This summer real estate software company AppFolio introducedLisa, a digital assistant designed to take potential apartmenttenants through initial questions they might have about aparticular apartment or property.  Because it was builtusing conversational artificial intelligence, Lisa can carry on asimple text-based conversation in real time, not only answeringquestions but also asking them in order to vet the prospects. Itis, to state the obvious, an immense time saver for brokers andproperty owners. "The immediacy of responses that Lisa provideshelps meet prospect expectations and gives time back to leasingagents and property management businesses to focus more on businessstrategy," says Elliott Burris, VP at AppFolio.

Lisa, though, is more than a convenience—it also isrepresentative of the great strides apartment tech has made overthe last year or so. Perhaps more to the point, Lisa alsosymbolizes the growing number of tools that multifamily owners nowhave at their disposal. These tools are not limited to justtechnology, however. There have been a number of changes, rangingfrom investment focus to new thinking about demographics to changesin design, that have come online that are changing the wayapartment owners and developers conduct business and manageoperating expenses.