Real Estate Technology, Asset Management
Article | May 30, 2023
Improve real estate portfolio performance by analyzing various investment optimization strategies anddiscoveringthe subtle differences between asset management and property management.
Contents
1 Introduction
2 Contrasts between Asset Management and Property Management
2.1 Key Differences based on Scope, Objectives, and Activities
2.2 Interconnectedness of Asset and Property Management
3 Asset Management Techniques
4 Property Management Techniques
5 Clarifying Misconceptions about Asset and Property Management
1. Introduction
Asset management and property management are both integral components of real estate management. Precisely, property management pertains to managing the daily operations of a particular property, which includes overseeing the property and the tasks around it. On the other hand, asset management caters to investors seeking to purchase and manage numerous investment properties. It is essential to note that property management is generally intended for property owners who want to delegate the management function to competent professionals.
An asset manager is responsible for managing various types of assets and overseeing portfolios. In contrast, a portfolio manager primarily handles the financial assets of their clients. The main objective of property managers is to manage and improve the value of a property while maximizing the return on investment for the owner. They analyze the real estate market and decide whether to continue investing in a property or divest it.
2. Asset Management Vs Property Management
When it comes to asset management versus property management, people frequently experience confusion. Although both concepts are essential to the ownership and management of real estate, they are distinct. Recognizing the difference between the two overlapping cores of real estate management and comprehending how the two interact is vital.
2.1 Key Differences Based on Scope, Objectives and Activities
Property management is operational, while asset management is strategic and focused on the big picture.
Asset management involves a broader scope of responsibilities as it encompasses the management of multiple properties within a portfolio, including analyzing and evaluating the financial performance of each property, monitoring market trends and changes, and making informed decisions about buying, selling, or holding assets. On the other hand, property management in real estate has a more limited scope and primarily focuses on managing the regular operations of a single property, including overseeing tenant relations, collecting rent, scheduling maintenance and repairs, and assuring compliance with local laws and regulations.
The primary objective of asset management is to develop and implement a strategy to maximize the return on investment, including identifying and acquiring properties that align with the owner's investment objectives, and developing long-term strategies to improve the performance of the portfolio as a whole. On the primary objective of property management in real estate is to ensure that a particular property is profitable and maintained to a high standard, create and implement effective marketing strategies to reach potential clients, and also handle the screening and selection process to ensure that clients are reliable and trustworthy.
Asset managers are responsible for creating and implementing long-term strategies to improve portfolio performance and hiring the personnel on an investor's team, including real estate agents, property managers, and leasing agents. Property managers are responsible for maintaining property value, ensuring it remains profitable for the owner, and hiring employees like cleaners, security guards, and contractors.
2.2 Interconnectedness of Asset and Property Management
Asset management and property management are closely interconnected, despite their different scopes and objectives. Effective communication and collaboration between asset and property managers are essential for a successful real estate investment portfolio. Asset managers rely on property managers to ensure individual properties are well-maintained and profitable. Property managers depend on asset managers to monitor investment strategy, market analysis, and portfolio optimization. The two roles combined can identify opportunities to increase the value of properties and achieve greater returns for investors.
3. Asset Management Techniques
Asset management is a highly technical position involving finances and investments to a significant degree. In the real estate industry, clients place a great deal of trust in asset managers to purchase and sell valuable properties.
Cash Flow Analysis: The real estate asset management technique, cash flow analysis is used to analyze cash transactions generated by a property to determine its profitability and potential returns. It helps asset managers assess its profitability and potential returns, guiding decision-making in investment, asset maintenance, and renovation.
Debt and Equity Financing: The technique of financing debt and equity is about understanding and utilizing various financing options to fund real estate investments. Asset managers can choose the best financing strategy for their real estate investments using this technique.
Property Valuation: The process of determining the value of a property based on factors like its location, condition, and potential rental income is simplified by property valuation techniques. Determining the property's current market value, setting a sale price or rental rate, and negotiating with potential buyers or tenants benefit an asset manager to identify the property value effectively.
