction:

https://studenthousingbusiness.com/bdb-construction-completes-phase-i-of-student-housing-conversion-project-in-manhattans-financial-district/

🎙️ Episode Summary:

In this episode, host Wesley Deese is joined by Student Housing Insight Ambassador Courtney Colegrove from Core Spaces.They discuss Courtney's journey from resident assistant to the corporate side of student housing and the inspiration behind her new content project, "SHI Talks" (a cheeky play on "Shit Talks"). Recorded on-site at LeaseCon / TurnCon 2025, the episode features a series of "man-on-the-street" style interviews.

Courtney puts vendors and operators on the spot with rapid-fire questions, revealing candid takes on everything from "last-minute approvals" vs. "last-minute cancellations" to the real villains of property management: construction delays or unrealistic timelines. Tune in for a fun, human look at the people powering the industry.

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00:19 – Sponsor Message: Social Pro from Opinion

00:02:06 – Intro

00:03:38 – Meet Courtney Colegrove: From Public Health to Student Housing

00:08:00 – The "SHI Talks" Concept: Bringing humor and authenticity to industry content

00:11:40 – Vendor Interviews: Alex Bennett (Opinion)

00:14:10 – Vendor Interviews: Anthony Tuppin II (Lease Magnets)

00:17:54 – Operator Interviews: Jordan Verdean (CORE Spaces)

00:19:42 – Operator Interviews: Jake Zaino (Caliber Living)

00:21:15 – Outro

💡 Sponsors:

Opinion (Social Pro) This episode is powered by Social Pro from Opinion, the number one social media management platform designed specifically for property management. Social Pro allows teams to create, schedule, and publish optimized content across all major social networks—including Reels and stories—in just seconds. With built-in Canva integration and multi-location analytics, it simplifies how you elevate your resident engagement.

Check them out here: Visit https://opiniion.com/shi/

📎 Sources & Links Mentioned:

Student Housing Insight:

https://www.studenthousinginsight.com/

ShopTalk Webinars:

https://www.shoptalk.info/

Lease Magnets:

https://leasemagnets.com/

CORE Spaces:

https://corespaces.com/

Caliber Living:

https://www.caliberliving.com/

🎙️Episode Summary

In this episode, recorded live from Lease Con / Turn Con in Charlotte, host Wesley Deese sits down with Dan Smith, co-founder of Verbaflo and host of the Housed podcast. While Dan is a familiar voice in the UK and European student housing sectors, he is making his debut in the US market with Verbaflo, an award-winning conversational AI platform designed specifically for student accommodations.

The conversation covers Dan's journey from operations and consultancy to tech entrepreneurship, driven by the need for better communication tools in the industry. Dan and Wes discuss the capabilities of Verbaflo—which supports 180 languages across voice, chat, and messaging apps—and how it achieved "PropTech of the Year" status in Europe. They also explore the company's strategy for the US market, including a risk-free pilot program designed to prove value to operators before they commit to contracts.

⏱️Timestamps & Segments

00:00:00 – Intro: The reality of speaking with AI agents.

00:03:20 – Introduction to the episode: Profiling Verbaflo.

00:06:45 – Interview begins: Welcoming Dan Smith to the US.

00:08:53 – Dan’s background: From gin distilleries to student housing operations.

00:09:50 – The origin of Verbaflo: Solving the communication problem.

00:15:30 – Operational efficiency vs. staff reduction: Enhancing the community manager role.

00:19:40 – US Expansion Strategy: The 3-month risk-free pilot program.

00:20:45 – Winning "PropTech of the Year" and managing 200,000 beds in Europe.

00:25:09 – Upcoming appearances: Interface Student Housing Conference 2026.

00:24:45 – The value of remaining an active consultant while selling tech.

00:27:30 – Contact information and the Housed podcast.

