Categories   >   Affordable Housing Property Management Software
Last Reviewed: November 19th, 2024

Best Affordable Housing Property Management Software Of 2024

What is Affordable Housing Property Management Software?

Affordable Housing Property Management Software is a dedicated tool designed to streamline the unique challenges faced by managers in the low-income housing sector. This software addresses problems such as compliance with complex government regulations and efficient handling of applications and maintenance requests. It enhances overall management efficiency, significantly reducing manual tasks and errors. Key functionalities include applicant screening, rent collection, lease tracking, and reporting. Advanced features may incorporate automated compliance checks and integration with financial management systems. Primarily, property managers and real estate companies engaged in affordable housing will reap its benefits. However, a possible limitation could be its learning curve, especially for less tech-savvy users. To summarize, Affordable Housing Property Management Software offers significant value by creating a seamless, efficient management process, ensuring regulatory compliance, and enhancing tenant-landlord communication, making it a choice tool in the affordable housing industry.

What Are The Key Benefits of Affordable Housing Property Management Software?

  • Streamlines regulatory compliance
  • Automates tedious administrative tasks
  • Efficient applicant screening
  • Promotes efficient rent collection
  • Simplifies lease tracking
  • Facilitates maintenance management
  • Improves tenant communication
  • Easy and accurate reporting
  • Financial management integration
  • Helps avoid costly errors
Read more

Overall

Based on the latest available data collected by SelectHub for 188 solutions, we determined the following solutions are the best Affordable Housing Property Management Software overall:

AppFolio
AppFolio
Start Price
$1.49
Per Unit, Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Why We Picked AppFolio

AppFolio is an all-encompassing platform covering every aspect of property management. According to reviews, it’s an intuitive platform that localizes business processes and offers unique collaboration tools and a mobile app. Along with AI-embedded maintenance workflows, the universal search bar is one of its standout features.
However, reviews noted that it’s difficult to understand a variety of nuanced features without proper training. Also, due to no open API, businesses should be wary of their existing software stack requiring integration with the platform.
In conclusion, AppFolio is a robust management platform with various advanced features to support every kind of property. But the high cost, hit-or-miss support suite and scarce training resources can make it inconvenient for single landlords and managers with smaller portfolios.

Pros & Cons

  • Maintenance Management: 89% of users discussing this aspect said that they saved time with smart maintenance workflows.
  • Workflow Localization: According to 96% of users who reviewed this benefit, the software is feature-rich and localizes accounting, marketing and management workflows.
  • Ease of Use: It’s an intuitive platform that doesn’t require technical knowledge for beginners, as mentioned by 95% of users reviewing the user interface.
  • Collaboration: It provides an efficient centralized communication hub, according to 100% of reviews on native interactions.
  • Universal Search Bar: All the reviews on the search bar noted that it’s easy to locate documents and data throughout the organization.
  • Mobile App: Users can perform every major function remotely via the app, according to 88% of users reviewing the mobile app.
  • Integrations: It doesn’t support unique integrations with third-party software, according to 89% of reviews on backend connectivity.
  • Reporting: Reports generated through the platform lack customizations, as observed by 73% of reviews on the analytics module.
  • Accounting: Lack of automatic bank feeds and weekly recurring transactions and recording expenses without creating bills hinder smooth accounting, according to 57% of users reviewing the accounting module.
  • Customer Support: 67% of users mentioning customer support said that they were not satisfied with the support response time.

Key Features

  • Communication: Maintain a flat organization with clear communication between team members, managers, landlords and tenants. 
    • Individual Portals: Provide unique communication portals to associated parties based on their role. Tenants can pay rent, submit maintenance requests, interact with managers and view lease documents. Enables managers to communicate with multiple owners, issue work orders and send notifications and updates in bulk. Owners can track property-specific performance reports, assign tasks and transfer funds. 
    • Document Library: Maintain a centralized library of documents, leases and tenant information. Set role-based access permissions for each document. 
    • Board Member Management: Commercial property businesses can schedule board meetings, conduct polls on invoices and architectural requests, track votes and share documents and reports. 
    • Tenant Insurance: Tenants can submit proof of renter insurance or buy insurance provided by the vendor. Manage each policy and its maturity from the dashboard. 
    • Emails and Surveys: Email surveys, updates and notifications in bulk or send individually based on requirements. Offers unique surveys and text templates. 
    • Mobile App: Access the platform via any device and promote remote workflows. 
  • Accounting and Reporting: Gain visibility and make informed decisions faster. 
    •  Automate transaction recording and property-specific bookkeeping. 
    •  Offers CAM tracking and reconciling modules for commercial properties. 
    •  Use AI and machine learning to read PDF invoices from vendors, identify key information and automate accounts payable. 
    •  Leverage over 80 report templates and automate recurring report generation. Every template is customizable and updated frequently. 
    •  Customize the dashboard with real-time data visualizations and receive AI-driven performance insights. 
    •  Supports integration with personal banks and digital wallets to unify renting, accounting and reporting workflows. 
    •  Customize late fee processes. Set personalized rules in bulk or case-by-case waivers. 
    •  Manage multiple tenant accounts, track lease lifecycle and refund deposits directly from escrow. 
  • Marketing and Leasing: Generate leads, schedule showings, design leases and screen prospects from the dashboard. 
    • AI Leasing Assistant: Use an AI chatbot to automate property showing appointments, qualify leads according to set parameters, cross-sell units and answer FAQs. Respond to customer queries 24/7 through texts or emails. 
    • Omnichannel Marketing: Syndicate portfolio on multiple internet listing services (ILS) and manage every listing from the dashboard. Get real-time notifications upon each engagement and generate custom guest cards to track prospects. 
    • Personal Website: Design a personalized website with brand color and logo for portfolio marketing. Available at an extra cost. 
    • Rent Analysis: Retain a competitive edge by comparing rental prices of neighboring units to determine the best price for marketed properties. 
    • Virtual Showings: Accommodate prospects’ needs by scheduling and running live virtual tours of listed properties. Supports integrations with PropTech like smart locks and HVACs to facilitate self-guided property tours by prospects. 
    • Vacancy Management: Consolidate vacancy postings and tasks, view current status, and market units on multiple ILS from the unified dashboard. 
    • Tenant Screening: Screen every applicant’s credit score, eviction history, income verification and criminal record via TransUnion. Property managers can either pay for the reports or charge applicants. 
    • Leasing Hub: Design custom leases with personalized clauses and allow applicants to eSign them from anywhere. Track every lease lifecycle and set defaults for automatically updating lease dates, rent structures and statuses upon expiration. 
    • Student Housing: Supports lease and tenant management based on beds occupied. 
  • Maintenance: Streamline maintenance processes with AI and intelligent workflows. 
    • Smart Maintenance: Use the mobile app to receive maintenance requests, issue work orders and track progress. Set default rules to automatically dispatch pre-approved vendors. Accurately calculate the shared fee for common area maintenance and send invoices to renters. 
    • Vendor Onboarding: Vendors can access the platform, receive work orders, share status and send invoices. Automate bills payable and maintain records of work done for a clear audit trail. 
    • Utility Management: Track and charge each renter based on actual consumption and automate utility invoice processing. Use analytics to identify and fix leaks. 
    • Mobile Inspections: Perform mobile inspections, log issues and expedite turnovers. 
    • Auditing Center: View an itemized history of every activity and track changes made by team members and vendors. Use unique filters to identify and correct mistakes quickly. 
    • 24/7 Maintenance Contact Center: Deal with tenant calls, dispatch pre-approved vendors and input data directly to the user database. 
  • Team Management: Onboard unlimited team members, define role-based access levels and manage each person’s workflow. 
    • Training: Embed training manuals into the software to onboard new hires more easily. Centralize policies and procedures to ensure associates follow protocols while performing tasks. 
    • Task Management: Set tasks, assign staff and monitor progress with an interactive calendar. Team members can share tasks and customize workflows. 
    • Universal Search: Use the search bar to quickly navigate and find documents, records or data. 
  • Integrations: Supports integrations with personal marketing websites and third-party applications, including BlueMoon, CodeBox, Engrain, MatterPort and CIT. 
Avail
Avail
Start Price
$300
Per Unit, Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Why We Picked Avail