Financial Modeling: Developing the future cash flow projection and understanding the investment returns for future decision-making is vital. Using economic modeling for asset management, real estate asset managers can identify potential risks and opportunities and make informed decisions about investment strategies.
4. Property Management Techniques
Property management is a service-oriented profession that involves hands-on knowledge of a property's operational aspects. Most of a property manager's duties revolve around techniques that ensure smooth property management and meeting the residents' needs and expectations.
Budgeting and Financial Planning: Monitoring expenses related to real estate property management, such as utilities, insurance & maintenance, and finding ways to reduce costs without sacrificing quality using the budgeting and financial planning technique will help property managers make informed decisions about property investments and identify areas for cost-saving measures.
Lease Negotiations: Maintaining accurate and up-to-date lease agreements, renewals, and terminations, enforcing lease terms, and resolving any disputes that may arise using the lease negotiation skills result in favorable lease terms for property owners, ultimately leading to better profitability.
Tenant Screening and Retention: Conducting comprehensive background checks on prospective tenants to ensure trustworthiness, accountability, and implementing retention techniques to hold current tenants can help reduce vacancies and turnover, and ultimately increase profits.
Effective Marketing and Advertising: To attract new tenants and help maintain high occupancy rates implementing effective real estate marketing and advertising techniques, including listing, signage, and social media, helps property managers with improved visibility and attractiveness of a property, leading to high rental income.
5. Clarifying Misconceptions about Asset and Property Management
Real estate asset management and property management are two distinct roles that are often misunderstood. One common misunderstanding is that asset management is solely for prominent investors, whereas property management is exclusively for small-scale landlords. However, it is crucial to recognize that both roles are intertwined and can benefit from techniques utilized in both areas. Real estate decision-makers should comprehensively understand asset and property management techniques to make well-informed decisions that can optimize profitability and value. Real estate professionals can create an efficient and effective management approach for their properties by dispelling misconceptions and capitalizing on the strengths of both roles.
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Real Estate Technology
Article | July 18, 2022
If your lifestyle has changed recently and you’re ready to make a move, taking advantage of today’s sellers’ market might be just the answer for your summer plans. With homes continuing to get multiple offers, this could be your moment to get the contract you’re looking for on your house if you’re ready to sell.
And here’s the thing – you need an expert on your side to ensure you make all the right moves when you do, especially when it comes to pricing your house. Even in this competitive market, you can’t stick just any price tag on your home and get the deal you want. A key piece of the puzzle is setting the right asking price so you can help buyers notice your home (and get excited about it) from the very first time they view the listing. That’s where a real estate professional comes in.
Why Pricing Your House Right Is Important
The price you set for your house sends a message to potential buyers. Price it too low and you might raise questions about your home’s condition or lead buyers to assume something is wrong with the property. Not to mention, if you undervalue your house, you could leave money on the table which decreases your future buying power.
On the other hand, price it too high, and you run the risk of deterring buyers. When that happens, you may have to do a price drop to try to re-ignite interest in your house when it sits on the market for a while. But be aware that a price drop can be seen as a red flag for some buyers who will wonder why the price was reduced and what that means about the home.
In other words, think of pricing your home as a target. Your goal is to aim directly for the center – not too high, not too low, but right at market value. Pricing your house fairly based on market conditions increases the chance you’ll have more buyers who are interested in purchasing it. That makes it more likely you’ll see multiple offers, too. And if a bidding war happens, you’ll likely get an even higher final sale price. Plus, when homes are priced right, they tend to sell quickly.
Lean on a Professional’s Expertise
There are several factors that go into pricing your house, and balancing them is the key. That’s why it’s important to lean on an expert real estate advisor when you’re ready to move. A local real estate advisor is knowledgeable about:
The value of homes in your neighborhood
The current demand for houses in today’s market
The condition of your house and how it affects the value
A real estate professional will balance these factors to make sure the price of your house makes the best first impression and gives you the greatest return on your investment in the end.
