The Canadian Housing and Renewal Association / l’Association Canadienne d’Habitation et de Renovatoin Urbaine (CHRA/ACHRU), held its 50th National Congress on Housing and Homelessness in Ottawa, Ontario from May 24 to 27, 2018. Yardi was proud to be a Congress Partner on this milestone year for the event. Peter Altobelli, Yardi vice president and general manager, spoke at the opening session and at the Yardi Awards Luncheon. Altobelli highlighted Yardi’s 20-year relationship with CHRA and focused on the importance of collaboration in the social housing industry. “At Yardi Canada, we have always been deeply connected with initiatives to help build our community and our industry. It is with the fruit of our growth that we further fuel the industry by supporting organizations such as CHRA / ACHRU that strive to bring a voice to affordable housing providers on a national level,” Altobelli said. Samyukta Jaishankar, team lead for Yardi’s Canadian marketing efforts, caught up with Jeff Morrison, executive director of CHRA, during the event. During their conversation, Jeff provided a behind the scenes look at how the 50th anniversary of the congress came together, what the internal goals were for the conference and how attendees would have the ability to shape the future with CHRA. “This year the challenge was that we had to do two competing things: reminisce and celebrate our evolution and success as an organization, as well as look forward to see what we can do with the future,” Morrison said. As part of the retrospective portion of the event, CHRA presented a video production which featured a historic look at the organization. Originating in 1968 as an offshoot of a National Association of Housing Redevelopment Officials chapter from upstate New York, CHRA/ACHRU has since grown to represent Canadian social housing providers...

Yardi returned as title sponsor and presenter at the Canadian Federation of Apartment Associations’ (CFAA) Rental Housing Conference, Canada’s premier event for apartment managers which took place on May 14-16 in Vancouver, B.C. “Yardi is proud to support and participate in educational events that bring together real estate industry leaders and managers to help further growth and innovation for businesses of all sizes in evolving markets,” said Peter Altobelli, vice president and general manager for Yardi Canada. This year’s conference focused on game-changing technology for the apartment industry, and Yardi was excited to participate in four dynamic educational sessions. Altobelli joined a roundtable to discuss the present state and future of technology in the rental housing industry — and how property managers can prepare for disruption. Tech Round Table: How to Surmount Barriers to Technological Advances Altobelli joined industry leaders Darren Henry, president at National Efficiency Systems Inc., Jeremy Jackson, vice president of marketing at Killam REIT and Geoff Younghusband, vice president of residential properties at Osgoode Properties, to address barriers that impede property managers from adopting useful new technologies, and how to surmount them. They covered getting the information you need to make informed business decisions and how to encourage your team to accept change and new ways of accomplishing tasks in your organization. For managers, they discussed how to gain quick wins with new tools and convince owners about the value of technology to reduce costs and gain new operational efficiencies. Online Platforms, Resident Services, Payments and Blockchain: The Future in the Rental Market Yardi’s  Regional Director of Canadian Sales, Heather Brady spoke about new cutting-edge technologies that are rocking the rental market — focusing on online platforms with resident services including payments —and was joined by David Janoawski, founder and CEO...

World Oceans Day is June 8th! Businesses can improve their bottom line by implementing water conservation techniques on the property. By consuming less water and using smart technology as an aid, you can cut costs and protect the environment.   Set conservation goals. A plan without a goal an aimless journey. Goals motivate us and let us know when we’re on track. Take inventory of your current water use. Speak with your utilities provider about setting realistic goals for water conservation as well as a due date for reaching those goals.   Let technology do the heavy lifting. Did you know that there is software that can complete a water audit, identify leaks, recover overages, and negotiate utility costs for you? Yardi Smart Energy Suite provides all of those services and more. Use a single solution to help you jumpstart your water conservation plan. It can be more cost effective that hiring a conservation task force or burdening your existing staff with new responsibilities.   Make low-flow your low-cost upgrade. Low-flow restrictors on faucets can cut water usage by .7 gallons per minute. They cost less than a dollar each. High efficiency toilets can save three gallons per flush, quickly paying for the cost of the upgrade in a high-traffic space. These little changes go a long way towards cost savings and conservation.   Native landscaping cuts costs and adds local flavor. Native landscaping includes grasses, shrubs, and trees that thrive in your local environment. Your environment often provides what the plants need naturally. You can save money that would otherwise go towards supplementing rainfall to meet the water needs for non-local species.   Free water is the best water. Consider rain barrels to catch and distribute rainwater to gardens and indoor plants. You...

