Austin Property Management Blog

Rental Homes: What's a Good Cap Rate?

System - Sunday, February 4, 2018


As with any investment, everyone wants to know roughly how long it will be for them to earn their initial back, otherwise known as cap rate. It’s a term that is widely used in the real estate investing world and the higher it goes the better.  Usually, when discussing the cap rate, investors are dealing with a multi-family project or commercial building, but what about rental homes? What’s a good cap rate for an investment property?

No two rental properties are the same, and there is no blanket answer for cap rate. To accurately calculate the cap rate of your investment property one must consider a multitude of external factors as well as the home itself.

Where the property is located will have a big say in how lucrative your investment will be. As they say, “in real estate, location is everything.” How strong is the rental market where you are looking to purchase a rental home? Typically, large metro markets with great universities and younger population make for prime rental home locations. By knowing where you want to purchase a rental home investment property you can begin to see the bigger picture. How much will the property cost in your chosen market? What’s the unemployment rate in the area? Median househo...

[Video] 424 Canadian Springs Drive | Austin Homes For Rent

System - Sunday, January 28, 2018


424 Canadian Springs Drive, Leander, Texas 78641

New construction home in Leander available now! Be the first to live in the home!

What to Expect From an Austin Property Manager

System - Thursday, January 25, 2018

When it comes to your Austin rental properties you want the best. A rental property is an asset proven to be a great investment over time and you want to make sure it’s cared for in a way that ensures longevity, as well as income. You’ve considered your options and have decided being a full-time landlord isn’t for you and we totally understand. The instant you put occupants in the property that asset is no longer just your rental property, but also someone’s home that you must start considering when making decisions regarding you’re Austin, Texas rental property.

So you’ve decided to partner with an Austin property management company. A quick Google search reveals you have options when it comes to property managers, so how do you decide who to hire? Well, it turns out not all Austin property managers are created equal. Like any industry, you’ll find a spectrum of companies in Austin offering different services, claiming to be the #1 Austin property manager and the best financial option for you.

So what should you be expecting from your Austin property manager?

Simply put, a lot.

Property management has a lot of moving parts that need to work in unison for you to experience a stress-free time. Partnering with a dedicated tea...

Renting is Over Taking the Housing Market

System - Sunday, January 14, 2018

According to the Urban Institute, single-family rental homes are growing faster than any other demographic of the housing market. Their research shows that the single-family rental market outpaces both single-family home purchases as well as apartment purchases.

“Young people are waiting longer to get married and have children, which can make renting more economical”, says Sarah Strochak of the Urban Institute as she expanded on how single-family rentals have risen 30% in the last 3 years.

As younger generations become more active in the housing market we should expect to see these figures climb.

The rise in renting

The 2008 financial crisis had a devastating effect on U.S. markets, especially the single-family housing market. While we’ve climbed back to traditional levels for things such as foreclosures and underwater mortgages, one thing that hasn’t recovered is the American population’s willingness to buy a home. The American dream of owning a home slowly began to wither and has gone from an investment everyone hoped to make to one that younger generations, such as millennial, all of a sudden have to question. Today, SFR’s and townhome renta...

Austin Property Management in 2018

System - Sunday, January 7, 2018

2018 has arrived and ideally you’ve placed a tenant within the last few days on a 12 month lease and won’t have to worry about your Austin rental home for the next 12 months. That sounds ideal for a lot of us! If only rental properties and rental income were that easy.

For the upcoming 2018, put your property in hands that you can trust with Stone Oak Property Management. Your property investment is nothing to joke around with and partnering with a premium management service is in your best interest. Austin property managers do much more than just collect the rent, and handle maintenance requests from your tenants.

  As we begin the New Year, maybe it’s time to consider a better property manager. Some benefits of Stone Oak:

  • Property Management without breaking the bank. Stone Oak’s service charges 7% of your monthly rent without charging any of the outrageous fees. It’s a better deal on better management.
  • NO CONTRACTS TO SIGN. You’re obligated to work with no one!
  • Stone Oak has had 20k+ prospective tenants visit our website in the last 12 months giving your property the exposure it deserves.
  • Our service is backed by 4 guarantees!
  • Like dealing with a dedicated, responsive team. Owner and tenant satisfaction is our #1 pr...

Avoidable Mistakes Landlords Make with Rental Agreements

System - Thursday, December 14, 2017
avoid these mistake when drafting a lease agreement

While universal leases are available, such as the Texas Association of Realtors’, they can’t possibly satisfy every type of lease term and if you own properties you’ll know every lease is different.

While utilizing a universal lease form is possible, it’s imperative to note that regardless of if you hire a property manager or self-manage your Austin rental property, there will be specifics that need addressing when drafting up a lease with a potential tenant.

As a landlord, there are many factors to consider when filling a vacant rental. If you don’t think you have the time, shopping property managers and what they offer can help out big time. When owners get in a rush to fill their vacancies due to shortage in income mistakes can be made in drafting the lease. In this rush to fill the home, dire mistakes can be made in the rental agreement.

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[Video] For Lease: 2428 Green Meadows Lane

System - Tuesday, December 12, 2017


1,506 SF | 3 Bed | 2 Bath

The Benefits that Make Real Estate a Great Investment

System - Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Investing can mean a multitude of things to someone and comes in all shapes and sizes. Some individuals invest in stocks based on their perceptions of a company and the business they are doing. Others have recently jumped on the latest cryptocurrency craze, riding Bitcoin to incredible success. The word investing wears many hats and there are hundreds and thousands of ways to invest your money. One of the most proven, long-term investments that exists is real estate investment.  We regularly work with real estate investors here at Stone Oak and have heard a multitude of reasons for getting into the industry. What makes investing in real estate so beneficial?

Tax Benefits

Investing in real estate continues to be one of the ideal ways to generate wealth and cut taxes. As an investor, you’ve probably mastered tax season by now. If not, it’s not too late to learn. Real Estate offers many benefits to those who can play the system. 

You have the ability to recover the cost of income generating property through its depreciation, using 1031 exchanges t...

5 Tips for Owning Your First Stress-Free Rental Property

System - Wednesday, November 15, 2017

5 Tips for a Stress-Free Rental Property


For those who don’t, owning a rental property can seem like this great asset that’s going to bring you residual income month-in, month-out. However, for those who do own rental properties, you know this isn’t the truth. Rental properties are more in a category of their own when it comes to types of investments. You’re not only dealing with an asset that you purchased for X and expect Y as a return, but instead you’re dealing with an asset closely tied into others lives as their home. We don’t blame you if you’re in it for the money - a rental portfolio is still a great way to build wealth – but never forget that to your tenants your investment is home.

So, you’ve decided you’d like to start building your rental portfolio. The first step is getting that first property. Then what? Our Austin property management team has thrown together these 6 tips for owning your first, stress-free rental property.

Hire a Property Manager

Of course we’re biased; we’re a property management company after all. There is no denying the return on investment a great property manager can bring to an owner. Effectively putting your i...

Austin Couple Scammed Out of $2k by Fake Landlord

System - Thursday, November 9, 2017