Expert AppFolio Bookkeeping Services For Scaling Property Investors & Managers In San Francisco
San Francisco’s rental market is one of the most legally and financially complex in the United States, shaped by the SF Rent Ordinance, Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act exemptions, and a dense mix of pre-1979 rent-controlled units, condominiums, and single-family homes across distinct neighborhoods. Property managers operating here face compliance obligations that translate directly into accounting requirements: rent ceiling tracking, lawful increase documentation, and Ellis Act cost accounting all demand precision at the ledger level. REA, an official AppFolio Stack partner, delivers outsourced bookkeeping built for exactly this environment.
Proud AppFolio Stack™ Partners, working directly inside your AppFolio instance.
California rules that apply here
- Deposit return deadline
- 21 calendar days
- Statute
- Civil Code 1950.5
Why California Real Estate Professionals Choose REA
AppFolio Expertise, Applied to San Francisco
Experts in AppFolio Bookkeeping
Our San Francisco property accountants are certified accounting partners for the AppFolio Stack™, bringing specialized knowledge to your bookkeeping needs. We’ll handle your monthly accounting while optimizing AppFolio’s capabilities to enhance your property management operations.
Assigned, Responsive Team
For San Francisco property managers, we recognize that unexpected challenges require immediate attention. Your dedicated REA team remains accessible at all times to resolve your concerns via email, phone, video, or Slack, ensuring prompt support and confidence in your property management operations.
Accurate Monthly Bookkeeping
Eliminate time-consuming tasks and reduce errors with our AppFolio accounting services for San Francisco property managers. REA delivers accurate, timely reports each month, enabling you to concentrate on expanding your property portfolio throughout California.
Deposit Compliance for San Francisco Portfolios
Civil Code 1950.5
California Civil Code section 1950.5(g)(1) requires the deposit, or an itemized statement plus the remaining balance, within 21 calendar days of the tenant returning possession. Deductions above $125 must be supported by receipts for labor and materials.
Broker-held rental funds sit under Department of Real Estate trust account rules, which require separation from operating funds and a reconciliation that ties the bank, the book, and every beneficiary ledger.
All California requirementsHow we keep you inside it
- Deposit liabilities tracked per tenant in AppFolio, so a 21 calendar days deadline is answerable from the ledger
- Trust accounts reconciled three ways every month
- Deduction documentation recorded against the correct ledger
- Aging deposits flagged before the statutory window closes
How AppFolio Bookkeeping Transforms Property Management
Onboarding a San Francisco Portfolio
- 1Understanding Your Business Inside-Out
We respect how valuable your time is as a San Francisco property manager. After you provide secure access to your AppFolio account, our team will quickly assess your financial records and begin the onboarding process. Subsequently, we'll resolve any account discrepancies, complete required catch-up bookkeeping, and thoroughly review tenant/owner statements to guarantee complete accuracy in your California property documentation.
- 2Efficient Monthly Bookkeeping
Once we've verified the accuracy and currency of your San Francisco AppFolio account, we begin our comprehensive monthly AppFolio consultant services. From managing bank reconciliations to handling accounts payable and generating reports, we function as your dedicated accounting team for your property management operations throughout California.
- 3Monthly Reports and Statements
Each month we deliver clear financial packages through AppFolio, including P&Ls, balance sheets, and owner and tenant statements. Every report is trust-account compliant and built to give total visibility into portfolio performance.
Appfolio Bookkeeping Services from REA
Available to San Francisco Operators
Trust Bookkeeping
Leverage Appfolio's powerful bookkeeping capabilities with REA's tailored service.
See how it worksCorporate Bookkeeping
REA's skilled team, in combination with Appfolio's comprehensive toolset, addresses the complexity of your corporate financial activities.
See how it worksBank Reconciliations
Employing Appfolio's state-of-the-art system, REA offers bank reconciliation services that brings meticulous accuracy to your finances.
See how it worksFinancial Diagnostic Cleanup
REA utilizes Appfolio's advanced diagnostic tools to swiftly and effectively troubleshoot financial anomalies.
See how it worksTrust Compliance
REA pairs its accounting prowess with Appfolio's detailed reporting to deliver comprehensive Trust Compliance Verification services.
