Karen Balfour
The Colony,Tx
Summary
Community manager with extensive experience at Cardinal Group, specializing in property management and market analysis. Achieved 95% occupancy rates while improving resident relations and negotiating favorable vendor contracts. Proficient in budget preparation and financial reporting, driving operational success through strategic planning and a client-focused approach.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Community Manager
The Cardinal Group
The Colony, TX
02.2025 - Current
- Manage 166 new construction rental home development for BB Living ownership group
- Establish leasing benchmarks and a strategic marketing plan for achieving the budgeted occupancy goals both during lease-up and into stabilization.
- Plan and implement grand opening events, establish in-market partnerships with local businesses and contractors, create brand awareness through marketing outreach.
- Strive for improvements in community performance to meet or exceed annual financial and operational goals.
- Analyzed market trends and competition to adjust marketing strategy, enhancing competitiveness in the rental market.
- Direct the day-to-day activities of loss prevention, risk management, safety/security, maintenance, marketing, leasing and ongoing facility upkeep.
- Develop working income for operating the property, by managing cash flow requirements and leasing strategy.
- Analyze and produce monthly financial statements including operating variances from budget, cash management and strategies for collection of receivables.
- Managed resident relations by coordinating repair requests, clarifying rent charges, addressing lease issues, and resolving resident concerns.
- Engaged and supervised vendors to provide goods and services that maintained community operations.
- Successfully lead on-site maintenance technicians, office staff and leasing team members.
General Manager
Gables Residential
Frisco, TX
01.2024 - 02.2025
- Oversaw management of 425 apartment homes, ensuring resident satisfaction and operational efficiency.
- Manage a team of 8 staff members
- Conducted competitive market analysis to identify trends and inform strategic decisions.
- Drove traffic by conducting outreach and networking efforts
- Organize and perform monthly resident events
- Developed annual budget
- Monitored financial aspects, including controllable expenses, monthly invoice submissions, executive summaries, and variance reports
- Established relationships with new vendors to enhance service offerings.
- Oversee Capital projects and expenses
- Maintained accurate resident records ensuring all credit check and administrative fees, application paperwork, lease documents and rents are received in a timely manner.
- Issued appropriate notices, including late notices and eviction notices.
- Consistently maintained 0.1% to 1.0% rent delinquency monthly.
- Maintained 55% or higher monthly renewal retention
- Oversee completion of make readies
Community Manager
ZRS Management
St. Petersburg, FL
01.2023 - 01.2024
- Manage 325 unit stabilized apartment community in St. Petersburg, FL
- Built and nurtured resident relationships to enhance community engagement
- Maintaining 96% and higher occupancy
- Maintaining 65% and higher renewal retention
- Oversee completion of work orders and community renovations
- Maintained expenses within budget guidelines to support financial stability
- Oversee and schedule capital projects
- Generated traffic through outreach and networking efforts.
- Prepared competitive market analysis.
- Directed team of five to enhance operational efficiency
- Built vendor relationships and managed bids.
- Issued appropriate notices including late notices, eviction notices, and renewal notices.
- Review and approval/denial of applications
Community Manager
Weller Management
Lithia, FL
03.2021 - 01.2023
- Assisted in managing 360 unit/4 story new construction lease up Asbury Luxury Apartments in Tampa, FL
- Managed 260 unit Class B+ property in Lithia, FL
- Increased occupancy from 90% to 95% of newly purchased property
- Resolved escalated tenant issues to maintain tenant satisfaction and retention.
- Led team of 5 staff to optimize workflow and service delivery.
- Coordinated vendor bids and contracts to secure competitive pricing and quality services.
- Coordinate unit repairs and turns
- Participate in weekly/monthly ownership calls
- Process move out reconciliations
- Maintain relationship with attorney during legal processes
- Assisted with due diligence of property sale and takeover
Senior Property Manager
Claritas Property Management
Downers Grove, IL
01.2018 - 03.2021
- Managed Illinois real estate portfolio, enhancing operational efficiency and tenant satisfaction.
- Ensured high occupancy rates by implementing effective leasing strategies.
- Oversee capital projects and renovations.
- Perform weekly property inspections.
- Review and process rental applications.
- Manage office and maintenance team.
- Create and distribute quarterly ownership reports.
- Conduct weekly and monthly conference calls with California-based ownership.
- Audit and maintain annual certificates to ensure code accuracy and guidelines.
- Research vendor bids and approval.
- Maintain relationships with vendors.
- Approved vendor invoices for payment.
- Provide resolution to escalated resident and property issues.
- Perform market/ comp studies.
Property Manager
Group Fox Management
Chicago, IL
01.2012 - 01.2017
- Increased NOI and NRI for 5 consecutive years, contributing to overall financial stability.
- Executed $1 million capital budget, aligning expenditures with property improvement goals.
- Managed 760 units in a suburban complex.
- Previously managed city assets (totaling 550 units).
- Managed 13 employees, fostering a collaborative environment to meet operational objectives.
- Maintained organizational requirements for physical and economic occupancy.
- Revised reports and notices related to tenant vacate and lease renewals for clarity and compliance.
- Audited and updated tenant ledgers on a monthly basis.
- Executed payroll processing for all employees, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
- Prepared and distributed weekly reports for CEO.
- Reviewed and processed applications for prospective tenants including background checks and credit screening.
- Prepared new and renewal leases, ensuring accuracy and completion.
- Evaluated vendor invoices to ensure accurate billing before approval for payment.
- Researched vendor bids and proposals.
- Daily walks of property and vacant units to inspect and prepare for showings and new residents.
- Scheduled and performed pre and post move out inspections.
Education
Nursing
South Suburban College of Cook County
South Holland, ILSkills
- Property management
- Lease administration
- Budget preparation
- Financial reporting
- Vendor negotiations
- Market analysis
- Customer relationship management
Timeline
Community Manager
The Cardinal Group
02.2025 - Current
General Manager
Gables Residential
01.2024 - 02.2025
Community Manager
ZRS Management
01.2023 - 01.2024
Community Manager
Weller Management
03.2021 - 01.2023
Senior Property Manager
Claritas Property Management
01.2018 - 03.2021
Property Manager
Group Fox Management
01.2012 - 01.2017
Nursing
South Suburban College of Cook County