This year’s Apple WWDC keynote, held at the San Jose McEnergy Convention Center in San Jose, was a big surprise for many, not for what it showcased, but for what it didn’t—hardware. Even though the event is clearly about software, Apple has gotten us used to  announcements of future or refreshes of current products. But this year’s session was all about a large variety of enhancements to its iOS, tvOS, watchOS and MacOS platforms, designed to further optimize the overall Apple experience. News on hardware will reportedly be announced in September. iOS improvements include faster speeds and enhanced responsiveness for the iPhone. This even applies to the older versions, like the 6S, which the company claims will fire up 50 percent faster than previously with its camera will be ready to snap photos 70 percent faster than before. iOS 12 should work just fine on all devices capable of running iOS 11, including the little 5S. This was pleasant news for those hanging on to older phones. Maybe the nicest touch added to the operating system is Screen Time, which could help curb smartphone overuse. New usage reports will show how you’re wasting your time and, should you want to, you can set limits for those apps that eat up too much of your time. Grouped notifications are an attempt to cut distractions, and parents will be able to limit their child’s screen time. For many, this announcement was bizarre as it is unheard of to have a company use one of its biggest annual events to showcase ways to use its products less. But the reality is that Apple doesn’t make money from the time people spend on its devices, it just needs as many people as possible to buy those devices. If...

Ed. Note: Neal Gemassmer (pictured, right)  is vice president of international for Yardi. This piece on global real estate technology adoption was originally authored for Property Week. It is relatively easy to raise a few hundred thousand pounds and start a company, so I think the number of new proptech start-ups will continue to grow exponentially.   It may have been a relatively late adopter where technology is concerned, but the real estate industry is now embracing it. Thanks to the advent of simpler programming languages, the accessibility of cloud storage and the weight of investment capital aimed at the sector, setting up a proptech company has never been easier.  On top of that, the now widespread use of apps offers a simple way of getting your technology into customers’ hands via the App Store or Google Play. With this in mind, it is no wonder that new companies are springing up in the sector on an almost daily basis, each of them aiming to solve a particular problem or simplify a complicated process.  But as the property industry’s use of – and understanding of – technology becomes more sophisticated, it is technologies that make a fundamental difference to the way businesses work and create real value for their customers that will succeed.  Although it has only been encapsulated in a neat buzzword in the last couple of years, proptech has been around in one form or another for far longer. Yardi Systems was founded in 1984 as a small software start-up in the property management sphere and has grown to become one of the largest companies in the sector, learning a lot along the way. In the US residential market, where Yardi has its roots, customers have been able for many years now to identify a...

“Yardi Orion is the tool that helps us create value for our clients,” said Jeanette Ruscitti, vice president of operations for The REMM Group. REMM is a third-party fee manager with more than 5,000 multifamily units and 1.5 million square feet of commercial space across Southern California. REMM takes a hands-on approach, working with its executive and onsite teams to go “above and beyond” for its clients — and investing in technology is key to the company’s success. Yardi Orion Business Intelligence is a mobile-enabled platform that combines financial, operational and ancillary services data from Yardi Voyager to deliver holistic portfolio insight. With configurable dashboards and more than 200 key performance indicators, Orion provides flexible reporting that enables REMM and its clients to make fast and informed business decisions. Shawn Conerty, REMM’s chief financial officer, said, “We have used Yardi Voyager software for years and find it is the most advanced property SaaS platform available. Our teams are empowered by the centralized source of data and automated workflows that simplify operations from leasing through move-ins and move-outs, work orders, purchase orders, check writing and more. Yardi’s marketing and leasing tools, including RentCafe, make life easier for our prospects, residents and staff with online leasing, rent payments and maintenance requests.” Conerty commented that REMM came to the table to analyze Orion with these previous Yardi successes in mind. “Orion draws from all the flows of information that go through those Yardi systems: occupancy, delinquency, exceptions, marketing, financials, etc.,” he added. Built right into its Voyager platform, Orion has proven to be the right choice for REMM to serve its clients and meet business goals, with mobile access that makes it easy for REMM’s executives to utilize the system on the go. Real-time tracking of rental...