See how it worksAppFolio Accounting & Bookkeeping Services
For San Francisco Portfolios
- Process Review & Set Up
- Bank Reconciliations
- AP / AR
- Accurate NOI, Balance Sheets
- Recording HUD's & Accruals
- Owner Distributions
- Monthly Statements & Reports
- Management Fees
- Corporate Bookkeeping
- Tenant Chargebacks
Take the Whole Close, or One Function
San Francisco operators use REA for the full monthly close or for the single function that has become a bottleneck. Each one is performed inside your AppFolio instance.
Trust Accounting
Compliant, audit-ready trust funds
Learn moreBank Reconciliation Services
Three-way reconciliation, every account
Learn moreAccounts Payable & Receivable
Bills paid, rent collected, owners paid
Learn moreBookkeeping Cleanup & Catch-Up
Back books fixed and current
Learn moreCAM Reconciliation
Annual commercial true-ups
Learn moreOn a Different Platform in San Francisco?
We Work Inside All of Them
Experts In All Property Types
- Single-Family
- Multifamily
- Student Housing
- Affordable Housing
- Community Associations
- Commercial
Experts In All Property Types
Residential, commercial and everything in between. The asset class changes what the books have to prove, and our teams are staffed accordingly.
- Single-Family
- Multifamily
- Student Housing
- Affordable Housing
- Community AssociationsSee the page
- CommercialSee the page
Check Out What Our Clients Have To Say About Us
Property Managers, Investors & Owner Operators
As REA exclusively specializes in Real Estate, I rest easy knowing my financials are precise every month while saving money at the same time, an invaluable benefit.
I highly recommend Real Estate Accounting (REA) services from this group. They truly are great and have helped us tremendously at a time we needed it the most. I felt very comfortable giving up all my accounting responsibilities to this team and I'm still glad I made the decision to work with this group. Nothing less than an amazing experience!
REA and team have been nothing but excellent helping our firm with its day to day financial needs. Their expertise, professionalism, and timeliness have made our lives so much easier. We foresee a long relationship with REA and team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does REA support AppFolio bookkeeping for mixed portfolios that include both rent-controlled and Costa-Hawkins-exempt units in San Francisco?
REA manages portfolios where some units fall under the SF Rent Ordinance and others qualify for Costa-Hawkins exemptions, such as single-family homes and condominiums with separate title. Each unit is configured in AppFolio with its correct regulatory status, so rent increase workflows, ledger entries, and owner reports accurately reflect which units are controlled and which are market-rate, reducing the risk of misapplied increases or compliance gaps.
Can REA account for Ellis Act relocation assistance payments in AppFolio for San Francisco properties?
Yes. Ellis Act withdrawals require property managers to pay statutory relocation assistance to qualifying tenants, and those payments must be categorized correctly as operating expenses with supporting documentation. REA codes these disbursements in AppFolio to the correct expense line, cross-references the required payment amounts per unit type, and ensures owner statements reflect the full cost picture of a withdrawal before the building exits the rental market.
How does REA handle San Francisco Rent Ordinance compliance in AppFolio bookkeeping?
REA tracks lawful base rents and allowable increase amounts as separate data points within AppFolio, so rent rolls reflect the Rent Board’s current limits for each unit. When a petition or individual rent adjustment occurs, REA records the effective date and revised ceiling, keeping your ledger accurate and audit-ready without requiring property managers to manually reconcile Rent Board records against their accounting system.
What kind of financial reports do you provide to AppFolio clients?
We provide detailed monthly financial reports and statements that offer a transparent overview of your business’s financial health. These reports are designed to ensure compliance with all trust account regulations and to help you make informed business decisions based on accurate financial data.
Can you handle both corporate and trust Appfolio bank reconciliation?
Yes, we offer both corporate and trust bookkeeping services tailored to AppFolio users. We manage the complexity of your corporate financial activities as well as ensure meticulous accuracy and compliance in your trust accounting, using AppFolio’s comprehensive toolset to manage all aspects effectively.
More in California
Other California markets, the platforms we work in, and the functions available on their own.
AppFolio Bookkeeping for San Francisco
Schedule a call and we will review your AppFolio setup, your California deposit handling, and what it takes to close clean every month.