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If you’re a landlord, managing multiple properties can quickly get out of hand. Luckily, there’s a variety of apps designed to streamline everything from tenant screening to rent payment. By having the right rental property tracker, you can stay organized and profitable.
We’ve rounded up the best rental property trackers available today. Keep reading to find out who made our list, why we picked them, and how to use these property management apps to maximize your profits.
The Top Property Management Software for 2021
There’s no shortage of rental property trackers available to help the busy real estate investor. And each property management app has its own specialty.
Some services focus on rental property expense tracking and bookkeeping. Others enable you to interface with clients to collect rent, process maintenance requests, and securely exchange documents.
We’ve investigated the software available and selected eleven apps worth checking out. Read our write-ups of the best rental property trackers and choose which one — or ones — best suits your needs.
1. Buildium
Why we like it:
The most comprehensive property management app currently availableConvenient tenant portal manages payments and maintenance requestsNot difficult to use
Buildium is one of the most popular property management apps on the market — and for a good reason. This tracker streamlines the entire management process, from screening potential tenants to collecting and tracking rent payments.
The app also features a tenant portal that allows your renters to send payments and submit maintenance requests. Buildium even offers communications tools that enable you to send bulk emails and texts to your tenants and contacts lists.
However, although Buildium offers a myriad of features, that doesn’t mean it’s tricky to use. In fact, we found Buildium’s platform relatively straightforward and intuitive.
How much you pay depends on how many units you manage. The lowest price tier starts at $50 per month for up to 150 units. On the other end of the pricing spectrum, management services for 5,000 units will run you $1,080 per month. Note that Buildium will give you a 10 percent discount if you choose to pay annually rather than monthly .
2. Personal Capital
Why we like it:
Free income trackingHolistic wealth management app that goes beyond your rental cash flowEasy enough for beginners to use
Personal Capital is one of the most popular finance apps out there. The app treats your real estate as an investment, rather than just a business or side hustle. Although you won’t get features such as a tenant portal or a special email inbox, you’ll be able to see how your rental income affects your overall net worth.
For property owners, the app integrates with Zillow so you can link up your various properties. The app then pulls all of your financial data, including your cash flow and property values, and factors those into your overall net worth.
You’ll also find yourself using Personal Capital to monitor your spending and plan for retirement. It will also manage all of your other investments, too.
Many of Personal Capital’s features are free. However, for a fee, the company does offer asset management for investors who deposit a minimum of $100,000.
3. Stessa
Why we like it:
Mostly free serviceGreat for collaborating on properties with othersIntegrates with Roofstock so you can buy and sell properties
If you’re looking for a solution that will not only help you track your current properties but find new real estate opportunities, check out Stessa.
Stessa’s parent company is Roofstock, an online real estate investing platform. You can use Roofstock to select and buy new rental properties and then use Stessa to manage them.
Stessa operates on a mostly free model, with some a la carte reporting services. Using Stessa, you can track an unlimited number of properties, access performance dashboards, and even collaborate with partners and family members.
Then, when you’re eventually ready to sell, you can use Roofstock to find a purchaser for your property. This Stessa/Roofstock combination is a complete solution for real estate investors.
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4. Rentec Direct
Why we like it:
Unlimited U.S.-based customer serviceFull ledger accounting and Quickbooks synchronizationIncludes a custom website so you can market your properties
Rentec Direct is a software company that offers two products for managing properties. Rentec Pro was designed for landlords who manage multiple units. Rentec PM is intended for property managers who need trust accounting features.
With either plan, users have access to a variety of features to help with both the financial and operational aspects of their real estate investments.
For example, Rentec offers full general ledger accounting, an in-depth reporting system, and a built-in 1099-MISC e-filing solution. You can also use the app for running credit reports and background checks on potential tenants.
Rentec Direct also has some nifty features to help you market your vacancies. The service will help you set up a website with a lead tracking tool to reach prospective tenants. Rentec will even automatically post your listings to popular sites like Zillow and Realtor.com.
Costs for Rentec Pro and Rentec PM start at $35 and $40 per month, respectively.
5. Quicken Home & Business
Why we like it:
Top choice for existing Quicken customersEasily connect with TurboTaxDedicated customer support team
Quicken’s Home & Business software helps landlords stay on top of day-to-day tasks. For example, you can maintain contact information for tenants, track statements and loans, and even check metrics such as occupancy rates and rents received. You can also track payments and expenses.
When tax time comes, you’ll be in good hands because the service links to Quicken’s proprietary and super-popular tax service, TurboTax. As a result, it’s straightforward to transfer and manage your tax paperwork.
Quicken doesn’t charge an arm and a leg, either. To get the property management features, you’ll need to upgrade to the Home & Business plan. The list price is just $103.99 per year, but Millennial Money readers currently get a 10 percent discount.
6. Landlordy
Why we like it:
Easy-to-use app that integrates with your mobile phone or tabletFree option for landlords who manage just one propertyCharges a one-time fee, rather than a monthly subscription
Landlordy is a user-friendly mobile app that makes it easy to stay organized and on top of your finances. The app helps you track expenses, maintenance records, safety inspections, and various other crucial info about your properties.