Property owners and managers now have a new tool for making their communities safer places—VendorShield, Yardi’s new automated vendor screening platform. VendorShield lets property owners and managers define their requirements for insurance coverage, professional licenses and background checks. The system follows the custom rules for searching government watch lists and other national and local verification sources to ensure suppliers meet requirements. Regular auditing ensures ongoing compliance. With credential screening automated and insurance data auditing outsourced to the Yardi compliance team, property staff members have more time for their core responsibilities. VendorShield also simplifies management of Form W-9s, certificates of insurance, service contracts and other documents. “VendorShield helps facilitate safe communities for residents, tenants, vendors and staff,” said Terri Dowen, senior vice president of sales for Yardi. “The full integration of VendorShield with Yardi Voyager and VENDORCafé provides a convenient one-stop shop for vendor management.” Download a brochure to learn more about how VendorShield helps reduce risk and promotes a supportive community...

Yardi honors exemplary members of the customer service department during the annual CSD Week Awards ceremony. Amanda Siegel received the Directors Award while she worked with the government services team. Josh Cunningham, Director, Specialty Solutions Group at Yardi, reflects on Siegel’s contributions. “Amanda has a calm presence that allows her to de-escalate difficult situations with ease. She worked with some of our largest government clients on upgrades, custom reporting and data conversions. I chose her for the Director’s Award because she was the top performer in her department.” The Balance Sheet sat down with Siegel to learn more about the woman behind the honor. TBS: What does it mean to you to receive the Director’s Award? Siegel: I was honored to be recognized with this award alongside co-workers that I know to be knowledgeable, hard-working and fantastic examples of leadership and integrity on their teams. The respect I have for the other recipients of this award motivates me to emulate their strengths in my own work. I think, for me personally, this award represented a lot of personal growth in learning to approach new challenges with determination and flexibility. Knowing how to use my resources and having the shared knowledge and support of my team has helped me be successful taking on some difficult tasks and new responsibilities this past year. I’m very grateful to have the additional confidence and new skills that came from these experiences. TBS: What do you enjoy most about working at Yardi? Siegel: I enjoy the company culture the most. Having a symbiotic rather than an adversarial relationship with my teammates makes me feel supported and motivated to not let my group down. I also really appreciate the value this company seems to put on integrity and empathy. I see this both in the attitudes of...

In several metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), owning a home may cost less than renting. There are several factors that determine home affordability when compared to renting, so let’s dive right in.  Out of the 33 largest MSAs, 17 have homeownership options that are more affordable than renting. Homebuyers’ savings could exceed 3 percent of their incomes in nine of the 17 cities. Buying is more affordable than renting when homebuyers are able to: Put 3.5 percent down on the property, often with help of down payment assistance programs. Meet eligibility requirements for those down payment assistance programs Qualify for a loan for a median-priced (or less expensive) home Cover mortgage insurance costs, which vary by loan Down payment assistance programs are a huge factor in home affordability. A report by Urban Wire helps consumers identify available programs by state. There are 2,144 down payment assistance programs from which borrowers can choose.  Top 5 Locations Below are the top 5 cities where buying a home offers greater savings than renting.  Miami In this multicultural city of sun and surf, the buyer of a median-priced home could save about 11 percent of their income when compared to renting. This is even when the expense of Miami real estate is factored in: Miami is the 11th most expensive city amongst the MSAs in terms of mortgage affordability. The median mortgage costs 32 percent of buyers’ median income, which is 2 percent above the recommended affordability average. While that mortgage-to-income ratio is high, it’s not as high as renting. Rent can cost a whopping 42 percent of a household’s median income. Detroit As the Motor City continues to redefine itself, it entices residents with affordable housing stock. With a rent gap of -7.11, rent will cost 21.30 percent of...

