Great school districts impact how to price your rental. This guide for real estate investors shows how quality schools are evaluated and influence pricing.

How Your Property's School District Affects Rental Pricing

Rental property owners can expect that home values will be higher in areas where school districts are favorably rated. As a result, high-quality schools have the potential to influence the way you price your rental. However, homeowners must understand how schools are evaluated and why these factors influence rental pricing. 

How school districts influence property values 

When high-quality schools attract homeowners and residents to a specific area, the value of those properties increases. An increase in home values (and the subsequent increased price for rental homes) is more likely to occur in areas where good schools and homes are in short supply. 

When it’s easier to develop new homes, it's less likely that home values and rent prices will increase because you can reduce the demand as new homes are built. In contrast, in areas where it’s impossible to reduce demand by building new homes, the value of homes and the cost to rent homes will continue to increase. 

Understanding how we evaluate school districts 

In evaluating your property school district, it’s essential to consider the quality of the school district overall, but remember that elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools can vary significantly in the same neighborhood or district.

Several factors can affect school district ratings, including: 

How to research individual schools and school districts 

Search for online school profiles and rating sites 

Several websites publish ratings and evaluations for individual schools and their districts:

Keep in mind that these sites evaluate schools based on their own unique criteria or by compiling data from other sources. Ideally, you should compare ratings from multiple sources to validate their data and claims.

Locate and review any state dashboards or reports

Often, each state will compile a website page where residents can compare school districts and individual schools. These dashboards can serve as a starting point for researching your property’s school district. These often include test scores and metrics like student-teacher ratios like other third-party reports. 

However, you should also search for upcoming changes or improvements planned for districts and individual schools. Schools that undergo improvements or renovation projects will likely improve their test scores in the following years. As a result, capital improvement projects can be a good indicator of improving school district performance. 

Factors that affect rental home desirability for parents 

Parents invested in finding a rental home in a good school district will likely look beyond rating and test scores. Several factors will contribute to a “good” location for high-quality education choices. 

Proximity to public school alternatives 

Parents may choose to look beyond public school education opportunities to find the ideal location to rent a home. Parents may look for a home within driving distance of a charter or private school. Parents may also look for magnet schools or special academic programs within local public schools. 

If there are nearby public schools alternatives, it might be helpful to understand how student admission works. For example, private schools may require students to interview and pass specific tests before enrolling. Alternatively, charter schools may have long waiting lists or lotteries. 

How parents can choose their child’s school

If you’re not already familiar with the school section process in your district, it may be helpful to research the process. Each state and district has different guidelines which govern which school parents can send their children to. 

In some school districts, parents may choose any school in the district and not just the school closest to their home. Other guidelines might require students to participate in a lottery system. In other districts, students may only have one choice of public school.  

How do medium and low-ranking school districts affect the rental price of a property 

If you find that your property’s school district ranks average or below, your rental pricing may not be affected. The vast majority of school districts in the country perform at a moderate level, with others ranking higher and lower. 

It is important to note that poorly performing school districts can correlate with other factors that could affect the rental price of your property. It’s often the case that communities with underperforming school districts experience more crime and enjoy fewer amenities like parks and recreational spaces. So while a low-ranking school district may not directly affect rental pricing, it’s crucial to evaluate school districts within the context of their communities. 

How highly desirable school districts affect property rental prices 

In contrast, if your property’s school district ranks well and is highly desirable, you may see that your rental pricing is affected positively. Why might that be, and what effects can school districts have on rental properties? 

There will be more demand for rental homes if fewer homes are for sale in your highly-desired school district. This is particularly true for areas with limited opportunities to build new homes or residential buildings. This increased demand will result in higher rental values and more cash flow. 

Residents are invested in the community and schools

In areas where schools are highly desirable, and there is more demand for homes, residents are more likely to renew their leases and see more value in their current rental homes. With a focus on school performance, you will likely see that residents are more invested in their communities.  

Often there is a correlation between student performance and parental involvement. If a parent is able to emphasize their children’s academic performance, they’re also likely to have the means to take good care of their rental property.

How highly rated school districts can affect home value 

High demand for rental homes in an area where the market cannot grow or reduce demand often means that homeowners will invest more money for a smaller, older, or less updated house. Buyers and renters may be willing to forgo some features, like a large yard, in exchange for access and proximity to good schools. 

