How to Boost Rental Property Income | Austin Property Management

Ryan stetson • February 20, 2025

Taking a strategic approach is the most effective way of boosting the rental property income of your Austin real estate. Let us know how we can help.

Professional workspace at Stetson Property Management supporting property owners

Strategies For Boosting Your Austin Rental Property Income

You want your investment properties to be as profitable as possible. This means you need to keep your finger on the pulse of the local market to ensure you remain competitive. The strategies below will help you optimize your Austin rental property income.

#1 Price Properly

Think beyond the 2% and 50/50 investment strategies when pricing your rent by completing a comparative market analysis (CMA). This should include both the average rent for comparable properties in your neighborhood and throughout Travis, Hays, and Williamson counties. Higher always sounds better, but if rent is too high, vacancies will be longer, and retention will be lower.

What are the 2% and 50/50 real estate investment strategies?

The 2% rule suggests that rent should be set at no less than 2% of the purchase price.

The 50/50 rule suggests that gross rent should generate at least 50% of the net operating income (NOI).

#2 Maintain Your Property

Beyond dispatched tenant repairs, you must stay up to date with ongoing property maintenance. Maintenance keeps tenants happy, protects your investment, and extends the lifecycle of your roof, HVAC, foundation, and other home systems.

In addition to maintenance and repairs, map out ongoing upgrades to keep your property competitive in the local marketplace. Most major upgrades must be completed between tenants, but most maintenance and exterior upgrades can be completed when you have a tenant.

#3 Invest in Amenities

Investing in amenities supports modern and active lifestyles and establishes a competitive advantage that can boost your rental property income. With property costs and interest rates high, more tenants plan to rent long-term. As such, many are willing to pay more for the amenities below. Significantly more if your rental property is semi- or fully furnished.

Amenities to consider include:

Upgrading kitchen and laundry appliances

Adding a patio or upgrading outdoor living space

Adding or upgrading smart home features

Adding a garage or additional parking

Adding an electric vehicle charging station

Including internet in rent

If you don’t yet, allow pets

Fully or partially furnish

#4 Market Your Property

You can have the perfect property in the perfect location, but if no one knows about it will stay vacant. Since you can’t access MLS (the most effective way to market your property) without a real estate license—utilize social media and traditional marketing channels.

#5 Hire a Property Manager

If implementing the strategies above sounds overwhelming, hire a property manager. Stetson Management takes care of everything, and loops you in when repairs, maintenance, and vacancies arise. The cost of our services often pays for itself, enabling a passive income stream.

We have access to real-time market trends and industry-only marketing channels. We advise on rent pricing and property improvements and have the connections to perform swift and high-quality maintenance, repairs, and upgrades.

Let’s Discuss How to Boost the Rental Property Income of Your Austin Real Estate

Stetson Management provides tailored tips to ensure your property remains competitive in your neighborhood and price range. Our services decrease vacancies, improve tenant retention rates, and increase your rental property income.

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By Ryan stetson • September 15, 2026

Changing property management companies in Austin can feel daunting, especially with an active tenant, collected rent, a security deposit, and pending maintenance. However, switching property managers is a common process that is often much easier than owners expect and you do not need to wait for a lease to expire. Common Reasons Austin Property Owners Switch Most owners switch due to cumulative frustrations rather than a single issue. Frequent pain points include: Poor or inconsistent communication Slow or expensive maintenance and unexpected markups Vacant properties lacking a clear leasing strategy Confusing owner statements and frequent staff turnover Property owners experiencing these issues can learn more about what to expect from professional Austin property management . Key Questions About Switching Property Managers 1. Can you switch property managers with a tenant in place? Yes. The existing lease generally remains in effect while management responsibilities transfer. The tenant simply receives clear instructions on where to pay rent, how to submit maintenance requests, and when the new manager takes over. 2. What happens to the security deposit? During a properly coordinated transition, the outgoing property manager accounts for and transfers applicable security deposit funds and records. The new property manager should review the information received against available tenant ledgers, leases, and property records. 3. What if your current manager uses AppFolio? If both your current company and Stetson Property Management use AppFolio Property Manager , familiarity with the same property management platform can simplify portions of the transition. However, our team still reviews leases, balances, security deposits, and property records before completing the setup. Step-by-Step: How to Switch Property Managers Review Your Management Agreement: Look for required termination notice periods, cancellation fees, termination dates, and security deposit requirements. Stetson can help review the transition requirements with you. Provide Notice: Formally notify your current property manager according to the termination requirements in your management agreement. Coordinate the Transfer: Your new property manager should coordinate with the previous company to obtain available leases, security deposit records and funds, tenant ledgers, accounting information, and property records. Notify the Tenant: The tenant should receive updated rent payment, maintenance, and contact instructions to minimize disruption during the transition. For a more detailed explanation of the process, read our complete guide to switching property management companies in Austin, TX . Why Choose Stetson Property Management? Serving Austin and Central Texas since 2009, Stetson Property Management provides full-service residential property management with established systems for leasing, tenant screening, maintenance, inspections, accounting, and owner communication. $0 setup or transfer fees 0% maintenance markup Six-Month Tenant Replacement Guarantee Learn more about our property management standards and operations . Ready to make a change? Contact Stetson Property Management to discuss your property, review your current management agreement, and learn how we can help coordinate the transition.