“The ROI using Voyager has been huge,” said Jason Hoffman, COO and vice president at Alliance Property Systems, about running its business on the mobile Yardi Voyager platform. Led by a father-son team, Alliance provides comprehensive HOA and condominium management services along with commercial real estate management throughout South Florida. A longtime Yardi client, Alliance has always invested in technology and started with DOS-based Yardi Professional in the early 1990s. To meet new challenges in a changing industry and move its business forward, Alliance switched to the cloud-based Voyager platform in 2015. As a result, Alliance has gained automated workflows for tasks that previously required time-consuming manual processing, and accommodates a business model of “roving property management” with integrated online services and mobile tools. Winning in a tight market Alliance has a portfolio of 70 properties and 6,000 units in South Florida and only 13 employees. To succeed and be profitable in a competitive market with tight margins, the company must streamline and optimize internal processes, according to Leigh Hoffman, Alliance’s president and CEO (and father half of the father-son team). A key way Alliance achieves this is by leveraging Yardi’s leading-edge technology across its business. For a true end-to-end solution, Alliance has added products from the Yardi® Condo Suite to its Voyager platform. Integrated online services and simplified workflows for payments, procurement, invoice processing and more increase productivity and reduce costs for the company. When asked if Alliance’s investment in technology sets the company apart, Jason commented that the Voyager platform “100% helps us win business.” And according to Leigh, “We are more competitive and succeed because we’re offering options to our customers to do more things online, including payments.” Empowering a lean team This biggest line item in Alliance’s budget is employee costs....

Emails can be valuable tools that convert prospects and build loyalty with existing residents. Below are seven emails that every leasing agent should send. Emails for prospects Prospects want to feel courted. They also expect information that anticipates their questions and interests. These three emails hit the spot, helping to forge the relationship between leasing agents and prospects. Automated (Yet Personalized) Introduction Email This important communication serves three purposes. It satisfies prospects’ expectation to receive prompt responses. Secondly, it lets prospects know that you received their inquiry or that you recall your encounter with them. Lastly, it gives them a way to contact you simply by responding to an email. Availability Updates Let your newly available units shine with a showcase email. Be sure to include high quality images and descriptions with plenty of personality. End each listing with a call to action such as “Schedule a Tour” or an option to see similar units. Just Leased Updates Remind your prospects that your property is a desirable place to live and that units are going fast! Consider including the number of days the unit was on the market, particularly if it’s less than three. This is a great incentive for prospects who are on the fence. Emails for residents Renewing a lease costs less than turning a unit, so use emails to build resident loyalty! These three emails reinforce the residents’ bond and promote higher occupancy. Property Newsletter Inform your residents of exciting value-add events for families and perks for pet owners. Such events keep your residents engaged in the community, which increases perceived value. The newsletter is also a fantastic way to notify residents of upcoming maintenance and upgrades to the property. Show your residents that you’re proactively invested in the quality of...

Collaboration. Community. Social responsibility. These might not be the first words that come to mind when talking about most global businesses, but for the people who work in the offices that comprise Yardi Canada Ltd., they come up often. Now celebrating 20 years in Canada, we talked to leaders in each office and asked them what it means to be “Team Yardi.” Beginning in Toronto “When I first started collaborating with Yardi to help establish the company’s footprint in Canada, our business was a four-person operation,” said Peter Altobelli, general manager and vice president of sales at Yardi Canada Ltd. Based in Toronto, Altobelli set up Yardi’s first office in Canada in 1998 which has grown to a staff of 200. With a vision of working to create a market in Canada through educating the industry about technology, Altobelli worked with Yardi to hit on a winning strategy. Through helping to establish new standards and best practices for real estate management companies, Altobelli is dedicated to helping Yardi clients in Canada prepare for and take advantage of the quantum changes brought on by tech disruption and innovation. And while helping clients grow and thrive is a key focus of Yardi’s mission, supporting staff to grow in their roles with increased knowledge and move forward on their career paths is also vitally important. Altobelli said, “We support our staff with learning opportunities and challenge them to grow into roles and expand their careers.” Synchronized in Saskatchewan The second phase of expanding into the Canadian market was Yardi’s acquisition of Point2 Technologies in 2010. With headquarters in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Point2 developed, marketed and supported web-based marketing software for real estate as well as inventory management, with customers in over 120 countries. About the transition to Yardi,...