The effect of school districts on home value over time

The National Bureau of Economic Research found that home values increased by twenty dollars for every dollar spent on public schools in a community. Investing in public school education has an evident positive influence on home values over time. High-quality schools can help ensure home values grow or remain stable in changing markets. A home located in a desirable school district can protect homeowners against market volatility. 

Understanding the relationship between property taxes and good school districts 

What’s the correlation between property taxes and school districts? In communities where school districts perform well and are highly desired, education-related ballot measures are often unanimously passed, resulting in higher property taxes for homeowners. The more tax revenue a school gets to pay for teachers, books, and infrastructure, the better the schools usually end up being. As a result, property values and rental prices increase. 

How to choose a real estate agent when you want to buy an investment property for the rental market.

How to Choose a Real Estate Agent When Buying an Investment Property

If you’ve decided to search and purchase a real estate investment property, one of your first steps will be to find the right real estate agent. Even if you have worked with an agent in the past, choosing a real estate professional for investment purposes requires additional preparation and careful consideration. 

Top three suggestions for choosing a real estate agent when you want to buy an investment property:

Know what qualities you are looking for in a real estate property and an estate agent. 

Interview at least three real estate agents who have experience helping investors find potential properties in your desired neighborhoods. 

Choose an investor-friendly agent who can help you find, evaluate, and purchase a profitable real estate investment.  

If you haven’t worked with a real estate agent in the past, you’ll want to identify several candidates to interview. With any luck, you’ll likely have several options to choose from. 

To find your ideal real estate agent, start with a few recommendations from close friends and family. These suggestions will likely come from people who have worked directly with a real estate agent. 

Professional networks are another excellent way to find a real estate agent for your investment property search. You might consider starting with your financial advisor, accountant, or lawyer. Their go-to real estate agents will likely share some or all of the qualities you appreciate in those professional relationships. 

If you have good relationships with other real estate investors, they’ll likely be willing to refer you to their real estate agent. Asking your fellow investors is an excellent way to connect with real estate agents who are likely to be a good fit. 

Prepare to interview potential real estate agents 

In choosing a real estate agent for your investment property search, it’s essential to speak with several potential agents. We recommend you make several determinations and prepare a few questions in advance. Some agents may also offer to see a few properties with you so you can get a sense of their approach. 

To find the ideal real estate agent, you’ll need to have a clear sense of what you are looking for in a real estate investment. To find the best fit, you’ll need to decide which neighborhoods and property types to target. Are you looking for a single-family home in the suburbs or a duplex in the city center? Finally, you’ll need to have a clear budget in mind. 

Revisit real estate investment fundamentals

Ideally, the real estate agent should be knowledgeable about real estate investing. If you’re not familiar with the best practices for investing in real estate, it may be challenging to identify the most knowledgeable agent. If this is the case, we recommend you research the basics of real estate investing.

Questions to ask potential real estate agents 

Once you’ve identified potential real estate agents, consider making a list of questions to ask. These questions will ensure that you have all the information you need to make a good decision. 

When did you become a real estate agent? Why? 

What did you do before you became a real estate agent? 

Are you a full or part-time real estate agent?

Are you an independent real estate agent, or do you have a brokerage?

Which communities or neighborhoods are you most familiar with? Do you have personal ties in specific communities that help you assist clients?   

Do you have a specific process you want to follow?

How much communication can I expect from you? How responsive are you to client calls and emails? 

How familiar are you with real estate investing?

Do you have any real estate investments? Where are they? 

Have you worked with other real estate investors?

What is your standard commission? Are you willing to negotiate your commission? 

Are there any additional costs or fees? 

How much do you enjoy spending time with this person? You’re likely to spend quite a bit of time with whatever real estate agent you choose, and your general inclination towards someone is a good indication of how you will work together. While this shouldn't be the only factor in your decision, it’s worth considering. 

Consider whether or not a particular real estate agent understands your vision and desires? If you don’t have a mutual understanding, it’s unlikely to be a productive relationship. What is your definition of success, and does this particular agent share that perspective? When you agree on the goal, you’re more likely to achieve it.  

