Peter Lohmann's Newsletter - Issue #171 (Holiday Edition)

FTC Tallies Rental Scam Losses. The Theory of Constraints. Happy Holidays!

Author

Peter Lohmann
December 26, 2025

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

Season 5 of the Podcast—That’s a Wrap

Another year of the podcast has come and gone already, and this was a great one. If you’ve got some travel time this holiday season, catch up on any episodes you missed.

By the way, I totally missed it but apparently the show recently surpassed 100 episodes!

Recording for Season 6 has already begun, and we’re moving to a year-round format for 2026. New episodes will drop every other week for the entire calendar year!

Is there anyone you think I should have a guest next year? Hit reply and let me know.

THIS ISSUE IS PRESENTED BY YOURS TRULY - PETER LOHMANN

Hey, quick note from me instead of an ad this week.

We’re skipping sponsors today. No pitch, no promo. Just wanted to say thank you.

Whether you’ve been here since issue #1 or this is your first read, I’m grateful you’re part of this community. It means a lot that you make time each week to read what we publish, respond to polls, send feedback, and share ideas. That’s what keeps this whole thing running.

I know everyone’s inbox is overflowing right now. So I’ll keep it short:

Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays. Thanks for another great year.

We’ve got some fun things planned for January (including a Tuesday issue!), but for now, I hope you’re able to slow down, rest up, and spend time with people you care about.

And if you’re thinking about advertising in the new year… you know where to find me.

-Peter

When the Bottleneck IS the Business…

This might be the most powerful framework I’ve ever learned:
The Theory of Constraints.

In this episode of Lazy Leverage, Jon Matzner and I break down how to identify the true bottleneck in your business, and why optimizing anything else is just noise. We get into real examples (F1 pit crews, firefighters, executive assistants) and talk about the sneaky ways busywork clogs the system.

If you’ve ever asked, “Why isn’t this working?” or “What should I work on next?” then you’ll learn a lot here:

(Available on Apple Podcasts or Spotify with video)

New Property Management Companies For Sale This Week

  • This 224-unit PM company is up for sale in Bend, OR (asking $750k)

  • Here’s a 42-unit PM company for sale in Weber County, UT (asking $120k)

  • This opportunity in Lee County, FL is for sale (asking $100k)

If you've been waiting to switch payroll providers, I suggest making the move now so you can start the year fresh. We've been on Gusto for many years, and I continue to recommend them. Use my link and get $100 after you run your first payroll.

Industry News & Events

  • The FTC just issued their analysis of rental scams, which concludes losses to consumers were at least $65M. I wonder if they included the losses that legitimate property management companies dealing with these scams incur.

  • A Utah property manager convicted of embezzlement has been ordered to pay $2M in restitution to homeowners and tenants (plus prison time).

  • NARPM has issued a Call For Presentations for the upcoming Broker/Owner Conference. The deadline is January 12th. I’m hoping to do a couple live debates on stage again this year.

  • PropertyManagement.com just released their “Top 100 Property Managers in America for 2025” list. Notable: 24 of them are Crane members. Congratulations to all!

Closing Thought

A few quick things before you go…

  • Last week’s issue went to 19,440 readers (55% opened, 6.3% clicked)

  • The most popular link was the AppFolio Letter Regarding Beagle (219 clicks)

  • Interested in sponsoring this newsletter (or the upcoming Tuesday edition)? Message me for details.

  • Property managers: Your professional trade association is NARPM. You need to join if you’re not already a member.

  • Did someone forward you this email? Subscribe here.

PeterBot

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

Over 100 property managers have used this in the last couple months(!) Many are returning weekly to ask me their hardest property management questions.

Software I’m using to scale my 700+ door property management company in 2026:

Note: These are affiliate links, but I’ve been recommending all these companies long before any financial arrangements came into place.

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.