Avail helps property managers and landlords market, maintain and manage their properties. Reviews state it’s an all-in-one solution ideal for smaller portfolios. Users have identified the lease template library, omnichannel marketing suite and responsive customer support as the standout features.
However, users have noted that it lacks any accounting capabilities and requires third-party apps for these tasks. Plus, the user interface is challenging to understand for beginners. The free starter plan is a good way to get a feel for the platform before deciding whether to choose the paid version.

Pros & Cons

  • Lease Templates Library: It’s easy to generate custom leases using the state-specific lease templates, according to 84% of users talking about digital leases.
  • Customer Support: Over 92% of users who reviewed support said they were satisfied with the vendor’s response time and quality.
  • Deployment: About 78% of users mentioning onboarding and implementation said it’s easy to deploy and integrate the solution with current workflows.
  • Marketing: It helps manage listings on multiple channels from a single dashboard, according to 100% of reviews on the marketing suite.
  • Tenant Experience: It enhances overall tenant experience through customizable individual profiles, according to 88% of reviews mentioning this element.
  • Prospect Screening: Around 89% of users reviewing the screening process said they were satisfied with the in-depth capabilities offered.
  • Accounting: Lacks accounting features and integrations, according to 92% of users talking about this feature.
  • User Interface: The user interface isn’t intuitive and involves a steep learning curve, according to 75% of reviews mentioning the UI.

Key Features

  • Automatic Listing: Create customized listings and automatically post them on various property listing websites. Leverages partnerships with industry-leading property websites, including Trulia, Zillow, Doorsteps.com, HotPads and more. 
  • Rent Analysis: Determine optimum rent for specific properties via rental analysis through collaboration with RentRange. Compare rent and other data with competing listings relevant to user portfolios. 
  • Customizable Digital Lease: Draft property leases with specific clauses, rules and attachments using state-specific lease templates tailored to comply with various laws and regulations. Invite tenants to e-sign documents and communicate with them from the online portal. 
  • Marketing Website: Create a personalized marketing website through which prospective tenants can view rental properties and apply for listings. 
  • Online Rent Payments: Save time and hassle with its automatic online rent collection system that handles payments, rent reminders, receipts and reporting. Renters can pay rent online at their convenience from any device and via checking and savings accounts, credit cards and debit cards, as well as set up monthly recurring payments via Autopay. Direct deposits rent payments into landlords’ bank accounts in approximately two business days; cut payment processing time and receive next-day payments with FastPay, available for landlords on a premium plan. 
  • Rental Application: Choose information to receive on rental applications based on customizable templates. The standard application contains screening questions on smoking, bankruptcies, felonies, evictions and more. Custom questions are available through the Unlimited Plus Plan. Applications are free for both tenants and landlords. 
  • Tenant Screening: Screen tenants through a partnership with TransUnion. Choose which tests to require, with options including background checks, credit score checks and a National Eviction Records search. Applicants can pay for their background checks directly. Reports don’t hurt their credit scores and can be reused on unlimited applications within 90 days. 
  • Maintenance Tickets: Plan and schedule maintenance activities while maintaining an open line of communication between all parties. Keep track of expenses, materials used and work status. Tenants can submit and track requests online, with the ability to upload pictures and videos as necessary.  
  • Integrations: Integration with CreditBoost helps boost tenants’ credit scores through timely payments, while the Lemonade integration provides renter’s insurance quotes and options. 
TurboTenant
TurboTenant
Start Price
$8.25
Monthly, Freemium
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Why We Picked TurboTenant

Is TurboTenant the key to unlocking stress-free property management? User reviews from the past year paint a mixed picture, highlighting both its strengths and drawbacks. TurboTenant shines in its user-friendliness and comprehensive features, particularly for advertising and rent collection. Landlords praise its intuitive interface, making it a breeze to navigate even for those new to property management software. The platform's robust advertising features, including syndication across multiple platforms, are a major draw, with users reporting an average of 28 leads per listing. This directly addresses a key pain point for landlords - attracting potential tenants. However, TurboTenant's customer support emerges as a consistent sore spot. Users frequently cite difficulties in contacting support and slow response times, particularly on the free plan. While the free plan offers a generous suite of features, the limited support can be frustrating for landlords seeking assistance. This disparity in experience between the free and premium plans is a crucial factor for potential users to consider.

Despite these shortcomings, TurboTenant's affordability and ease of use make it a popular choice for landlords, especially those with smaller portfolios or new to the rental market. Its intuitive design and comprehensive features streamline many aspects of property management, making it a valuable tool for both novice and experienced landlords seeking an efficient and budget-friendly solution. However, those who prioritize responsive customer support or require more advanced features might find other platforms more suitable.

Pros & Cons

  • Easy to Use: TurboTenant is praised for its user-friendly interface, which makes managing rentals simple, even for those new to property management software.
  • Full Suite of Features: TurboTenant offers a comprehensive set of tools, including rent payments, tenant screening, property marketing, and maintenance request management, streamlining many aspects of being a landlord.
  • Cost-Effective Solution: TurboTenant is often lauded for its affordability, especially for landlords with multiple properties, as it provides significant value at a competitive price point.
  • Excellent Communication Tools: TurboTenant facilitates communication between landlords and tenants through a dedicated messaging system, allowing for seamless exchange of information, maintenance requests, and important documents.
  • Limited Customization: Lease agreements and other documents may appear atypical and offer few customization choices.
  • Security Concerns: There are reported cases of accounts being locked without clear explanations, leading to user frustration.
  • Customer Service Issues: Some users have reported challenges with customer service, particularly concerning account verification and support responsiveness.