📎Resources & Links Mentioned

Verbaflo:

https://www.verbaflo.ai/

Shop Talk: https://www.shoptalk.info/

Student Housing Insight: https://www.studenthousinginsight.com/

Housed – The Shared Living Podcast: Dan Smith’s weekly podcast covering the UK/European sector.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/housed-the-shared-living-podcast/id1729644031

Interface Student Housing Conference:

https://web.cvent.com/event/f7084451-7ded-4cf2-a457-54878ee006f4/websitePage:9ee6647b-278e-45b3-95bc-fdca253e1bba?environment=P2

🎙️Episode Summary

In this episode, recorded live at the LeaseCon+TurnCon in Charlotte, host Wesley Deese moderates a candid panel with five college students about their off-campus housing experiences. The students share unfiltered feedback on the increasingly early timeline for signing leases—with some securing senior housing as early as their freshman year. The discussion covers the critical role of social media and word-of-mouth in their decision-making, often outweighing traditional marketing or AI tools. The panel also dives into the realities of move-in day, the amenities that actually matter (versus those that just look good on a tour), and the frustrations caused by poor communication and aggressive renewal tactics. This "voice of the customer" session offers essential takeaways for operators looking to improve resident satisfaction and retention.

⏱️Timestamps

00:00:00 – Intro / Cold Open: The shock of signing leases 18 months in advance.

00:00:40 – Sponsor Message: Improving resident engagement with Opiniion's Social Pro.

00:02:27 – Host Welcome: Wesley Deese sets the stage for the live student panel.

00:10:09 – Meet the Panel: Introductions from students Lydia, Erica, Dana, Kara, and Austin.

00:12:03 – The Housing Search & Timelines: From relying on word-of-mouth to signing senior leases during freshman year.

00:19:15 – Move-In Day: A look at organized check-ins versus chaotic experiences with maintenance issues.

00:33:56 – Amenities That Matter: The reality of what gets used (gyms and pools) versus marketing fluff like golf simulators.

00:36:11 – The Renewal Decision: Why students choose to leave and the annoyance of redundant renewal calls.

00:44:59 – Audience Q&A: The panel answers operator questions regarding furniture quality, the use of AI in leasing, and social media engagement.

01:03:04 – Outro: Key takeaways for operators and final thoughts.

💡Sponsor Spotlight

This episode is sponsored by Opiniion and their new Social Pro platform. Social Pro helps property teams streamline their social media management, allowing them to create consistent content, publish across multiple platforms instantly, and measure engagement without overburdening their staff.

Learn more about Social Pro: opiniion.com/shi

🔗 Resources & Links

Student Housing Insight: 

https://www.studenthousinginsight.com/

Shop Talk Webinars: Register for monthly legislative updates and pre-leasing data at

https://www.shoptalk.info/

🎙️Episode Summary

In this wrap-up episode for November and December, Wes Deese and co-host Gretta Dare take a deep dive into the busy conference season and the latest industry news. The duo recaps Wes’s experience as an "influencer" at the OpTech conference in Las Vegas, including insights on prop-tech trends and the spectacle of the Sphere. They then shift focus to a detailed breakdown of LeaseCon TurnCon, sharing takeaways from the student panel, the importance of the human element in leasing, and the ongoing staffing challenges discussed at the ShopTalk Executive Summit.

The conversation moves to critical news impacting the sector, starting with a discussion on the shifting value perception of four-year degrees based on a recent NBC poll. Wes and Gretta also tackle the FTC’s recent settlement with Greystar regarding fee transparency and analyze the latest Open Doors data showing a decline in new international student enrollment. Finally, they cover major company news, including Lincoln Property Company’s acquisition of Capstone Development Partners and updates on Yugo’s portfolio growth.

⏱️Timestamps

00:03:34 – OpTech Conference Recap: Being an "Influencer" & PropTech trends

00:10:00 – Exhibit Hall highlights: App Work’s unique booth strategy

00:15:47 – Hologram technology in conferences

00:18:00 – LeaseCon TurnCon Recap: Bringing the whole team

00:23:18 – The Student Panel: Why students still want human connection

00:34:00 – ShopTalk Executive Summit: HR and maintenance staffing challenges

00:44:50 – Debate: Where should future conferences be held? (Charlotte vs. Dallas)

00:53:50 – Industry News: NBC Poll on the declining perceived value of college degrees

01:06:00 – FTC & Greystar: The settlement on "junk fees" and transparency in advertising

01:16:00 – International Student Trends: Analyzing the Open Doors data and enrollment drops

