Over the past half year, senior living teams have been working tirelessly to keep residents safe, engaged and happy. Although the pandemic has created many new challenges for the industry, it’s been incredible to see how many people have stepped up to help. In honor of these courageous, masked caregivers, the Oregon Health Care Association are “Celebrating Health Care Heroes” as the theme for their biggest event of the year: the OHCA Annual Convention and Trade Show. Of course, the event, always well attended, is making changes to protect the health of members and their residents. It’s now a live virtual experience, scheduled for September 15 and 16 with pre- and post-event activities as well as on-demand education available afterwards. The event may be different than what you’re used to, but there’s a lot to be excited about: Live-streamed keynotes and sessions, including tracks on leadership, clinical, nursing facilities, quality improvement, COVID-19 and more Networking opportunities to connect with other attendees and presenters through interactive live discussions and Q&A chats The OHCA Awards ceremony where deserving staff are recognized for their dedication to the care profession Yardi is proud to sponsor the awards ceremony this year. Now more than ever, it’s important to honor those who go above and beyond for others. As this year’s theme makes clear, these hard-working individuals are true heroes. Visit Yardi on the virtual trade show floor During the event, you’ll also be able to stop by our booth to see what’s new with the Yardi Senior Living Suite. We’ll have plenty of resources to download, products to showcase, plus a giveaway for a lucky few! And if you want to talk with us face to face, there’s even a video chat option. We’re grateful to each and every...

In an ICSC webinar held in late June, Brian Sutherland, Yardi industry principal, moderated a panel discussion about how current economic and social challenges are forcing commercial operators to adapt to a changing market. They discussed the importance of AR management and evaluating tenant risk to accurately project future revenue and overcome the effects of the pandemic. Panel of experts: Gary Shaw – President, Arcadia Management Christine Mastandrea – EVP, Whitestone REIT Sutherland: On the Yardi side, in mid-March, we shifted 7,000 employees to work from home basically overnight. Can you talk about how you transitioned early in the response to the pandemic? Mastandrea: Within a very short timeframe we moved into a radical simplification mode. We expanded our meeting times to include more team members to be involved for consistency of communication all the way to the front-line ranks. We organized our team around four functions: client engagement, vendor management, stress testing and inner workforce. We moved our workforce offsite and we’ve gone from Zoom meeting to Zoom meeting. Client engagement is where we spent most of our time and we oriented about 80% of our workforce toward client engagement. We made sure we had our “four As”: alignment, assignment, accountability and then autonomy. We funneled all requests through one person in our legal department and made sure we had this process smoothed out over time. One major key was daily posting of cash collection and making sure everyone has an understanding of where we are and where we’re missing collection. We stopped mass emailing and instead got in contact on the phone with everyone we could, to understand who’s open and who isn’t, who is considered essential business and started discussing [Paycheck Protection Program] (PPP) funding. Shaw: We moved everything to the...

The 2020 GWA Conference, like many events nationally this year, was forced to pivot to a virtual setting. Despite the quick timeline to put the online event together, GWA was able to gather a fantastic group of presenters and over 1500 attendees took part in the 24-hour production.  The prevailing themes were health and safety for both members and staff, as well as the changes the coworking industry can expect to come out of this crisis stronger and smarter. Here is a look at some of the takeaways from the global event. The office is not dead One of the interesting nuances from the pandemic has been how productive employees have been while working from home. Employers have generally been pleased with the productivity of a completely remote workforce. It is potentially a defining moment for coworking spaces, which could reap the benefits of companies who realize they don’t need to house everyone in one centralized location, and many positions could become fully remote. Previously remote workers, on the other hand, may just feel some satisfaction at what they’ve known all along. However, bandwidth limitations, distractions or lack of comfort could pose some challenges while working at home. Joe Brady, CEO Americas of The Instant Group, explained that while work from home policies have had success, coworking solves for the issues that WFH presents. Brady’s stated the 3 C’s for where people choose to work are concentration, community and collaboration. While one may achieve some aspects of that from home or with the emergence of video conferencing, the coworking industry is a hub for all three simultaneously. “The idea of innovation could be dying if everyone is permanently working from home,” he said. “The threads of culture strengthen when people come together.” Ensuring health...

