Rental housing economist Jay Parsons breaks down the realities of today's multifamily market: Debt is readily available, but equity is not ... unless it's preferred equity. Jay shares the latest data, including the historic spike in apartment loan originations, and explains why that might trigger some institutions to shift back toward equity strategies. Later in the program, Jay is joined by one of the early believers in the preferred equity, Marble Capital's David Oelfke. David talks about his journey starting ARA, growing it (along with partners) into a major apartment brokerage shop, selling it to Newmark, and then starting a new venture focused on preferred equity. How does preferred equity work and what are the advantages over common equity? Additionally, Jay analyzes the latest headlines on rental housing, including another big platform acquisition. 

Is it better to manage properties in house, or to outsource to a third-party manager? It's an age-old question, and there's no one-size-fits-all answer. But there's no doubt that we continue to see far more consolidation in the management business than we do in property ownership. Why is that? Lantower Residential COO Emily Watson joins the podcast to share her experience, and talks about why her answer has evolved. Lantower recently made the decision to close its in-house management arm and hire a national third-party property manager. Emily candidly shares what drove that decision, how technology is changing the management game, and what early results they've seen thus far. Additionally on this episode, rental housing economist Jay Parsons gives his take on a busy week of headlines — breaking down the announced merger between AvalonBay and Equity Residential, as well as analyzing the impact of the U.S. House's major housing bill that just passed with overwhelmingly bipartisan support. Jay also shares recurring segments like Rental Housing Trivia, Good News and New Digs — where he profiles a recently announced major office-to-residential tower conversion.

It's a very tough environment for apartment developers to get new projects started these days, with starts cut in half from 2022's peak levels. So what are the common denominators for projects breaking ground of late? Rental housing economist Jay Parsons dives into the data and shares five common themes among projects that are still working today even amidst softer rents and higher cost of capital. One unique profile includes master-planned development with long-term build-to-hold ownership. Jay travels to Raleigh and talks with Rob Reid of Kane Realty — which has been some of Raleigh's coolest live/work/play neighborhoods — for a conversation on placemaking. Additionally, Jay brings back recurring segments like In the News, Rental Housing Trivia, Good Question and Good News.

Rental housing economist Jay Parsons shares his top four takeaways from the single-family rental REITs' Q1'26 earnings calls — including how they're navigating heightened regulatory risk surrounding the ROAD to Housing Act, why stock buybacks are now preferred over investing in new development, how leasing activity is picking up this spring after a slow fall and winter, and much more. Additionally, Jay shares the latest news on the federal legislation: Will build-to-rent get carved out? Additionally, Jay shares headlines about the emergence of an unlikely pro-development folk hero and the bizarre rent inflation numbers released this week. And in this week's "Good News" segment, Jay tells the story of how one apartment manager helped a resident get through college — and how that resident is now paying it forward. Later in the program, Jay welcomes in Zelman's SFR REIT analyst, Jesse Lederman, for a conversation on AMH and Invitation Homes. Jesse shares his view on regulatory risk, the recent improvement in the REITs' stock prices, the leasing season, and the SFR outlook.

Rental housing economist Jay Parsons recaps his six big takeaways from the apartment REITs' first quarter earnings calls that just wrapped up — starting with the big news that leaked after hours, the rumored merger discussions between AvalonBay and Equity Residential. What would be the implications of merging two of the biggest names in multifamily? Jay also shares color and highlights from the REITs' calls — touching on spring leasing momentum, rents, the big push toward stock buybacks over acquisitions, and differences between key markets across the U.S. Jay also shares the latest news on the ROAD to Housing Act, which took a positive turn this week as Politico reported the White House was pulling its support for the Senate legislation that effectively bans most build-to-rent construction. Also in the program, Jay welcomes in veteran Wall Street REIT analyst Alexander Goldfarb of Piper Sandler, who shares his take on the last rounding of earnings calls, the potential merger between AVB and EQR, and his thoughts on why REIT investors value apartments below net asset value.

