93% of Property Managers Use AI. The Other 7% Are Paying for It.

The multifamily real estate sector is undergoing a massive operational shift. According to a new Multifamily Real Estate Pulse Check report by MRI Software, an overwhelming 87% of respondents plan to increase centralization practices in the next 12 months [1]. The primary drivers? Improving efficiency and enhancing the resident experience.

At the heart of this centralization push is artificial intelligence. The survey revealed that 93% of multifamily firms are now using AI in some capacity [1]. For the 7% still holding out, the hidden costs of ignoring this technology are becoming too steep to bear.

The Hard ROI of AI in Property Management

While executives often worry about the return on investment (ROI) of new tools, the data on AI in property management is increasingly clear. As reported by Propmodo, companies that adopt AI solutions are seeing significant savings across the board, including an overall cost reduction of up to 30% [2].

Nowhere is this more evident than in property maintenance. AI platforms are reducing maintenance response times from hours to seconds, leading to maintenance cost savings of 25% [2]. Furthermore, emergency maintenance calls drop by up to 40% when predictive and automated systems are in place [2].

"The multifamily industry is fundamentally about people, and it's encouraging to see firms exploring technology to improve efficiency and productivity without losing sight of the human impact." — Eric Walsh, Executive Managing Director for North America, MRI Software [1]

Balancing Centralization with the Personal Touch

Despite the clear financial benefits, the MRI Software report highlighted a significant concern: 85% of respondents worry that centralization will lead to a loss of personal touch with residents [1]. Executives are particularly anxious, with 96% expressing concern over this potential loss [1].

This is where the distinction between basic automation and agentic AI becomes crucial. Generic chatbots often frustrate residents, leading to the exact loss of personal touch executives fear. However, agentic AI—like the AI employees (oppies) deployed by Oppy—operates differently.

Oppy provides conversational utility for entrepreneurs and property managers. An oppy can handle routine maintenance requests, schedule repairs, and answer resident questions instantly via SMS, email, or voice. Because it integrates with over 60 business tools, it doesn't just provide generic answers; it executes tasks within the property management workflow.

By offloading these repetitive, high-volume tasks to an AI employee, human staff are freed up to focus on the complex, relationship-building interactions that actually require a personal touch.

The Fraud Factor

Beyond maintenance and communication, AI is becoming essential for risk management. The MRI Software survey found that fraud prevalence remains high, with 91% of respondents encountering it at least every few months, and 80% encountering credit history fraud and AI-generated fake documents in the past 18 months [1].

Combating AI-generated fraud requires AI-powered defense. Property managers are increasingly relying on AI screening platforms to verify employment and detect anomalies that human reviewers might miss.

The future of property management is centralized, efficient, and AI-driven. The firms that thrive will be those that use agentic AI not to replace their teams, but to empower them to deliver better service at a lower cost.

References

[1] Serlin, Christine. "Centralization and AI Surge—But So Do Concerns Over Touch and Trust." Multifamily Executive, April 16, 2026. https://www.multifamilyexecutive.com/technology/centralization-and-ai-surge-so-do-concerns-over-touch-and-trust

[2] Murai, Ken. "The Hidden Costs of Ignoring AI For Multifamily Property Maintenance." Propmodo, April 16, 2026. https://propmodo.com/the-hidden-costs-of-ignoring-ai-for-multifamily-property-maintenance/