Residential real estate
Delivering expert insights on resident engagement strategies, resident perks, and the how-tos on how to help residents save.
Guides for residential real estate leaders
Residential real estate refers to properties that are used for living purposes, as opposed to commercial or industrial real estate which is used for business and industrial activities. Our content includes how-tos, guides, industry trends, and news about resident perks, rewards, and engagement.
Latest
The real cost of managing a loyalty program in property management
Loyalty programs often cost more than expected in property management. This article breaks down loyalty program operational costs, including staff time, software, hidden admin work, and scalability challenges, helping property managers evaluate programs based on total cost and long-term impact on NOI.
Rewards vs rent concessions: which delivers better NOI?
Choosing between rewards and rent concessions has a direct impact on NOI. Rent concessions reduce income and reset pricing expectations, while rewards add resident value without lowering rent. This article explains how rewards vs rent concessions deliver better NOI by supporting retention, stabilizing revenue, and scaling across portfolios. Property operators can use rewards to improve satisfaction and engagement while protecting long-term financial performance.
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How merchant-funded rewards protect NOI for property operators
Merchant-funded rewards help property operators protect NOI while still delivering meaningful value to residents. Unlike rent discounts or operator-funded incentives, these rewards are paid for by merchants, not properties. This approach supports engagement, renewals, and positive resident behavior without increasing expenses or reducing revenue. By aligning resident experience with financial discipline, merchant-funded rewards offer a scalable, long-term strategy for residential real estate portfolios.
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How automation strengthens resident reward programs
Automation transforms resident reward programs from manual perks into scalable performance tools. This article explains how automated workflows improve reward timing, ensure fairness, reduce staff workload, and strengthen behaviors like on-time rent and renewals—making resident rewards more effective and sustainable across residential real estate portfolios.
Points-less rewards vs loyalty points: what works better for residents
Points-less rewards outperform loyalty points in residential real estate by delivering instant value without complexity. This article explains how immediate, points-free incentives align with renter psychology, drive better engagement, improve on-time rent behavior, and reduce operational friction—making them a more effective alternative to traditional loyalty points programs.
From late fees to loyalty: modern alternatives for rent enforcement
Late fees are no longer enough to ensure on-time rent. This article explores modern alternatives for rent enforcement that replace penalties with loyalty, instant rewards, and automation—helping property managers improve payment consistency, reduce conflict, lower operational workload, and protect long-term asset performance.
Rental property management tips that actually improve on-time rent
Improving on-time rent requires more than late fees and reminders. This article shares rental property management tips that focus on renter behavior, positive reinforcement, automation, and instant rewards to increase payment consistency, reduce delinquency, and strengthen cash flow across residential properties.
The psychology behind instant rewards for renters
Instant rewards work because they align with renter psychology. Immediate value reinforces positive behavior, builds habits, and strengthens emotional loyalty. This article explains why instant rewards outperform delayed incentives and how property operators can use behavioral science to improve payments, engagement, and lease renewals.
Why points-based reward programs fail in residential real estate
Points-based reward programs struggle in residential real estate due to delayed value, low engagement, and operational complexity. This article explains why points fail and how instant, behavior-driven, merchant-funded rewards deliver better results for resident satisfaction, retention, and property performance.
Types of residential real estate categories include:
- Single-family homes: Stand-alone houses meant for one family or group of people.
- Apartments: Housing units in a larger building, typically owned by a single entity and rented out to individuals or families.
- Condominiums: Similar to apartments, but the units are owned individually rather than rented from a single landlord.
- Townhouses: Multi-floor homes that share one or two walls with adjacent properties but have their own entrances.
- Duplexes, Triplexes, and Quadruplexes: Buildings divided into two, three, or four units, respectively, with each unit typically having its own entrance.
- Multifamily homes: Larger buildings that house multiple families, often more than four.
- Vacation homes: Properties used for leisure and vacation purposes.
The main focus in residential real estate is providing living spaces, whether through ownership or rental. It's a significant sector in the real estate market and has a direct impact on the economy and consumers due to its essential role in providing housing.
According to the National Association of Homebuilders using US Bureau of Economic Analysis data, RRE's combined contribution to the economy usually makes up 15-18% of US GDP annually, and occurs in two basic ways:
- Residential investment (around 3-5% of GDP), means construction of new single-family and multifamily buildings, residential remodeling, manufactured home fabrication, and real estate brokers’ fees.
- Consumption spending on housing services (around 12-13% of GDP), includes gross rents and utilities paid by renters, as well as owners’ imputed rents and utility payments.
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