Bottom Line
If you’re thinking about selling, pricing your house appropriately is key. Let’s connect to make sure your house is priced right for the local market, for your home’s condition, and to stand out from the competition.
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Real Estate Investment, Asset Management
Article | May 5, 2023
Explore the latest trends, tools, and strategies for optimizing data-driven real estate asset management services and achieving long-term success with a comprehensive guide to improving business ROIs.
Contents
1 Importance of Data-driven Model for Real Estate Asset Management
2 Seven Steps to Measure Data-driven Asset Management
2.1 Defining the Purpose and Scope
2.2 Identifying the KPI
2.3 Determining the Sources
2.4 Collecting and Cleaning Data
2.5 Data Analysis
2.6 Performance Evaluation
2.7 Continuous Monitoring
3 Effectiveness Metrics for Data-Driven Asset Management
3.1 Occupancy Rate
3.2 Operating Expense Ratio
3.3 Tenant Retention Rate
4 Conclusion
1. Importance of Data-driven Model for Real Estate Asset Management
As real estate technology continues to develop and become more cost-effective for both new and existing business structures, and as collaboration platforms, sensors, and smart devices continue to advance, the amount of data produced by commercial real estate assets is growing exponentially. This data can give real estate market participants like investors, asset managers, property managers, and tenants a competitive advantage and help them avoid disruption if they develop data-driven services and new business models centered on the specific needs of users, owners, or the property itself. However, only a concerted effort by all real estate stakeholders including builders, investors, owners, tenants, and service providers towards data-driven real estate asset management can optimize data to generate insights that improve performance and profitability.
The significance of data-driven models in real estate asset management is growing as the models enable more informed decision-making and more efficient operations by collecting and analyzing data from various sources. Real estate asset managers can gain a greater understanding of the performance of their assets and make more informed management decisions. This can result in increased efficiency, profitability, and tenant satisfaction.
2. Seven Steps to Measure Data-driven Asset Management
Measuring the effectiveness of data-driven real estate asset management services enables businesses to evaluate their current strategies and identify areas for improvement in the services they offer By following these steps to measure asset performance, processes, and activities, businesses can gain insights and make data-driven decisions to optimize performance and maximize returns.
2.1 Defining the Purpose and Scope
The process of measuring data-driven real estate asset management services begins with a clear definition of the purpose and scope of the measurement. It involves conducting a comprehensive review of the business goals as well as identifying specific objectives and purposes for the strategies to develop a well-defined purpose and scope for measuring the effectiveness of asset management services. It helps to ensure that the real estate asset management services are aligned with the broader business strategy.
2.2 Identifying the KPIs
Defining the purpose and scope of data-driven asset management is followed by identifying KPIs to measure success. It requires a clear understanding of critical areas of asset management and selecting quantifiable measures to define success factors and track progress. Choosing the right KPIs provides valuable insights into asset performance, enabling real estate executives and managers to make informed, data-driven decisions to optimize performance and maximize returns.
2.3 Determining the Sources
Identifying the data type, including financial, property, market, and tenant, is essential to determine the sources for evaluating data-driven asset management services. After establishing the data requirements, the sources, such as internal systems and databases, third-party data providers, and publicly accessible data sources, are determined with data compliance and security as the determining factor. Determining sources ensures that the asset management data is trustworthy, current, and accurate, which impacts subsequent decision-making. This step provides the groundwork for data-driven decision-making.
2.4 Collecting and Cleaning Data
Data collection and cleansing are essential for measuring data-driven asset management services. The collected data must be precise, exhaustive, and dependable for subsequent analysis and decision-making. The step involves validating the data for completeness and accuracy, eliminating errors, inconsistencies, and duplicates, and standardizing the data across all sources. The process identifies improvement opportunities, optimizing real estate asset management services for maximum efficiency and profitability.
2.5 Data Analysis
Data analysis plays a critical role in measuring data-driven asset management services. After finalizing the data collection and cleaning step, the data is analyzed using various techniques such as statistical analysis, predictive modeling, and data visualization. These techniques help to identify trends, patterns, and relationships that provide insights into asset performance. Data analysis provides a more profound understanding of the performance of real estate assets, leading to improved efficiency, increased profitability, and enhanced tenant satisfaction.