01:25:00 – Company News: Lincoln Property Company acquires Capstone Development Partners

01:28:40 – Management Updates: Peak and Yugo portfolio awards

💡Sponsor Spotlight: Jameson Bedding

This episode is sponsored by Jameson Bedding. As you prepare your budget and inventory for the upcoming summer turn, don't let the stress of mattress replacement slow you down. Student Housing Pros rely on Jameson Bedding for their US-made mattresses that ship quickly anywhere in the lower 48, along with durable encasements to extend the life of your inventory. Visit StudentHousingMattress.com to learn more and stay ready for move-in.

🔗 References & Resources

Student Housing Insight Platform:

https://www.studenthousinginsight.com/

ShopTalk Webinar Info:

https://www.shoptalk.info/

Open Doors Data (International Student Enrollment): https://opendoorsdata.org/annual-release/international-students/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

NBC News Poll: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/poll-dramatic-shift-americans-no-longer-see-four-year-college-degrees-rcna243672?utm_source=Iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=campaign_15919381_nl_Daily-Briefing_date_20251202

FTC News Release: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/12/greystar-agrees-pay-24-million-stop-deceptive-advertising-practices-result-ftc-colorado-lawsuit?utm_source=chatgpt.com

OpTech Conference (NMHC):

https://rettc.org/events/optech-2025

🎧 Episode Summary

In this episode, host Wesley Deese sits down with Teddy Abdelmalek from HH Redstone to discuss the current state of student housing operations following the recent Shop Talk Executive Summit and LeaseCon/TurnCon conferences. Teddy shares his unique professional journey, transitioning from a pre-med track and Resident Assistant (RA) role into a career in property management and business development.

The conversation explores the critical impact of FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment) on leasing success, specifically highlighting how comfortable mattresses can significantly influence a resident's experience and decision-making. Teddy also outlines HH Redstone's "secret sauce" operational philosophy: treating residents as if they are the CEOs or owners of the property to drive performance and reputation. Finally, the discussion covers the importance of "speed winning" in leasing, the transition from operations to business development, and why investing in onsite talent is crucial for 2025.

⏱ Episode Timestamps & Key Topics

00:01:38 – Recap of the Shop Talk Executive Summit and LeaseCon

00:04:55 – The Strategic Importance of FF&E and Mattresses in Leasing

00:07:05 – Innovations in Common Areas: The Recre Kiosk

00:08:45 – Teddy’s Journey: From Pre-Med to Student Housing Property Management

00:15:30 – Building on University Relationships and Operational Growth

00:18:20 – Advice for Transitioning from Operations to Business Development

00:21:25 – HH Redstone’s Geographic Focus and Market Strategy

00:25:40 – The "Secret Sauce": Treating Residents Like CEOs

00:33:15 – Moving the Needle: Speed Wins and Bias Towards Action

00:36:15 – The Role of AI as a Supplement to Human Effort

00:37:30 – 2025 Takeaways: Investing in Staff and Professional Development

🤝 Episode Sponsor Student Housing Mattress Move-in day is stressful enough without the added worry of missing or uncomfortable mattresses. Powered by Jameson Bedding, Student Housing Mattress provides US-made mattresses that ship quickly anywhere in the lower 48 states, ensuring you are ready for move-in.

👉 Learn more and stay move-in ready: https://www.studenthousingmattress.com

🔗 Sources & References Mentioned in the Episode

Student Housing Insight:

https://www.studenthousinginsight.com

Shop Talk Home Page:

https://www.studenthousinginsight.com

StudentHousingMattress.com (Jamison Bedding):

https://www.studenthousingmattress.com

HH Redstone:

https://www.hhredstone.com

Lease Con / Turn Con (Interface Conference Group):

https://interfaceconferencegroup.com

🎧Episode Summary

In this episode, Student Housing Insight Ambassador Cody Hardy sits down with Tim Baldwin, attorney and owner of Property Management Law Solutions, for a deep dive into how landlord–tenant law has evolved in today’s post-COVID, AI-driven world. They unpack the foundational mistakes operators often make, the rise of tenant attorneys and class-action exposure, how AI is arming residents with new tools, and why having a trusted legal partner is no longer optional — it's a proactive risk-management strategy. Whether you're managing a single community or overseeing a national portfolio, this conversation reframes how to think about efficiency, documentation, compliance, and long-term protection for your assets and your team.

