I’m curious... What is your “why” for being in this industry?

I started for the flexible schedule, rent discount and commissions...but stayed for the people! They are the best!

My brother got offered a job as a Porter... he turned it down and referred me....I ended up a property manager.

I started in when I was 18 and was lead tech before I was 25...than I did leasing and fell in love with it!!! did leasing for like 8 years traveling all over the city doing lease ups and struggling properties...even went to other states as well...I was treated like a Rockstar and loved it! lol...Than I did assistant manager for 2 years (hated it lol) and than became a property manager...been in the business going on 25 years.

I will say wearing every hat has given me alot more insight in what it takes to run a property and the importance of EVERYONE'S position

Had a argument with a resident manager and the new owner was behind us! We argued about credit issues bankruptcy law and I won the argument! As I walk out the owner followed me to my car and asked if we could talk! Here I am 28 years later because I love what I do!

I started for the free apartment. Started as a part-time leasing , got $20 commissions and my free apartment . That was 28 years ago.

Started in Leasing and have been blessed to sit in every seat in the business except President. I
Love that no two days are ever the same and the challenge each day brings. I’ve tried leaving... but always return. multifamily/ commercial/asset and Investment management

I had a child I lived on site I could watch her get on and off the school bus. I fell in love with the people and never wanted to quit

Started as leasing at 19, wanted an office job
Ended up hooked to the money and apt discounts, promoted to assistant in a year and a half, then manager 2 years later
Have gone between multifamily and commercial a couple times over the last 13 years
Now I don’t know what else I would do

40 years in. I have seen the world thru so many different eyes. Almost ready to retire. Have loved most of my career and hope to have made a difference in people’s lives.

Honestly, I started because I needed a job with consistent pay and found my passion! I absolutely LOVE it. I took cosmetology and classes for nursing and didn’t like either. When I started in this industry I knew after a few weeks I had found my career. I love the people I have met along the way, maintaining an asset, helping people find their new home, meeting financial goals, and pretty much everything about it.

I started after working a 9 month assignment in an accounting dept for a temp agency. Got a call from a HS acquaintance about a leasing position open at her property. So here I am since 8/1990 almost 31 years loving my career!!

Was looking for work and a friend was leaving the position. Did the job interview at a restaurant with my 6 week old daughter in tow (single mom). Got the job, fell in love with the work at a litch property. Went onto a conventional property and now st a 55+ litch property that i LOVE!

I was the bartender while I was in college. Owner of a company of the supplier side was a regular and bugged me to work for him and I eventually did.
I’ve stayed for 18 years because of the relationships/friendships I’ve created and truly love this industry. It’s a large but yet small industry.

I had left a national grocery chain as assistant store manager to work as a mortgage originator at a subprime lender. About a month and a half later, came in and found our processor in tears and the VP visiting. They walked each person to the back office, then walked them to the exit. There were about five of us left when they came out and said they were consolidating 36 branches on the east coast into a single branch, were keeping us, and promoting me to loan officer. I said I appreciated the offer, but wasn't waiting for Round 2* and took my severance letter.
I went on Craigslist and found any job that was paying $30k or more plus benefits, and faxed my resume to each one. While out to dinner for my birthday I get a call for a Leasing Associate opening. I went in for an interview and left with a signed offer and drug test form.
Almost 14 years later, and currently enjoying my role as a Regional Manager...very excited about growing with my current company. I think what I love most is the variety and the many stories that come with our industry.
*Footnote - the day I received my first promotion (less than three months into the industry) was the same day I heard the place I didn't want to wait for Round 2 went completely under. I think I made the right choice.

Why: on a whim, I was a flight attendant for 15 years before and thought, let me try.
Why I stayed: I was actually pretty good at it and love it.

Born into it. My mom was pregnant with me when she got her first leasing job.....yep 47 years ago. I started leasing at 18, became a manager and now I’m about to celebrate my 21st year as a vendor this summer! Time flies in property management!!!

We are a company that provides first impressions to those starting a new chapter!
We turn units.... we make them pretty and bring them to living conditions so new residents can enjoy their new homes!

I truly want to help people find there next home..it’s 90% of what they need!

It was a way that I could work from home when my daughters were little in 1995. Free rent, utilities and cable paid on our apartment in LA was how I could significantly contribute to our family's needs. No office so no office hours required so gave me flexibility, though negative was being 'on call' 24/7. Parlayed that experience into a FT job when we move half way across the country a couple of years later. I'm starting my 25th year with my current property management company. I enjoy that no 2 days are alike, I'm fairly compensated and have 4 weeks vacation each year. I'm 7 years from retirement and would not want to start a new career at this point

My mom. She was in the industry. Sadly, in 2012 she suffered cardiac arrest at work and passed away. 9 months later I joined the company she worked for. The first few years I worked in the industry was my way of healing and “connecting” with her. From there, every promotion, accomplishment, award.... she is always my first thought. I’m in this industry because of my mom and I stay in this industry because I truly enjoy it.

I like to help people in all walks of life -whether it be just starting out, trying to start over, or just looking for a affordable resting place to live out their close to final years. Never know what the day will bring and who you will meet. This industry gives a person a million opportunities a year to preform an act of kindness to other human beings .

