The Brief

In this episode of The Brief, MHA President & CEO Cecil Smith and Vice President of Government Affairs & COO Todd Liljenquist unpack the Minneapolis and Saint Paul 2021 rent control ballot fights—how the questions showed up on the ballots, MHA’s “Think Twice” coalition and $5M campaign, election-night results, and what’s happened since (from construction slowdowns to policy reassessments). 
📜 St. Paul Rent Stabilization Information: stpaul.gov/departments/safety-inspections/rent-buy-sell-property/rent-stabilization/landlords🤖 Ask mihra: mmha.com/mihra
 
🏦 Thank you to our Founding Sponsor – Citizens State Bank: csbnet.net
 
 
 

In this episode of The Brief, Denise and Logan unpack the 2025 Survey of Minnesota Business Services Firms—what it signals for 2026 planning: steady demand, tighter margins, and ways to keep teams productive without squeezing residents. They translate the data into practical moves—clearer scopes, smarter sequencing, and a few durable ops metrics—then spotlight MHA’s online, on-demand training in What’s Happening at MHA: Employee Onboarding Essentials (Fair Housing, Customer Service, Workplace Harassment), role boosters for leasing and marketing, plus compliance & leadership tracks you can assign anytime.
 
📌 MN DEED Press Release and Full Report: mn.gov/deed/newscenter/press-releases/?id=1045-700630&utm📊MPLS Fed Recap: minneapolisfed.org/article/2025/services-firms-remain-optimistic-after-a-year-of-slight-growth?utm🖥️ On Demand Education: mmha.com/education/education-calendar🤖 Ask mihra: mmha.com/mihra
 
🏦 Thank you to our Founding Sponsor – Citizens State Bank: csbnet.net

In this episode of The Brief, Denise and Logan dig into the “Maintenance Matters” issue of The Advocate—how to use AI on the maintenance front lines, decide when to refresh vs. renovate, control expenses without cutting corners, and “think like an inspector” to prevent low-cost citations before they happen. They also ask mihra about finding a window-repair vendor and highlight upcoming year-end maintenance classes.
🛍️ MHA Buyers Guide: mmha.com/Directories/MHA-Membership-Buyers-Guide 📅 Education Calendar: mmha.com/education/education-calendar 👥 Membership Info: mmha.com/Membership/Membership-Information🤖 Ask mihra: mmha.com/mihra
🏦 Thank you to our Founding Sponsor – Citizens State Bank: csbnet.net

We’re rewinding to "Diving into Debt", the May/June 2025 issue of The Advocate for a closer look at debt in the multi-housing industry. From rising interest rates to shifting market forces, Denise and Logan unpack what’s fueling financial pressure, where the biggest risks are, and what housing providers can do to stay ahead. It’s a fast, focused breakdown of the numbers—and the stories—they tell.
📅 Education Calendar: mmha.com/Education/Education-Calendar🤖 Ask mihra: mmha.com/mihra🏢 Join MHA: mmha.com/Membership
 
🏦 Thank you to our Founding Sponsor – Citizens State Bank: csbnet.net

In this episode of The Brief, Denise and Logan unpack MetroSight's study Behind the High Cost of Rent, translating the findings into clear takeaways for housing professionals: how source-of-income rules, eviction measures, and screening limits can raise operating costs and risk, and why consistent statewide policy can stabilize investment and affordability.
📊 MetroSight's Behind the High Cost of Rent Study: nmhc.org/research-insight/research-report/behind-the-high-cost-of-rent/📖 July/August 2025 Advocate Issue - Rocks and Sludge in Multifamily: online.fliphtml5.com/rzckk/lfxf/#p=1🚀 Changing the Game Conference & Expo: mmha.com/changing-the-game🤖 Ask mihra: mmha.com/mihra
 
🏦 Thank you to our Founding Sponsor – Citizens State Bank: csbnet.net

The "Rocks and Sludge in Multifamily" issue of The Advocate takes a hard look at the “rocks” that drive our industry forward—and the “sludge” that slows us down. In this episode of The Brief, Denise and Logan break down the key takeaways, from strategic priorities to the everyday obstacles that impact multi-housing professionals. Get the highlights, insights, and a clear picture of what’s shaping our work right now.
💃 MADACS Gala: mmha.com/Events/MADACS💻 On-Demand Education: mmha.com/Online🤖 Ask mihra: mmha.com/mihra
🏦 Thank you to our Founding Sponsor – Citizens State Bank: csbnet.net

In the debut episode of The Brief, Denise and Logan tour the AI-themed issue of The Advocate, distilling the biggest ideas—from agentic AI to real-world workflows—into clear takeaways for multi-housing professionals right now.
📜 MHA Certification Programs: mmha.com/Certifications🏗 Rochester Area Building Communities Conference: mmha.com/Education/Building-Communities🤖 Ask mihra: mmha.com/mihra
 
🏦 Thank you to our Founding Sponsor – Citizens State Bank: csbnet.net

Your new go-to podcast for insights, updates, and conversations shaping Minnesota’s multi-housing industry is almost here! The Brief brings you the key takeaways from The Advocate, upcoming event highlights, and quick answers from mihra—your industry’s AI assistant. Stay tuned for our first full episode launching September 5th!
🏢 Join MHA: mmha.com/Membership🤖 Meet mihra: mmha.com/mihra
 
🏦 Thank you to our Founding Sponsor – Citizens State Bank: csbnet.net