Is the real estate agent familiar with the neighborhood or communities you want to target? If they are well-connected and knowledgeable about specific areas, agents can point you towards unique or off-market opportunities. 

Choosing a real estate agent when you want to buy an investment property requires careful judgment. Exceptional real estate agents share a few qualities that make them uniquely qualified to guide you through purchasing a real estate investment property. 

Tenacious: Are they willing to hunt down the right property for you? Will they write multiple offers to ensure you get the best deal?

Collaborative: Is it in their nature to be proactive and helpful? Will they treat your real estate investment search as a shared opportunity? Are they willing to lend their expertise to your search?

Honest: Ultimately, you’re choosing someone to represent your financial interests. You’ll need to ensure you select someone you can trust to act with integrity. 

A simple but comprehensive guide to how to choose a real estate agent when you want to buy an investment property for the rental market.

If you own an investment property on the rental market, you need to be aware of these 5 strategies to save on tax and defer capital gains.

Tax Strategies for Rental Investors: 5 Ways To Make A Home Less Taxing

Did you know that letting your family and friends stay in your rental property could change your tax deductions? Or that if you’ve lived in the home in the past five years, you may be exempt from capital gains tax? There are plenty of tax benefits when it comes to your rental property, but how you use and even change the home can influence what you can and can’t claim. This article will cover five tax strategies that all rental property investors should be aware of. 

This article helps to highlight five tax strategies that rental property investors should be aware of, but should not be considered financial advice. Please speak to an accountant or financial advisor to discuss your individual situation and eligibility.            

5 key tax strategies for rental property investors

Strategy #1: Keep accurate records of all expenses

Investment properties attract a range of tax deductions, but to make use of this strategy you will need to ensure that you keep accurate records of spending and that expenses are necessary to operate your property as a rental home. 

There is a difference between necessities and ‘nice to haves’, which are not claimable. For example, if you repaired a broken heater, this is a claimable tax deduction. If you decided to upgrade the property by installing a new HVAC system, that would be considered a ‘capital improvement’ to increase the value of the home and doesn’t qualify as essential repairs and maintenance. Capital improvements need to be claimed under depreciation, which we will cover next. 

It’s also important to note that deductions only apply to properties used as rental investments, not any personal use. That means if you use the property for family holidays or your Great-Uncle Donny moves in for a couple of months, you won’t be able to claim any expenses related to those periods. 

The simplest way to make use of the full tax deductions available is to find a long-term resident to rent your home.

Common tax deductions for rental properties include: 

Interest paid on a mortgage on a rental property

Professional fees for advice and assistance on your rental property, including accountants, property management fees, Belong fees, and legal advice

Any utilities you cover on behalf of rental residents, such as electricity, landscaping

Necessary repairs and regular maintenance

Strategy #2: Offset your income with the depreciation of your rental property

While there are plenty of necessary items you can claim on tax, you can’t deduct your mortgage or principal payments, or the cost of things like furniture, fixtures, or improvements as an expense. What you can do, however, is deduct the decline in value on the part of the property used for rental purposes. This can be used to offset your income and lower tax liability on capital gains from the investment. 

Known as depreciation, it’s one of the most appealing and impactful tax strategies for rental property owners. Depreciation allows you to deduct costs associated with buying and improving your rental property. Rather than happening in one big deduction, depreciation distributes the cost over the functional life of the property (calculated at 27.5 years). 

An accountant can help you work out the nitty-gritty details of what you can and can’t claim, but to summarize, there are a few important factors that the IRS considers with depreciation:

Most items that are 10-20 years old are worth less than when they are brand new, but for homes, they usually appreciate over time. This is due largely to the land value. For this reason, depreciation only applies to the usable home structure that is in service as a rental, so you will need to calculate the cost/value of the building excluding the land value. This value of the house, regardless of condition, is divided by 27.5 to calculate the annual depreciation of your real estate investment. 

A rental property can’t be depreciated if you stop using it as a rental in the same year. So if you sell it, the structure is destroyed/abandoned, or you take it out of service for personal use, you will not be eligible to claim depreciation in that year.

You can continue to claim a depreciation deduction for property that's temporarily not in use, for example during vacancies between residents or if you are making repairs/improvements to a property in preparation for the next resident. 

