Breaking into Multifamily at Just 17 with Kylan Yarbrough, Ep. 735

Kylan Yarbrough began his journey in multifamily real estate at just 17 years old. By 19, he had already advanced to regional property manager, and today he brings an owner-operator mindset to his 195 multifamily units. With a background rooted in ground-level operations and a passion for improving communities, Kylan is also developing property management software to bridge the communication gap between owners and operators.

 

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Key Takeaways

• How starting as a porter gave Kylan deep insight into every layer of multifamily operations

• Why owner-mindset thinking from day one accelerated his growth

• Common disconnects between owners and property management teams

• The importance of training and internal growth within property management companies

• How his new software aims to proactively flag performance issues before they become major problems

 

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Topics

From Porter to Owner

• Kylan started in property management as a porter, cleaning and handling on-site tasks

• He quickly moved through roles by intentionally learning every position and system

• His approach was always guided by an owner’s mindset, even in junior roles

Owner vs. Property Manager Mindsets

• Many PMs lack ownership-level insight into KPIs, NOI, and long-term strategy

• Owners can benefit from ensuring their managers are trained to think like operators

• Proper onboarding and ongoing education within PM companies reduces turnover and improves resident experience

Building a Property Management Software

• Kylan is developing a tool focused on owner alerts, resolution pathways, and red flags

• The platform bridges the gap between raw data and actionable, ownership-specific insights

• It includes engagement scoring and automation to improve communication and oversight

Improving Team and Tenant Retention

• High staff turnover damages resident trust and community stability

• Owners should evaluate management companies based on their support structures for staff development

• Aligning incentives and visibility helps everyone perform with clarity and purpose

 

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Round of Insights

Failure that set Kylan up for success: Getting fired from a PM job for trying to underwrite a deal as a potential buyer motivated Kylan to fully transition to ownership, ultimately connecting him with key mentors.

Digital or mobile resource: Crexi – great for scanning deals quickly and connecting with brokers.

Book recommendation: Rich Dad Poor Dad – opened his eyes to financial expansion and real estate investing.

Daily habit that helps stay focused: Showing up consistently, even without motivation—plus micro workouts to reset energy.

#1 Insight for being an owner-operator: Have fun, stay growth-focused, and build genuine communities—not just portfolios.

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