Washington, D.C. (May 30, 2018) – Kicking off Yardi’s Advanced Solutions Conference (YASC) at the Washington Hilton, Yardi president and founder Anant Yardi shared his perspective on change. “For me, change is incremental. It’s not disruptive. Change is something we have to count on. If you are successful in making small steps over the course of time, you will be successful,” Mr. Yardi stated before more than 2,000 Yardi clients and employees gathered for the East Coast education and networking event. A West Coast YASC will be held in San Diego in September. In a 45-minute talk reflecting on the company’s development history and looking toward the future, the focus was on new lines of product development that Yardi has underway to help its clients meet their real estate and investment goals. The technology company’s goal is to help clients increase revenues and asset values while reducing costs and risk. Energy solutions, coworking management, and a full asset management suite were presented as ways to help achieve those goals. Mr. Yardi offered attendees a sneak preview of the Yardi Elevate Suite, an operational performance solution that includes in-depth operations data, deal management, market insight, predictive insights, budgeting, business intelligence and revenue forecasting. The product builds on the proven Deal Manager solution and will incorporate additional new tools, including Forecast Manager, Construction Manager, Retail Manager and Facility Manager. Another area of focus was Yardi’s growing commitment to coworking, including the leasing of vacant space for shared and temporary workers. The company has made two recent acquisitions in the area, including Wun Systems and most recently Phoenix Broadband, a Scottish company that created a platform for managing technology resources in a shared workspace. “It seems to us that this is a new category of asset type....

Required renters insurance is widely considered a best practice for multifamily managers to reduce property risk and protect asset value. ResidentShield Protection Plan works seamlessly with Yardi Voyager, with easy online signup for residents and automated program monitoring for property managers. It also offers coverage options to residents for their personal possessions. Read on for the latest enhancements to this “peace of mind” insurance program. More options ResidentShield’s forced-placed Master Policy program now invoices management companies by property for easier payment options. Pet-friendly apartments are highly coveted by all the animal loving renters out there, and ResidentShield has you covered. In addition to having several pet-friendly endorsements to offer, a notification is sent to a property if a resident has a pet but has not purchased pet damage coverage. Should pet damage occur, the Pet Notification feature can track which residents purchase a pet damage endorsement, which gives your property up to $500 to file after the applicable security and pet deposit have been exhausted. Better compliance ResidentShield policy holders now receive text notifications of changes to their policy — making it easier to stay informed and compliant. Also, when a policy is cancelled, the policy holder will receive an updated email from ResidentShield, which frees staff to focus on leasing and other important tasks (instead of tracking policies and sending letters). The lease violation fee program has also been modified to further motivate residents to remain compliant — and when they are not, they will be automatically charged a fee. Coming soon To optimize claims management, claims information will be stored in Voyager. This will make it easier for staff to enter claims information and track the progress of every claim. (ResidentShield claims are automatically updated every night.) Another feature available soon is...