Assembling more than 2,000 clients and employees in Washington, D.C., for the spring Yardi Advanced Solutions Conference wasn’t an option. But Yardi got creative and delivered all the expected benefits of YASC in a new way this month. YASC Digital, which was free to clients, comprised more than 125 on-demand courses on asset and investment management software innovations. Spotlight sessions addressed developments in the multifamily, commercial, investment management, affordable and PHA market segments. The virtual conference attracted 16,000 participants from 2,500 companies in 30 countries, with attendees completing 107,000 courses and viewing 50,000 hours of content over three days. Yardi product specialists fielded thousands of live chat requests. Company president and founder Anant Yardi, offering a video welcome in lieu of “meeting and greeting,” reaffirmed the company’s dedication to maintaining superior client service in the COVID-19 environment. Noting the company’s $2 million donation to food banks that are helping communities in the U.S. and Canada weather the pandemic, Mr. Yardi invited his audience to “tackle the future with resolve and optimism.” (The company also donated $25 to food banks for every selfie submitted during YASC Digital – see many of the submissions in the gallery below.) The YASC Digital experience resonated positively with participants. “Thank you to everyone on the YASC team for putting together the digital format … which allows us all to continue to learn and grow with Yardi,” said Scott Teem of Portland, Ore.-based Guardian Real Estate Services LLC. “Thanks in no small part to Yardi, we’re doing fine,” added David Wise of Philadelphia-area LCOR. “Thank you for supporting the local food banks and for keeping us all connected!” said James Juliano, checking in from Berkshire Residential Investments in Boston. Watch a recap of the event: Clients will receive an email...

Multifamily property performance has been stellar throughout most of the country. There are, however, distinct regional differences in fundamental measures. Savvy investors examine macro and micro economic trends before making investment decisions. Focus areas include rent growth, occupancy trends, supply growth and transaction activity. By understanding those multifamily trends, property managers can optimize property performance and occupancy to satisfy investors. The IMN Property Manager & Operations Forum – Southwest dove into the nuances of real estate data and how it impacts investors’ decisions. On the panel, “Multifamily Investment Trends & Their Impact on Property Managers,” industry experts identified best practices that can help property managers navigate data to their benefit. Chris Nebenzahl, director of institutional research, Yardi Matrix, was one of the experts on the panel. He explored the benefits of monthly national and metro trends reports, such as the reports Yardi Matrix provides for multifamily. Robust reporting provides insights into the industry that can help property managers make informed decisions. Definitely mess with Texas Texas markets, especially the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, are very strong places to invest. Supported by job growth and ample land, these markets are ripe with potential. There is a lot of capital in play throughout the state, even in smaller markets. The rise of popularity has made finding deals increasingly difficult. “The value-add trade is far less lucrative and easy to find than it was earlier in the cycle,” says Nebenzahl. “Yields are compressing making the value add harder to accomplish.” He adds that since valuations are high, the next decade will be focused on operational efficiencies, “Hold periods will likely extend out, and high equity multiples will be less likely. As a result, cash flow, managing expenses and driving revenue as much as possible will be essential for...

