Real Estate Accounting in Tacoma
Tacoma sits between a working port economy and Seattle overflow demand, and portfolios here often reflect both: residential doors alongside small industrial, flex and retail space held by the same ownership group. Those two asset types do not close the same way, and running them on one undifferentiated chart of accounts is the most common problem we inherit.
Proud AppFolio Stack™ Partners, working directly inside your AppFolio instance.
Washington rules that apply here
- Deposit return deadline
- 30 calendar days
- Statute
- RCW 59.18.280
Why Washington Real Estate Professionals Choose REA
AppFolio Expertise, Applied to Tacoma
Experts in AppFolio Bookkeeping
Residential and commercial accounting diverge at the lease. Residential runs on a deposit held in trust and a monthly rent roll; commercial runs on base rent plus recoveries, which means CAM pools, pro-rata shares and an annual reconciliation that either ties to the lease language or does not. A portfolio carrying both needs a chart of accounts that separates recoverable from non-recoverable operating expense from day one, because reconstructing that split at year end is guesswork.
Assigned, Responsive Team
Washington's statewide 30-day deposit rule under RCW 59.18.280 governs the residential side, with deposits held in trust and reconciled to a per-tenant ledger. The commercial side has no equivalent statutory clock, which is exactly why mixed portfolios drift: the residential process is disciplined by law and the commercial process is disciplined only by whoever is doing the books.
Accurate Monthly Bookkeeping
Pierce County ownership groups also tend to hold assets across several entities with shared principals, so the month-end close involves genuine intercompany work rather than a single set of books. We close each entity, reconcile between them, and produce owner reporting that shows the residential and commercial performance separately instead of blending them into one number nobody can act on.
Deposit Compliance for Tacoma Portfolios
RCW 59.18.280
Washington RCW 59.18.280 requires the deposit, or a full and specific statement of the deductions, to be postmarked within 30 days of the tenancy ending and the tenant vacating. The window moved from 21 days to 30 under HB 1074, effective July 2023. Miss it and the right to retain any of the deposit is waived.
Deposits must be held in a trust account separate from the management company's operating funds, and the reconciliation that matters is to a per-tenant ledger rather than only to the bank balance. Property management in Washington is a licensed brokerage activity, so trust fund handling sits under the Department of Licensing rather than being a matter of internal policy.
All Washington requirementsHow we keep you inside it
- Deposit liabilities tracked per tenant in AppFolio, so a 30 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 Tacoma 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 Tacoma 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
Tacoma 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
Real Estate Accounting truly is a special company. They helped as if they were a part of our company, with the concern and caution as an employee would have, but even more. They quickly ascertained our needs and developed an effective team to help with our accounting needs. They were extremely responsive and always accurate. I would recommend their services to anyone who needs help with their property management accounting.
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!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you handle a portfolio with both residential and commercial property?
Yes, and we account for them separately rather than blending them. Residential runs on trust-held deposits and the rent roll; commercial runs on base rent plus recoveries with a real CAM reconciliation, which requires the chart of accounts to split recoverable from non-recoverable expense properly.
What is the deposit deadline for Tacoma rentals?
Thirty days, under the statewide RCW 59.18.280. The deposit or a full and specific statement of deductions must be postmarked within 30 days of the tenant vacating.
Do you do CAM reconciliations for smaller commercial buildings?
Yes. Small industrial and flex space still needs the pools, pro-rata shares and annual true-up done against the actual lease language. Size does not change the method, it only changes how often the error goes unnoticed.
More in Washington
Other Washington markets, the platforms we work in, and the functions available on their own.
AppFolio Bookkeeping for Tacoma
Schedule a call and we will review your AppFolio setup, your Washington deposit handling, and what it takes to close clean every month.