News

Atlanta, GA – March 9, 2026 – The bar for multifamily property management has never been higher. What once required basic maintenance and administrative skills now demands a far more sophisticated approach.

In a recent ApartmentBuildings.com feature, “Management and Operations: The Engine Behind Successful Multifamily Properties,” Parktown Living Senior Vice President Patti Higgins joined a panel of industry experts to discuss how the role of the multifamily operator has evolved and what it takes to succeed in today’s environment.

More Than Rent Collection

The scope of apartment management has grown considerably more complex. Today’s operators are responsible for resident experience, maintenance, expense control, compliance, and capital planning, all in service of protecting occupancy and maximizing net operating income (NOI).

Higgins draws a useful distinction between asset management and property management. “Asset managers focus on long-term hold strategies,” she explained. “Apartment managers translate those strategies into daily action.”

How the Industry Has Shifted

In the years following the Great Financial Crisis through the pandemic era, operators focused primarily on retention and renewals. As demand returned, the emphasis shifted to revenue growth. Today, those tasks are simply the baseline. Industry experts quoted in the article noted that factors that once differentiated top multifamily managers are now the minimum that residents and property owners expect.

Technology has become central to how properties are run. Higgins pointed to online leasing, automated work order systems, digital communication platforms, and data dashboards as tools that have meaningfully improved efficiency and response time. Resident expectations have risen in step. “Residents expect responsiveness, clear communication and reliable follow-through,” Higgins noted. “These expectations are shaped by experiences in other industries where service standards have steadily improved.”

What’s Ahead

Cost pressures are not going away. Rising materials, labor expenses, and regulatory changes will continue straining operating budgets. Higgins also flagged broader macroeconomic factors, including interest rates and inflation, as forces that “will exert an influence on management strategy and daily decision-making.”

An expected uptick in multifamily sales transactions will create additional operational challenges, requiring careful attention to property performance and resident experience during ownership transitions. Evolving rent control and eviction regulations mean operators will need to stay proactive on compliance as well.

The Parktown Living Approach

At Parktown Living, we understand that for owners, the quality of operations is inseparable from the performance of the asset. Disciplined expense management, proactive compliance, and responsive on-site teams protect NOI and support long-term value. That is the standard we hold ourselves to on every property we manage.

Read the full article in ApartmentBuildings.com: “Management and Operations: The Engine Behind Successful Multifamily Properties.”

About Parktown Living

Parktown Living is a multifamily property management company built on an ownership mindset. Founded by the principals of Investors Management Group (IMG), the firm was created to address the misaligned incentives common in traditional property management models. Parktown Living combines hands-on execution with institutional standards to deliver strong resident experiences, transparent reporting, and consistent performance for owners. The company manages communities across Texas, Georgia, and the Carolinas, with a focus on protecting asset value and driving long-term results. Learn more