⏱️Timestamps

00:02:21 – Introduction to today’s topic and why operators need this conversation

00:04:38 – Cody introduces guest Tim Baldwin

00:08:28 – Common foundational mistakes in property management

00:11:04 – COVID, AI, and the rise of tenant attorneys

00:15:05 – How the industry has changed since 2020

00:20:25 – Why “doing it the right way” is actually more efficient

00:24:42 – PM Law Solutions’ online eviction platform

00:27:10 – How Tim’s team is structured to support multiple properties

00:29:16 – Misconceptions about cost and “I’ve always done it this way”

00:31:54 – How the industry has shifted: ESAs, accommodations, regulations

00:36:03 – No such thing as a dumb question — why clarity protects you

00:38:07 – How to connect with Tim Baldwin

00:38:34 – Wes’s closing takeaways & upcoming content preview

💡Sponsor Highlight StudentHousingMattress.com — Powered by Jamison Bedding Move-in day can unravel fast when even one bed is missing. Inspections miss things, local stores don’t carry student-housing sizes, and replacements are slow. StudentHousingMattress.com solves this with fast-shipping, U.S.-made mattresses — including industry-standard durable blue-vinyl models. Stay ready for move-in.

👉 https://studenthousingmattress.com/

🔗Mentioned Resources & Links

Student Housing Insight:

https://www.studenthousinginsight.com/

ShopTalk.Info: https://www.shoptalk.info/

Cody Hardy’s LinkedIn Page:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cody-hardy-cam-797100189/

Property Management Law Solutions, PLLC:

https://pmlawsolutions.com/

Student Housing Mattress:

https://studenthousingmattress.com/

🎙️ Episode Summary In this monthly wrap-up, host Wes Deese and co-host Gretta Dare unpack the biggest developments shaping the student housing industry in October. From insights at the NMHC Student Housing Conference to major legislative wins in California’s student housing crisis, the episode covers market trends, AI in operations, and key company news. They discuss highlights from NMHC—including the 2025 Market Outlook, AI integration panels, and reflections on data transparency across operators. The duo also dives into new California laws aimed at easing housing shortages for college students, an adaptive reuse project in Long Beach, and other headlines impacting developers and operators nationwide. The episode closes with upcoming events like ShopTalk and LeaseCon/TurnCon, plus a spotlight on industry promotions and partnerships.

💡 Sponsor Spotlight: The Guarantors This episode is sponsored by The Guarantors, the industry leader in rent coverage and risk reduction solutions for student housing operators. Their Rent Coverage product eliminates the uncertainty of parental guarantors, ensuring faster leasing conversions and reliable protection against rent loss.

👉 Learn more at theguarantors.com/student

⏱️ Episode Timestamps

00:05:05 – NMHC Conference Recap: Location, Attendance, and Vibe

00:08:33 – Industry Networking and TopGolf Mixer Fundraiser Recap

00:09:40 – Waymo Ride Experience in Scottsdale

00:16:55 – NMHC Key Sessions: 2025 Market Outlook & Executive Strategy Panel 00:22:40 – Data Sharing Debate and University Collaboration Challenges

00:32:47 – AI and Analytics in Student Housing Panel Highlights

00:38:07 – Breaking News: California’s Student Housing Legislation

00:51:57 – Adaptive Reuse Project: Office-to-Student-Housing Conversion in Long Beach

