Austin Property Management Blog

5 Rental Application Tips that Actually Work

Grant Williams - Tuesday, May 27, 2025

Looking to rent soon? Aside from finding the ideal property, landlords put tenants through a screening process that can be challenging to qualify for. But don’t fret. There are ways for you to boost your chances of securing your dream rental property. To help you with this, here are 5 valuable rental application tips for tenants. We’ll cover everything you need to know – from essential application documents to strategies to make you stand out among the rest!

Tip 1: Gather All Documents Ahead of Time

Landlords ask applicants for several documents to verify their identity and qualifications. As a company that provides property management in Austin, we use a standard set of screening criteria that aligns with fair housing laws, disclosure, and other applicable federal, state, and local regulations. For landlords renting without property management representation, they may use the common TXR Lease Application or develop a lease and screening process with the help of a qualified attorney or real estate professional. But as a tenant, you should always ask for the screening requirements upfront. This ensures you have everything you need right from the start.

Here’s a review of the most common tena...

Rent-to-Own vs. Mortgage: Key Differences to Know

Grant Williams - Monday, May 19, 2025

Planning to buy a house? One of the enduring questions about home ownership is whether to go for the rent-to-own or the mortgage option. The ongoing discourse on rent-to-own vs mortgage is primarily because both options have their fair share of advantages and disadvantages. The challenge is knowing which one best fits your situation.

To help you on this journey, we’ll provide you with a comprehensive overview of rent-to-own agreements and mortgages. We’ll highlight key features, pros and cons, and the primary differences between the two to help you decide which home ownership route to opt for.

3 Key Takeaways

  • Rent-to-own agreements offer a gradual path towards homeownership without the huge financial pressure upfront.
  • Home buyers can enjoy immediate ownership and its benefits when purchasing with a mortgage.
  • The choice between RTO and mortgage depends on your long-term goals and financial situation.


What is a Rent-to-Own Agreement?

Rent-to-own is an alternative option to achieve home ownership. Here, the tenant enters an agreement with the homeowner for a rent-to-own contract. They pay rent to stay in the property, but with a portion of that payment going towards the goal of purchasing it at the end of the lease. So, how does this work?

Let’s say that you find a house that you really love, but you don’t have the ...

Rental Property Pet Policies - What Landlords Should Know

Grant Williams - Monday, May 12, 2025

For many, pets are more than just animals we have and own. Nowadays, people consider them a significant part of their lives, to a point that they call them family. With the rapid growth of pet ownership in the US, landlords need to address rental property pet policies to both attract tenants and protect their investment.   

But what does it exactly mean to be pet friendly? And how can landlords and property owners still protect themselves under these conditions? To help you create the “ideal” rental property for pet owners, we’ll provide you with a comprehensive review of common rental property pet policies. More than that, we’ll highlight the advantages and disadvantages of these policies and why they are important for both landlords and tenants.


3 Key Takeaways

  • Rental pet policies help establish clear rules and guidelines for responsible pet ownership. It also sets the expectations between parties for transparency and accountability.
  • Pet-...

The Future of Property Management Technology: Top Trends for 2025

Grant Williams - Wednesday, May 7, 2025

In today’s fast-paced world, technology plays a key role in making processes and operations more efficient. In property management, this means better ways to attend to tenant concerns, process documentation, enhance stakeholder experiences, and more. But with the way prop tech has developed over the years, it is important for landlords and property managers to stay up to date, for both innovations and trends.

To help you with this, here is a rundown of the top 5 property management technology trends to watch out for in 2025. From artificial intelligence to energy-saving tech, learn how you can take advantage of these innovations and take your rental property business further. On top of that, we’ll also offer some helpful tips on how property managers and landlords can build stronger tenant relationships in today’s digital age.

3 Key Takeaways

  • Property management tools, ranging from cloud-based software to virtual reality, help landlords and property managers streamline business operations.
  • It is important to stay up to date and embrace property management technology innovations to stay competitive and attract modern tenants.
  • Communication and transparency are key to building strong relationships between tenants and landlords.