Key Features

  • Online Rental Applications: Streamline the tenant application process with customizable online forms that can be filled out and submitted electronically.
  • Tenant Screening: Conduct comprehensive background checks, including credit reports, criminal history, and eviction records, to ensure you select reliable tenants.
  • Rent Payments: Facilitate secure online rent payments, allowing tenants to pay via ACH or credit card, and automate rent collection to reduce late payments.
  • Marketing Tools: Create and syndicate professional property listings across multiple platforms such as Zillow, Realtor.com, and Facebook Marketplace to reach a wider audience.
  • Lease Agreements: Generate state-specific lease agreements that comply with local laws and regulations, and allow for electronic signatures to expedite the leasing process.
  • Maintenance Requests: Enable tenants to submit maintenance requests online, and track the status of each request to ensure timely resolution.
  • Tenant Communication: Use built-in messaging tools to communicate with tenants directly through the platform, keeping all correspondence organized and easily accessible.
  • Expense Tracking: Monitor and categorize property-related expenses to simplify financial management and prepare for tax season.
  • Document Storage: Securely store important documents such as lease agreements, inspection reports, and receipts in a centralized digital repository.
  • Tenant Portal: Provide tenants with a dedicated portal where they can view their lease details, make payments, and submit maintenance requests.
  • Customizable Templates: Utilize a variety of templates for notices, lease agreements, and other documents to save time and ensure consistency.
  • Reporting and Analytics: Access detailed reports on rental income, expenses, and tenant performance to make informed decisions about your property management strategy.
  • Mobile Accessibility: Manage your properties on-the-go with a mobile-friendly interface that allows you to access key features from any device.
Buildium
Buildium
Start Price
$55
Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Why We Picked Buildium

Buildium helps property owners and managers digitize and streamline every property management workflow. Users prefer the solution because of its end-to-end property management features, ease of use and responsive support suite. Reviewers also mention that residents are fond of the platform’s mobility and prefer paying rent and issuing maintenance requests digitally.
However, reviews note that the platform is mainly built for residential properties and lacks nuanced features like complicated lease structures, automatic utility tracking, in-depth CC&R and violation tracking for commercial, student and community properties. Users also have to manually match transactions to bank entries and can’t issue work orders automatically. Considering everything, buildium can get confusing for larger portfolios but is perfect for single landlords and managers to organize and monitor operations from a unified dashboard.

Pros & Cons

  • End-to-End Software: Buildium is a comprehensive solution that can handle marketing, leasing, maintenance and management workflows of a property management business, according to 88% of users reviewing its features
  • Accounting: It offers robust and intuitive accounting features, according to 90% of reviews on this aspect.
  • Resident Experience: All the users who mentioned this element said that the software enhances overall tenant experience via individual communication portals, digital work orders and electronic rent payment.
  • Intuitive Interface: It has a simple and easy-to-use user interface, according to 80% of reviews on this aspect.
  • Customer Support: According to 90% of users who reviewed support services, the vendor offers responsive and agile customer support.
  • Commercial Property Management: The software lacks nuanced features for commercial property management, according to 100% reviews on this aspect.
  • Leasing: Insufficient in-depth leasing customizations are an issue, according to 85% of users who reviewed this element.
  • Automation: Accounting and maintenance management, according to 100% of reviews on this element.

Key Features

  • Accounting: Track and share owner, vendor and residential accounts and maintain accurate books. 
    • Property Accounting: Record transactions, convert work orders into bills and pay in bulk, automate bank reconciliations, identify discrepancies, and share customized reports. 
    • Company Financials: Capture financial overviews by tracking property-specific transactions alongside miscellaneous income and expenses. 
    • Online Payments: Accept rent, set up recurring transactions, pay bills and automate bookkeeping. Residents can add bank accounts or credit cards through individual portals. 
    • Retail Cash Payments: Leverage partnership with PayNearMe to allow residents to pay rent, dues and other fees in cash at multiple convenience stores like 7-Eleven, Casey’s General Store and more. Automatically update payments on respective ledgers and deposit them into bank accounts within a week. 
    • 1099 eFiling: E-file 1099-MISCs and 1099-NECs forms, mail paper copies to owners and vendors, and automate tax calculation based on year-round incomes. 
  • Business Operations: Streamline communication with owners, vendors and residents from a centralized platform. 
    • Resident Center: Residents can pay rent, set up recurring payments, submit maintenance requests coupled with photos and access important documents via mobile-responsive portals. Offers an announcement board to highlight updates, notifications and alerts from managers. 
    • Owner Portal: Owners can access property-specific financial documents and reports. Managers can control access levels for each owner portal. 
    • Document Storage: Securely store property-related documents, including leases, addendums, expense reports, vendor invoices and more and share with a few clicks. Offers unlimited storage space. 
    • Maintenance Tracking: Track maintenance requests, create work orders, assign preferred vendors and automate recurring maintenance activities. 
    • Property Inspection: Perform inspections on the go using an app powered by Happy Inspector. Choose from several templates to customize reports. Make a to-do list, take notes, and capture pictures and videos. 
    • Renters Insurance: Provide tenants with a fully integrated renter’s insurance solution powered by MSI. Document enrollment information and manage each policy till maturity from the dashboard. 
    • Analytics: Monitor real-time data visualizations, customize reports, compare data with localized industry benchmarks and share analysis with clients and board members. 
  • Marketing and Leasing: Increase digital visibility of the entire portfolio, shortlist suitable prospects and design custom leases. 
    • Rental Listings: Create and syndicate custom property listings on multiple channels, including Apartment List, HotPads, Lovely, MyNewPlace, Trulia, Zillow and Yahoo. 
    • Professional Website: Own and design a personalized property website for prospects to apply for listings. Upload important documents like residents rulebook, floor plans and model leases to create a secure self-service hub for prospects, tenants and owners. 
    • Rental Applications: Choose the best applicants based on personalized parameters through a customizable online rental application form that integrates with the website. Accept any related application fees online. 
    • Showings Coordinator: Leverage the module powered by TenantTurner to automate tour schedules according to set rules. Communicate with prospects via email, texts and SMS. 
    • Tenant Screening: Set custom credit score requirements, run background checks and receive credit score information from TransUnion. 
    • Leasing: Design custom lease templates and autofill data to expedite the process. Prospective tenants can digitally sign documents from remote locations. 
  • Homeowner Association Management: Log, track and report property violations remotely. Automate penalties and consequent bookkeeping. Offers a unified inbox for communication among board members, homeowners and vendors. 
Zillow Rental Manager
Zillow Rental Manager
Start Price
$0
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Key Features

