At the Multifamily Innovation® Showcase, Sean Forster, Industry Principal at AppFolio, made it clear: AI isn’t about trends—it’s about outcomes. And when it comes to outcomes, AppFolio is delivering.
Forster kicked off with a bold vision: a future where managing and living in rental housing feels magical—a seamless, effortless experience that frees up teams to do their best work while empowering residents to thrive. At AppFolio, that vision isn’t just talk—it’s backed by data and real-world results.
With 8 million units under management and 96% of customers using one or more AI-powered tools, AppFolio is already transforming how the multifamily industry operates. But Forster also brought some real talk: AI isn’t the answer to everything. “It’s not brushing your teeth for you,” he joked, reminding the audience that while AI has its place, it has to be applied with purpose and precision.
That precision is exactly what AppFolio delivered with Realm-X Flows, an AI-powered automation tool that’s already making waves.
Take Jen Barton, a property manager at Atlas Real Estate in Colorado, who manages 6,000 units. When she saw a 4-point overnight jump in lease renewals, her first reaction was disbelief. She double-checked the data. No errors. No reporting glitch. Just a measurable increase in performance, tied directly to the increase in resident contact made possible by Realm-X Flows.
Her words? “I don’t cuss professionally… but holy (!!).”
That’s the kind of impact that gets leadership’s attention—and fast.
And she’s not alone. Forster emphasized that Barton’s story is one of many across AppFolio’s user base. AI isn’t just enhancing workflows—it’s driving the KPIs that matter most to owners and operators: renewals, retention, and NOI.
The real innovation? AppFolio isn’t selling AI for AI’s sake. They’re building tools that fit naturally into a property manager’s day, not disrupt it. From automated workflows to smarter renewals and resident engagement, every tool is designed to help multifamily teams operate at peak efficiency—without needing to become data scientists or tech experts.
As Forster closed out his session, he left attendees with this: If your tech isn’t helping you work smarter and drive profit, it’s time to rethink your stack.
To join the Multifamily Innovation® Council as a sponsor partner, please visit: https://multifamilyinnovation.com/
To learn more about how AppFolio is leading the way in practical, powerful AI for multifamily, visit https://appfolio.com.
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