In Episode 24 of Unscripted, host Andrew Bowen broadcasts straight from RETCON 2025 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Instead of a traditional booth, LeaseLock transformed its trade show presence into a working podcast studio, capturing six in-depth conversations with thought leaders in the rental housing space.

Tying them all together? Three core themes:

• AI Goes Operational – AI has officially moved beyond the buzz. Guests share how it's being implemented—from call centers to maintenance—and what real metrics they're tracking now.

  
  

  Centralization vs. Specialization – Leaders dig into pod structures, payroll, and the evolving definition of property ops efficiency.
  

  Human-Centric Innovation – From Gen Z’s aversion to phone calls to the emotional weight of collections, this episode reminds us that putting people first is still the future of tech.
  

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As NAA Apartmentalize wraps up, this episode offers a timely perspective for industry professionals navigating the intersection of technology, leadership, and resident experience.

In Episode 23 of Unscripted, LeaseLock’s Andrew Bowen interviews Alex O’Brien, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and CEO of The Cardinal Group, about how the veteran community can address the multifamily industry's talent shortage. This Memorial Day-timed discussion highlights the value veterans bring to rental housing. Alex covers his military transition to leading a top rental housing company, founding Salute Colorado, the military-to-multifamily skill bridge (discipline, leadership, adaptability, operations, mission-driven), and how hiring veterans strengthens workforces. The episode also features a candid conversation on six-figure careers without degrees, reframing interviews for veteran talent, and actionable steps for companies to attract and support veteran professionals, offering insight and action for those in hiring, operations, or interested in industry improvement.

Presented by LeaseLock

Join us as we amplify the stories of those making a difference in multifamily. Unscripted is our commitment to industry-wide thought leadership—created to inspire, inform, and uplift those working to make renting better for everyone. Interested in how your team can make housing more accessible and secure? Talk to our team today to discover how property owners, operators, and managers benefit from LeaseLock.

In Episode 22 of Unscripted, Andrew Bowen sits down with Tina West, Executive Vice President at Sares Regis, to explore a provocative redefinition of the American Dream: flexibility. From housing preferences to employment expectations, Tina shares why modern renters prioritize optionality over ownership—and how that shift is transforming the multifamily housing landscape.

Recorded on-site at one of Sares Regis’ active adult communities in Texas, this conversation dives deep into what today’s residents really want: flexible floorplans, lifestyle-aligned amenities, and a sense of belonging. Tina unpacks the value of personalization, the resurgence of community-focused design, and the essential balance between high-tech and high-touch service models.

Whether you’re rethinking operational models, community engagement, or what it truly means to serve residents and staff, this episode is packed with insights from one of the most respected leaders in the industry.

🎧 Presented by LeaseLock — a leading innovator in lease insurance and deposit-free living. LeaseLock brings thought leadership to the multifamily space by spotlighting operators, owners, and innovators working to make housing more accessible and impactful. Join us in rethinking risk, enhancing resident experience, and helping more people find a place to call home.

In Episode 21 of Unscripted, we go deep into what it really takes to transform a distressed asset into an award-winning community. Host Andrew Bowen travels to Houston to speak with Elizabeth Castro Gray, co-founder of Lamp Post Capital and past president of the Houston Apartment Association, who shares her journey of revitalizing The Reserve at Belfort — a 1955-built multifamily property once plagued by crime and disrepair.

Elizabeth breaks down the multifamily property turnaround process from both an operational and human lens. You'll hear how she:

• Raised a crime-ridden asset to 2023 HAA Property of the Year

• Navigated COVID-era financial hits and rising interest rates

• Leveraged zero deposit solutions to ease move-in costs for working families

• Built pride and trust among residents and staff — with boots-on-the-ground leadership

• Advocates for smarter screening, property ownership culture, and market transparency

This episode is a must-watch for real estate investors, property managers, and industry professionals looking to understand what true community impact looks like — especially at the Class C, workforce housing level.

📍 Whether you're focused on operational excellence, resident retention, or owning in underserved markets, this story delivers insights you won't find anywhere else.

What’s more valuable: the brand of a property or the brand of the company behind it?

In this episode of Unscripted, host Andrew Bowen sits down with Tony Sousa, CEO and Founder of Sousa Consulting, to dig into the evolution of brand strategy in multifamily—from personal to company to asset—and why reputation is really what moves the needle.