Yardi client Prologis is the presenting sponsor of the Courage Classic Bicycle Tour, a mult-day cycling event set for July 21-22 that raises money for Children’s Hospital Colorado. In 9 years of sponsorship, Prologis has raised $2 million for the hospital’s foundation. Yardi is proud to support fundraising efforts for this important cause by making a donation in support of the event each year. This July, Prologis has gathered a team of 100 riders with a goal of raising $150,000 for the hospital. The ride takes place from a base of the Copper Mountain Resort in Vail, Colo, elevation 9,750 feet. Participants chose from routes of around 80 or 40 miles on each of the two days. Shorter routes are available to families bringing children to participate. “The Courage Classic provides a great bonding experience and a unique opportunity to spend time with colleagues and business partners from around the world,” shared the Prologis marketing team. A global logistics real estate company, Prologis has over 1,600 employees in 19 countries. Yardi software helps facilitate the company’s partnership with the world’s major manufacturing and distribution companies. “Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation is so grateful for the partnership with Prologis as our Presenting Sponsor of the Courage Classic Bicycle Tour. This event wouldn’t be what it has become today without their commitment,” said Emily Kotas, Senior Manager, Corporate Partnerships for Children’s Hospital Colorado. Learn more about the...

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, they say, but I doubt Apple is pleased with the compliment Xiaomi has been paying since it launched its first smartphone back in 2011. Since then, the little rice (Xiaomi’s translation from Mandarin) grew into a solid 12.4 percent market share in China’s smartphone market. Chances are its growth will be boosted this year, with the help of the recently launched Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S. This Android-powered Apple-looking device is the company’s latest flagship smartphone. Design-wise, the Mi Mix 2S didn’t change from the version launched about half a year ago, and it’s understandable as it holds several design awards. The change happened under the hood, as it more often should. Back to the design features, the device looks exactly the same as its predecessor when regarded from the front—the 6-inch, full HD plus LCD display with 18:9 ratio and 1080p resolution and trim bezels on the side and top is unchanged, as is the 5-megapixel front camera, still placed in that awkward position at the bottom right corner of the device. The fingerprint sensor is still placed on the back. Mi Mix 2S is also made of ceramic with aluminum, but the company is interested in producing a full-ceramic edition, just as it did with the previous version; the color-scheme is minimal: black with gold trim and white with silver trim. On the back, there’s another story: the new dual-camera system replaced the single module and has been moved to the top left corner, mirroring iPhone X’s design. The camera system consists of two 12-megapixel sensors—one behind the wide-angle lens and the other behind a telephoto lens. The system features dual-pixel autofocus, four-axis optical image stabilization and Sony’s IMKX363 sensor with an F/1.8 aperture and 1.4-micron...

If you’re attending the California Assisted Living Association (CALA) 2018 Spring Conference & Trade Show, along with 800 other professionals who will engage in important issues and explore opportunities for the assisted living industry, Yardi is excited to see you there. With the theme “elevate,” to acknowledge that senior living professionals are continually seeking ways to improve and enhance their services, the event is set for June 4-6 at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento and Sacramento Convention Center in California. Assisted living, memory care and continuing care resident community operators come together at CALA’s spring conference to participate in active learning, engage in critical discussions, and hear from outstanding presenters with a broad range of expertise within and outside the profession. Sessions will cover resident and dementia care knowledge and practices, legal and regulatory awareness, leadership and staff culture along with sales and marketing strategies. Attendees expect to walk away with ready-to-use information, ideas, and best practices that both challenge and inspire them. In addition to not-to-be-missed educational sessions, the conference also provides networking and socializing opportunities including a wine tasting event on Monday, June 4 and a cocktail reception on Tuesday, June 5. Yardi is sponsoring the luncheon general session on Wednesday, June 6 at 12:15, where featured speakers Matthew Emerzian and Cindy McCann will discuss “Creating a ‘You Matter’ Culture” that touches both residents and employees in assisted living organizations. View complete details about the luncheon, speakers and sessions in the conference brochure. While exploring the trade show exhibitors, you’re invited to discover Yardi’s single connected solution for senior living by visiting Booth 50, and while you’re there, enter for a chance to win a Bose Bluetooth Speaker. We look forward to meeting you in...