Movers & Shakers hosted another impactful Build to Rent Forum on Thursday, Feb. 27, where eager build to rent professionals gathered to debate a range of topics impacting this ever-growing market. Movers & Shakers Chairman David Jennings opened the day with an inspiring video of Greystar’s 2,000-home Greenford Quay development, showcasing a great example of the high standard of homes the industry has to offer.  Adam Challis, Executive Director, EMEA Living Research & Strategy at JLL, reaffirmed the previously controversial notion that home ownership isn’t all that matters. As an industry, real estate should be focused on product quality and geographical diversity. Challis tapped into the importance of sustainability and thought provokingly asked which company in the market would be the first to achieve zero carbon emissions whilst being able to offer affordable rental prices. Later in the day, Rebecca Taylor of Long Harbour agreed with the sentiment and stated that as well as operating buildings more efficiently, sustainability must also be entrenched in construction and waste management. News from the Frontline The passion and enthusiasm to see more collaboration in the market was apparent, especially when it comes to data sharing. Michela Hancock, Managing Director, Development & Construction, Greystar Europe, shared some interesting demographic data from Greystar’s Salemakers development. Hancock explained how Salemakers is occupied by 50% students, a figure much higher than expected, that the average age of build to rent residents is 29, and that 48% of residents are male. Ian Gibbs, Director of Neighbourhoods, Get Living, delved into behavioural data sharing that 20% of the East Village population transfer internally when relocating because they know the Get Living brand. Gibbs also stated that 50% of people who have lived in a tall, residential tower building, are more likely to rent...

The health care industry has never been that big of a player in senior living, despite what you’d think. Since Medicare traditionally does not cover long-term care, many hospitals, physicians and service providers have largely overlooked the opportunity that independent and assisted living communities can provide for better health outcomes. But regulations are slowly changing, conversations are quickly starting — and the NIC Spring Conference is at the center of it all. Set for San Diego, March 4-6, this year’s event once again explores the intersection of senior housing and health care. Thousands of industry professionals, including operators and investors, will have the chance to shake hands and forge the relationships that will push senior care forward. But what makes the NIC Spring Conference unique is the growing number of health care providers who also attend. As supplemental benefits under Medicare increase and Medicare Advantage plans gain momentum inside senior living communities, more and more health care decision-makers now recognize the value of partnering closely with senior living providers. To top all that off, we’ll be there too. We’re sponsoring the general session luncheon, and we’ll be around to chat each day, so we hope you make it as well. This year’s conference promises to be another standout. New ways to network at NIC Interested in connecting with a potential health care partner at NIC? Plan a braindate. The app-enabled networking service is new this year. Essentially, you search for a topic and then schedule a quick one-on-one conversation or group meeting with fellow attendees. It streamlines the process of finding the right person for the discussions you need to have and the decisions you want to make. The networking lounge also returns this year. But you can now reserve dedicated meeting spaces in...

It was great to see 400+ people representing the UK’s fast-growing build to rent sector last week at the UKAA Expo 2020; the third event of its kind hosted by The UKAA. Yardi was there in full force with a team of seven passionate residential specialists, all eager to learn, network and engage with the market. Early bird catches the reverse-trade show worm For many, the day started at 10am, but for the exhibitors and operators, it was an earlier start. A conventional tradeshow concept was flipped on its head at The Reverse Tradeshow, giving exhibitors the opportunity to attend 10-minute quickfire meetings with operators. It is great to see companies like EcoWorld, Folio London, Henley Investment Management, PLATFORM_ and Packaged Living investing time into further supporting the growth of the market. Networking and more networking It was all systems go when the doors opened at 10am. The exhibition was home to suppliers from all corners of residential real estate, including PropTech companies, law firms and regulatory organisations. Market Perspectives We were keen to ask other eventgoers how they found the day and get a perspective of their understanding of the market. Justin Harley, Regional Director at Yardi interviewed Lesley Roberts, President of the UKAA and Partner & Executive Director at Allsop, who advised BTR operators to be passionate about customer service, understand the market and find good suppliers. Justin also interviewed Paul Belson, PRS & BTR Investment Consultant who recognised the increase in PropTech innovation and The UKAA’s CEO, Dave Butler, who explained the key to success is to know your customer. Click on each image to watch the full interviews.       Session Take-Aways Richard Lankshear, Innovation Manager of NHBC was first to take to stage where he gave some inspiring...

