NMHC 2025 Annual Meeting Recap: Key Takeaways

The 2025 National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) Annual Meeting in Las Vegas last week brought together rental housing owners, operators, brokers, venture capitalists, and other industry leaders to tackle the most pressing challenges and opportunities in multifamily real estate. From risk management and investment strategies to AI-driven innovation, the conversations throughout the week provided actionable insights into how the industry is evolving.

The Women’s Event: Leadership, Growth, and Authenticity 

The NMHC Women’s Event has grown exponentially, from a small lunch gathering of 12 women to a dynamic community of over 700 multifamily leaders. This event continues to be a catalyst for empowering women in multifamily real estate, reinforcing the importance of leadership, authenticity, and mentorship in professional growth. 

• Valerie Jarrett, CEO of The Barack Obama Foundation, delivered an inspiring keynote, emphasizing the importance of resilience, mentorship, and fostering strong professional networks. Her insights on embracing life’s transitions and prioritizing relationships resonated deeply with attendees. 
• Erin Hatzikostas, CEO & Founder of B Authentic, led an engaging workshop on authenticity in leadership, challenging participants to share both successes and setbacks to create stronger, more relatable leadership connections.

The Apartment Strategies Conference: Market Trends & Investment Perspectives 

The NMHC Apartment Strategies Conference brought together leading economists, investors, and operators to discuss the forces shaping the multifamily market. 

• Macroeconomic Outlook – The day began with a fireside chat featuring Justin Wolfers (University of Michigan, Brookings Institution), moderated by Kim Betancourt (Fannie Mae). Their discussion provided insight into economic trends affecting real estate development, financing, and housing demand over the next 12-24 months. 
• Market Trends & Investment Strategy – Leading analysts, including Jay Lybik (CoStar) and John Chang (Marcus & Millichap), shared an exclusive look at transaction trends, demographic shifts, and capital markets dynamics influencing multifamily investment. 
• Operational Efficiency & Resident Preferences – Executives from Waterton, Passco Companies, and Gables Residential discussed how technology, automation, and shifting resident expectations are reshaping property management and asset performance. 
• Multifamily in a Changing Landscape – The conference wrapped up with a forward-looking panel moderated by Dr. Richard Green (USC’s Lusk Center for Real Estate). Industry leaders from Bridge Investment Group, Redfin, and the Urban Institute explored market challenges, regulatory shifts, and the economic factors influencing the multifamily industry. 

The Annual Meeting: AI and Technology 

Technology, artificial intelligence, and data-driven decision-making were central themes at the NMHC Annual Meeting, highlighting the multifamily sector’s rapid adoption of AI, fintech, and Proptech solutions. 

• Digital Transformation in Multifamily – The Real Estate Technology & Transformation Center (RETTC) showcased how multifamily firms are leveraging automation, AI, and advanced analytics to improve efficiency and mitigate risk. 
• AI’s Practical Applications – The session "AI & Real Estate: Past the Hype" featured real-world insights from JLL Technologies, Avanti Residential, Stellifi VC, and 1Sharppe Ventures, illustrating how AI is optimizing underwriting, risk assessment, and asset management. 
• Investment in Proptech – The "Tech Revolution" panel explored how venture capital is driving the next wave of multifamily innovation, with perspectives from 29th Street Capital, Camber Creek, and Berkadia. 
• Technology’s Role in Housing Finance & Affordability – a discussion on how digital solutions are improving property valuations, enhancing the resident experience, and making housing more accessible. 
• Policy & Innovation – The fireside chat featuring Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr. provided a high-level analysis of housing policy, investment trends, and technology’s role in shaping the industry’s future. 

Emerging Leaders Young Guns Pitch: Next-Gen Multifamily Leadership 

The 14th annual NMHC Emerging Leaders Young Guns Pitch session featured rising industry professionals presenting investment strategies for distressed multifamily assets in Austin.  

This high-energy session highlighted the next generation of multifamily leaders as they navigated investment analysis, risk assessment, and business strategy development, all under the scrutiny of a mock investment committee of senior executives. 

Risk Management & The Future of Multifamily 

A common theme across NMHC 2025 was the growing need for proactive risk management as rental housing operators navigate a rapidly evolving financial and operational landscape. 

With rising insurance costs, increasing resident default risks, and shifting capital market conditions, multifamily leaders are actively exploring data-driven solutions to mitigate risk, enhance portfolio resilience, and protect long-term asset value. 

Conclusion  

Assurified was founded to transform how rental housing organizations address the escalating cost of insurable risk, which continues to erode asset returns. Traditional risk management processes have been plagued by fragmentation and inefficiency, relying on siloed systems and outdated methodologies. Our risk transformation platform represents a fundamental shift: combining AI-powered risk underwriting analytics with integrated insurance automation capabilities to transform risk management from a cost center into a strategic advantage. This integrated approach enables rental housing stakeholders to not only enhance operational efficiency but also capitalize on innovative solutions like captive insurance programs and structured risk financing, spanning everything from tenant default insurance to commercial property and casualty lines.

What were your biggest takeaways from NMHC 2025? Let’s continue the conversation: www.assurified.com/request-a-meeting

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