  • Accounting
  • ACH Payment Processing
  • Alerts/Notifications
  • API
  • Background Screening
  • Channel Management
  • Communication Management
  • Credit Check
  • Customizable Reports
  • Customizable Templates
  • Data Import/Export
  • Document Management
  • Electronic Payments
  • Financial Reporting
  • For Property Managers
  • Lease Tracking
  • Maintenance Scheduling
  • Online Payments
  • Real Time Notifications
  • Real Time Reporting
  • Reporting & Statistics
  • Tax Management
  • Template Management
  • Tenant Portal
  • Tenant Tracking
  • Third Party Integrations
  • Transaction Monitoring
  • Vacancy Management
  • Web-based Deployment
  • Website Management
myCiti
myCiti
Start Price
$15
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Key Features

  • Accounting
  • Accounting Integration
  • Activity Dashboard
  • Activity Tracking
  • Alerts/Notifications
  • Billing & Invoicing
  • Brand Management
  • Calendar Management
  • Cash Flow Analysis
  • Client Portal
  • Commercial Property Management
  • Communication Management
  • Contact Database
  • Contact Management
  • Contract/License Management
  • Credit Check
  • CRM
  • Customer Database
  • Customizable Reports
  • Customizable Templates
  • Data Import/Export
  • Data Visualization
  • Deal Management
  • Document Management
  • Document Storage
  • Electronic Payments
  • Email Alerts
  • Expense Tracking
  • Financial Analysis
  • Financial Management
  • For Investors & Traders
  • For Property Managers
  • Inspection Management
  • Insurance Management
  • Invoice Management
  • Late Fee Calculation
  • Lead Management
  • Lease Management
  • Maintenance Management
  • Maintenance Scheduling
  • Owner Portal
  • Payment Processing
  • Portfolio Management
  • Project Management
  • Property Database
  • Real Time Data
  • Real Time Notifications
  • Recurring/Subscription Billing
  • Reminders
  • Rent Tracking
  • Reporting & Statistics
  • Residential Properties
  • Self Service Portal
  • Strategic Planning
  • Summary Reports
  • Task Management
  • Tax Management
  • Tenant Portal
  • Tenant Tracking
  • Third Party Integrations
  • User Management
  • Vacancy Management
  • Vendor Management
  • Website Management
  • Work Order Management
Tellus
Tellus
Start Price
$0
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Key Features

  • Accounting
  • Credit Check
  • Document Management
  • Financial Reporting
  • Lease Tracking
  • Maintenance Management
  • Online Payments
  • Tax Management
  • Tenant Portal
  • Tenant Tracking
  • Transaction Monitoring
  • Vacancy Management
  • Website Management
Propertyware
Propertyware
Start Price
$1
Per Unit, Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked Propertyware

Propertyware is a robust platform that helps managers and landlords streamline marketing, maintenance, management and accounting workflows. Reviews identify a responsive customer support team, flexible interface and comprehensive reporting suite as the main reasons for the platform’s popularity.
However, due to the variety of features offered and inadequate training material available, implementing and understanding the software can be time-consuming. Given that, we advise small and medium businesses to tailor the software according to their needs and remove any extra features to avoid complexity.

Pros & Cons

  • Complete Package: Propertyware is an all-in-one solution that can handle every aspect of property management, according to 83% of reviews mentioning this element.
  • Customer Support: According to 100% of users who reviewed the support suite, the support team is helpful and responsive.
  • Customizable: It’s a flexible platform that can fit the needs of every type and scale of property management businesses, according to 72% of reviews on customization.
  • Reporting: It’s easy to design unique reports with business-specific metrics, according to 83% of reviews on data visualization.
  • Complexity: The platform has a steep learning curve due to the variety of features offered, according to 74% of reviews on ease of usage.
  • Training Resource: Propertyware lacks adequate training material for beginners, according to 81% of users reviewing this aspect.

Key Features

  • Marketing and Leasing: Integrated marketing and leasing modules ensure smooth data flow throughout the cycle, eliminating manual data entry and reducing lost leads. 
    • Branded Website: Design mobile-optimized websites with business color and logo for showcasing units. Provides a library of customizable templates. 
    • Listing Widget: Create brand-consistent property listings, offer search and filter features to customers based on leasing terms, and provide portals for applications. The widget functions on native websites, and there’s a code for usage on external listing channels. 
    • Lead Tracking: Track each prospect from lead generation to lease signing. Offers guest card information, CRM, customizable reports and dashboards, and more. 
    • Application Portal: Applicants can provide address validation and add co-applicants, guarantors and others to ensure data accuracy. Offers unique views, reports and dashboards to get real-time data into each applicant’s journey. Applicants can add themselves to waitlists and save and continue later with an application. 
    • AI-Powered Tenant Screening: Screen prospective tenants using an AI-based algorithm. Check tenants’ rent payment history, criminal background, credit score, monthly income-to-rent ratio and other factors to determine their ability and willingness to pay rent. 
    • Leasing Hub: Create templates for commonly used documents like work orders, leases, invoice approvals and more. Applicants can remotely eSign documents. Store unlimited files and use the search bar to find required ones quickly. 
  • Online Payment: Collect rent online through electronic bank transfers and credit and debit cards. Tenants can pay via cash at convenience stores like Walmart or create cash payment vouchers on mobile devices. 
  • Role-Based Portals: Owners and residents can use mobile-optimized portals to access property-related documents, pay and receive rent and other fees, issue maintenance requests with multimedia proof, and communicate with managers. 
  • Chat: Send DMs, group messages and emojis. Maintain a record of every interaction with tenants and owners for compliance. 
  • Maintenance Management: Get updates on every maintenance activity, log issues and perform inspections from the platform. 
    • Work Orders: Standardize recurring maintenance tasks and pricing. Call center specialists can dispatch pre-approved vendors to quickly resolve issues. Store work orders, track progress, work with multiple vendors and automate accounts payable. 
    • Mobile Inspections: Camera mode aids property inspections, additionally, customize reports, compare past inspections and share evaluations with owners and tenants. 
    • AssetProtect Program: Property owners and managers can choose insurance plans to protect rental assets, drive ancillary revenue and maximize insurance compliance. 
    • Utility Management: Avoid late fees on utility bills with a seamless billing and collection process powered by SimpleBills. Simplify utility management to improve net operating income, reduce costs and turnaround time, and ensure quick move-ins. Available for single-family properties only. 
    • Vendor Credentialing: Reduce compliance risks by choosing from over 135,000 pre-verified vendors. Obtain critical information from multiple sources to ensure a complete audit trail. 
  • Accounting: Leverage QuickBooks integration to save time and reduce hassle. Record company financials, maintain general ledgers, manage and track bills, collect markup for bills, and track discrepancies using automatic bank reconciliation services. 
  • Multi-Location Management: Manage properties from different locations, create standardization across every unit and consolidate reporting to measure performance and other key metrics from a single dashboard. 
ActiveBuilding
ActiveBuilding
Start Price
$0
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Key Features

