Property Manager- Lease Up

Bear Real Estate Group; Wisconsin; On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Bear Real Estate Group is hiring a Lease-Up Community Manager to lead the lease-up of The Corliss, an affordable housing community. You will drive occupancy from initial occupancy through stabilization, balancing aggressive marketing with regulatory compliance under LIHTC, HOME, and other program requirements.

You will establish on-site operations, build a resident-focused team, manage pre-leasing, screening, and move-ins, and work with Compliance to meet tax credit milestones while

Job description

Job Description

Job Description

Summary

The Bear Real Estate Groupis looking to hire aLease-Up Community Manager is responsible for leading the lease-up of our new affordable housing community,The Corliss,from initial occupancy through stabilization, driving leasing velocity to meet absorption targets while ensuring full compliance with LIHTC, HOME, and other applicable housing program requirements during the critical first-year credit-establishing period. This role pairs aggressive marketing and leasing execution with regulatory precision, establishing site operations, building the on-site team, and delivering on the owner’s pro forma and tax credit timelines.

Duties and Responsibilities

Operations & Resident Experience

• Establish and run daily site operations for a new community, building processes, resident services, and customer service standards from initial occupancy.
• Enforce lease terms and community policies consistently and professionally.
• Create strong first impressions and positive resident interactions that build the community’s reputation, reviews, and word-of-mouth during early lease-up.
• Foster a positive resident experience through clear communication, responsive service, and well-maintained communities.
• Address resident concerns professionally and in compliance with program rules.
• Plan and host grand opening, model unit tours, and resident engagement events that generate traffic and build community.
• Ensure the community operates in full compliance with Fair Housing laws.
• Drive leasing and occupancy from certificate of occupancy through stabilized occupancy within the established lease-up timeline.

Affordable Compliance & File Management

• Maintain complete and accurate household files in "audit-ready" condition at all times (initial certifications, move-in, recertifications, transfers, move-outs) with supporting documentation in compliance with all regulatory agreements.
• Ensure every household is income-qualified and certified prior to move-in, with no unqualified or out-of-compliance move-ins during the credit-establishing first year.
• Ensure all files are approved by Compliance prior to move in, and all documents are appropriately executed prior to issuing keys.
• Build and manage the pre-leasing interest list, applicant screening, and move-ins per the Tenant Selection Plan and Resident Selection Criteria.
• Ensure rent limits, income limits, and utility allowances are updated and implemented correctly each year.
• Coordinate with Compliance staff and third-party monitors for audits, inspections, and corrective actions.
• Partner with Compliance and ownership to meet first-year tax credit milestones, including the minimum set-aside, applicable fraction, and credit delivery deadlines tied to each building’s placed-in-service date.

Lease-Up & Marketing

• Drive leasing velocity to meet weekly and monthly lease-up absorption targets through proactive outreach, traffic generation, lead conversion, and follow-up.
• Track and report traffic, lead sources, tour-to-lease conversion, and net leases against goal, adjusting tactics to keep pace with the absorption schedule.
• Maintain accurate online listings and property information per Bear Core Processes.
• Partner with Marketing and the Lease-Up Regional Manager to execute the lease-up marketing plan, manage advertising sources, and post appropriately to Social Media.
• Ensure the model unit, signage, and all online and print marketing are accurate, compelling, and current to maximize tour-to-lease conversion.

Financial Performance

• Manage the lease-up budget, monitor leasing pace against the owner’s pro forma, and track income/expense and concession use throughout lease-up.
• Review and approve invoices, purchase orders, and vendor proposals in accordance with company controls.
• Monitor rent collections, enforce lease terms, manage delinquencies, and initiate legal proceedings when required.
• Support month-end closing accuracy including ledger reconciliation, deposit verification, and reporting deadlines.
• Prepare weekly leasing and traffic reports and monthly financial reports, including lease-up pace against goal.

Delinquency & Legal Coordination

• Follow delinquency process consistently.
• Ensure all non-payment notices are delivered accurately and on time monthly.
• Ensure small balance due notices are sent out monthly and followed up weekly.