Capital improvements made to the house (e.g. a new deck, renovated kitchen, installing an HVAC system) need to be added to the value of the property and can also be depreciated as they make up the value of your home, rather than being a necessary expense. Add the amount an improvement costs you, including any amount borrowed, labor and material costs, as well as consulting expenses such as architect fees or surveying. 

Depreciation reduces your basis for figuring gain or loss on a later sale or exchange.

Strategy #3: Limit capital gains on the sale

If you have lived in your home before putting it on the rental market, you could be exempt from capital gains when it comes time to sell. Homeowners are exempt from up to $250k (if single) and $500k (if married) of capital gains on the sale of a primary residence. In order to qualify as a primary residence, you must have occupied the home for two of the last five years, though they need not be consecutive. Spouses filing jointly must both have occupied the property. This exemption is only allowable once every two years.

If you’ve never lived in the home or don’t qualify for the exemption, you can limit your tax liability by keeping good records of all improvements made to the home. As mentioned above, this is because they can be used under depreciation to reduce capital gain. 

Strategy #4: Defer capital gains by investing in a Qualified Opportunity Zone

You can defer capital gains if you reinvest in a rental property in communities that are in need of economic stimulation and job creation. This is because in 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Acts created a tax incentive to support investment in these communities. Investments include properties for lease, so long as the lease is at market rate and entered into after December 31, 2017. 

There are over 8,000 communities across all 50 states that are certified as Qualified Opportunity Zones, including ~800 in California). You can search for addresses on a map, here. 

There is additional paperwork required to elect to defer tax on eligible gains invested in Qualified Opportunity Zones, so make sure you speak to an accountant for assistance on how to complete these forms and get up to speed with a financial advisor before making any decisions on investing. The IRS also has an FAQ page on Opportunity Zones here. 

Strategy #5: Defer capital gains by replacing investment properties with another when selling

If you sell an investment property for more than its depreciated value, you may be required to “recapture” the depreciation. This means the amount of depreciation will be included in your taxable income from the sale of the property.

With a big jump in housing value over the past few years, if you sell a real estate investment now, it’s very likely you will pay capital gains tax. But if you buy another similar property to replace it, you could be eligible for a 1031 exchange or “like-kind” exchange. 

The advantage of a 1031 exchange is that it lets you defer capital gains tax, so you have more net cash to invest in a replacement property.

Homeowners use a 1031 exchange for a number of reasons, including:

Buying a property that promises to offer a better return;

You can find more information on 1031 exchanges in an article we wrote here, or speak to an accountant or financial advisor about your circumstances. 

Simplifying tax time for real estate investors 

Managing the paperwork and tracking expenses from a rental property gets complicated fast. Especially if you own more than one home or decide to manage the work yourself. By partnering with a modern company like Belong, everything gets easier. 

When tax time comes around, your income and expenses will be simple to calculate because you always know exactly where you stand. With guaranteed rent in place, you will know precisely what your rental income looks like (regardless of when residents pay). And you won’t find yourself getting tripped up by a string of unexpected expenses. Find out if your rental home qualifies at belonghome.com/homeowners. 

Find out why summer is the best time to get your rental property listed and how to attract the best possible tenants for your home on the rental market.

4 Reasons Summer is the Best Time to List Your Rental Property

As the school year concludes, high school and college graduates as well as families with children entering summer vacation are poised to move during their wide open summer months. 

With increased demand and a limited supply of housing, you’ve got the chance to make even more in rental income, even with the unprecedented rates we’ve seen in the past few years. 

Follow along for more details about why summer is prime time for you to get your rental property listed, and some details about attracting the best possible residents for your home! 

Why enter the rental home market in the summer?

If you’re thinking of listing a property on the rental market, don’t wait! Here are the reasons that summer is the best time to list your rental property:

1. Higher moving rates (and rental demand) than the rest of the year

As schools shut down for the summer season, moving rates skyrocket. Here are a few of the reasons that people move in droves in the summer months:

High school graduates: as high schoolers move on to adulthood, data suggests that many of them make the move to a new community in the summer months. In many instances, they’re finding a place to rent near their new college. In others, they’re seeking a job in a new place away from home.



College graduates: with their college years behind them, recent graduates are moving on to new opportunities for work. This age group is particularly open to rent with limited funds and a need for a place to live near their new job. 