  • Client Portal
  • Contact Database
  • Electronic Payments
  • Lease Tracking
  • Maintenance Management
  • Online Payments
  • Self Service Portal
  • Tenant Portal
  • Tenant Tracking
  • Third Party Integrations
  • Transaction History
  • Transaction Monitoring
Rentler
Rentler
Start Price
$19.50
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Key Features

  • Accounting
  • Activity Dashboard
  • Alerts/Notifications
  • API
  • Asset Lifecycle Management
  • Asset Tracking
  • Auto / Boat Rental
  • Availability Indicator
  • Availability Management
  • Backorder Management
  • Barcode / Ticket Scanning
  • Barcode Recognition
  • Barcoding/RFID
  • Billing & Invoicing
  • Booking Management
  • Bulk Ordering
  • Calendar Management
  • Cataloging/Categorization
  • Channel Management
  • Communication Management
  • Contact Database
  • Contract/License Management
  • Credit Card Processing
  • Credit Check
  • CRM
  • Customer Database
  • Customer History
  • Customer Management
  • Customizable Branding
  • Data Import/Export
  • Data Security
  • Discount Management
  • Document Storage
  • Electronic Payments
  • Email Marketing
  • Equipment Maintenance
  • Equipment Rental
  • Equipment Tracking
  • For B2B
  • For Small Businesses
  • Forecasting
  • Inspection Management
  • Inventory Control
  • Inventory Management
  • Inventory Optimization
  • Inventory Tracking
  • Item Management
  • Kitting
  • Late Fee Calculation
  • Lease Tracking
  • Maintenance Management
  • Maintenance Scheduling
  • Manufacturing Inventory Management
  • Medical Equipment Rental
  • Mobile Access
  • Mobile Commerce
  • Multi-Channel Management
  • Multi-Channel Marketing
  • Multi-Currency
  • Multi-Location
  • Multi-Store
  • Online Booking
  • Online Payments
  • Order Entry
  • Order Fulfillment
  • Order Management
  • Order Processing
  • Order Tracking
  • Payment Options
  • Payment Processing
  • Product Catalog
  • Product Configurator
  • Product Data Management
  • Product Identification
  • Promotions Management
  • Purchase Order Management
  • Quotes/Estimates
  • Rate Management
  • Real Time Data
  • Real-time Updates
  • Recurring Orders
  • Recurring Rentals
  • Reorder Management
  • Reordering
  • Reporting & Statistics
  • Reporting/Analytics
  • Reservations Management
  • Retail Inventory Management
  • Returns Management
  • Reviews Management
  • Sales Orders
  • Sales Reports
  • Sales Trend Analysis
  • Scheduling
  • Search/Filter
  • SEO Management
  • Shipping Management
  • Shopping Cart
  • Short / Long Term Rental
  • Special Order Management
  • Stock Management
  • Supplier Management
  • Tax Management
  • Template Management
  • Templates
  • Tenant Portal
  • Tenant Tracking
  • Third Party Integrations
  • Transaction History
  • Utilization Reporting
  • Vacancy Management
  • Warehouse Management
  • Website Management
  • Website Management, eCommerce Management

COMPARE THE BEST Affordable Housing Property Management Software

Select up to 2 Products from the list below to compare

 
Product
Score
i
SelectHub’s Analyst Rating is based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Affordable Housing Property Management Software, user reviews, and our own crowd-sourced data from our free software selection platform. Scores are periodically updated via ongoing selection projects and user activity within our platform.
Start Price
Free Trial
Company Size
Deployment
Platform
Logo
AppFolio
$1.49
Per Unit, Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
AppFolio
Avail
$300
Per Unit, Monthly
No
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Avail
TurboTenant
$8.25
Monthly, Freemium
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
TurboTenant
Buildium
$55
Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Buildium
Zillow Rental Manager
$0
No
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Zillow Rental Manager
myCiti
$15
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
myCiti
Tellus
$0
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Tellus
Propertyware
$1
Per Unit, Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Propertyware
ActiveBuilding
$0
No
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
ActiveBuilding
Rentler
$19.50
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Rentler

All Affordable Housing Property Management Software (188 found)

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AppFolio

by AppFolio, Inc.
AppFolio
AppFolio is a comprehensive software solution designed to streamline property management tasks. It caters primarily to property managers and real estate professionals, offering a suite of tools that facilitate the management of residential and commercial properties. One of the key benefits of AppFolio is its ability to enhance operational efficiency through features such as online rent payments, maintenance request tracking, and automated property listing. Users appreciate its user-friendly interface and the way it simplifies daily management tasks, making it a popular choice among property management professionals. When compared to similar products, AppFolio stands out for its robust functionality and scalability, making it suitable for managing portfolios of various sizes. Pricing for AppFolio typically involves a monthly subscription fee, which may vary based on the number of units managed, emphasizing its flexibility and adaptability to different business needs.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 or less
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

Avail

by Rentalutions
Avail
Designed for landlords and tenants, Avail is an administration tool to manage online payments, create digital leases and track maintenance requests. Landlords can advertise vacant properties, find tenants, view and scan documents such as applications, criminal and eviction reports, and analyze and calculate property rent. Tenants can view renter profiles, make payments and report rent with CreditBoost. Landlords can use both free and paid versions.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$100 - $500
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

TurboTenant

by Turbo Tenant
TurboTenant
TurboTenant is a comprehensive software solution designed to streamline property management tasks for landlords and property managers. It is particularly well-suited for small to mid-sized property owners and managers in the real estate industry who seek an efficient way to handle tenant applications, lease agreements, rent payments, and maintenance requests. The platform offers unique benefits such as a user-friendly interface, automated rent collection, and tenant screening services, which help save time and reduce administrative burdens. Popular features include online rental applications, tenant background checks, and marketing tools that allow users to list properties on multiple rental websites simultaneously. TurboTenant also provides a centralized dashboard for tracking property performance and tenant interactions, enhancing overall management efficiency. Compared to similar products, users often highlight TurboTenant's ease of use and affordability as standout qualities. Pricing details can vary based on the number of units managed and specific features required. For precise pricing information tailored to individual needs, it is recommended to contact SelectHub for a detailed quote.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 or less
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

Buildium

by Buildium
Buildium
Buildium is a cloud-based software that helps approve lease applications, manage payments, update financial records, create bulk emails and announcements and resolve maintenance issues on the go. Users can manage portfolios that include community associations, student housing, affordable housing and residential properties.It offers accounting, vendor management, maintenance management, analytics and insights, leasing, community association management and more. The vendor also provides a dedicated onboarding team, 24x7 customer support and a 14-day free trial.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