Apartmentalize powered by NAA is the apartment industry’s biggest annual event. If you’re going, you won’t want to miss out on hearing great speakers and getting energized by discovering what’s possible for your business. Apartmentalize will take place from June 13-16 in San Diego, and is the premier source for educating professionals of all job functions within the rental housing industry. The event is designed to help attendees take their careers, companies and residents’ experience to the next level. Be Sure to Attend Visit Yardi at booth #1019 in Hall E to get energized and discover what a single connected property management solution can do for your business. And while you’re there, enter for a chance to win a pair of Maui Jim sunglasses! When it comes to making informed decisions for your business, you’ve likely heard about advances in artificial or machine intelligence. To “get smart” as BI evolves through artificial intelligence, don’t miss “The Age of AI: Business Intelligence Today and Tomorrow.” The panel will discuss BI for multifamily with great insights from analytics experts from Yardi, Bozzuto, Bridge Property Management and Berkshire Communities. The session will take place on June 14 at 10 a.m. Aspiring marketing geniuses should be sure to attend the Learning Zone session “Reach Your Audience and Elevate Marketing Results with Prescriptive Analytics” presented by Yardi’s Dhar Sawh and Nima Farkhak on June 14 at 2:45 p.m. To share ways to better connect with your customers and truly understand how prospects find you, Yardi’s Esther Bonardi will moderate “How Did You Find Us? Tracking Today’s Multi-Touch Renter Journey” on June 15 at 9 a.m. Bonardi will be joined onstage by marketing experts from Greystar, EC Smith and Monarch Investment and Management Group. And finally, get enlightened about the...

Next week, the Yardi Advanced Solutions Conference returns to the East Coast for a week of in-depth training, networking and fun! The annual user conference, also known as YASC, will be hosted at the Washington Hilton from May 30 – June 1. “We’re looking forward to welcoming clients to DC! We listened to client feedback and have expanded the number of unique class offerings and networking opportunities,” said Tim Hoover, creative director for Yardi. Features of YASC Washington, D.C. include: Conference App We’ve gone green with a new conference app! Attendees can access all conference information, venue maps, class materials, social networking and in-app messaging, and more on the Yardi Events app. It’s designed to enable attendees to custom-tailor their daily schedule with classes, demos, panels, and roundtables, and to set up one-on-one meetings with Yardi staff. The Yardi Events app is available for download in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. A browser-based version, synced to the mobile app, will also be available, so attendees can access all these features from their desktop. User log-in details have been emailed to all registered YASC attendees. Questions? Email our team at [email protected]. Gain Insight & Get Your Questions Answered Knowledge Central is the place to be if you want to learn more about new products and upgrades, or if you have questions about your current software. We’ve gathered the experts in one place, so you’ll know where to go to get all your questions answered. Bonus: attend a 15-minute product preview in Knowledge Central and be entered in a daily giveaway for a Bose travel speaker! Expand Your Network YASC is all about learning, but we also want our clients to have a good time! The conference will offer several opportunities to connect with peers in your industry, including networking receptions and focused table...

Yardi and Property Week assembled five property investment experts to discuss low-risk ways to find value amid fierce competition for prime property. Industrial, traditional PRS, build to rent and student housing were seen to offer opportunities, with a tough retail climate and political risk on the downside. Panelists Ian Benson: Finance Director, Kier Property Meg Brown: Director of equity placement, Colliers Howard Freedman, Partner/head of real estate and construction, RSM Jamie McCombe, Partner/head of IM, Cluttons Kris McPhail, Co-fund manager, Lime Property Fund, Aviva Moderator: David Parsley, Property Week contributing editor With prime property yields tightening and investors looking for value without too much risk, our think tank participants addressed the key issues of where funds should place their cash and what factors – both positive and negative – may affect their decisions and returns. Where are the hot sectors in real estate investment? MB: This is something we think about a lot, as we typically advise pension funds and groups where risk really matters, as they are investing money they can’t really lose. So right now we’re fans of things that are not correlated to economic cycles, and that’s largely mega-themes such as student housing, PRS and BTR, micro living and, to some degree, the co-working concept. JM: We feel capital growth is going to be more muted in this market, so there has been a flight to income return. We’ve been looking at some of those long-term income plays, such as hotels and student accommodation. The industrial sector has obviously been improving in the past 12 months, predicated on investors seeing some future rental growth, so yields have fallen quite significantly, but in the right areas and at right rent, there is still something to go for in terms of return. The prime end of the...