Bridging Property Management's Generational Gap with Technology

• New management: Property management is aging, but technology could help attract younger workers by reducing busywork.

• Development downer: One Southern California developer is behind Zions Bancorp’s bad earnings report.

• Mormons and kangaroos: Salt Lake City and several Australian cities rank among the world’s most affordable housing markets.

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Property & Facilities Management

Bridging Property Management's Generational Gap with Technology

The property management industry faces a looming talent gap as veteran managers near retirement and too few younger professionals take their place. For decades, property management has been viewed as a behind-the-scenes job that is steady and necessary but not aspirational. That image is out of sync with what the next generation of workers wants: purpose, flexibility, and the chance to make an impact.

Technology could be the bridge. AI and automation are freeing managers from administrative drudgery, allowing them to focus on what makes the work meaningful, helping people live and work better. Tasks like scheduling, payments, and maintenance tracking can now run in the background, giving managers time to build community and improve tenant experiences.

For companies willing to embrace these tools, the payoff goes beyond efficiency. Modern property management technology is not about replacing people, it is about empowering them. By framing the role as one that combines leadership, human connection, and innovation, the industry can attract a new wave of talent ready to shape the future of how we live.

Overheard

The Troubled Developer Shaking Regional Banking Confidence

Regional bank stocks slumped last week, jolted by a fresh reminder that real estate distress still has power to roil financial markets. One of the catalysts: Zions and other lenders disclosed losses connected to MOM CA Investco LLC, a commercial real estate firm that entered bankruptcy earlier this year. The developer had pledged over 16 properties across more than $60 million in loans, some of which are now being marked down, blamed on fraud allegations and defaulting debt.

MOM CA has a complex structure. Headquartered in Newport Beach, it was operating through dozens of special purpose entities across hotels, apartments, offices, and luxury vacation rentals. When it filed for Chapter 11 in February 2025, it revealed both management disputes and liquidity stress as drivers of failure. (Bondoro) Its bankruptcy has been contentious—already, a court moved to dismiss its case after months of infighting and asset fights. (Law360) The unraveling of MOM CA is forcing banks to reckon with what they thought were well-collateralized loans.

The episode doesn’t just spotlight one borrower’s failure—it revives systemic fears about real estate exposure in regional banking. The last time investors saw this kind of credit contagion was during the regional bank crisis of 2023, when distressed real estate portfolios underpinned several bank collapses. That memory makes the market reflexively cautious today. For real estate lenders and institutional owners, the lesson is stark: even well-underwritten credit can crack under opaque governance, hidden liabilities, or deteriorating fundamentals. In a capital environment already strained, the next surprise borrower could be even less forgiving.

Salt Lake City and Australian Metros Lead Global Housing Affordability Rankings

A new global housing affordability report by DWS Group found that several midsized U.S. cities and major Australian metros rank among the world’s most affordable places to live. Salt Lake City topped the list, with Austin, Dallas, and Atlanta also landing in the top 10. The study analyzed 80 metro areas across multiple continents, finding that residents in the most affordable cities spend about 38 percent of their post-tax income on rent for a two-bedroom apartment.

Australia also fared well, with Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney joining the top ranks. In those cities, residents typically spend no more than 27 percent of their disposable income on rent, supported by strong wages and relatively balanced housing supply. Meanwhile, global hubs like New York, London, and Hong Kong were among the least affordable, where surging rents and stagnant wage growth continue to squeeze even high earners.

For real estate developers and property owners, this data underscores the competitive opportunity in markets with affordability headroom. Cities like Salt Lake, Austin, and Brisbane may attract new residents and investors as affordability becomes a key differentiator in global migration and business location decisions. Balanced housing markets—where income and supply align—could offer steadier rent growth and lower volatility, while expensive metros may face political and regulatory pressure to expand housing supply or cap rent increases.

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