Zillow Rental Manager

by Zillow
Zillow Rental Manager
Zillow Rental Manager is a high-profile software application that ranks 5 among all Property Management Software according to our research analysts and 60 crowd-sourced reviews from 2 sources. Starting from $0, Zillow Rental Manager is priced free of charge to start and is most advisable for business of all sizes. Zillow Rental Manager can be deployed online. Similar alternatives to Zillow Rental Manager include Visulate, RISSOFT and TrueRent.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$10 or less
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

myCiti

by myCiti
myCiti
MyCiti is a leading software system that ranks 6 among all Property Management Software according to our research analysts. Starting from $15, myCiti is priced lower than average, offers a free trial on occasion and is most advisable for any company. MyCiti can be deployed in the cloud and on-premise and is accessible from a few platforms including Windows and Linux devices. Similar alternatives to myCiti include LandlordTracks, Happy Tenant and PropertyZar.
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

Tellus

by Tellus
Tellus
Tellus is a high-profile platform that ranks 7 among all Property Management Software according to our research analysts and 72 crowd-sourced reviews from 2 sources. Starting from $0, Tellus is priced at no cost when starting, has offered a free trial in the past and is most advisable for large companies. Tellus can be deployed in the cloud. Similar alternatives to Tellus include Visulate, PropWorx and Pilera Software.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$10 or less
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

Propertyware

by RealPage, Inc.
Propertyware
Powered by RealPage, Propertyware is a cloud-based tool that helps reduce inspection time, customize reporting, manage online payments, and create and dispatch work orders. Users can create websites, screen tenants, handle portals, track accounts and manage contact centers. It provides a tenant liability insurance program called AssetProtect, along with multi-location management, open APIs and vendor credentialing.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: good
Cost Breakdown
$10 or less
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

ActiveBuilding

by Buildium
ActiveBuilding
ActiveBuilding is a reputable solution that ranks 9 among all Property Management Software according to our research analysts. Starting from $0, ActiveBuilding is priced at no cost when starting and is most applicable for any sized business. ActiveBuilding can be deployed in the cloud. Similar alternatives to ActiveBuilding include Visulate, RISSOFT and TrueRent.
Cost Breakdown
$10 or less
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

Rentler

by Rentler
Rentler
Rentler is a leading software system that ranks 10 among all Property Management Software according to our research analysts. Starting from $19.50, Rentler is priced fairly, commonly offers a free trial and is most applicable for large companies. Similar alternatives to Rentler include Cradle, Landlord Studio and ProForm.
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

RealPage

by RealPage, Inc.
RealPage
RealPage is a comprehensive software solution designed to streamline property management tasks. It caters primarily to property managers and real estate professionals, offering a suite of tools that facilitate the management of residential and commercial properties. One of the key benefits of RealPage is its ability to enhance operational efficiency through automation of routine tasks, such as rent collection, maintenance requests, and tenant screening. Its popular features include accounting and financial reporting, lease management, and utility billing, which collectively contribute to its reputation as a robust property management platform. When compared to similar products, users often highlight RealPage's user-friendly interface and the depth of its features as significant advantages. However, pricing considerations, which can vary based on the number of units managed and the specific services required, are an important factor for potential users to consider. Payment for RealPage services typically follows a subscription model, with fees charged on a monthly basis.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$10 or less
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

ProForm

by SoftPro
ProForm
ProForm is a premier software system that ranks 12 among all Property Management Software according to our research analysts. Starting from $2000, ProForm is priced fairly, offers a free trial on occasion and is most fitting for companies large and small. Similar alternatives to ProForm include Cradle, TRS Property Management and RefineRE.
Cost Breakdown
$1,000 or more
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

Tenant Cloud

by TenantCloud
Tenant Cloud
TenantCloud is a cloud-based software that allows landlords to receive rent online, screen and create applications, and manage maintenance requests. It offers tenant management, accounting, a free listing website, automatic invoicing and property analysis reports. It has free, standard and advanced packages. Payment tracking, rental agreements signature, cloud storage, and communication with tenants, owners and professionals are some of its notable attributes.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

RentRedi

by RentRedi
RentRedi
RentRedi is a prominent software application that ranks 14 among all Property Management Software according to our research analysts and 27 crowd-sourced reviews from 1 source. Starting from $19.95, RentRedi is priced more competitively and is most advisable for any business. RentRedi can be deployed online and is accessible from a handful of platforms including Windows devices. Similar alternatives to RentRedi include LandlordTracks, Happy Tenant and PropertyZar.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

Rentec Direct

by Rentec Direct
Rentec Direct
Designed for landlords and property managers, Rentec Direct is a web-based software for property marketing, maintenance and accounting. It helps create customized websites, manage online payments, publish vacancies online and store or share lease agreements, photos and more.It offers nuanced features for property accounting like trust accounting and 1099-MISC eFiling. The vendor provides a two-week free trial and customizes packages based on the number of units to be managed.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

BuildingLink

by BuildingLink
BuildingLink
BuildingLink is a comprehensive software solution designed to streamline property management tasks, making it particularly well-suited for residential buildings, condominiums, and large apartment complexes. It offers a robust platform for managing maintenance requests, package deliveries, resident communications, and amenity reservations. The software enhances operational efficiency by providing real-time updates and detailed reporting features, which are invaluable for property managers aiming to maintain high service standards. One of the standout benefits of BuildingLink is its user-friendly interface, which simplifies complex tasks and improves overall workflow. Popular features include a mobile app for on-the-go management, a resident portal for seamless communication, and integration capabilities with various third-party systems. Users often praise its reliability and the significant time savings it offers. Pricing for BuildingLink typically depends on the number of units managed, with costs generally structured on a per-unit basis and billed annually. This flexible pricing model makes it accessible for properties of varying sizes. Compared to similar products, BuildingLink is often highlighted for its intuitive design and comprehensive feature set, making it a preferred choice for many property management professionals.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: fair
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

Rent Manager

by London Computer Systems
Rent Manager
Rent Manager is a web-based platform for landlords and property managers to handle marketing, leasing, maintenance, accounting and reporting tasks. It helps collect rent, communicate with tenants and staff, manage workflows, create maintenance checklists, assign tasks, track inventory, and integrate work orders with bills. Its Make Ready board helps record service tasks, standardize inspection processes and monitor utility consumption history. Tenants get online portals to submit applications, manage leases, pay rent and request maintenance. It offers a rmAppSuite Pro mobile app for iOS and Android. It also provides open API access and built-in integrations with AmRent, AvidXchange, Safeguard, Zego, Opinion and more. Pros Cloud-based, accessible Strong accounting tools Tenant screening options Marketing advertising Maintenance request tools Cons Learning curve
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 or less
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

Brokermint

by Brokermint
Brokermint
Brokermint is a real estate back office management software that automates and optimizes processes replacing paper-based workflows. It comes with transaction management that simplifies delegating tasks, requesting documents, keeping track of work and ensuring agents meet deadlines. Users can automatically calculate commission splits and create statements and reports with automated tracking and management. The team management tool auto-calculates commission. It seamlessly integrates and synchronizes data across multiple platforms.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

