In this rebroadcast of the Apartment Jedi podcast, Funnel CEO Tyler Christiansen joins host Andrew Bowen for a wide-angle look at the operating-model shift reshaping multifamily. They cover where centralization and specialization actually stand today, how AI is evolving from simple automation to agentic systems, and why brand power is finally emerging as a real economic lever in rental housing.

Tyler breaks down what he’s seeing across REITs, large fee managers, and early-stage adopters: which operating behaviors are sticking, where friction remains, and how the next generation of workflows will change staffing, service levels, and resident expectations. He also explains why winners and losers will separate faster than most expect — and what operators should be preparing for now.

You’ll learn:

• Where multifamily truly is on the centralization and specialization journey
• How REITs, third-party managers, and owner-operators are taking different paths based on incentives, contracts, and brand strategy.
• The real ROI of specialization: why the biggest gains are coming from back-office functions, not leasing “glamour metrics.”
• How centralized models change service levels, staffing ratios, and retention, including what operators consistently underestimate.
• AI’s next chapter: moving from chatbots to agentic workflows that perform tasks, not just answer questions.
• What resident interactions will look like when AI can renew leases, negotiate within guardrails, process payments, and sync context across systems.
• The coming shift in leadership development as old career ladders collide with new operating structures.

To stay up-to-date follow Funnel on Linkedin and connect with Tyler there, too.

This episode is a rebroadcast of The Rent Roll and brings together two of the clearest thinkers in rental housing.

First up is your host, Jay Parsons, economist, advisor, and creator of The Rent Roll, a top-ranked podcast known for breaking down market trends, operator realities, and the forces shaping rental housing.

He’s joined by Tyler Christensen, CEO of Funnel, who works directly with the industry’s largest operators to help translate this moment — AI adoption, centralization, and new operating models — into practical changes for teams and workflows.

You’ll learn:

• What AI is actually doing onsite today
• How centralization unlocks the savings AI alone can’t
• The jump in voice AI and what renters use it for
• Real agentic workflows (mid-lease changes, addenda, renewals)
• Why operators are consolidating tech stacks
• What leaders should realistically prepare for next

To stay up-to-date follow Funnel on Linkedin and connect with Tyler there, too.

As one of the key architects behind RealPage’s $10 billion rise, Michael Britti has seen firsthand what makes mergers work, and what makes them fall apart.

Before leading acquisitions that reshaped the industry, Michael built and sold his own companies, giving him rare perspective on both sides of the table. In this episode, he and Tyler Christiansen, CEO of Funnel unpack the deals that defined a generation, the importance of culture in innovation, and why the best leaders are really just great sellers with a vision people want to follow.

What you’ll learn:

• How one acquisition strategy changed multifamily forever
• The difference between a “build or die” and “build or buy” market
• Why great culture is a company’s best competitive edge
• What today’s entrepreneurs can learn from multifamily’s past cycles

If you enjoyed this conversation, do not miss Forum. https://meet.funnelleasing.com/forum-2026-registration

To stay up-to-date follow Funnel on Linkedin and connect with Tyler there, too.