Rental housing economist Jay Parsons breaks down the latest data on spring leasing trends, explains why supply is still a headwind even as completions decline, and answers the popular question: Why do different data providers show very different numbers for apartment occupancy right now? Additionally, Jay shares the latest buzz on Congress' potential ban on build-to-rent construction and single-family rental investments — and highlights the chorus of media articles trumpeting real facts to combat runaway narratives about institutional investors. Later in the program, Jay welcomes in proptech trends guru Dom Beveridge of 20 for 20 for a conversation on the latest trends in proptech and AI. Dom shares why his recent survey of apartment execs, asking about technology trends, found "exhaustion" as a key theme, as well as other key findings about what's moving the needle and what's to come.

What markets don't get the attention they might deserve? There's no "right answer," but rental housing economist Jay Parsons attempts to make such a list — highlighting markets that have outperformed the national averages on long-term rent growth and volatility, while not ranking among the top markets favored by institutional capital. Additionally, Jay welcomes in the founder and CEO of Bonaventure, Dwight Dunton, who shares his family's story of getting into the multifamily business, as well as what under-the-radar markets his firm targets. Jay also shares headlines from the week, including a new research paper arguing that the ROAD to Housing Act's limitations on single-family rental investment and construction are "unconstitutional thrice over." Jay also shares recurring segments like "Rental Housing Trivia," "Good News" and "Good Question." 

Terry Considine has nothing to prove. He has launched multiple REITs, including one (Aimco) that was at one point the nation's largest apartment owner. He sold a spin-off REIT (AIR Communities) to Blackstone. But even after that exit and 4+ decades in the apartment business, Terry Considine isn't done — now steering his latest apartment venture, Big 4 Properties. In this episode with host and rental housing economist Jay Parsons, Terry strolls down memory lane to his early years in the apartment business to the time when his portfolio topped 200,000 units to the wind-down of Aimco. Terry also shares why he's starting all over again, and what he's targeting at Big 4. Additionally in this episode, Jay shares his thoughts on the newly released 2026 NMHC Top Owners, Managers and Developers list — and in particular, why multifamily remains one of the nation's most fragmented major industries. 

Did the U.S. apartment sector see a March bounce for the start to leasing season? Rental housing economist Jay Parsons breaks down newly released data on apartment supply, demand and rents — and paints a picture of a market that is recovering, but at a plodding pace. For apartment investors and operators, the good news is that the chief headwind (supply) is largely in the rearview mirror. But the payoff has been anything but quick. There's still a supply overhang from 2023-25 to work through. Jay also shares the latest data on demand, and explores whether AI and soft job growth has impacted apartment absorption. Additionally, Jay welcomes in Cushman & Wakefield's multifamily research head, Sam Tenenbaum, for an extended conversation on the state of multifamily fundamentals and capital markets. Sam shares his take on the state of the apartment market across the U.S. Also, Jay shares his take on the latest headlines impacting apartments and single-family rentals — including another big platform sale plus the passing of one of multifamily's biggest names.

Rental housing economist Jay Parsons dives into the bizarrely regressive legislation that would effectively block most build-to-rent single-family home construction. In fact, as Jay shares, the legislation is already having a devastating impact on the BTR pipeline, even prior to the legislation's passage, due to sudden uncertainty around the sector's regulatory viability. Already, investors and lending are pausing new BTR projects. And that pause may last a while due to uncertainty around the bill's future, as well as hastily written language that leaves critical rules open interpretation by regulators after passage. One of the nation's largest BTR developers, Quinn Residences, is seeing that immediate impact firsthand. Quinn CEO Richard Ross joins the podcast to share real-time intel on the legislation's impact to BTR, and why the bill's proponents misunderstand key details about the sector. Richard directly addresses the popular myth that BTR developers would be building for-sale homes if they weren't building rentals, and shares why that is wrong. Additionally, pro-housing advocate Mike Kingsella — one of the leading voices on housing policy in D.C. through his organization Up For Growth — joins the podcast to share the latest intel on the bill's outlook on Capitol Hill, and also shares advice on what strategies and messages are best resonating with legislators. Furthermore, Jay shares the latest news on how the regulatory spotlight is already expanding from BTR to apartments and manufactured housing, as well, via threatening letters sent to the leading rental housing owners.