5 Ways Property Management Technology is Changing the Industry 

As a property ma...

Rental Property Maintenance: How to Overcome Common Challenges

Grant Williams - Monday, April 28, 2025

Owning a rental property comes with its fair share of responsibilities, and maintenance is just one. But one could argue that maintenance is the most critical for landlords. Whether it is a leaking faucet or a major HVAC breakdown, keeping up with property maintenance plays a direct role in tenant satisfaction. Proper maintenance also contributes to overall property value and long-term profitability. But should landlords take a proactive or reactive approach? If you’re wondering how to stay ahead of maintenance issues without breaking the bank, here’s what you need to know.  

Key Takeaways from this Article: 

  • Proactive Maintenance is Key – Regular property upkeep helps prevent costly emergency repai...

Stone Oak Resident Update | May 2025

Grant Williams - Thursday, April 24, 2025

Mothers Day 2025

This year Mother’s Day falls on Sunday, May 11th. Austin has a lot going on all the time, and there’s no shortage of restaurants and other events to celebrate your mother and other women in your life whether you get to spend time together or not. Get out and enjoy one of the many options for a Mother’s Day brunch, spend some time outdoors before the summer heat kicks in, attend the first annual Mother’s Day market presented by 7th Street Candle Co, moms can go for a free swim at Volente Beach, or get a margarita at some of Austin’s highly rated spots! The Do512 mother’s day guide from last year has some great options and ideas.


Lease Reminders

We are heading into the beginning of the busiest time of year. Please note the following important le...

Seasonal Maintenance to Keep Your Rental Property in Peak Condition

Grant Williams - Friday, April 18, 2025

Maintenance is an essential part of any property rental business. Whether it's a small apartment building, a commercial space, or single-family home, it’s important to conduct maintenance from time to time. In addition to keeping your tenants comfortable and happy, regular rental maintenance also helps ensure a property’s longevity.   

But what exactly do you need to do in seasonal maintenance checks? In this article, we’ll provide a comprehensive guide on how to conduct seasonal maintenance checks, why they’re essential for rental properties, as well as how to communicate these tasks to your tenants effectively. Let’s get started! 

Key Takeaways

  • Seasonal Maintenance Protects Property Value and Tenant Comfort - Proactive, seasonal upkeep helps avoid major repairs, extends property lifespan, and keeps tenants safe and satisfied. 

  • Timing Matters for Maintenance Tasks

    Stone Oak Resident Update | April 2025

    Grant Williams - Wednesday, March 26, 2025


    Exciting News!

    We are now part of the Bay Property Management Group and are rebranding as Bay Property Management Group Austin. This means that we are restructuring a bit, and our property managers will have more time to devote to individual properties in their portfolio to work with owners to provide a better resident experience. This is just one change among many that we’ve already started putting in place.

    The location of your tenant portal has changed, but your information and history are still there. If you haven’t already bookmarked texasbmg.com please do as that is where you will go to log into your tenant portal.


    Spring is Here

    The first day of Spring was March 20, 2025! That means you will likely see a surge in plant growth and activity. Please be mindful of lawn care and be sure you are following the lease if you are responsible for yard maintenance.


    HOA Fines and Amenity Access

    This is also the time of year where we see the most HOA violation notices related to landscape maintenance. Make sure you are familiar with any HOA or local rules and re...

Stone Oak Client Update | March 2025

Grant Williams - Wednesday, March 5, 2025


Welcome to Bay Property Management Austin!

We recently sent a message to all our clients announcing the merger of Stone Oak and Bay Property Management Group Austin.  The new company is Bay Property Management Group Austin, and comes with the resources, knowledge, and experience of two well-oiled organizations.  You can learn a little more about us here.  

There has been a lot of change over the last month since we started th...

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Stone Oak Property Management
14050 Summit Drive #113B
Austin, TX 78728

Phone: 512.617.6766
New Accounts: 512.617.6766 ext.3
Toll Free: 888.892.7940
Fax: 512.994.2300

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