Landlordy integrates with a variety of tools that already exist on your smartphone, such as your camera, messaging program, and email. It enables you to directly communicate with tenants or your accountant. You can even send invoices to tenants right through the app.
And since Landlordy stores all of your data on your phone rather than on a server or in the cloud, you don’t need to hassle with logging in with a username and password.
If you manage multiple units, you’ll probably find Landlordy too simple for your needs. But for the smaller-scale rental investor, it’s great. It’s also much cheaper than Buildium and some other services.
Landlordy is free for landlords who manage just one unit. For two units, the cost is $14.99. Up to ten units costs $49.99, and for just $99.99, you can manage unlimited properties. These are one-time costs, rather than monthly recurring fees.
7. NowRenting
Why we like it:
Streamlines tenant communicationGreat for tenant screeningConvenient electronic lease signing feature
NowRenting is a digital rental assistant designed by rental owners for rental owners. The service is centered around good landlord/tenant communication.
When you sign up, NowRenting will assign you a private telephone number and email address to give to prospective and current tenants. So you can keep your personal life separate from your investment.
The app also comes with a single inbox for tenant communication and a feature that automatically sends pre-screening questions to prospective tenants.
NowRenting offers a free version that’s quite limited. If you want to use all of the features, you’ll need a paid subscription, which starts at $19 per month.
8. Rentler
Why we like it:
Mostly free for landlordsStreamlines tenant payment collection24/7 customer support
Rentler is a property management software that enables landlords to view their entire rental lifecycles from a single dashboard. Best of all, you can use most of its services for free. Extras like legal forms can be purchased a la carte.
The service helps landlords with a wide variety of otherwise tedious tasks, such as listing properties, collecting applications, running screenings, and collecting payments. It also lets you track maintenance requests, so you’ll never miss an important update from a tenant.
Another cool feature is a rentability tool, which lets you see exactly how much you can rent your place for.
9. RentTrack
Why we like it:
Best suited for payment collectionRent reporting can help build tenant’s credit scoresMay increase chances of timely payments
RentTrack is an app that lets landlords collect rent and track tenant payments online. The company’s main goal is to provide property owners with tools that save time and grow revenue.
The service also helps tenants build good credit. The app reports each rental payment to the three major credit bureaus. That’s an extra incentive for your renters to pay their monthly bills on time!
10. Landlord Studio
Why we like it:
Streamlines expense tracking for tax purposesHelpful for managing tenant payments and communicationLow-cost, with three account tiers
Landlord Studio is a comprehensive property management app that lets you track all your rent payments and finances in one place.
One of Landlord Studio’s most useful features is a rent collection service, which enables tenants to easily pay rent online. The app also offers tenant screening, email, and SMS invoicing, along with an automatic late-fee feature.
LandlordStudio is also inexpensive. Plans start at just $5.99 per month.
11. PropertyTracker
Why we like it:
Relatively low-cost, at $37 per monthEnhanced bookkeeping services available30-day free trial option
PropertyTracker helps landlords track properties and assets from an easy-to-use mobile app.
The app also serves as an expense and income tracker and features performance reports and appreciation trends, among other things.
How to Maximize a Rental Tracker
Only use reputable apps
As always, be cautious about trusting third-party apps with your financial or real estate information. The last thing you want to do is give an app unrestricted access to your financial portfolio without first making sure that it’s trustworthy.
Before downloading any app, read its reviews and make sure that it’s from a legit provider. There are plenty of solid property trackers out there. So there’s no sense in settling for a second-tier service.
Browse various property management tools
We’ve covered a variety of rental property trackers in this list. For some real estate investors, just one of these solutions will meet all of their tenant and real estate management needs. Others may need to combine two or more services. You don’t have to be exclusive to a single provider.
Write off your expenses
Chances are, you can write off your real estate app and software costs. As an investor, it’s crucial to write off every possible tax-deductible expense.
When in doubt, ask a qualified accountant or tax advisor. This isn’t something you should be guessing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a rental property tracker?
A rental property tracker is an app or software solution that helps landlords track the costs, revenue, and operations of their real estate investments. Some trackers might include additional services, such as tenant screening, communication platforms, and advertising options for your listings.
Do you need an app for rental property management?
You don’t need to have an app, but it certainly helps. Most people are on their phones constantly these days. So it makes sense to have a management app right alongside your other solutions. Apps also enable you to connect with your business from any location.
That said, many landlords have done just fine with a good, old-fashioned spreadsheet.
The Bottom Line
If you’re a property owner, having a good rental property tracker (or two) can make your life easier. There are many free services to try. But if you choose to pay for a premium service, you can probably write it off at tax time.
Once you’re using a tracker app to streamline your business, you can focus more on growing your investments. You could have a million-dollar real estate empire in no time!
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This post 11 Best Rental Property Trackers for 2021 was original published at “https://millennialmoney.com/rental-property-trackers/”
