Landlord bookkeeping, explained.
Practical articles on property-level reporting, tax strategy, STR and LTR bookkeeping, and the tools that make it all easier.
The 7 Bookkeeping Mistakes That Cost Landlords Thousands at Tax Time
Most landlords lose money not because they are bad at real estate, but because their books hide the real numbers. Here are the seven most common mistakes and exactly how to fix each one.
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Practical knowledge for landlords who want their bookkeeping done right.
Monthly Landlord Bookkeeping Review
A landlord’s monthly books review in close order: reconcile every account, clear uncategorized, tie rent, deposits, and loan balances, and test large repairs.
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Bookkeeping Across Multiple LLCs
One set of books per entity that files a return, a bank account per LLC, a shared chart of accounts. Recording intercompany bills, pass-through rent, roll-ups.
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When Do Landlords Outgrow a Spreadsheet?
A reconciled spreadsheet suits one or two doors. It is outgrown when the total stops tying to the bank, a lender wants a balance sheet, or payouts need splits.
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How Much Does a Bookkeeper for Landlords Cost?
Landlord bookkeeping is priced hourly, per property, per transaction, or flat by volume. Here is how each model behaves and what should be included.
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Should I Hire a Bookkeeper or Keep Doing It Myself?
Plenty of landlords should keep doing their own books. Here are the specific conditions that make DIY work, and the ones that reliably break it.
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How Do I Switch Bookkeepers Without Losing My History?
Your books survive a bookkeeper change when the software subscription is in your name. Here is the checklist to run before you give notice.
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What Does My CPA Actually Need From Me at Year End?
A landlord’s year-end CPA package: financials per entity, statements, 1098s, closing documents, improvement invoices, platform reports, and 1099 records.
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What Does Catch-Up Bookkeeping Cost for a Rental Portfolio?
Catch-up bookkeeping is priced per month of backlog and driven by transaction volume, not property count. Here is what actually moves the number.
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I Am Two Years Behind on My Rental Bookkeeping. What Happens Now?
Two years behind on rental bookkeeping is recoverable. Here is how a catch-up actually works, what records it needs, and what it fixes first.
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How Long Should Landlords Keep Financial Records?
A landlord’s guide to which records to keep: transaction, income, property, and entity documents, plus how long each one actually needs to stick around.
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How Do I Track Capital Improvements Property by Property?
Give each capital improvement its own account, a property tag, and a register with cost and in-service date, the record your CPA needs to set depreciation.
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How Do I Get a P&L Per Property When Everything Runs Through One Account?
You don’t need a bank account per property to see a per-property P&L. How tagging, split entries, and a monthly untagged review get you there.
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How Do I Split a Mortgage Payment Into Principal, Interest, and Escrow?
One mortgage payment, three destinations. How to split principal, interest, and escrow correctly so your rental books stop overstating expenses.
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Do I Need a Separate Bank Account for Each Rental Property?
No. One operating account per LLC is what matters; per-property numbers come from tagging in your bookkeeping system, not extra bank accounts.
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I Paid a Rental Expense With My Personal Card. How Do I Record It?
Paid a rental expense with your own card? Record it in the property’s normal expense category and offset it with an owner contribution, not a bank transaction.
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What Is the Right Chart of Accounts for a Rental Property?
The account structure that makes rental books work: income split correctly, repairs separated from improvements, and the liabilities landlords always miss.
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Stessa and Partnership (1065) Returns: The Gap
Stessa cannot produce the balance sheet and partner capital accounts a Form 1065 needs. What the return actually requires and the practical options.
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My OwnerRez Ledger and My Bank Do Not Match. Which One Is Right?
Both are right; they measure different things. Why OwnerRez booking totals never equal bank deposits, and the monthly routine that ties them together.
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Do I Still Need QuickBooks If I Already Use Stessa?
Usually no. When Stessa alone is enough for a rental portfolio, the specific triggers that mean you need QuickBooks Online, and what running both looks like.
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How Do I Reconcile a VRBO Payout Against My Bank Deposit?
VRBO deposits rarely match your booking totals. The monthly method to break payouts into revenue, fees, and taxes, and tie them to the bank to the penny.
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How Do I Record Guest-Collected Lodging Tax in Stessa?
Lodging tax collected from guests is not your income. How to keep it off your P&L in Stessa, when it applies, and how to track what you owe the state.
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How to Untangle Airbnb Payouts in Your Books
Airbnb deposits one lump sum, but your books need the details. Here is how to break payouts into revenue, platform fees, and cleaning income.
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Capital Improvement vs. Repair: The IRS Test
The difference between a deductible repair and a capitalized improvement can save (or cost) you thousands. Here is the plain-English IRS test.
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Security Deposits: The #1 Mistake Landlords Make in Their Books
Security deposits are not income. Here is why treating them incorrectly puts you at legal and tax risk, and how to fix it in 10 minutes.
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Stessa vs. QuickBooks Online for Real Estate Investors
Both platforms have their strengths. Here is a practical comparison based on portfolio size, complexity, and what your CPA actually needs.
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