A Growing Residential Portfolio
The Residential Property Management division continues to grow its portfolio, expand its reach and deliver hands-on service for property owners across the region.
Behind Emory Hill’s growing residential portfolio is a team focused on making property ownership a little easier.
Led by Residential Property Manager Massiel “Massi” Derefaka, with support from Property Management Assistant, Maria Sargeni, the team now oversees approximately 110 residential units spanning mixed-use and multifamily properties, apartments and flats, townhomes, and single-family homes throughout Delaware and surrounding markets.
36 units have been added to the portfolio since Massi joined the company a year ago, including both new client relationships and owners who had worked with her previously and chose to follow her to Emory Hill. Today, the team serves properties throughout New Castle and Kent counties in Delaware, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and Cecil County, Maryland. As a bilingual property manager fluent in English and Spanish, Massi is also able to connect directly with a broader range of residents and property owners, helping make communication and day-to-day support more accessible.
The growth has been accompanied by strong leasing activity. So far this year, the team has handled 68 move-ins and 21 lease renewals, while maintaining a portfolio-wide occupancy rate of 99.09 percent.
One of the clearest examples of that progress can be found at Fort DuPont in Delaware City, where Emory Hill manages 14 single-family homes within the growing Canal District waterfront community. When Massi took over management of the residential portfolio, occupancy stood at 57.14%. Today all 14 homes are occupied and rents have been brought to current market rates.
For Massi and Maria, however, successful property management goes well beyond filling vacancies.
“We do much more than collect rent. We serve as the bridge between property owners, residents, vendors, and the day-to-day operations of each property we manage. Our responsibility is to protect our clients’ investments, maximize property performance and create a positive experience for residents,” said Massi.
That means overseeing everything from leasing, tenant relations and rent collection to inspections, maintenance coordination, lease compliance, reporting and monitoring rental market trends. Additionally, Massi and Maria bring extensive knowledge of the rules, regulations, and requirements governing the cities and towns where Emory Hill manages residential properties. Their focus on compliance helps owners navigate local requirements while ensuring properties are managed responsibly and in accordance with applicable standards.
The team has also spent the past year strengthening the systems behind those services. A new residential property management software platform has given owners greater visibility into the financial health and performance of their properties, while strengthened rent collection and follow-up procedures help address delinquencies. The team has also implemented an annual property inspection program designed to identify maintenance concerns early, verify that properties are being properly cared for and help protect their long-term value.
“I’m proud that our growth hasn’t just been about adding more properties,” said Massi. “It’s been about improving our systems, strengthening our services and delivering better results for the owners who trust us with their investments.”
Looking ahead, Massi sees opportunities to work with both experienced investors seeking to grow their portfolios and “accidental landlords” who may unexpectedly find themselves responsible for a rental property.
Whether an owner has one property or a growing portfolio, Maria says the objective remains the same: take the day-to-day responsibilities off the owner’s shoulders while helping the investment perform at its best.
“We want our clients to have the confidence of knowing that someone experienced is looking after their investment, while they can focus on what’s next, whether that’s acquiring another property, growing their portfolio or simply enjoying more of their time.”
About NAI Emory Hill
NAI Emory Hill is a full-service commercial real estate, construction, property management, and maintenance company serving clients across Delaware and the Mid-Atlantic region. Celebrating 45 years of experience, NAI Emory Hill brings in-depth market knowledge, regional expertise, and an integrated service approach that supports clients at every stage of the real estate cycle. For more information, visit www.naiemoryhill.com
About NAI Global
NAI Global is a leading global commercial real estate brokerage firm. NAI Global offices are leaders in their local markets and work in unison to provide clients with exceptional solutions to their commercial real estate needs. NAI Global has more than 325 offices strategically located throughout North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia Pacific, with over 5,100 local market professionals, managing in excess of 1.1 billion square feet of property and facilities. Annually, NAI Global completes in excess of $20 billion in commercial real estate transactions throughout the world. NAI Global provides a complete range of corporate and institutional real estate services, including brokerage and leasing, property and facilities management, real estate investment and capital market services, due diligence, global supply chain and logistics consulting and related advisory services. To learn more, visit www.naiglobal.com.