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What You Need to Know About Rental Income and Taxes | Property Management Companies in Charleston Sc

property management companies in charleston sc

Taxes are complicated for everyone, but investors with rental homes have a lot to account for that can make tax time confusing. Luckily, Property management companies in Charleston SC can help ease the burden on investors. While these companies cannot file your taxes for you, property managers provide a lot of administrative services to clients that will help your accountant get the best tax outcomes. 

What is Rental Income?

The IRS defines rental income as any payment received for the use or occupation of a property. These payments include:

  • Rent payments
  • Advance payments
  • Nonreturned security deposits
  • Cancellation fees charged to the renter
  • Lease violation fees charged to the renter
  • Services received in lieu of rent

The IRS treats rental income similarly to how they treat independent contractors, sole proprietors, and small business owners. You will pay taxes at the same rate as your income tax bracket; however, investors are able to claim many deductions to reduce the taxes they owe. 

Deductions Rental Property Owners Can Make on Taxes

Some of the deductions that rental property owners can make on their income taxes include:

  • Interest on the mortgage or loans
  • Property taxes
  • Updates, renovations, repairs
  • Utility expenses
  • Homeowners insurance
  • Advertising costs
  • Fees for property management
  • Maintenance fees
  • Cleaning fees
  • Vendor fees
  • HOA or condominium fees
  • Deductions for depreciation

One of the best things rental property companies in Charleston SC can do for their clients is provide monthly financial statements, year-end statements, and other information owners can use to make tax filing smooth and efficient.

When you use property management companies in Charleston SC your rental income is passive which means any loss relating to your rental investments can offset income you have from other sources. This could lower your tax bill. 

Investors need to report their rental income on a Form 1040 or 1040-SR and Schedule E, Supplemental Income and Loss. If you have questions about some of the boxes you will have to fill in on these forms your property manager can help you know where to look to find the answers!

If you are ready to explore a partnership with a top property management company, call Scott Properties of Charleston at 843-202-4274.

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Are Property Management Companies a Scam? | Property Management Companies in Charleston SC

Property Management Companies charleston sc

Property management companies in Charleston Sc have heard it plenty of times—property management companies are scam, aren’t they? Property owners are sometimes nervous about hiring someone else to manage their properties; after all, being a landlord is easy, right? 

Investors who are buying their first homes for rent and have never worked with property management companies in Charleston SC may not see the benefits that come with hiring a property manager; however, these companies are definitely not scams. While hiring property management may be another investment to make, the return will be worth every penny. 

What Do Property Management Companies in Charleston SC Do?

Landlords must wear lots of hats from maintenance to marketing, leasing, and even legal proceedings. One of the top things a property management company will do for you is take all the weight of these various jobs off your shoulders and hand them off to the experts in those areas. 

One of the top advantages of using property management companies in Charleston SC is being able to sit back, relax, and know professionals are keeping your home maintained at a top standard, rent is profitable, and the tenants living in your home are the most qualified.

Some of the most valuable tasks property management companies in Charleston SC handle for clients include:

  • Rent collection
  • Tenant account management 
  • Reporting of property financial, occupancy, leasing, and maintenance status
  • Marketing of the property 
  • Showing potential renters unoccupied properties
  • Leasing 
  • Inspecting properties
  • Handling tenant communications
  • Handling legal matters
  • Handling maintenance requests
  • Investigating complaints and leasing violations
  • Working with vendors
  • Conducting background and credit checks

These tasks take a lot of time to complete and managing properties is a full-time job. Investors typically already have a full-time job or are looking to enjoy retirement in peace. Property manager partnerships can make an investor’s life easier, your homes will build more equity, and residual income is certain. 

If you are ready to explore a partnership with a top property management company, call Scott Properties of Charleston at 843-202-4274.

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Charleston Property Management Companies | Best Place In South Carolina to Buy Rental Property

Charleston Property Management Companies

If you have checked out the real estate market in South Carolina, you will see that homes are not on the market for long before a family or young entrepreneur has made an offer and is asking for the keys to move in. Investors are clamoring to scoop up single-family homes since the population, especially in the coastal cities, has seen steady growth with no signs of slowing down. Charleston property management companies are fielding phone calls left and right asking questions about the schools, neighborhoods, and amenities ahead of new families moving into town. And while other cities may be experiencing something similar, Charleston has shown itself to be the best place in South Carolina to buy a rental property.

Why Charleston Reigns Supreme for the Rental Market

Charleston has some of the most diverse home options in the state with luxury coastal, beach-front homes, as well as downtown apartments, and single-family suburban homes. The average home value in Charleston is nearly $330,000 which means market rental rates will be high and could turn large profits for investors especially when combined with Charleston property management companies’ services. In fact, rental rates in Charleston have risen by three percent over the last year as incomes and the GDP in Charleston, South Carolina, have increased.

Charleston also has a steadily growing population with more people looking to get away from the big cities and settle down into relaxed, Southern suburban lifestyles. Charleston still embodies the antebellum South and is ranked the number one friendliest city in the United States. Charleston property management companies also get to boast about the premier school system, booming economy, and is home to The Citadel—one of the top military academies in the nation, and The College of Charleston which was voted Most Beautiful College Campus by a renowned travel magazine.

All these factors have led to a population boom as well as college graduates choosing to state and continue renting even after graduation. Many of these recent graduates will be looking to upgrade their lifestyles for more professional living arrangements which is why investors should be purchasing single-family homes to rent now before property prices increase even more.

If you are looking for professional property managers to help you make the most of your rental property investments, call Scott Properties at 843-790-4929.

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Property Management Company in Charleston | How to Make Sure Tenants Pay Rent on Time

Property Management Company in Charleston

Even the best property management company in Charleston can struggle to make sure tenants pay their rent on time each month. Getting rent payments on time is one of the most important tasks a property manager must perform for owners. When a property manager is consistently depositing rents late, the owner can have a large financial burden and the property manager may end up losing their job as a result.

There are a few ways that every property management company in Charleston can help to ensure rent is paid on time each month.

  1. Rent Is Clear- Your lease needs to clearly say the rental amount and when it is due, as well as any grace periods offered.
  2. Screen Tenants- Your tenants should have an income of three times the rent amount to be able to afford living there. When you are screening tenants request at least three back paystubs and make sure to verify by calling the employer. You should also consider the amount of time they have been employed by their current job.
  3. Online Rent Portal- When a property management company in Charleston can offer tenants online rent payments, they are more likely to be paid on time because of the ease and convenience. Online tenant portals can also be set up to deliver maintenance requests, communicate with the property manager, and receive notifications about events, neighborhood alerts and more.
  4. Reminders- When a tenant is a day late, make sure to send them a friendly reminder. If the office is going to be closed the day rent is due, or for a long holiday weekend, make sure a drop box is available for rent payments. Reminders can be sent via text, email, or through the online rent portal. However, a paper copy that is signed and dated by the property management company in Charleston also needs to be delivered.

If you are tired of dealing with late rent and tenants that do not pay consistently, call Scott Properties in Charleston and see how we can help manage your rental properties at 843-790-4929.