Property Meld

by Property Meld
Property Meld
Property Meld is a sophisticated software solution designed to streamline property management tasks, particularly focusing on maintenance coordination. It is most suited for property managers, landlords, and real estate professionals who oversee multiple rental units. The software excels in automating maintenance requests, scheduling, and communication between tenants, property managers, and maintenance personnel, thereby enhancing operational efficiency. One of the standout benefits of Property Meld is its ability to reduce response times and improve tenant satisfaction through real-time updates and seamless communication. Popular features include automated scheduling, a centralized communication hub, and detailed reporting capabilities. These features collectively contribute to a more organized and responsive property management process. Compared to similar products, users often highlight Property Meld's intuitive interface and robust functionality. While specific pricing details are not readily available, it typically operates on a per-unit pricing model with payment frequencies that can vary. For precise pricing tailored to individual needs, it is recommended to contact SelectHub for a detailed quote.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$100 - $500
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

Stessa

by Stessa
Stessa
Stessa is a premier software tool that ranks 20 among all Property Management Software according to our research analysts and 72 crowd-sourced reviews from 1 source. Starting from $0, Stessa is priced initially at no cost, commonly offers a free trial and is most advisable for businesses on the small or medium side. Stessa can be deployed online. Similar alternatives to Stessa include Visulate, RISSOFT and TrueRent.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 or less
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request with no obligation:
Demo Pricing

Buyer's Guide

Affordable Housing Property Management Software Is All About Streamlining Screening, Maintenance and Compliance

By Riddhiman Roy, Market Analyst at SelectHub

Affordable Housing Property Management BG Intro

Imagine a world where fair and affordable housing for low-income groups is not just a goal but a reality. A world where property managers effortlessly navigate complex regulations, simplify tenant screenings and analyze data to make informed decisions that empower communities. Welcome to the realm of affordable housing management software, the tool that redefines the way we approach housing accessibility.

These solutions help you screen tenants, maintain compliance, and keep a detailed record of occupancy data, rent rolls and resident income verification. In this guide, we’ll go over the benefits of affordable housing management software, common features, software comparison strategies and everything else you need to choose the best solution for your business.

Executive Summary

  • Affordable housing management software helps property managers find project funding and screen applicants to find the right tenants.
  • Managers can securely store income and asset verification documents, track maintenance activities, and adjust rent levels to meet affordable housing program standards.
  • These tools let you collect and analyze data to determine if the project is financially viable and make data-driven decisions.
  • Choosing the right software for your business is crucial because misfit solutions can slow down your operations and hamper growth. The best way to go is to prepare a detailed requirements checklist and budget before starting the software selection process.
What This Guide Covers:

What Is Affordable Property Housing Management Software?

Affordable housing management software is a platform that helps property managers digitize and streamline screening, renting and accounting processes. It lets you automate routine administrative tasks like rent collection, utility billing and invoicing. You can centralize business documents and interactions to improve auditing processes and compliance.

Affordable housing is trickier to manage than single-family and apartment rentals. Although you receive operating subsidies and other Federal benefits, you must comply with strict regulations to offer fair housing opportunities to low-income groups. Additionally, it’s essential to meet quality standards and analyze the financial viability of your project.

These specialized property management platforms help you do all that and much more. They update resident information in real time to adjust rent levels according to your housing program’s eligibility criteria while simplifying management and maintenance processes.

Primary Benefits

Affordable Housing Property Management Benefits

Efficient Tenant Screening

People seeking affordable housing don’t always have an excellent credit score. You need to consider their income, government subsidies, eviction history and other criteria to choose eligible tenants. The software smoothens and accelerates the entire process through automation and digital record-keeping.

Related Categories

You can design rental ads with eligibility criteria and build portals to collect applications. It lets you generate screening reports, evaluate applicant information, verify eligibility, and assess qualifications from a single screen, resulting in a fair and transparent system for all applicants.

Streamlined Operations

You can define rules to automate pre-screenings, rent collection, bookkeeping and tenant incomes tracking. Advanced systems offer BI capabilities to analyze industry trends and suggest improvement techniques. This not only enables you to boost efficiency but also be more proactive and focus on other areas of operation.

Improved Compliance

The Federal government defines “affordable housing” as rental units that don’t cost more than 30% of a tenant’s monthly gross income, which includes rent and utility charges.

Affordable housing management software lets you verify tenants’ income each week or month to analyze and maintain eligibility with housing programs. You can also record interactions and store important documents to comply with other state or Federal affordable housing regulations.

Better Financial Analysis

When a tenant falls short on rent, affordable housing systems help you analyze if it’s a one-off situation or a recurring theme. They help you sort out bad apples and provide alerts when you need to lower rent structures due to recessionary trends.

Key Features & Functionality

Although the features vary from platform to platform, you should keep an eye out for these key capabilities crucial in affordable housing management software.

Affordable Housing Property Management Features

Housing Funding

You can track Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding programs in your locality and analyze their features on a centralized dashboard to choose the perfect fit for your operations.
Screening

Most platforms offer a built-in connection with a major credit reporting agency like TransUnion, Equifax or Experian.

It allows you to generate credit, background, criminal, eviction and other reports of an applicant’s history to gauge their suitability for your property. You can define rules to standardize the screening process for every applicant.
Marketing and Leasing

Design marketing campaigns for multiple channels and social media networks to fill vacancies faster. You can use customizable templates to generate state-specific leases with a few clicks.

Some platforms also offer email templates, allowing you to automate applicant journeys throughout the leasing process.
Income and Asset Verification

Use customizable algorithms to verify tenants’ income and asset information weekly or monthly. Define rules to collect certifications per your property’s regulatory needs, including LIHTC, HUD 50059, local programs, PHA and more.
Accounting and Reporting

This feature allocates rent payments based on the amount paid by tenants and government subsidies to help you get a clear view. Built-in calculators show you what you owe to external vendors and let you automate accounts payables.

Most platforms are GAAP and IFRS compliant and allow you to maintain multiple books, accounting trees and ledger allocations for segmented and intercompany accounting.
Payments

Most platforms integrate with popular payment processors like PayPal, Stripe and Venmo. Some may offer a native payment processor that directly transfers payments to your bank account for a competitive fee.

You can define rules to automatically collect monthly rent and utility fees and charge late penalties. The platform helps you analyze tenant income to adjust rent and utility bills.
Maintenance

You can create work order templates with time stamps and instructions to quickly assign staff members and resolve issues. The platform collects every maintenance request on a unified dashboard, enabling you to assign and track tasks till completion. You can also onboard external vendors and automate bills payable.
Tenant Portals

Depending on the software, tenants will receive a mobile app or an online portal to store documents, pay rent, submit maintenance tickets and interact with managers and owners.