Families with children: parents are hesitant to move to a new place while their children are finishing up school. Now that the school year is behind them, many families are making the switch before the new year rolls around. 



People are seeking adventure and to try new things: summer is the season notorious for traveling and getting new experiences under your belt. As a result, it makes for a prime season for those seeking a change in their lives to move somewhere new.

With many reasons for people to move during the summer, demand for rentals increases substantially nationwide. That makes it the best time to find tenants as you’ll likely have more applicants than any other time of the year!

2. Higher rent prices in the summer months

As the world of renting returns to seasonality after years of sky-high pricing, you can get a premium for your property by listing it in the summer months. As explained above, the increased demand makes the limited supply a harder challenge for renters to overcome in the summer months. Lower vacancy rates nationally in recent memory will make the rent prices even higher this summer.

3. Let passive income pay for your summer adventures

‘Rich Dad Poor Dad’ author Robert Kiyosaki summed it up best when he said, “You can only be financially free when your passive income exceeds your expenses.” Everyone likes to travel and have fun experiences in the summer months, but that doesn’t mean you should deplete your hard earned money. Rather than taking money out of your bank account, moving residents into your rental property will give you the passive income to pay for your summer fun. 

Explore the guide to Earning Passive Income on a Rental Property for more tips on how to make your rental property a truly passive investment.

4. Recent trends indicate that you should get your property rented sooner than later

As signals of an economic downturn continue, recent trends in costs of goods and in communications from the US Treasury and World Bank indicate that you should act soon and fill your home in the summer of 2022 because there are many signals that the United States (and the rest of the world) may be entering an economic decline by 2023. For rental property owners, this means two things:

You’ll want to get a year lease locked in before the economy declines so that you have guaranteed rental income locked in regardless of the status of the economy. For truly guaranteed rent, work with Belong, as we 100% guarantee that you receive your rent, whether the resident pays or not 



As economic hardship unfolds, it will become more difficult to sell a house but easier to rent it out. Even if real estate prices crash in the short term, holding for the long term has proven to be an effective method for seeing property rates rise. Hold on to your asset as long as possible by renting it out!

You might be wondering, How Will Rising Interest Rates Affect Landlords? Explore our guide to find out. 

How to find great residents for your rental property

By choosing to rent your property in the summer months, you should have a wide array of residents applying to rent out your home. Here’s some tips for choosing the right residents for your rental home:

1. Organize, declutter, and clean your property before hosting open houses

You want your rental property to look as nice as possible to entice renters to choose your property to be their new home. If your property is already fully furnished, make sure it’s as cleanly and organized as possible before showing it to potential residents. If it’s not furnished, consider staging it to give potential residents a clear picture of what your home will look like with furniture, home supplies, and artwork. 

Looking to stage your rental? Here’s some helpful guides for Staging a Rental Home to Make the Rooms Feel Huge and the Best Home Improvements for Increasing Your ROI. 

2. Advertise your rental listing accordingly 

To get your home rented quickly, you’ll need to use the right forms of advertising it to get the property in front of potential renters. Consider making postings to relevant online channels like Zillow, Craigslist, etc., or work with a realtor to track down and vet potential tenants. 

If you don’t have the time or expertise to advertise your rental property effectively, work with Belong. We’ve got years of experience finding residents for rental properties, with it taking an average of just 19 days to lock in someone that will love your home. 

3. Have maintenance partners lined up and on call

In order to have a positive relationship with new tenants, you’ll want to make sure you have your bases covered if an issue arises with your property. Be sure to find partners like handymen, electricians, etc. in the neighborhood to ensure any issues that arise can be addressed and fixed quickly. 

Belong has an extensive network of over 10,000 vetted professionals on call all day everyday, meaning you can work with our maintenance team to ensure that your home remains in perfect shape and your residents are happy as can be with the condition of their rental. A quick fix to any issue is just a quick call or text away. 

If you’re concerned about finding tenants that are high quality and getting your home rented quickly, choosing a partner like Belong is the smartest way to go! Belong has years of experience using data to choose the right residents for rental properties, making it easier to dictate which resident is the right choice for your home. 