*The personal connection you can make. With Residents & Staff
*I once went searching for an apartment for personal reason & my connection to the staff & the customer service made me believe I was meant for this...
*At the end of the day I know I can make a resident happy while in compliance by experience... Knowing that as long as I do my job as expected.My superiors such as Manager & Regional have my back, It’s a plus. I Love how my Company,
Manager, & Superiors have been treating me. It’s a team effort . We are all involved.

I started in vacation rentals because my mother. Then I got promoted to APM of annual rentals in single family homes. I decided I need a change due to a toxic PM and I went to multifamily as a leasing consultant and two years later I'm still a leasing consultant. However, I love multifamily and hope you grown in this part of the industry.

I joined the world of property management 32 years ago. I had no idea what it was about. During my interview which was in the condo/office on site, the Property Manager pulled up the blinds and I saw the burnt rubble of a 30 unit building. She told me it was arson and asked if I could handle this kind of stress. I was hooked. Always new, always evolving, always learning type of job is for me and I couldn’t be happier I chose this path.

Started because I wanted to wear shorts to work and plan parties.....thats what I saw/thought the Leasing Consultants did at the first community I lived in! Boy was I wrong. Now I'm in it for my teams and the satisfaction I get from training, mentoring and leading them. I work in Student Housing so I see kids come in freshman year, who's light bulbs are barely flickering and most leave as decent young adults, after a stressful senior year, with a bright, white Edison bulb, light on all the time! It's great to see

Started because I needed a job and the property I was living at was hiring. Now 11 years later I stay in it because despite the stress and frustrating times I love what I do. One thing I started doing years ago that has really helped me through the hard times is I have a photo album with all the cards, notes and sweet thank you emails residents have given over the years. Goodness knows people complain far quicker than they thank but when they do take the time to be kind and grateful it means so much.

I came into this industry in somewhat of a roundabout way and wish I had made the transition long ago. After almost 2 decades of recruiting in high tech, I was asked to recruit a Director of IT for a top 20 Multi Family Housing industry company. I quickly recognized what a great service MFH is; providing safe places for people and families to live. I remember how it was to be a single parent (kids were 6 and 3 at the time) and how important it was to have a roof over their heads, and am grateful. My goal is to always find people for my clients who have the work ethic, and belief, that enables them to serve tenants.

Parents have always been in the biz, I used to help back when they got the first computers. My first paid gig was in high school converting HUD Manager data from dos to windows. I left my first path in molecular biology for this. At first it was because the money was better, now I feel like I make a difference in thousands of lives directly.

I thought it would be a fun weekend job while in college! And it really was! I’m going on 4 years, and I’ve worked in many different positions, including grounds for a few months. Interacting with residents, making their community feel even more like home has always been my favorite part!

In 1994 I was looking for an apartment. I wasn’t in the industry yet. We were new to the area (Military) Calling around to get prices, everyone asked me the basic questions. But one instead of asking me how much I was looking to pay, she asked me how much I paid currently. I responded. She responded with “ I’m sorry we don’t take your kind here” I had a leasing job in the next 30 days and vowed to never treat anyone with that much disrespect.

My "why" is that I grew up in a home that I didn't always like coming home to. Being in this industry has allowed me to help my residents envision and create the perfect home at our communities... we helped them create a place they are proud to call home. Along the way, I learned lots about what makes a house a home from a variety of different folks from different walks of life and have incorporated these things into what is now, mine and my wife's home - which there is no place we'd rather be.

My why is helping others.
Started off as a groundskeeper and am now a National Maintenance Trainer.
I want to help technicians succeed and I take an extreme amount of pride in solving complex issues.
To those that laughed at this post, I truly feel sorry for you. If you don't wake up every morning excited to go to work, please pick another career path.

I applied because I've always loved interaction with people. My first position was actually Assistant Manager then I applied for Leasing with another Company when the owner sold and I've never looked back! It can be stressful and frustrating some days but overall- in my opinion no other Industry offers Everything that ours does!

After the insurance company I worked for moved from NC to FL, I wanted a change. My husband, who has been in apartment maintenance over 30 years, talked me into getting into leasing. That was 4 years ago. Starting over in a new career at the age of 52 was extremely hard. But I would do it all over again. I love what I do.

I was a CNA - decided against becoming a nurse and had no idea what to do but I was burnt out working ER. Applied for a leasing job on a whim after a night shift, woke up at 2pm to a phone call for an interview. 3 years later I am working temp to hire as a property manager. Love what I do!

I wasn’t really paying attention in class, I thought they said Glorified Beautician, turns out they said Glorified Babysitter.

It was just meant to be. Few people fine the perfect fit, I was blessed to be one of those

I started as a leasing agent for a free apartment! Loved the diversity of the job; a little bit sales, a little bit creative marketing & a little bit office/organization. As I grew and was promoted, continued to love the job, helping people and motivating leasing teams. Now I get to tie all my favorite parts together to continue helping people find apartments & leasing jobs, motivating and training great leasing teams!