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No doubt, artificial intelligence is one of today’s most hotly debated topics.
Many are concerned that AI will replace people, automate away jobs, and remove that special ‘human’ element from everyday interactions. But at the same time, businesses are discovering that when used responsibly, AI can be a powerful tool for improving efficiency.
Whether it’s automating administrative tasks or improving logistics in manufacturing, AI is making a positive mark across countless industries—including commercial real estate.
Managing just a single multifamily property is no small task. Between marketing vacant units, screening tenants, coordinating maintenance, tracking expenses, responding to resident concerns, and monitoring occupancy, operators are constantly balancing dozens of responsibilities.
But now, artificial intelligence is stepping in to relieve some of the duties that once required an entire team of people to handle. For property owners and investors, this shift is less about replacing experience and more about enhancing it.
“In today’s environment where margins and timing matter more than ever, efficiency is a competitive advantage,” says Everest Loan Officer Heshy Sieger. “The most successful investors aren’t necessarily the ones with the most properties. They’re the ones running their assets the smartest. AI is just another tool to help sharpen that edge.”
While AI technologies are evolving quickly, the fundamentals of real estate investment remain the same: good location, strong demand, and smart decision-making. Here at Everest, we continue to champion these core principles while helping clients make sense of the new (and oftentimes intimidating) tech at their fingertips.
Let’s take a closer look!
From robot to ROI
So, where is AI actually being used in CRE today?
It’s easy to think of AI as something highly technical and futuristic, but many landlords are already using it in practical, everyday ways. Rather than replacing property managers or brokers, these tools are helping teams work faster and identify potential issues sooner.
The Landlord’s AI Toolkit
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Leasing & tenant matching. AI-powered platforms can analyze tenant profiles, credit data, and historical leasing trends to match tenants with appropriate spaces faster. This reduces vacancy time and improves lead quality.
Check out: VTS, Juniper Square
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Predictive maintenance. Instead of reacting to system failures, AI tools can flag potential maintenance issues before they become expensive problems. This is especially helpful in HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems.
Check out: IBM Maximo, Azure IoT
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Tenant communication & service requests. Chatbots and automated systems can handle routine tenant inquiries, schedule maintenance, and streamline communication in general. This frees up property managers for more pertinent tasks.
Check out: AppFolio, Buildium
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Market & rent analysis. AI-driven analytics tools can identify rental trends, pricing shifts, and demand patterns across submarkets. Using these research aids helps investors make informed pricing decisions.
Check out: CoStar, Yardi Matrix
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Portfolio optimization. At an even higher level, AI can help CRE investors evaluate performance across multiple assets, identify underperforming properties, and uncover opportunities for repositioning.
Check out: ARGUS Enterprise, RealPage
Striking a safe balance
If the thought of artificial intelligence running your business still bothers you, you’re not alone. Despite the excitement around AI, most industry professionals agree on one thing: technology is a support system, not a replacement for sound judgment.
Commercial real estate still relies heavily on relationships, local knowledge, and timing. AI can surface insights, but it cannot fully interpret neighborhood nuance or long-term redevelopment potential. And even the most sophisticated chatbot cannot solve the complex problems today’s tenants bring to the table.
Heshy Sieger explains, “AI processes information at an impressive scale, but real estate decisions still boil down to expertise. The best outcomes happen when data and local insight work together. It’s best to find that happy balance.”
In other words, the goal isn’t automation for its own sake. Better decision-making is the key to successful ownership and stronger long-term ROI. At Everest, our goal is to harness the power of AI to help us—and our partners—make the smartest decisions possible.
While we ponder the prospect of using AI in our multifamily and other commercial operations, consider these interesting tools that are gaining traction among CRE investors and landlords. Are you using any of them? What’s on your radar? Be sure to let us know!
5 AI Tools Commercial Property Owners Should Pay Attention To
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AppFolio. This AI leasing assistant automates tenant questions, schedules tours, and helps pre-screen applicants through integrated property management tools and other automation features.
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IBM Maximo. A pioneer in predictive maintenance, this popular platform uses AI and asset monitoring to detect early warning signs in HVAC, plumbing, and other building systems before they occur.
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CoStar. One of the most widely used CRE data platforms. Operators and investors use CoStar to track rent trends, occupancy and vacancy rates, comparable lease and sales data, and overall submarket performance.
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DocuSign. This widely used digital agreement platform streamlines lease workflows by enabling electronic signatures among other automated documentation. Ideal for managing contracts throughout the lease lifecycle.
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Johnson Controls Metasys. AI-enabled building management system that optimizes HVAC and energy use by continuously monitoring and adjusting systems. Great for reducing costs and supporting sustainability goals.
Everest says:
Better tools, same human judgment
Smarter CRE starts here
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