2.6 Performance Evaluation
Evaluation of data performance to comprehend improvements in the data-driven asset management services starts once the data is analyzed. The performance evaluation step involves comparing actual results to the established KPIs to determine whether the goals are being met or whether there are areas for improvement. It aids in identifying deviations from predetermined objectives and prompts and taking required corrective actions to realign with the business strategy. In addition, this step facilitates identifying improvement opportunities and ensures that real estate asset management services are optimized for maximum efficiency and profitability.
2.7 Continuous Monitoring
Measurement of data-driven real estate asset management services ends with continuous monitoring. To ensure asset management strategies are working, continuously tracking and evaluating KPIs from earlier steps while identifying underperformance and improvement opportunities is involved in the last stage. Operation managers can make data-driven choices, identify risks and opportunities, and optimize asset management strategies for efficiency and profitability by monitoring real estate asset performance. In addition, it ensures that real estate asset management services remain effective over time and can adapt to market changes to maintain a competitive edge.
3. Effectiveness Metrics for Data-Driven Asset Management
Effectiveness metrics for data-driven asset management services are the KPIs used to measure the success of data-driven strategies. These metrics help real estate executives and managers evaluate the performance of their assets and make data-driven decisions for maximum efficiency and profitability.
3.1 Occupancy Rate
The occupancy rate is an essential metric in data-driven real estate asset management. This metric indicates the proportion of a property's rental units that are occupied at present. A higher occupancy rate suggests the property performs well, as more tenants occupy the units. Therefore, this metric can be used by real estate businesses to gauge the efficacy of their digital asset management strategies.
3.2 Operating Expense Ratio
The operating expense ratio is used to evaluate a property's operational efficiency for data-driven asset management. It is calculated by dividing the operating expenses incurred by the property by the total rental income generated. It helps measure the proportion of income consumed by the expenses, such as maintenance costs, utilities, and commercial property management fees. A lower operating expense ratio indicates better cost control and efficient use of resources, resulting in increased profitability for the real estate asset.
3.3 Tenant Retention Rate
In real estate asset management, the tenant retention rate is an essential metric that measures the proportion of tenants who choose to renew their lease agreements. It is an essential indicator of tenant satisfaction and the quality of property management services. A higher tenant retention rate indicates that tenants are satisfied with the property and management, resulting in a stable tenant base, lower vacancy rates, and decreased costs associated with tenant turnover.
4. Conclusion
The significance of utilizing data-driven models for real estate asset management is rising due to digital real estate asset management, technological advancements, and the expansion of collaboration platforms, sensors, and intelligent devices. To gain a competitive edge and avoid disruption, stakeholders in the real estate industry must prioritize the development of data-driven services and innovative business models that cater to the unique needs of users, owners, and the property itself. In addition, the use of data-driven models can also lead to more efficient and informed decision-making, reducing costs along with increasing profits and improving real estate portfolio management.
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Article | April 23, 2020
Early in 2020, the market was extremely liquid for real estate investors and operating companies. Interest rates were relatively low, asset values were high, unemployment was low, and there was little inflation—overall, the market was performing well. And then the lending market began to change in March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of defensive draws by companies to preserve their liquidity has been unprecedented, and the number of loans has drastically increased. Other forms of capital have slowed due to the inability to forecast risk. It’s a challenging time for real estate companies to stay abreast of market trends, as well as quantify the current and anticipated business impacts in this dynamic environment. With data constantly changing, how are real estate companies navigating this seemingly open-ended period of uncertainty? On April 17, EisnerAmper hosted a “Real Estate Principals Virtual Roundtable” with the Bay Area Council, Kennedy Wilson, and Wells Fargo. This online event provided a forum for industry leaders to share their experiences regarding the current lending market and to hear first-hand from their peers regarding how they’re navigating the current environment. Here are some key takeaways from that discussion.
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