Recorded live in Las Vegas ahead of RETCON, this conversation dives into:

• Why company brands may be overtaking asset brands in 2025
• The real difference between personal brand and professional reputation
• How smaller teams can actually move faster and make a bigger branding impact
• What it actually takes to build a brand that builds trust, influence, and connection
• Why authenticity isn’t optional—and what most people get wrong when trying to “build a brand”

Whether you're leading operations, building a marketing strategy, or navigating visibility in the digital space, this episode is a crash course in thinking more critically (and creatively) about brand in today’s multifamily landscape.

About LeaseLock:

LeaseLock helps rental housing providers drive performance and eliminate bad debt with a fully integrated lease insurance platform. By replacing security deposits with lease insurance, operators remove friction from leasing, reduce bad debt, and unlock operational efficiencies. Learn more at https://www.leaselock.com

Created and Presented by LeaseLock, Inc.

Host: Andrew Bowen, LeaseLock

Executive Producer: Jonas Dominique, LeaseLock

Graphics and Artwork by Tricia Principe

Producer / Editor: Jaime Livas

What can the fitness industry teach multifamily operators about team leadership, resident service, and mindset?

In this episode of Unscripted: A LeaseLock Podcast, host Andrew Bowen is joined by Katherine Maestas, Community Manager at Kairoi Residential and founder of the soon-to-launch Chasing Grit Podcast.

Katherine shares how her background in gym operations and personal training shaped her approach to leadership in multifamily. From performance coaching and people-centric management to tactical leasing tips and tour experience upgrades, this episode is packed with fresh, practical insights for operators ready to ditch the transactional and lead with intention.

Listen in as Katherine and Andrew cover:

• Why multifamily needs better coaching, not more managing
  

• The power of personalized leasing experiences
  

• Lessons from fitness sales and retention applied to resident success
  

• Why centralization must evolve with new leadership development models
  

• How grit and mindset shape career growth—and why she’s launching a podcast about it
  

Whether you're leading a leasing team or climbing your own leadership path, this one will leave you rethinking how you train, tour, and lead.

About LeaseLock:

LeaseLock helps rental housing providers drive performance and eliminate bad debt with a fully integrated lease insurance platform. By replacing security deposits with lease insurance, operators remove friction from leasing, reduce bad debt, and unlock operational efficiencies. Learn more at www.leaselock.com

Created and Presented by LeaseLock, Inc.

Host: Andrew Bowen, LeaseLock

Executive Producer: Jonas Dominique, LeaseLock

Graphics and Artwork by Tricia Principe

Producer / Editor: ⁠Jaime Livas

The demand for smart home technology in multifamily housing is louder than ever—so why aren’t operators prioritizing it?

In this episode of Unscripted, Andrew Bowen, SVP at LeaseLock, sits down with Dave Marcinkowski, Partner at Quext & Madera Residential, to discuss the gap between renter demand and owner adoption when it comes to smart apartment technology.

Residents consistently rank smart home features—like keyless entry, smart thermostats, and leak detection—as some of the most desired and valued amenities. Yet, in LeaseLock’s latest Multifamily Executive Survey, smart tech ranked among the lowest priorities for operators in 2025.

So, what’s causing the disconnect?

Dave brings his unique dual perspective—as both a multifamily owner and a smart tech provider—to uncover the real barriers to adoption, the ROI of smart apartment solutions, and how AI-driven automation is about to revolutionize the resident experience.

Key Takeaways:

• Why smart home adoption has lagged—and why that’s about to change.

• The hidden operational savings of smart tech—from leak detection to energy efficiency.

• How managed Wi-Fi and centralized operations are shaping the future of property management.

• The role of AI in automating apartment living—from predictive maintenance to personalized resident experiences.

• What operators can do NOW to stay ahead of the curve and prepare for the next wave of smart home evolution.

Watch now to discover how smart technology is transforming the future of multifamily living.

About LeaseLock:

LeaseLock eliminates security deposits and replaces them with lease insurance—providing a better move-in experience for renters and better financial performance for operators. With LeaseLock, properties see higher lease conversions, reduced bad debt, and improved risk management.

Learn more: www.leaselock.com

Created and Presented by LeaseLock, Inc.