Belong for homeowners also has full time maintenance partners, meaning that if an issue arises at any time, you and your tenants can get an issue fixed quickly 24/7, 365. 

The best time of year to list a rental property 

Clearly, higher demand paired with increased rent prices makes summertime the best time to rent out your house. Whether you’re renting to a high school or college grad, a family with children, or anyone seeking a place to live in the booming summer months, listing your rental property NOW is a sure way to get higher rent prices and to pay for your summer adventuring. 

Belong is simplifying the rental experience and helping more homeowners reach their financial goals through real estate. Visit our homeowner's page to find out more about how our services are helping people to ditch property management in Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Jacksonville, Miami and many more.

Know precisely what your rental income is (regardless of when tenants pay) and expenses are to simplify your tax deductions for property management fees.

How To Simplify Property Management Tax Deductions For Rental Homes

If you own a rental home in the US, this source of income is taxed like a business, with expenses related to managing the home considered tax deductible. Whether you DIY, hire a property manager, or work with Belong, fees such as tenant placement and maintenance will be deductible. Of course, tax matters are rarely black and white, so we dig a little further to clarify “are property management fees tax deductible?”

Are property management fees tax deductible? What about Belong’s fees?

In short, yes, property management fees for a rental property are tax-deductible. A property you don't use for yourself or family is seen as an investment or business, so the cost of managing the property is tax deductible.

This also means you can claim fees from Belong. Although Belong is not a property management company, Belong takes on all of the responsibility of looking after your home and residents, so you can include fees and maintenance from our professional tradespeople as a deduction in your tax return. 

The tax benefits of hiring Belong vs self-management

You may have heard that there are tax benefits to taking a DIY approach and managing a rental property yourself. This is true, if you are self-managing the home, you may qualify as having ‘materially participated’ as a real estate professional. This allows your rental property involvement to receive non-passive tax treatment. Non-passive income means you can use any losses to offset other types of income, and you won't be subject to the 3.8% tax that applies to net investment income.

But to benefit from this approach, you need to be meticulous about bookkeeping and accounting. You will need to keep an accurate record of every penny spent on supplies and contractors maximize deductions at tax time. 

You also need to keep records to show that you have spent 500 hours or more managing your property. This route isn’t for landlords looking for passive income opportunities. 

Don’t have a spare 500 hours or more a year? No surprises there! Outsourcing the day-to-day to a professional is without doubt the simpler option for managing a rental home. But if you take the self-management route and need someone to help with your property, be aware that you could accidentally become an employer. If you hire an individual to help you out, you will need to consider legal and tax implications such as payroll. 

By working with Belong, both your costs and deductions are straightforward. When tax time comes around, your income and expenses will be simple to calculate because you always know exactly where you stand. With guaranteed rent in place, you will know precisely what your rental income looks like (regardless of when tenants pay). And you won’t find yourself getting tripped up by a string of unexpected expenses. 

When it comes to maintenance and repairs, Belong sends out vetted partners from a trusted network of over 10,000 professionals. We'll connect you in an instant to someone who can take care of necessary work and you can manage it all (including the cost) right from the Belong app.

Of course, to find out what best suits your financial situation and real estate investment, you should discuss this with a qualified accountant (their fees, like Belong, will also be tax deductible!).

If your rental property is a sideline investment that you don’t want to lift a finger on, it’s considered a ‘passive activity’ by the IRS. In this case, you can still claim tax deductions but any losses will carry forward until you generate passive income or sell the investment.

There is a middle ground between passive income and becoming a real estate professional is known as “active participation”. The IRS takes into account major decisions about your investment, such as approving new residents and even the work that goes into appointing a property management company. If you actively participate in these decisions, you may be able to deduct some (up to $25,000) of your passive losses, without doing it all yourself. There are income thresholds and caps on deductions here so you will need to speak to an accountant to determine if you qualify for this. 

Income and expenses from a rental property can get complicated if you own more than one property, or decide to manage things yourself. By partnering with Belong, everything gets easier. 

Belong is simplifying the rental experience and helping more homeowners reach their financial goals through real estate. Visit our homeowner's page to find out more about how our services are helping people to ditch property management in Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Miami and many more.

Find out how the right property manager can work with your HOA, ensuring the Board will love having you as a landlord renting a home in the community.

