Peter Lohmann's Podcast

Wolfgang Croskey, co-founder of Crane and a property-management technologist, explains building on‑prem AI agents like Bruce and Sophia. He discusses running agents on VPS, integrating SMS/Slack/voice, and a local policy‑tracking service that watches city and county meetings. Conversation also covers CraneHQ tools, automating outreach, and tradeoffs in org design for property managers.

Dom Beveridge, Principal at 20for20 who produces in-depth annual research on multifamily operator strategies. He breaks down rising fraud and why screening often misses bad debt. He explains how tech stacks balloon to 30–40 tools and the operational drag that causes. He contrasts multifamily vs single-family maintenance and leasing, and explores the shift from AI-enabled to AI-first property software.

Steve Hart, CEO and co-founder of PMI, scaled the company into a nearly 500-location property management franchise. He breaks down PMI’s five-pillar model and why HOA management is exploding. Steve also explains why many managers stall around 100 doors, how acquisitions and aligned incentives fuel growth, and why he has repeatedly turned down private equity.

A rapid rundown of a proposed White House restriction on large investors buying single-family homes, including who would be excluded. A look at HUD’s suggested Section 8 eligibility changes and how tighter rules might affect voucher-heavy markets. Details and timing for the NARPM Broker/Owner conference in New Orleans, plus a big Superdome party and a promised closing keynote.

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 FightCompass 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 SchemeA 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 ChatGPTZumper 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/podcastCrane: Joincrane.co

Matt Luke, property investor and operator of Luke Properties in Sioux Falls, runs ~360 units using a lean, AI-powered model. He breaks down using AI leasing and maintenance agents, a centralized AppFolio + LeadSimple stack, pre-leasing 90 days out, vendor-first operations, touchless move-ins, and his shift from property manager to wealth advisor.

Quick updates on a new federal housing bill aimed at building more homes faster. Coverage of a Florida HOA manager accused of stealing over $1 million and the financial controls that could have stopped it. Highlights from AppFolio’s 2026 benchmark report, including resident experience priorities and rising AI adoption among managers.

A fast roundup of major shifts in property management news. The FTC plans to solicit comments on rental housing fees and possible regulation. A user conference for a popular property software was announced for May. A Florida manager faces allegations of a $600K theft, prompting licensing and oversight questions. National apartment rents and vacancies are moving toward four-year lows, with higher supply and leasing pressure.

Vanessa Anderson, CEO of ShowMojo, Tenant Turner, and PropertyTek — a proptech leader with institutional real estate roots. She talks about fee-disclosure tools to stay compliant. She covers anti-fraud measures for listings and self-showings. She explores AI in leasing, tracking lead sources and conversion, and using data to justify pricing and shorten days on market.

Here’s what I’m covering in this one:00:00:05 — Pure + HRG Merger (40k doors 🤯) The Pure and HRG merger is officially live — and this new combined entity clocks in at 40,000 doors under management. I break down the numbers (or what we can piece together) and explain why this is a big moment for the industry. Spoiler: We need a national PM success story to prove the model works at scale. And it’s really hard to grow while fighting churn at that size. 00:02:22 — Elevate Sales Kickoff Postponed. Originally planned for this month, Elevate’s annual sales kickoff got pushed to March due to weather. If you’ve got salespeople on your team, this one’s worth looking into. New date is March 16–18.00:02:39 — NARPM Capitol Summit Preview. The NARPM Capitol Summit is coming up fast (February 17-19), and I think every property manager should consider going. It’s one of the few places where advocacy and policy work are being done for our industry, not to us. I share why I’ve personally increased my financial support for their efforts.00:03:25 — Peter & The Wolf Returns! Our informal monthly Zoom show is back! Wolfgang Krosky and I are kicking off Season 4 on February 12 at 3pm ET. It’s live, casual, and covers whatever’s on our minds — news, vendor gossip, random hot takes. Always a good time in the chat. 00:05:30 — Data Ownership, APIs & PM Software An interesting video from Divvy Homes co-founder Alex Klarfeld looks at data ownership and API access — and why more industries are starting to fight for their right to access their own data. I connect the dots to what’s happening in PM software (think: AppFolio, Beagle) and why this matters more than ever as AI tools emerge.That's all for this week! Please leave your thoughts in the comments. If you like this format, I’ll keep publishing these short, news-style updates in the NEW Tuesday edition of the newsletter.__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/subscribe• RL 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.