Austin Property Management Blog

Unlike most states, Texas doesn’t have laws specifying the amount of deposit you can charge new tenants but we do have laws protecting this money for both the landlord and the tenant.   

Limits on Security Deposits

Owning a rental home is no small feat and you should be proud. However, not everyone considers your rental home the precious asset that it is to you. The good news is that Texas is one of the most landlord-friendly states in the Union. Currently, there is no limit on what a landlord can charge for a security deposit. With that said, it’s popular to charge up to one or one and a half month’s rent. Going above this can hurt your property when trying to find excellent tenants. You may be the best landlord in the Austin metro area but if you charge too much for entry into your property then finding quality tenants on time will be harder. Keep in mind there is no shortage of rental options in a city like Austin.

Returning the Security Deposit

The deadline to return a security deposit to your tenant upon move-out is 30 days. There are a few stipulations that allow you to keep the security deposit regardless of this. They are as follows:

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Owning a rental property has always offered great benefits to the owner. Almost all of their expenses can be deducted come tax season due to owning properties being treated similar to owning a business.

Tax season is approaching and many of you may be preparing close out your fiscal year with as many helpful deductions as possible. Here are a few tax deductions to keep in mind for your Austin, Texas rental home in 2018.

You Can Write Off Interest

Most property owners already know that they are able to write off the interest they pay on their mortgage for their investment property. This is typically the largest write-off of the year for any owner, however, there are several other types of interest one can write off for their property. Be sure to write off any interest paid on credit cards, lines for credit, and any other loan used to acquire, maintain, or improve your Austin rental.

Don’t Forget About Depreciation

In a city like Austin, you might not expect to be able to write of depreciation for your property. After all, hasn’t most of Austi...