Software Comparison Strategy

The global property management software market is booming, offering many options to cater to different types of property management businesses. To navigate this sea of choices, you can start by creating a comprehensive checklist of your business’s requirements. This can help shortlist affordable housing management solutions that best align with your business goals.

Here are a few factors you should consider including in the checklist:

  • Scalability: Ensure the software can accommodate your business’s growth and handle an increasing number of properties and units without compromising performance or efficiency.
  • Compliance management: Look for tracking features that handle your regulatory workflows and ensure your business meets necessary standards effortlessly.
  • Customization options: The platform must adapt to your specific workflows and requirements, providing a tailored solution that suits your operations.
  • Integrations: Check if the software integrates with other essential tools such as accounting software, tenant screening services and payment gateways. You should look for systems that promote seamless data flow and require minimal manual intervention.
  • User interface: Opt for intuitive software that is easy to navigate. It reduces the learning curve for your team and makes it easy to implement and adopt the platform.
  • Reporting and analytics: Look for solutions that can handle your accounting and provide insights into occupancy trends, financial performance and other key metrics.
  • Mobile accessibility: Mobile-optimized platforms let you conveniently handle tasks on the go and stay connected with your properties and tenants. A few solutions also offer native mobile apps to track and manage every activity from a mobile screen.
  • Customer support: Evaluate the vendor’s customer support to ensure you have assistance and access to technical support whenever you need it.
  • Reputation and reviews: Research the reputation and user reviews of the software provider to gauge their track record and customer satisfaction and make an informed decision.

Cost & Pricing Considerations

The pricing of affordable housing management software largely depends on the deployment mode you choose. Cloud-based or SaaS deployment is cost-effective with a monthly fee. In contrast, on-premise deployment requires an initial investment but provides more control and customization options in the long run.

We recommend setting a budget for the software and additional features before starting the selection process to make a well-informed choice that fulfills every requirement without putting a dent in your wallet. Choose the deployment option that aligns with your needs by weighing cost-effectiveness against control and customization requirements.

Some other factors that may affect the pricing are:

  • Advanced features
  • Adding new properties
  • Onboarding extra staff
  • Implementation and onboarding training
  • Priority support
  • Marketing channel connections
  • Third-party integrations

The Most Popular Affordable Housing Management Software

To kickstart your search for the perfect software, we’ve listed overviews of some of the most popular affordable housing management software available:

Yardi Voyager

Yardi is one of the first property management solutions that still packs immense value for modern businesses. It offers different products for all types and sizes of businesses. Voyager is its most robust and fully-integrated SaaS offering that can streamline every aspect of your affordable housing operations.

It centralizes management, maintenance, compliance and finance under one platform, allowing you to easily track and manage your operations from a single screen. Its modular architecture lets you pick and choose features crucial to your business. Some of its key capabilities include:

  • Income and asset verification
  • Screening services
  • Marketing and leasing
  • Workforce management
  • Payment processing
  • Utility billing
  • Compliance management

Yardi Voyager

Design visualizations to analyze finances. Source

Buildium

Buildium is an intuitive, all-in-one platform that can help businesses of all sizes digitize and streamline their marketing, management and maintenance processes. Its standout feature is the robust accounting module that enables you to maintain separate ledgers for tenants, owners and properties. It automates administrative tasks like transaction recording, invoicing, double-entries and bills payable.

It also offers a powerful search tool to quickly locate important documents during audits and compliance management. Its other offerings include:

  • Tenant and owner portals
  • Lease and email templates
  • Website Builder
  • Maintenance
  • Property inspection
  • Renter’s insurance
  • Tenant screening
  • Payment processing

Buildium

Go mobile and allow tenants to pay rent from anywhere. Source

RealPage

RealPage is an enterprise option that drives efficiency, manages compliance and reduces expenses related to all your operations. It offers a unique marketing module to create attractive property websites, 3D floor maps, drone videos and virtual property tours to attract more applicants and fill vacancies faster.

You can also use the native AI to monitor delinquency, track asset performance, analyze seasonal trends, adjust rent structures and unearth insights to improve operations. Its other features are:

  • Leasing
  • Waitlists
  • Maintenance
  • Mobile app for tenants
  • Spend management
  • Utility billing
  • Accounting
  • Third-party integrations

RealPage

Use drag-and-drop tools to create branded websites. Source

 

 

Questions To Ask

Ask these questions internally to identify your requirements:

  • What problems are we trying to solve with the new software?
  • Which automation can simplify our operations?
  • How many employees will use the system?
  • Which existing software needs integration with the new solution?
  • What kind of technical assistance do we require?

Affordable Housing Property Management Key Questions

Ask these questions to vendors to check if they can fit your business operations:

  • Do you have expertise in managing affordable housing?
  • Is the platform customizable to meet business-specific requirements?
  • How many team members can the system onboard?
  • Do you provide onboarding and implementation training?
  • What are your support options?

Next Steps

Affordable housing management software is a comprehensive solution that allows you to manage the entire spectrum of property management operations from a single screen or dashboard. It helps automate daily tasks, improve compliance and decision-making, and screen tenants with no bias.

But choosing the ideal solution for your business demands careful analysis of business requirements. To help you in your journey, our analysts have prepared a free comparison report to analyze the industry’s top products based on features, pricing and other custom criteria. And the best part? It’s free! So what’re you waiting for? Happy selecting!

Product Comparisons

Additional Resources

About The Contributors

The following expert team members are responsible for creating, reviewing, and fact checking the accuracy of this content.

Riddhiman
By Riddhiman Roy
Technical Content Writer
As a Senior Technical Content Writer at SelectHub, Riddhiman Roy delivers content about eCommerce, legal, employee scheduling, procurement, hotel management and property management software. He holds a Master's in multimedia journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. When he is not fighting huge-article-ogres and evil Grammarly suggestions, you can find him in his natural habitat grooving to music and banging his drumkit.
See Full Bio
Shweta
Technical Research By Shweta Bhandari
Senior Analyst
In her role on SelectHub's research team, Shweta Bhandari works on categories like manufacturing, CMMS, construction ERP, takeoff software, supply chain management, field service, construction bidding software and construction estimation software.
See Full Bio
Kankana
Technical Review By Kankana Kalita
Principal Analyst
A seasoned business and research analyst, Kankana Kalita specializes in ERP, CMMS, manufacturing, construction, supply chain, HRMS and CRM. Prior to joining SelectHub, she earned a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and Engineering, an MBA in Operations and Marketing, and worked in email marketing and logistics.
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Pooja
Edited By Pooja Verma
Content Editor
Pooja Verma is a Content Editor and Senior Market Analyst at SelectHub, who writes and edits content for endpoint security, legal, CRM, fundraising software, eCommerce, and mental health software. She earned a literature degree from Miranda House, DU and also holds Master’s in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication in India. In her free time, you can spot her reading a book or binge-watching the latest web series and movies.
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