Peter Lohmann's Newsletter - Issue #174

Takeaways from the 2026 PM Systems Conference

I’m writing this from sunny Las Vegas, on the tail end of the annual PM Systems Conference (PMSC).

If you haven’t experienced PMSC, it’s hard to describe because it’s unlike any conference you’ve been to. In fact, it’s more of a series of guided mastermind sessions than a traditional industry tradeshow & conference:

• There is no vendor hall

• There are no keynotes

• The speakers are all practitioners and property managers, not professional speakers or promoters

• The sessions take place in hotel suites (10 to 40 people in each one) and are repeated throughout the week. They are extremely interactive.

• It’s off the strip (Suncoast Hotel & Casino)

This results in a week-long educational & networking event that feels authentic to its promise in a way that I rarely experience on the conference circuit. PMSC is not promising household-name speakers, glitzy events, blockbuster product releases, or world-changing sessions. They know who their audience is, what they want, and deliver exactly that in a novel format. Very refreshing.

Here are a few of my collected thoughts & impressions from this year’s event, in no particular order:

1. The thirst for practical, real-world insights and advice is stronger than ever in an industry awash with undelivered AI promises.

2. Property managers remain some of the most collaborative and kind professionals that I’ve ever met. Truly.

3. A conference app, if done well, can be a total game-changer for the experience. Ever go to a conference and feel like you never know what’s really going on or where everyone is? Not anymore.

4. The vibes this week have been extremely positive. Whatever is going on in the wider world, property managers remain optimistic about their business prospects and ability to compete & grow.

5. I took a few informal polls during my sessions and estimate that 90% of property managers have noticed a sharp increase in “accidental landlords” over the last 6-12 months.

6. In-person conversations are the bedrock for building genuine connections, and folks are craving this more than ever in a world of AI-generated content and characters. The ability of a conference to get butts on planes and facilitate genuine connections & conversations in a low-noise environment is going to dictate its long-term success. Things are looking great for the Systems Conference, which sold out months ago and is basically organized entirely around this premise.

7. My talk was on our new Move-Out Process designed to cut owner churn. If you would like a copy of my slides, grab them here.

[If you’re looking to attend next year, they just announced early-bird tickets are available now for $650, but the price jumps to $900 in five days.]

When Tech Doesn’t Move the Needle…

Speaking of implementing conference takeaways—ever rolled out new software, only to wonder… why didn’t anything improve?

In this episode of Lazy Leverage, Jon and I unpack why most tech (including AI) fails to drive real productivity. We dig into Eli Goldratt’s four-step framework for deploying technology without creating more chaos, and why skipping steps leads to expensive busywork.

We also talk about the real constraint in most small businesses (spoiler: it’s not writing emails faster). If you’ve ever asked, “Why aren’t we seeing results?” this one’s worth your time:

(Available on Apple Podcasts or Spotify)

Property Management Companies For Sale This Week

• This PM company is still for sale in Waitsfield, VT (asking $350k)

• A PM company for sale in Weber County, UT (asking $120k)

• This PM company in San Francisco, CA is still available (asking $725k)

• Here’s an HOA management company for sale in Austin, TX (asking $950k)

PMW websites are growth engines for property managers built with optimization, expertise, and ongoing support you can trust. Grow with PMW.

Industry News & Events

• The Baldwin Group has acquired Obie.

• Registration for NARPM’s Broker/Owner conference just opened. See you there.

• Moses Kagan has launched a monthly newsletter. Highly recommended for anyone in real estate.

• Zillow and Apartments.com now display the total monthly rent instead of base rent on rental listings in select states. More from RentEngine.

• Rent control in California just won’t die. More from the CAA. UPDATE: It’s been halted.

• Colorado just made some changes to their portable tenant screening laws.

• Keep an eye out for the brand new Tuesday Edition of this newsletter, officially launching January 27th!

Closing Thought

A few quick things before you go…

• Last week’s issue went to 20,714 readers (76.9% opened, 3.9% clicked)

• The most popular link was the Property Management Growth Calculator (305 clicks)

• Interested in sponsoring this newsletter? Q1 slots are full for the Friday Newsletter, but we just launched a Tuesday Edition with more availability.  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.

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

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.