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2026 The ApartmentBuildings.com 100
Innovators of the Year
- Chris Moltke-Hansen Spearheads Tech Upgrades at Apartment Management Consultants
- Blima Ehrentreu Leads The Designers Group’s Growth Through Technology
- BRIDGE Housing and Avanath Communities Offer A New Model for Affordable Housing Management
- Cap Pointe Advisors and Greystone Break New Ground in Section 8 Financing
- Cherry Development Supports Homeowners with New Program
- Coral Charge Takes EV Charging Off the Utility Grid
- Deloitte Suggests an SaaS Approach to Multifamily
- Drake Property Management Scales Operations With Centralized Tech
- Hotelization is Redefining the Resident Experience
- Ivy Energy’s Logan Carter Encourages Solar As A Revenue-Producing Asset
- Josh Draughn With Hillpointe Turns AI into a Leasing Advantage
- LA Más Uses Community Ownership to Preserve Affordable Housing
- Michael Broder with RCKRBX Relies on Renters For Forecasts
- Model/Z Brings a Manufacturing Mindset to Multifamily Construction
- Morguard Partners with CENGN, Nokia to Create Smart-Building Living Labs
- PearlX’s Simon Herrmann Helps Turn Multifamily Properties Into Energy Assets
- Reframe Brings Robotics, Modular Designs to Residential Construction
- Sarah Segal and Katherine Radziszewski of simplydbs Make Renter Feedback Continuous
- The Oakland Fund’s Rooted Program Supports Educators in Finding Affordable Housing
- Yardi Systems Shifts Multifamily AI From Answers to Action
Michael Broder with RCKRBX Relies on Renters For Forecasts
As co-founder of RCKRBX, Michael Broder applies his background in research, polling and strategy to real estate analytics, developing a platform that combines traditional supply-side data with direct renter feedback and predictive data science.
The data helps developers figure out which unit types, features, and amenities will command demand and rent premiums before projects break ground.
In one example, RCKRBX’s National Renter Demand Indexing Survey found a significant mismatch between existing apartment supply and projected renter demand. Two-bedroom and junior two-bedroom units represented 52% of demand but only 39% of existing supply. Three-bedroom units accounted for 23% of demand, compared with just 8% of supply.
The research also examines how remote and hybrid work, economic pressures and shifting renter priorities are changing housing preferences, while dividing renters into categories to help developers evaluate everything from programming to property positioning.
Before moving into real estate analytics, Broder spent more than two decades in research, communications and campaign strategy, eventually founding Brightline Strategies.
He has lectured at George Washington University and earned Pollie, Telly, ADDY and AMR Gold Medal honors.
These are some of the reasons why Michael Broder was selected to receive ApartmentBuildings.com’s AB 100 Innovators of the Year Award, which recognizes those who demonstrate creativity, skill and success in the multifamily industry.