Ottawa used to be a city that thrived under the radar. Now, its growth is catching international attention. The 2019 Ottawa Real Estate Forum explored the rapid growth and evolution of the nation’s capital city. This year’s theme, “Ottawa’s on Track: The Hidden Gem of Canada” presented attendees with economic and social forecasts to inform investment decisions. The evolution of Ottawa In 2018, Ottawa was ranked the second most concentrated tech city in North America. With more than 180 tech companies in Ottawa and growing, a smart growth revolution is necessary to attract and retain talent. Yardi sponsored the session “A Vision for the Evolution of Ottawa” with His Worship Jim Watson the Mayor of Ottawa as keynote speaker. Hugh Gorman, CEO of Colonnade Bridgeport, lead a subsequent interview. Watson and Gorman discussed the need of improved efficiencies for policy approvals and repurposed buildings to help municipalities keep up with economic growth. Ottawa has plenty of space to welcome new industries and support existing businesses. At 2,790 km², it is larger than Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton combined, the Mayor emphasized. Yet the evolution of Ottawa isn’t solely about new spaces and experiences. Watson encourages the reimagining of existing spaces to enhance usability. Ottawa is also making a name for itself as a center for transportation tech innovations. The city is constructing an autonomous vehicle test track. Ottawa’s vast range of weather conditions make it an excellent training ground for un-manned vehicles. When combined with the $2.1 billion new light rail system Ottawa’s status as transportation innovation center grows. Understanding the retail market Canada’s growth is undeniable. The population of 37 million is estimated to reach nearly 40 million by 2025; since 2016, major cities have created the bulk of the nation’s jobs,...

One of the best forms of therapy for older adults is also the furriest. Turns out, a friendly dog or two can do a lot to lift the mood and health of those who live in senior living communities. Pet therapy (or animal-assisted therapy in non-layman’s terms) is a service where animals – usually dogs – are brought in for short visits. Residents get the opportunity to interact with the animals by holding and petting them or simply sitting alongside and watching. Either way, the experiences often bring smiles to faces and wags to tails, and science has shown there are many more benefits besides. What benefits does pet therapy provide? Mental: Caregivers often report higher levels of happiness in residents after an animal visit, but the changes can be seen in the brain chemistry too. Studies reveal that the act of petting a dog can cause the brain to release serotonin, prolactin and oxytocin, “feel-good” hormones that help regulate and elevate your mood. At the same time, a visit by a dog can drop your level of epinephrine, a hormone produced by the body under stress. Physical: Pets can do one’s heart good – literally. Weekly visits with therapy dogs can lower blood pressure for older adults, while pet owners have been shown to have a 33% lower risk of death following a hospitalization for a heart attack. Pet therapy can even decrease use of antidepressants and medical services. Social: Animals provide unconditional companionship, which can help people feel less lonely. In one study, senior living residents who received 30-minute pet therapy sessions weekly for over a month scored significantly lower on loneliness scales than those who did not. Therapy animals also motivate residents to communicate more, even those with memory conditions like...

The largest Yardi Advanced Solutions Conference (YASC) to date for Yardi’s European clients, with more than 490 guests in attendance, featured learning, networking and fun in London on November 20 and 21. YASC is a global Yardi event where clients can expand their knowledge of Yardi’s solutions. Clients gain detailed insight into the Yardi product solutions they use, the Yardi development roadmap and newly launched solutions. They also have the chance to speak with other Yardi users and obtain one-on-one advice from Yardi product specialists at Knowledge Central. With more than 100 classes to choose from, in nine role-based tracks, clients can dive deep into technology that supports the needs of a variety of real estate asset types. New to YASC Europe this year, attendees enjoyed a mainstage panel session which featured coworking entrepreneurs Charlie Green of The Office Group; Giles Fuchs of Office Space in Town; and Chris Armstrong of mixed-use operator Get Living. The panel discussed alternatives to traditional commercial real estate. Chaired by Justin Harley, director of coworking and residential at Yardi, the panel dissected two components for running flexible workspaces: putting the member first and integrating a solid technology management platform.     Vox Pop! Several clients took part in our Vox Pop station to share what they were loving most about YASC. Here’s what some of them had to say: “I absolutely love this conference – we send people every year. You can learn about how to automate operations and how to expand your services.” -Adam McGrath, Northern Trust “It’s great to meet lots of different people from Europe who use Yardi and it’s great to be here learning from all the technical experts.” -Georgia-Rose Rochester, Grosvenor Estate Management Limited “I’m particularly interested in learning about Yardi Elevate and...

