Austin Parking Ticket Waiver
Did you know that the City of Austin will waive a parking ticket if you provide proof that you took a responsible ride home? There are terms and requirements, so review the city’s request page for details and take advantage of the program if you ever need it.
Emergency Preparation Tax Holiday
Each year Texas has a few tax holidays for specific ...
Tax Protests Are Around The Corner
It’s almost time for the protest season to begin, and the cycle of sending out notices of appraised value will begin in the coming months. We’ve had great success partnering with Home Tax Shield, and they’ve achieved savings for many of our clients. If you already participate in the protest process through us and Home Tax Shield, you’ll get notifications directly from them as the process hits certain milestones. If you’d like to get set up to protest this year, you can use the
Becoming a first-time renter is exciting, but it also requires careful planning and preparation. Before signing a lease, it’s important to understand your finances, what’s included in the rental agreement, and which questions to ask your landlord. Knowing what to look for and how to prepare for your first rental can help you avoid costly mistakes and feel more confident throughout the rental process. Today, we’ll review some of the most important things every first-time renter should know.
How to Financially Prepare for Your First Rental
Moving into your first rental property is an exciting time. However, what you might not realize is that it takes a lot of preparation. One of the first things you’ll want to do before looking for your first rental property is look at your finances. Can you afford to pay rent every month and still cover your basic necessities, like food and utilities?
When you start your search for a rental, you may or may not have to pay application fees. This is the first expense to account for. That said, you can expect to pay anywhere from $30 to $50 to apply for pr...
Keeping your rental properties well-maintained throughout the year is one of the most essential parts of being a successful landlord in Austin. Unpredictable weather can happen anywhere, and each season brings its own challenges that can impact the comfort and safety of your tenants. However, by following a seasonal maintenance checklist, you can stay ahead of repairs, protect your investment, and avoid emergency issues. Read along as we review some of the most important seasonal maintenance tasks to tackle from here on out.
Why Seasonal Maintenance Matters for Austin Landlords
Seasonal maintenance is crucial for any home, especially in places like Austin, TX, where the weather can be unpredictable. Between spring storms, intense summer heat, and winter freezes, each season brings its own set of challenges for rental properties.
As a landlord or apartment management company in Austin, staying on top of seasonal maintenance tasks helps preve...
Refinancing your Austin rental property can be a great way to lower your monthly payments, increase cash flow, or access equity you’ve built over time. However, it’s not something you should jump into without understanding how the process works–or whether it’ll actually benefit your investment. Today, we’ll review what it means to refinance, when you may consider it, and how the process works.
What Does It Mean to Refinance a Rental Property?
Refinancing a rental property involves replacing your current mortgage with a new loan–usually one with better terms, a lower interest rate, or a higher loan amount. When you refinance, your new mortgage pays off the balance of your old one, and you start making payments on the new loan under new terms.
Investors may decide to refinance for many reasons, mainly to reduce monthly payments or switch from an adjustable-rate to a fixed-rate loan. Refinancing can also allow you to access your equity to fund renovations or buy additional properties. If you work with an
All investors know that going into a real estate deal with a good plan is crucial. However, what some people forget is that knowing how you’ll eventually exit that investment is just as significant. Whether you’re holding a long-term rental, looking to sell and cash out, or want to refinance, having a clear exit strategy can help you navigate the process with ease. Today, we’ll go over the importance of exit strategies and which ones might make sense for your investment. What Is an Exit Strategy in Real Estate Investing? An exit strategy in real estate is a plan for how you’ll eventually cash out or move on from a property investment. Essentially, it involves looking at a method and timeline for selling, refinancing, or otherwise exiting the deal to gain profits or reduce losses. Having a clear exit strategy for your investment can help you make smarter decisions in terms of financing and renovations from the start. This is especially true for investors in fast-growing areas like Austin, where
Cold Weather Awareness The cold weather arrived recently with a strong front, freezing rain, and sleet. We’re still in the dead of winter so not out of the woods. We may get another freeze before the spring so make sure to keep the tips in our previous post handy. Here is a link to that post that discusses freeze preparation and some info on fireplaces.
Austin Market Data and Leasing Strategies We have a brief Austin market update based on what we are seeing in real time across leasing activity. Rents in Austin continue to trend downward, and in the current environment we are seeing pricing decisions play a much larger role in overall performance. Aggressive increases and starting out at a higher price are often leading to longer vacancy periods, and more lost income. For this reason, we are recommending a more conservative pricing approach across the board. For tenants in good standing, our default recommendation at renewal is a 0% increase, and for vacant properties, pricing competitively has proven to be the most effective way to reduce days on market and stabilize cash flow. This is a market-specific, data-driven approach designed to protect owner's income. It is not a long-term pricing shift or a blanket concession. Owners always retain final approval; our role is to share what we are seeing and implement your direction efficiently. If you currently have a vacant property, an upcoming lease renewal, or a pending offer that has not yet been accepted, we encourage you to take this information into consideration when evaluating pricing decisions. Planning on moving out and want to do everything you can to get your security deposit back? Thoroughly cleaning your rental unit can sometimes make or break it. Today, we’re reviewing why move-out cleaning matters, tips for which areas to focus on, and mistakes to avoid during your cleaning process. Why Move-Out Cleaning Matters for Your Security Deposit We get it—cleaning might be the last thing on your mind while moving your belongings out of a rental home. However, taking the time to clean your rental unit before turning in your keys is an essential part of the process. This is especially true if you want to get your security deposit back. Your Austin property manager or landlord should clearly state all move-in and move-out expectations in your lease agreement. That said, most landlords and property managers expect you to leave your rental in the condition you found it, which should be c...
Even though Austin winters are typically mild, landlords and property managers shouldn’t overlook the importance of preparing properties for colder weather. Sudden cold snaps, like Winter Storm Uri, have shown that Texas homes can be vulnerable to winter without proper precautions. That said, knowing how to winterize a rental property can help you prevent damage, protect your tenants, and ensure your property stays in good condition. Read along to learn why it’s essential to winterize a property, even in Austin, Texas. What Does It Mean to Winterize a Rental Property? Winterizing a rental property is an essential maintenance task for landlords and property managers, especially in cold or snowy areas of the US. Even though winters in Texas are milder, Austin area property management companies still recommend taking precautions to protect your investment. That said, winterizing involves preparing the property to withstan...
Top Exit Strategies for Rental Property Investors
Grant Williams - Monday, February 2, 2026
Stone Oak Resident Update | February 2026
Grant Williams - Friday, January 30, 2026
Stone Oak Client Update | February 2026
Grant Williams - Friday, January 30, 2026
Move-Out Cleaning Tips to Get Your Security Deposit Back
Grant Williams - Friday, January 23, 2026
Do You Have to Winterize a Rental Property in Texas?
Grant Williams - Wednesday, January 21, 2026
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Stone Oak Property Management
14050 Summit Drive #113B
Austin, TX 78728
Phone: 512.617.6766
New Accounts: 512.617.6766 ext.3
Toll Free: 888.892.7940
Fax: 512.994.2300
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