Damian J. Esparza
CEO & Founder
OUR STORY
Our Vision
We’re building the physical ledger for the built world—driving financial health and human connection.
THAT’S THE FUTURE WE’RE HERE TO BUILD.
WHY SMARTPROPERTY EXISTS
Taking care of places.
Taking care of people.
Community leadership is a big responsibility. Clarity shouldn’t be a luxury.
Volunteer boards make decisions about millions of dollars in shared assets. Too often, they are handed a static reserve study and left to connect the dots themselves.
SmartProperty was created to bridge that gap—with transparent information, living financial roadmaps, and tools that help people steward their communities with confidence.
Damian J. Esparza · Founder & CEOA MISSION BUILT ON EXPERIENCE
Damian J. Esparza is the Founder and CEO of SmartProperty
With over two decades of experience in the community association industry, a Boston College graduate, Damian is principal shareholder of Barrera & Company and worked at Banc of America Securities and SG Cowen. At SmartProperty, he pioneered the Living Reserve Study™ bringing the reserve study to life, and transforming static reserve studies into dynamic, real-time financial roadmaps for community associations. His work focuses on transparency, control, and informed decision-making to optimize asset management. Featured in Forbes and other publications, Damian is dedicated to improving community association well-being and preventing failures like the Surfside Condo collapse. He is a proud husband and father to three boys.
Connect with our teamTHE PEOPLE BEHIND THE PLAN
Our Executive Team
Real estate and technology expertise.
A deeply human mission.
Kim Gambino
Chief Technology Officer
Chris d’Eon
Chief Marketing Officer
Mike Dee
Director of Business Development
WHAT GUIDES US
Our Values
Respect
Respect is the foundation of our collaboration. It means valuing the diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and expertise each person brings to the table. We practice active listening and maintain a culture of psychological safety where every voice can be heard. By treating our colleagues, partners, and competitors with dignity, we foster an environment of trust that allows us to solve complex problems together.
Stewardship & Excellence
We view ourselves as caretakers of our company’s mission, our resources, and—most importantly—each other. This value is rooted in the human connection; we don’t just deliver results, we take care of the people behind the work. Excellence is not a static goal but a continuous commitment to leaving things better than we found them, ensuring that our growth is sustainable and our community remains supported.
Meeting Customers Where They Are
Success is defined by our ability to understand and solve our customers' specific challenges. We believe that to serve our partners effectively, we must seek first to understand before being understood. Instead of leading with our own agenda, we listen deeply to their unique needs and pain points. By meeting them where they are—both technically and emotionally—we tailor our approach to provide value that is immediately relevant to their journey and helps them achieve their goals.
Stay Curious
We encourage curiosity and the courageous pursuit of new ideas, even when they challenge the status quo. We recognize that meaningful breakthrough innovation often come from experimentation and a willingness to rethink established norms. By fostering a "builder" mindset, we stay ahead of the curve and continuously redefine what is possible in our industry.
Do It Now
In a fast-moving world, speed is a competitive advantage. We fight complacency by taking immediate action and refusing to defer today’s opportunities to tomorrow. We embrace the philosophy that "perfect is the enemy of good," prioritizing momentum and iterative progress over over-analysis. We move fast, learn quickly, and keep the needle moving forward every single day.
Flexibility
Our strength lies in our ability to pivot and adapt. We recognize that plans can change and markets can shift, so we remain agile in our thinking and our operations. Flexibility means being open to new information, staying resilient in the face of obstacles, and finding creative ways to achieve our goals even when the path forward isn't linear.
High Agency & Autonomy
We empower our people to be the CEOs of their own roles. High agency means taking extreme ownership of outcomes and finding ways to get things done without waiting for a roadmap. We trust our team members with the autonomy to make decisions, take risks, and lead their projects, fostering a culture of self-starters who drive the company forward through personal initiative.
One in every five communities is projected to go cash-flow negative in the next 5 years.
For too long, community association trustees have been dropped into the deep end of a business model they are wholly unprepared for. They’ve volunteered to run a multi-million dollar business, for free and with minimal training. The very definition of a community association and the duty of every board member is to “provide a communal basis for preserving, maintaining, and enhancing homes and property.” But it isn’t obvious how to get from here to there.The usual recommendation is that the board commission a reserve study. But the static reserve study falls short. It is not enough on its own to complete the job to be done. The very definition of a community association and the duty of every board member is to “provide a communal basis for preserving, maintaining, and enhancing homes and property.” But it isn’t obvious how to get from here to there. The usual recommendation is that the board commission a reserve study. But the static reserve study falls short. It is not enough on its own to complete the job to be done.
Careers at SmartProperty
SmartProperty is changing the world for homeowners associations and clubs by reimagining the way they plan for and safeguard their financial and asset future. We have dedicated everything we have to preventing another disaster like the Surfside condo collapse from happening again. We are looking for motivated people who want to make a difference and help protect the 27 million people in this country living in communities with aging infrastructure and clubs with aspirational goals. How to Apply Please email your resume and cover letter to us and we will reach out to you for the next steps. hello@smartproperty.com
Get Involved, Grow With Us.
Contribute to the success of the company by brainstorming, thinking outside of the box, and identifying opportunities for growth–your contribution will have a huge impact for our product and our customers. Our product is right on the cusp of tipping over into a larger market share. Joining now will give you ample growth opportunities, equity options, and the flexibility to tailor your role as we grow.
What works for you, works for us.
While you are welcome to come into our office in San Diego, we have a remote-first culture, so you can literally work from anywhere. But don’t worry about missing out if you’re not in the office! We have all the technology to support remote culture, and we hold bi-annual in-person meetups to brainstorm and build team relationships.
True Work-Life Balance
We feel that a healthy work-life balance is critical to success. To maintain a healthy body, we cover your health and wellness. To maintain a balance, we offer unlimited vacation time and flexible working hours so you can reset, recharge and spend valuable time with your loved ones.
Today, over a half-million homes use the Living Reserve Study.
Decadesof Living Reserve Studies
BillionsReserves Funding Capital Needs
BillionsAnticipated Capital Expenditures
GET IN TOUCH
Ready to get started?
Simplify operations, boost engagement, and manage smarter with SmartProperty.
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