🎙️ Episode Summary

In this episode of the Student Housing Insight Podcast, host Wesley Deese sits down with William Davis, Chief Development Officer and Managing Principal at Capstone Development Partners, and Johno Harris, Senior EVP at Lincoln Property Company. Recorded in-person in Atlanta, the conversation explores the recent acquisition of Capstone by Lincoln and what this powerful partnership means for the future of on-campus development.

The trio discusses the rapid evolution of public-private partnerships (P3s) in higher education. Moving far beyond simple dormitories, universities are now seeking massive mixed-use spaces, retail, healthcare facilities, and dynamic sports entertainment districts. They also dive into how changes like the #NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) rules in college athletics are directly driving the need for premium, specialized student housing to help universities recruit top talent and create vibrant campus experiences.

⏱️Time Stamps

00:00:25 – Sponsor intro: Teal Systems and infrastructure reliability

00:02:00 – Podcast introduction and platform overview

00:09:04 – Interview Starts

00:10:30 – Guest introductions: William Davis and Johno Harris

00:15:00 - An overview of Lincoln Property Company's 60-year history and full-service approach.

00:25:33 – Shift from single-use housing to mixed-use developments

00:30:45 – Universities becoming destination ecosystems

00:32:14 – Sports and entertainment influence on campus development

00:37:13 – NIL impact on development and funding

00:39:10 – Real-world challenges student-athletes face with housing

00:48:19 – Universities stepping in as capital providers

00:55:12 – Real-world example: crypto mining in student housing

00:56:54 – Outro: Final thoughts

🤝 Sponsor Spotlight

Teal Systems This episode is brought to you by Teal Systems, a provider of managed central plant infrastructure designed specifically for #StudentHousing and multifamily developments.

Teal delivers reliable hot water, heating, and cooling through a “central plant as a service” model. Their systems are monitored 24/7 using proprietary Beacon technology, allowing issues to be identified and resolved before they impact residents. For operators and developers, this means fewer headaches, lower operational risk, and more predictable performance.

👉 Learn more: https://www.tealsystems.com

🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned

Student Housing Insight: https://studenthousinginsight.com

ShopTalk: https://shoptalk.info

Capstone Development Partners: https://capdevpartners.com/

William Davis’s LinkedIn Page: https://linkedin.com/in/william-davis-883645a

Johno Harris’s LinkedIn Page: https://linkedin.com/in/johno-harris-282186255

🎙️ Episode Summary

In this episode, Wesley Deese sits down with Leah Raad, SVP of Operations, Leasing, and Asset Management at Maslow’s Campus Communities, to unpack what it really takes to build a student housing platform from the ground up. Fresh off the acquisition of Aspire San Marcos, Leah shares how Maslow’s approached launching operations with a clean slate—covering everything from selecting a property management system to defining core operating principles.

The conversation dives into the realities of modern leasing, the rapid evolution of marketing technology, and the importance of simplifying systems to empower onsite teams.

They also explore the role of AI in student housing, where Leah offers a grounded perspective: automation should enhance efficiency, not replace the human experience that defines resident satisfaction. This episode is a practical look at how experienced operators are rethinking tech, staffing, and strategy in a fast-changing landscape.

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:02:10 – Intro

00:03:58 – The "Un-retirement" of an Industry Icon

00:10:09 – Leah’s background in student housing and her journey to Maslow’s.

00:12:28 – Details on Maslow's first acquisition: Aspire San Marcos at Texas State University. 00:18:40 – The "One-Stop Shop" Tech Debate

00:23:44 – The Anti-AI Manifesto

00:27:23 – Killing the Spreadsheet

00:30:01 – Outro/Closing

🤝 Sponsor Spotlight

This episode is brought to you by Opiniion – Social Pro, a social media and reputation management platform built specifically for property management teams. Social Pro allows operators to create content once and distribute it across multiple platforms, manage engagement through a unified inbox, and track performance with built-in analytics. With integrations like Canva and AI-assisted tools, it helps teams stay consistent, efficient, and on-brand across every property.

👉 Learn more and explore the platform:

https://www.opiniion.com/shi

🔗 Resources & References:

Student Housing Insight:

https://www.studenthousinginsight.com/

ShopTalk:

https://www.shoptalk.info/

Invite for Networking Brunch:

https://www.studenthousinginsight.com/contact-form

SHI Bill Bayless - Profiles in Student Housing:

https://youtu.be/EAUqyIUrtok?si=J5G9X1FJX7gAAB_N

Maslow’s Campus Communities:

https://maslowscommunities.com/

Entrata:

https://www.entrata.com/

🎙️ Episode Summary:

Wes Deese and Gretta Dare wrap up all the off-campus student housing news for February 2026. They cover upcoming industry conferences and major shifts in property management, including LV Collective formally bringing their operations in-house. The hosts break down the latest pre-leasing data from Yardi Matrix, comparing it against other data sources and discussing the current dip in rent growth.

The episode also dives into critical legislative updates, highlighting the bipartisan Housing for the 21st Century Act that recently passed the House , and features an in-depth debate on a controversial new lease renewal ordinance in College Park, Maryland.

⏱️ Episode Timestamps:

00:02:09 - Welcome & Intro: An overview of the Student Housing Insight platform and the monthly Shop Talk webinar

00:02:45 - Upcoming Conferences: Previewing Interface Student Housing, Bisnow spring events, and Bonard's Canadian Student Housing Summit

00:05:35 - Industry News: The rise of "white label" management services and LV Collective launching an in-house property management platform

00:12:57 - Data & Pre-leasing: Analyzing Yardi Matrix's report showing 2026-2027 pre-leasing at 52.3% and a discussion on rent growth metrics

00:19:19 - Financial Markets: Good news from the Student Housing Business magazine about financial institutions opening money back up to the student sector

00:21:35 - Legislative Updates: Breaking down the Housing for the 21st Century Act (passed 390-9 in the House) and its implications for development

00:26:17 - Local Ordinance Debate: Deep dive into College Park, Maryland's new ordinance requiring landlords to wait 180 days before offering lease renewals

00:43:45 - Outro & Networking: Announcing the "Shop Talk Link Up" networking brunch happening at the Interface conference

💡Sponsor Spotlight:

Move-in day is stressful enough, but our partners at studenthousingmattress.com (powered by Jamison Bedding) make sure missing mattresses are never part of the problem. They offer US-made mattresses that ship quickly anywhere in the lower 48 states, featuring the durable blue vinyl models the industry knows and trusts. Stay ready for move-in and visit:

https://studenthousingmattress.com/

📎Sources & Links Mentioned

Student Housing Insight:

https://www.studenthousinginsight.com/events

Student Housing Business:

http://studenthousingbusiness.com

Yardi Matrix Student Housing Marketing Report February 2026: https://www.yardimatrix.com/blog/student-housing-market-report/

Housing Legislation — A Rare Bipartisan Moment

https://bipartisanpolicy.org/explainer/whats-in-the-housing-for-the-21st-century-act/

College ParkNews

https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/local-news/maryland/prince-georges-county/college-park-restricts-early-lease-renewal-offers-giving-renters-more-time-and-limiting-landlords/