After a long holiday season, I’m excited and energized for the new year, and I hope you are too!
A new year brings a kind of energy that’s hard to describe but easy to feel. It’s a mix of hope and possibility, like the air has been cleared just enough to breathe a little deeper. There’s a natural pull to reflect on where we’ve been, what we’ve learned, and what we don’t want to carry forward. At the same time, there’s a quiet excitement about what hasn’t been written yet — a sense that anything could shift, grow, or become something new.
In property management, that feeling shows up in a very real way. It’s the moment we step back from the daily rhythm of rent, repairs, and renewals and start asking bigger questions about how we’re operating — and what we want the next twelve months to look like.
As that fresh-start energy settles in, there are a few things worth paying attention to — the ones that quietly shape everything else.
Regulatory changes are one of them. Property management is being watched more closely than ever. We’re seeing new conversations around fee-maxing, tighter scrutiny on eviction practices, evolving fair housing guidance, and more local ordinances that impact how we operate at the property level. None of this is abstract — it affects what we can charge, how we communicate, and how we enforce our leases. Staying aware of what’s changing, and adjusting your processes and owner expectations accordingly, is one of the best ways to protect your business.
Then there’s the economic landscape. Interest rates, housing affordability, job markets, and consumer confidence all ripple through our portfolios. They show up in things like leasing velocity, rent growth, delinquency, and even maintenance demand. Paying attention to what’s happening in the broader economy helps you plan more realistically — whether that means preparing for tighter margins, shifting demand, or new opportunities.
And finally, there’s focus. This might be the most important piece. In a busy industry like ours, it’s easy to feel pulled in a hundred directions at once. But the strongest businesses are the ones that decide what really matters this year — one or two big problems to solve — and put everything else on pause. When you focus on what will make the biggest difference, progress stops feeling so scattered and starts to feel steady.
So as you start working on your annual plan this year, it helps to keep all of that in mind — the shifting regulatory landscape, the economic reality we’re operating in, and the importance of being intentional about what you’re really focusing on. With all of that as the backdrop, I wanted to share a few things we’re doing at Milestone Premier Properties that might spark some ideas as you think about your own year ahead.
I’ve never been a big fan of New Year’s resolutions. They tend to feel big and heavy, and more often than not, they quietly fade away by February. What has worked much better for me is choosing a theme — one word or idea that becomes a filter for the entire year. Last year, our theme was growth. This year, it’s focus. After spending the last five years trying new things, changing software, and building out systems, I’m finally in a season of refining what we already do well. For us, that means centering on two or three things that will move the business into its next phase — building out internal maintenance, strengthening our marketing, and elevating customer service.
This year is also about really leaning into data. We’ve implemented a scorecard using EOS, which helps us measure whether we’re actually making progress. If I’m being honest, numbers used to intimidate me. I’m naturally drawn to people, connection, and feeling — not measurables. But as I’ve leaned into metrics, I’ve started to see how empowering they can be. When every team member has clear KPIs tied to their seat, it creates ownership, clarity, and forward momentum. We’ve made great progress here, and this is the year we truly hone it in.
At the heart of property management is relationships — with owners, residents, and our teams. It’s easy to get frustrated when rent is late, an owner is upset about a charge, or team members aren’t getting along. But as we grow and scale, it becomes more important than ever to have clear expectations around how we handle conflict and how we show up for each other. I believe our industry has an opportunity to lead with more compassion, better communication, and a deeper commitment to understanding instead of frustration.
One of the biggest catalysts in my own growth has been the relationships I’ve built with other property management professionals across the country. Whether it’s through masterminds or just having someone to call when you need to talk through a tough situation, the value of that support is hard to overstate. This year, I’m continuing to invest in those relationships. And if you’re feeling a little lost or just hungry for perspective, an industry conference is a great place to start. Broker/Owner was my first, and the knowledge and connections I took home with me changed everything. Don’t be nervous — this is a community that genuinely wants to help.
Finally, I’m being more intentional about stepping back. After almost eight years in real estate and nearly six in property management, I know how easy it is to let this business consume you. I’ve hovered. I’ve controlled. I’ve carried too much. But one of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that when you build a team, you have to let them step up — even if it means they make mistakes along the way. This year, I’m stress-testing the business by trusting my team more, creating space for them to grow, and giving myself room to breathe. If I ever want to truly step out of the day-to-day — or finally take that month off I keep dreaming about — this is how it starts.
As we step into all of this — the planning, the refining, the focusing — I can’t help but smile at what so many astrologers are saying about 2026. They describe this year as a season of realignment, when long-term cycles begin to shift and what no longer fits quietly falls away. Whether you follow astrology or not, that idea feels right. This is a year for choosing more intentionally, simplifying where we can, and building something that actually supports who we are now — not who we were when we started.
However 2026 unfolds for you, I hope it brings clarity where there’s been confusion, steadiness where things have felt shaky, and moments that remind you why you chose this work in the first place. 💜
Brandy Landon
Broker/Owner
Triple Win LIVE: Maximize your SEO in 2026
Join us on Wednesday, January 21 for a Triple Win LIVE session with Lacy Hendrix of ClearLead Digital on practical SEO guidance for property managers heading into 2026.
We’ll cover how SEO and digital discovery are changing, what matters most for property management websites, and walk through a live website audit during the session.
ICYMI: Get the Triple Win Impact Report!
From credit building and time savings to vacancy reduction and more on-time payments, resident benefits can be a boon for residents, investors, and property managers. We ran the numbers, and the results are presented in our first ever Triple Win Impact Report.
Join us on Thursday, January 22 at 2:00 PM ET for a practical, real-world session for single family scattered-site operators to hear directly from peers who’ve implemented a Resident Benefits Package (RBP) with Second Nature. In one focused session, you’ll learn the core components of a strong RBP, how different PMs structure theirs, and why so many teams are adopting them as part of a better resident experience.
Until next time,
💜 The Second Nature team