How To Rent Your Home and Stay HOA-Board Approved

If you own a home with a HOA in place, you may face hurdles when looking to put the property on the rental market. Read on to find out how property managers can work with HOAs and why you need the right one in your corner to simplify the process of renting your home. 

Homeowners’ Associations don’t have a reputation for making life easier for landlords. HOAs are in charge of managing the community spaces they govern — keeping neighborhoods desirable and properties valuable. Some believe that this means keeping renters at a low ratio, or even out entirely. 

When HOAs restrict rentals it’s because they are under the impression that tenants are not as invested in a property as owners are and won’t care for them properly. It’s assumed there will not be as much effort or investment put into home maintenance and repairs. Some even believe renters make a community less livable, eroding the value of the neighborhood. 

This viewpoint ignores the fact that almost everyone will call a rental property ‘home’ at some point in their lives and some for longer than others. Renting in a community governed by a HOA is appealing to long-term renters because they can enjoy high quality amenities and community spaces to call home. 

Thankfully, there are ways to ensure your HOA will love having you as a rental property owner in the community. It starts by outsourcing the heavy lifting to the right property manager. 

How a property manager can work with your HOA

Most HOA boards are rental friendly, but have strict rules in place that govern how your property and tenants need to be managed. Bylaws may stipulate minimum lease periods, references, background checks, and even how many times owners can rent their property during a calendar year. This means if you get the rental process wrong at any point, you could face fines or an empty untenanted home. 

The best property managers know how to work with a Homeowners’ Association to make sure you not just follow the rules, but also get the most from your rental property, by ensuring:

The right price to keep your property value high

Regular maintenance and repairs to maintain curb appeal 

Ensure accurate rental pricing for HOA compliance

Property managers are responsible for an analysis of your home and local area to determine the best possible price for the rental market. Price the rent too high and you will struggle to get applications and lose visibility. Price it too low and you could bring down the value of neighboring homes and cause issues with your HOA. 

At Belong, we combine technology with a local human touch to identify the right price for your home. We collect absurdly rich data on your home and neighborhood, empowering our crack team of quants and proprietary algorithms to crunch the numbers. But unlike fully automated estimates, our local team refines this suggestion to ensure critical nuances are never missed. This informed approach ensures you’re not only getting the best possible price for your rental, it keeps the rent at the right price for your HOA-governed community. 

Homeowners are responsible for ensuring that any residents follow the rules and regulations of their HOA, known as Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions (CC&Rs). This doesn’t change if you don’t live there. If renters fail to follow the bylaws or CC&Rs, you as the homeowner will be held liable and could face fines.

The best way to ensure your residents are the kind of people that can play by the rules is to screen for high-quality, long-term renters who will love your home as much as you do. 

Belong ensures that all tenants are 100% vetted, focusing on long-term residents that are keen to feel at home and part of the local community. In fact, Belong is all about a sense of community. By ensuring that renters (or ‘residents’) are cared for just as well as our homeowners are, they remain well informed, have access to our 24/7 concierge support and are less likely to unwittingly break HOA bylaws. 

And in the unlikely event that the vetted resident isn’t complying with HOA terms or their rental agreement, Belong doesn’t charge eviction fees if they need to move out. 

Deliver HOA-approved property maintenance and fast repairs

There’s little a HOA board takes more seriously than curb appeal. If you’ve ever tried to paint your home the wrong color, you’ll know how quickly you can get slapped with a fine for breaching the rules around the appearance of your property from the outside. 

This is because a top priority for the HOA is to keep property values high — and aesthetics is a big part of that. Like resident behavior, the conditions and appearance of your home is ultimately the homeowners responsibility. 

While you expect a good resident won’t cause any damage, it’s also not up to them to manage repairs and maintenance. This is where Belong can make a world of difference. If something breaks, we fix it. We have an extensive vendor network of over 10,000 contractors across the country and can connect you to them in a flash with our 24/7 concierge support service. Your residents can even make maintenance requests through the app and get qualified help fast, without putting the work onto you. 

Not your garden-variety property management

When your property is taken care of to the highest standards, it’s easy for HOAs to love you as a landlord within the community. That’s why Belong goes out of its way to find residents that will love your home as much as you do — and treat it with respect and care. 

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