00:54:48 – Company News: Mergers, Partnerships, and Promotions

01:01:08 – Upcoming Events: ShopTalk, LeaseCon/TurnCon, and Executive Summit

🔗 References & Resources

Student Housing Insight: https://www.studenthousinginsight.com/

Shop Talk Webinars: https://www.shoptalk.info/

Hi, How Are You Foundation: https://www.hihowareyou.org/

NMHC Student Housing Conference: https://www.nmhc.org/

Yugo: https://yugo.com/en-gb/home

PeakMade Real Estate: https://peakmade.com/

Scion Group: https://thesciongroup.com/

Capstone Development Partners: https://capdevpartners.com/

Fountain Residential Partners: https://fountainresidential.com/

🎧 Episode Summary

In this episode of Student Housing Insight, host Wes Deese sits down with Matt Walker, Global Head of Student Housing for Mapletree Investments, to trace his two-decade journey from leasing manager in Oklahoma to leading international student housing investments from London. Matt shares lessons learned across roles at EDR, CA Ventures, and now Mapletree, offering insight into how career agility, openness to relocation, and curiosity about global markets can shape an exceptional trajectory in student housing. He reflects on the differences between U.S. and international markets, the cultural nuances of students living in South America and Europe, and how the sector continues to evolve in response to generational and economic shifts. A must-listen for operators, investors, and anyone passionate about the global student housing landscape.

⏱️ Key Time Stamps

00:01:30 – Introduction to Student Housing Insight and SHI’s Shop Talk webinars

00:04:02 – Meet Matt Walker: From on-site operations to international investment leadership

00:10:36 – Early career: EDR, Norman to Lawrence to Fort Worth

00:25:38 – Lessons in management, mentorship, and growth mindset

00:29:31 – Building CA Ventures’ West Coast operations

00:36:57 – Transition to international markets and challenges in South America 00:48:05 – Cultural differences in student living globally

00:59:32 – Moving to London and building a platform in the U.K.

01:35:04 – The future of global student housing and professional takeaways

💡 Sponsor Spotlight: Campus Technologies Whether developing or acquiring student housing, reliable internet is non-negotiable. Campus Technologies delivers high-speed wired and wireless internet infrastructure purpose-built for student housing, with 25 years of expertise and unmatched customer support.

📘 Download their free white paper on upgrading your property’s internet infrastructure at campustechnologies.com.

🔗 Resources Mentioned

ShopTalk.Info: https://www.shoptalk.info/

SHI Events Page: https://www.studenthousinginsight.com/events

NMHC Student Housing Conf: https://www.nmhc.org/meetings/calendar/shc/2025-nmhc-student-housing-conference/

2025 TopGolf Mixer: https://www.studenthousinginsight.com/events/2025topgolfmixer

Interface LeaseCon+TurnCon 2025:

https://interfaceconferencegroup.com/event/leasecon-turncon-2025/

LC+TC x SHI Scholarship:

https://www.studenthousinginsight.com/shi2025scholarship

📄 Episode Summary

Host Wes Deese sits down with Dave Borsos and Matthew Berger from the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) to preview this fall’s lineup of major student housing conferences, including the NMHC Student Housing Conference, & OpTech. They unpack trends in capital markets, international student enrollment, and tax policy—and explore how technology and AI are shaping property operations. Later, Rich Kelley from Student Housing Business joins to share what’s ahead for LeaseCon+TurnCon, new scholarship opportunities, and how shifting leasing patterns are influencing 2026 planning.

🕒 Time Stamps

00:04:57 – NMHC Conference Preview with Dave Borsos & Matthew Berger

00:19:37 – The Role of Technology & RETTC

00:29:48 – Upcoming Industry Events

00:32:59 – LeaseCon/TurnCon Preview with Rich Kelley

00:46:42 – Closing Notes & Sponsor Reminder

💡 Episode Sponsor Campus Technologies – With more than 25 years of experience, Campus Technologies provides enterprise-level internet and managed IT services tailored for student housing communities. Future-proof your properties with their latest insights.

📘 Download the free white paper:

👉 campustechnologies.com

🔗 Resources Mentioned

Student Housing Insight: https://www.studenthousinginsight.com

Shop Talk Registration: https://www.shoptalk.info

NMHC Student Housing Conference: https://www.nmhc.org

College Student Mental Wellness Coalition: https://www.hihowareyou.org

Interface LeaseCon + TurnCon 2025:

https://www.interfaceconferencegroup.com/event/leasecon-turncon-2025/

SHI Scholarship for LC+TC 2025: https://www.studenthousinginsight.com/shi2025scholarship

Student Housing Business Magazine:

https://www.studenthousingbusiness.com