GlobeNewswire·Nov 5, 2026, 12:00 PM ET

New IREM® & AppFolio Research: Top Property Management Firms Have Cracked the Code on Driving Performance with AI

AppFolio & IREM released the AI Insights 2026 study based on data from 3,662 real estate management professionals surveyed between May 7 & June 7, 2026.
AI adoption has nearly tripled since 2023, rising from 21% to 58%, marking the first time a majority of professionals use AI in their roles.
Adoption growth is steady & no longer differs by company size, as even the smallest firms have crossed the 50% adoption threshold.
While 85% of AI users report productivity gains, only 48% report a positive impact on net operating income (NOI) or profitability.
Professionals with high AI maturity are nearly five times more likely to report positive NOI & resident satisfaction impacts compared to those with low maturity.
Owner satisfaction (58%) & resident satisfaction (62%) have improved but still trail the 85% productivity gain figure.
Only 8% of organizations have a formal written AI policy, while 74% of professionals have received no formal AI training.
92% of respondents express concern regarding AI-related cybersecurity risks, & 93% are worried about AI-generated fraudulent applicant documents.
The report identifies an "Efficiency Trap" where faster task completion does not automatically translate to higher business value or financial results.
Success requires embedding AI deeply into business operations rather than using it merely for individual tasks.