Effectively managing finances is crucial to the success of any property investment. With the right accounting software, you can streamline tasks, reduce stress, and make informed decisions. But with so many options available, choosing the best property accounting software can be challenging. In this post, we will explore the top 4 property accounting solutions that are revolutionising the way investors, property managers, and mortgage brokers handle their finances. Let's get started.

1. The Property Accountant

The Property Accountant Dashboard

The Property Accountant is an all-in-one accounting software designed to streamline accounting and financial management for property investors in Australia. It is accessible as both a web and mobile application, providing a solution for property investors, tax accountants, and mortgage brokers to effectively manage the accounting and finance needs of their investment portfolios.

Features:

  • Automated and simplified recording and categorisation of income, expenses, and costs related to investment properties.
  • Automatic recording of settlement statements, depreciation schedules, and monthly rental statements.
  • Secure connection to bank loan accounts via open banking to automatically track interest, fees, and other expenses.
  • Real-time visibility into portfolio metrics like property values, loan balances, net equity, and interest rates.
  • Drill down financial reporting to provide detailed insights into property portfolio performance.

Pros:

  • Made for Australian property investors' accounting needs.
  • Automates many financial tasks, saving time and reducing mistakes.
  • Provides a clear and real-time picture of how well your properties are performing.
  • Offers affordable pricing options, including a free trial period for 3 months.
  • Includes dedicated support and guidance to help users maximise the benefits of the software.
  • Seamless integration with over 100 banks to automatically import and categorise transactions, providing clear visibility into expenses.
  • Available as both a mobile app and web portal for convenient access anytime, anywhere.

Cons:

  • Only 3 months free trial available for all other plans beyond the free owner-occupied residential property plan.

2. PropertyMe

PropertyMe

PropertyMe is a cloud-based property management software for property managers and real estate companies offering property management services. It offers live bank feeds, reconciliation, trust accounting, and automated fee management. PropertyMe also provides property managers with a tenant portal for online payments and maintenance requests.

Features:

  • Manage all property finances in one place with easy-to-use online accounting software.
  • Easily track income from rent payments and deposits, as well as expenses and bills; provides rental statements for property investors.
  • Automate rent collection by connecting PropertyMe to GoCardless for seamless management.
  • Keep all tenant information in one place, including contact details, payment history, and outstanding invoices.
  • Integrate PropertyMe with industry-specific property management apps like Landlord Studio and Re-Leased.

Pros:

  • Provides a centralised platform to manage the financial aspects of a rental property portfolio for real estate companies and property managers.
  • Automates time-consuming tasks like rent collection and financial tracking to boost efficiency.
  • Integrates with specialised property management software to create a seamless workflow.
  • Allows property managers to access financial information anytime, anywhere with the cloud-based platform.
  • Provides a wide range of support options, including unlimited online training, knowledge base, email support, and live chat.

Cons:

  • Pricing may be out of reach for some smaller landlords or property owners with limited budgets.
  • PropertyMe is a solution for property managers, not property investors.
  • PropertyMe does not offer a free trial period, making it harder for some users to evaluate the software before committing to a paid plan.
  • Onboarding and setup may require some time and effort to fully configure the software to specific needs.
  • Does not offer the same level of accounting-specific features and workflows tailored to the needs of property investors.

3. Excel / Google Sheets

Excel / Google Sheets

Google Sheets and Excel are general-purpose applications that can be used for basic property accounting and investment tracking. While they lack the specialised features and automation of dedicated property accounting software, these widely-used spreadsheet tools can still be a viable option for very small-scale landlords and investors.

Features:

  • Manually record and categorise rental income, mortgage payments, property taxes, maintenance costs, and other investment property expenses.
  • Utilise built-in financial functions to calculate mortgage, interest, and other loan-related metrics.
  • Maintain a centralised spreadsheet to monitor the performance of the rental property portfolio, including metrics like values, equity, and cash flow.
  • Generate custom financial reports and data visualisations to analyse the health and trends of the investment properties.

Pros:

  • More affordable option for very small-scale landlords with limited properties.
  • Familiar interface for users already comfortable with these tools.
  • Allows for basic tracking of income, expenses, and other financial data related to rental properties.

Cons:

  • Lacks the automation and specialised features of purpose-built property accounting software.
  • Requires more manual effort to maintain, organise, and analyse property portfolio data.
  • May be prone to errors and inconsistencies without built-in validation and categorisation.
  • Provides limited real-time visibility, integrations, and comprehensive reporting compared to dedicated platforms.

4. Xero

Xero

Xero is a popular cloud-based accounting software that offers a range of features for property management. It includes automated bank feeds, rent tracking, trust accounting, and comprehensive reporting. Xero also integrates with various property management platforms, making it a versatile choice for real estate professionals.

Features:

  • Manage all property finances in one place with easy-to-use online accounting software.
  • Easily track income from rent payments and deposits, as well as expenses and bills.
  • Automate rent collection by connecting Xero to GoCardless for seamless management.
  • Keep all tenant information in one place, including contact details, payment history, and outstanding invoices.
  • Integrate Xero with industry-specific property management apps like Landlord Studio and Re-Leased.

Pros:

  • Provides a centralised platform to manage the financial aspects of a rental property portfolio.
  • Automates time-consuming tasks like rent collection and financial tracking to boost efficiency.
  • Offers visibility into real-time property income, expenses, and other key performance metrics.
  • Integrates with specialised property management software to create a seamless workflow.
  • Allows landlords to access their financial information anytime, anywhere with the cloud-based platform.
  • Offers a free 30-day trial to test out the features before committing to a paid plan.

Cons:

  • As a general accounting software, Xero may require a trained bookkeeper or accountant to manage.
  • Xero is an accounting software that can be used for property investment, while The Property Accountant is tailored for property investors.
  • The integration with property management apps, while beneficial, may require additional setup and configuration.
  • Pricing starts at $35 per month with limited features, which is higher compared to other property accounting software.