NMHC OPTECH 2019 in Dallas was the place to be for multifamily real estate execs seeking strategies to raise their game using technology — especially looking ahead to a likely downturn. In lively peer roundtable discussions and dynamic property and revenue management workshops and sessions, industry insiders dove into the big issues facing multifamily businesses. Compelling strategies emerged for growing revenue, managing all lease types and improving the customer experience using new technology. Read on for our top five takeaways from this year’s event.   Unleash data Gone are the days of making business decisions based on guesswork and backward-looking data aggregated into spreadsheets. Today, new technology automates data collection with advanced analytics to provide a complete picture of a portfolio’s opportunities and future risks. That’s big data, and it’s a big deal. At OPTECH, experts talked about the valuable business intelligence hiding in your company’s data, and how to capture it to improve all operational systems and processes from front office to back office, including revenue management and rental pricing. In the session “Apples to Apples: Getting Clean Consistent Data for Accurate BI” data experts and asset managers discussed evolving corporate best practices in performance data tracking. Starting with clean, reliable data from a single database for one source of truth is essential. Using a system that leverages that data with machine learning and artificial intelligence to deliver predictive analytics with recommended actions is keeping leading companies ahead of the curve. And don’t forget about futurecasting. You can get a clear picture of potential future income using reliable operational data. Smart forecasting tools drill down to lease level data and also factor in market conditions and industry dynamics, so you can stay agile and plan for what happens next.   Protect information The...

What role does your organization play in the future of smart buildings and smart cities? How can you tap into the benefits today? Commercial property professionals tackled those questions and more at the 2019 Real Trends Conference. In the commercial real estate trends discussion “Co-chair Insights: Politics, Demographics, and Technology” Amy Erixon, head of global investment management at Avison Young-Investments Canada, was joined by Sheila Botting, senior partner & Canadian real estate leader at Deloitte. They posited government-owned territories and creative commercial assets can bolster the nation into a prosperous future. The available land is the ideal foundation for smart infrastructure and smart buildings. Thoughtful commercial spaces upon that land lends itself to creating buildings that are flexible and scalable.  The “2019 Office Tenant Preference Survey Presentation” and “Smart Cities and Smart Buildings” sessions explored how space is a canvas for economic success. 2019 Office Tenant Preference Survey Presentation Heather Brady, national director of sales for Yardi Canada, lead the session on the first office tenant preference survey sponsored by Yardi. This year will serve as a benchmark to more robust and relevant data gathered in the future. Survey responses can help owners make more informed and proactive decisions about land use as well as space use within their structures. Most Requested Features in Commercial Spaces Survey participants expressed high demand for the following: elevators WI-FI natural light conference rooms within the office space parking lots ability to receive packages during work hours exterior green space energy efficient lighting The survey also explored how telecommuting influences the way that tenants request and use space. Currently, 51 percent of tenants’ employees can work from home but only 3 percent do so full time. This reflects the growing inclination towards more flexible workspaces. As the telecommuting...