Host: Andrew Bowen, LeaseLock

Executive Producer: Jonas Dominique, LeaseLock

Graphics and Artwork by Tricia Principe

Producer / Editor: ⁠Jaime Livas

In this special feature of Unscripted, recorded live at RETCON 2025 in Las Vegas, we sit down with Sina Shekou, CEO and founder of Aptly — a key partner in LeaseLock’s Comprehensive Risk Protection Alliance.

We unpack how AI and automation are transforming multifamily operations — and what leaders can do now to stay ahead. From measurable opex savings to rethinking collections with empathetic voice agents, this short conversation is full of actionable insight and future-state perspective.

🎧 Don’t miss:

• Why “automation-first” unlocks better AI
• A new AI voice announcement from Aptly
• What empathetic AI means for resident relationships
• Real-world challenges with centralization and how operators are responding

About LeaseLock
LeaseLock powers a modern lease experience by removing deposits and delivering zero-deposit protection for apartment communities. Our AI-driven lease insurance platform replaces security deposits with lease coverage that eliminates bad debt, simplifies move-ins, and guarantees property performance. Learn more at https://leaselock.com

Created and Presented by LeaseLock, Inc.

Host: Andrew Bowen, LeaseLock

Executive Producer: Jonas Dominique, LeaseLock

Graphics and Artwork by Tricia Principe

Producer / Editor: ⁠Jaime Livas

How do we change the growing narrative that rental housing is broken?

In this episode, Jay Parsons and Andrew Bowen take a deep dive into the growing misperceptions around renting, the impact of institutional investment, and the policy risks that could reshape the industry.

The conversation kicks off with a bold question: Why is rental housing being villainized? Jay breaks down how the public and policymakers often mischaracterize multifamily operators, creating an environment where renters themselves become unintended victims of the debate.

From there, the discussion shifts to institutional investment—a hot-button issue with major implications for affordability. Jay challenges the idea that Wall Street is taking over Main Street, explaining who actually benefits from large-scale ownership and why professional property management plays a key role in keeping the industry stable.

Then, they tackle policy vs. supply risks—and why one is far more dangerous than the other. While supply ebbs and flows with market cycles, a single city council vote can permanently disrupt investment, slow development, and create long-term affordability issues.

Finally, the episode explores what’s next for the rental market. With a slowdown in deliveries expected in the next two years, will we see relief from rent stagnation, or will demand continue to outpace supply?

This is a must-listen for investors, owners, and operators looking to understand the forces shaping multifamily in 2025 and beyond.

🎧 Tune in for a data-driven conversation that challenges industry myths and highlights what’s next for multifamily investors, owners, and operators.

Created and Presented by LeaseLock, Inc.

Host: Andrew Bowen, LeaseLock

Executive Producer: Jonas Dominique, LeaseLock

Graphics and Artwork by Tricia Principe

Producer / Editor: ⁠Jaime Livas

What if we’re looking at real estate all wrong? In this thought-provoking episode of Unscripted, Andrew Bowen, SVP of LeaseLock, sits down with Grady Newman, Founder & CEO of Resi, to explore how multifamily housing can be more than just an investment—it can be a catalyst for social change.

Grady challenges industry norms, asking:

• Are we treating multifamily housing as an asset or as a home?

• How can technology and design improve sustainability, education, and community-building?

• What role does real estate play in tackling major societal issues like affordability, loneliness, and wellness?

This conversation unpacks the hidden potential of multifamily housing, revealing opportunities to enhance resident experiences, rethink traditional leasing models, and use data in transformative ways.

Whether you're a property owner, investor, or operator, this episode delivers insights you won’t hear anywhere else.

Presented by LeaseLock

LeaseLock is the leading insurtech platform for multifamily housing, eliminating the need for security deposits and providing superior protection for both renters and property owners. With LeaseLock, renters experience a simpler move-in process, while operators achieve better protection, increased occupancy, and reduced administrative overhead. By transforming the rental housing model, LeaseLock is making renting better for everyone.

Learn more atLeaseLock.com.

Created and Presented by LeaseLock, Inc.

Host: Andrew Bowen, LeaseLock

Executive Producer: Jonas Dominique, LeaseLock

Graphics and Artwork by Tricia Principe

Producer / Editor: ⁠Jaime Livas