Real Estate Accounting in Portland
Portland is a dense multifamily market layered with city-level rules on top of the state landlord-tenant act, so a management company here is reconciling against two rulebooks rather than one. The accounting consequence is that move-out is a documentation process, not just a payment.
Proud AppFolio Stack™ Partners, working directly inside your AppFolio instance.
Oregon rules that apply here
- Deposit return deadline
- 31 calendar days
- Statute
- ORS 90.300
Why Oregon Real Estate Professionals Choose REA
AppFolio Expertise, Applied to Portland
Experts in AppFolio Bookkeeping
Oregon requires a separate written accounting for the security deposit and for prepaid rent, both within 31 days of the tenancy ending and possession being returned. That word separate is the part software gets wrong. Most systems post both to a single tenant liability and net them at move-out, which produces one number when the statute asks for two, and ORS 90.300(16) exposes a landlord to twice the amount wrongfully withheld for getting it wrong.
Assigned, Responsive Team
We keep prepaid rent and deposit as distinct liabilities per tenant from the day the money arrives, because reconstructing the split at move-out is guesswork and guesswork is what the double-damages provision punishes. Prepaid rent is also earned income on a schedule, so leaving it commingled with deposit understates revenue in the month it should be recognised and overstates the trust balance at the same time.
Accurate Monthly Bookkeeping
Portland portfolios are typically held one entity per building with a management company above them, so month-end is a set of small closes plus an intercompany tie-out rather than a single book. We run that inside your existing software with accountant access, so the owner statements your investors already read do not change format.
Deposit Compliance for Portland Portfolios
ORS 90.300
Oregon ORS 90.300 requires the deposit, or a written accounting stating the specific basis for anything claimed, within 31 days of the tenancy ending and the tenant delivering possession. The statute requires SEPARATE accountings for the security deposit and for prepaid rent, and ORS 90.300(16) exposes a landlord to twice any amount wrongfully withheld.
Deposits are the tenant's money until properly claimed, and Oregon compounds the usual requirement by treating prepaid rent as a separate accounting from the deposit. That means two distinct per-tenant liabilities from the day funds arrive, not one balance netted at move-out, because reconstructing the split later is exactly what the double-damages provision punishes.
All Oregon requirementsHow we keep you inside it
- Deposit liabilities tracked per tenant in AppFolio, so a 31 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
Appfolio Bookkeeping Services from REA
Available to Portland 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 Portland 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
Portland 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 moreExperts 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
Adam the owner took a personal interest in my situation and was willing to work with me to see if his company was a good fit. I may be too small for them but I would highly recommend them to anyone considering a bookkeeper for their property management business.
Following a series of erroneous financials from my previous bookkeeper, who lacked expertise in real estate, it's been truly remarkable to receive not only accurate financials on a consistent basis but also proactive advice without prompting. The REA team is a game-changer in real estate accounting!
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to return a deposit in Portland?
Thirty-one days from the tenancy ending and the tenant delivering possession, under ORS 90.300. Within that window you must provide a written accounting stating the specific basis for anything claimed, and Oregon requires separate accountings for the security deposit and for prepaid rent.
Why does prepaid rent need to be tracked separately from the deposit?
Because the statute requires a separate accounting for each, and because they are different things: a deposit is money you are holding, prepaid rent is revenue you have not earned yet. We keep them as distinct per-tenant liabilities from receipt, which is the only way the two accountings tie out without reconstruction.
Can you work in our existing software?
Yes. We take accountant access to your own instance the way an internal hire would, rather than moving you onto a system of ours, so your owner reporting keeps the format everyone already recognises.
More in Oregon
Other Oregon markets, the platforms we work in, and the functions available on their own.
AppFolio Bookkeeping for Portland
Schedule a call and we will review your AppFolio setup, your Oregon deposit handling, and what it takes to close clean every month.