If you have ever looked at a demographic chart of the U.S. recently, you know there are millions of Baby Boomers poised to enter their golden years. Investors have also seen the writing on the wall, and have been funding senior living developments over the past decade. It’s led to an oversupply problem as more beds become available than there are residents to fill them. If you’re an owner and operator in senior living, how do you overcome high competition and low occupancy? Sure, the silver tsunami is coming, and its rising tide might lift all boats. But it’s not easy to predict what new innovations and technology will bring, especially to an industry like senior living. That wave of new prospects may be absorbed by novel approaches on its way to your community’s door. Adapt today for success tomorrow That’s the premise for the general session at the CALA Fall Conference & Trade Show, which takes place November 4-6 in Palm Springs, California. Best-selling author Jack Uldrich will explore current technology trends and examine their potential for senior living, warning that providers who aren’t prepared for these developments risk falling behind their competitors. And according to Jack, “the best way to predict the future is to create it yourself.” A similar breakout session, “Using Tech to Connect,” will be held by Ginna Balk of CDW-Healthcare, who will dive into the latest innovations and their influence on workforce, health care and lifestyle. Emerging technologies are redefining expectations for both residents and providers in senior living. This session promises best practices that will keep you up to date and ahead of the curve. In addition to technology-focused sessions, CALA offers tracks to cover the needs of any senior living professional. From clinical and care to...

OFFICIAL RULES 2019 Yardi at Yardi Marketing Forum Sweepstakes   NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PURCHASE WILL NOT ENHANCE CHANCES OF WINNING. Sweepstakes is open only to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Puerto, who are 18 years of age or older (except residents of Alabama and Nebraska who must be 19 years of age or older) at the time of entry.  Employees, officers and directors of Yardi Systems, Inc. (“Sponsor”), and its respective subsidiaries and affiliated companies, advertising, promotion, or production agencies (and each of their respective IRS dependents, immediate family members [children, spouse, parents, siblings, and their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside] and individuals residing in the same household of each, whether or not related) are not eligible to participate.  Void where prohibited by law.  By participating, entrants agree to these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, which are final and binding in all matters relating to this Sweepstakes. ENTRY PERIODS: Sweepstakes Promotional Period begins on November 19, 2019, at 8:00am EDT. Entries must be received by 12:00pm EDT on November 21, 2019. There will be four drawings in total. There will be two drawings after 12:00pm EDT on November 20, 2019, and two drawings after 12:00pm EDT on November 21, 2019. HOW TO ENTER. During the Promotional Period (i) respond to the Yardi Marketing Forum “Caption This” post on Facebook or Instagram (no purchase necessary). Limit one (1) entry per person per approved social media platform (Facebook, Instagram) during the Promotional Period.  Any attempt by any person to obtain more than the stated number of entries by using multiple/different accounts on a single platform or any other methods will void all of that person’s entries and that person will be ineligible.  Participant social media profiles must...

At Maximize powered by NAA, the annual conference dedicated to asset and revenue management and long-term value creation for apartment portfolios, industry pros talked about how changes in the economy — including an expected downturn ahead — will impact multifamily revenue management. This year’s sessions covered renovations and amenities in some detail, with panelists speaking about the importance of flexible strategies when navigating changing markets. For example, there might be less demand than anticipated for high-end renovations. Conversations also turned to smart home technology including self-showing programs, and short-term rentals as a new revenue stream that would be increasingly compelling in struggling rental markets. While some attendees have only known growth, experienced revenue managers who maneuvered through the last recession shared tactics and valuable lessons learned. Although it’s unclear exactly when the next downturn will happen, the consensus at Maximize was it will happen. And the sooner you’re ready for it, the better. Curveballs ahead So how do you prepare for a downturn? Experts agree that having a well-informed revenue management strategy in place is crucial, and that means having tools to collect data to uncover trends and follow patterns in order to make smart decisions. Beyond finding the sweet spot for rental pricing, auditing your properties for other ways to boost performance is also a great idea — including assessing amenities and reducing unnecessary expenses. In addition to knowing how to price units based on inventory and market conditions, the most effective revenue managers also know every selling point of each property in their portfolio. With the advent of artificial intelligence and machine learning to guide asset management, sometimes the computer knows what’s happening before people do. In times of both growth and recession, the most successful revenue managers will be using a...