Peter Lohmann's Newsletter - Issue #159

Large PM Co. sues Maryland AG. Register to win a 1-year Crane membership worth $5,000

Author

Peter Lohmann
September 26, 2025

A no-fluff weekly publication for the property management industry.

I Have Something New to Share

Just over two years ago, Wolfgang Croskey and I launched Crane, the premier mastermind community for property management business owners.

Our mission? Time freedom for members. We had a unique vision: every Crane member able to take a month away from their business (we call it a Crane Break) annually. In order to do that, we knew we had to provide unparalleled member benefits, plus a vetted community where the best operators in the business could collaborate, problem solve, and help each other level up. We’ve done that, and word is spreading quickly.

But we aren’t satisfied yet. We knew there is more we can do to level up the industry and deliver value for members. So we’ve been hard at work behind the scenes for the past 6 months, and now we’re finally ready to talk about what we’ve come up with.

Join your peers and leaders from around the industry for Access Granted, live this Tuesday:

Everyone who attends live and gets an approved application in by October 2nd is automatically entered to win a 1-year Crane membership giveaway! We have NEVER done anything like this.

See you there.

THIS ISSUE IS PRESENTED BY RENTVINE

Break free with Rentvine

Have you ever felt like your software provider is working against you instead of for you? Too many property managers feel trapped by the very systems they’re paying to make life easier.

Here’s how Rentvine is different:

  • Features you need aren’t locked behind an upgrade.
    All features are included.

  • Hidden fees don’t pile up.
    Our pricing is transparent and predictable.

  • You’re never locked out of your own data.
    Our open API gives you full access and visibility.

You don’t need to stay locked into outdated systems that slow you down and limit your options. Rentvine gives you the freedom to grow your business on your own terms.

Can You Really Evict a Horse?
(Spoiler: my mom says you can… kind of.)

Most people don’t know this, but in the horse business, if a client stops paying board, you can legally evict their horse (sort of). My mom, Susan Lohmann, had to do it once in her nearly 50-year career running horse farms, and the story is wild.

This week, I brought her on my podcast to share what she learned from a lifetime in small business: dealing with difficult customers, setting boundaries, and negotiating with farriers and hay guys (always ask, “Can we do $15 instead?”). We also talk about raising kids while working from home, restarting a business from scratch three different times, and the entrepreneurial streak that somehow led all three of her kids (including me) to start their own companies.

If you’re interested in negotiation tactics, work-life balance, or just want to hear what running a horse business has in common with property management, you’ll enjoy this one:

(You can also listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify)

New Property Management Companies For Sale This Week

Buying or growing a property management company? Enterprise Bank & Trust* helps operators offset fees, manage trust accounts, and get financing without the runaround. Check out their PM lending solutions if you’re going to buy one of these companies:

  • Here’s a property management company for sale in Orange County, CA ($245K, 200 doors)

  • Here’s a property management company for sale in Portland, OR (asking $750k, MFR specialty)

  • Here’s a property management company for sale in Estes Park, CO (asking $475k)

  • Here’s a property management company for sale in New York, NY (asking $3.5M)

*Sponsored.

Industry News & Events

  • Crane applications are NOW OPEN!

  • The City of West Hollywood is hiring a “Rent Stabilization Manager”. Okay.

  • Bay Management Group (they are massive) is suing the Maryland AG in response to a subpoena it received related to tenant screening practices. “The company claims the subpoena would require it to produce nearly every document related to its tenant application process from the past three years, potentially as many as 100,000 records.” Interesting one to watch.

  • Catch you at AppFolio Future in a few weeks? Look for my live podcast interview with their CMO, Lisa Horner, plus a break-out about how I take a month off every year. Crane members—check in here if you’re attending. A few members are getting together for dinner on Sunday.

Closing Thought

A few quick things before you go…

PeterBot

Chat with PeterBot, my AI clone (try the audio). It’s trained on almost everything I’ve ever written and can help you talk through your most challenging PM questions and problems. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Software I currently use to run my property management company:

Note: These are affiliate links.

The content of this newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. I may have consulting agreements with, or financial interests in, companies mentioned in this newsletter. Additionally, some of the links included in this newsletter are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through these links. Always perform your own due diligence before making any financial or business decisions.