Friday April 25, 2025
What does a property manager do?
A property manager is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of residential or commercial real estate on behalf of the property owner. This role is equal parts administrative and strategic, requiring attention to detail, consistent communication, and a deep understanding of local regulations and market dynamics.
Key responsibilities may include managing budgets, collecting rent, coordinating maintenance and repairs, screening tenants, preparing lease agreements, and supporting compliance with federal, state, and local housing laws. For communities governed by associations, property managers often serve as liaisons between boards, vendors, and residents, helping to support smooth operations and long-term financial planning.Is property management a good career?
Property management can offer a meaningful career for those who are organized, adaptable, and enjoy working with people. In Texas, where growth is reshaping residential and commercial spaces alike, the demand for skilled property managers continues to rise.This is a career built on daily problem-solving, strong communication, and an understanding of the broader real estate landscape. Property managers often serve as the go-to resource for board members, residents, vendors, and owners, managing everything from operations to compliance. Many professionals move into senior roles or expand into ownership, all while supporting the long-term success of the communities they manage. For those looking to make a real impact while building a long-term path in real estate, read on to learn how to become a property manager in Texas.
"Being a property manager isn’t just a job—it’s a dynamic career that offers growth, stability, and the chance to make a real impact on the communities you serve every day."
Tiffany Dessaints, vice president at FirstService Residential
Do I need a license to be a property manager in Texas?
Yes, in most cases, a real estate license is required to become a property manager in Texas. According to the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC), “If the duties include showing or leasing the property for the owner for which the manager gets paid, a license is required. A license is also required for any person who controls the acceptance or deposit of rent from a resident of a single-family residential real property unit.”How to become a property manager in Texas
To become a property manager in Texas, particularly if you’re handling leasing or collecting rent for multiple owners, you’ll typically need a Sales Agent license issued by TREC. Here's how to get started:- Meet the basic eligibility requirements: You must be at least 18 years old, and be either a U.S. citizen or a “lawfully admitted alien.”
- Complete required education: Texas requires 180 classroom hours of qualifying real estate courses from an approved education provider.
- Apply with TREC: After completing the coursework, submit an application to TREC, along with supporting documents, fees, and fingerprints for a background check.
- Pass the TREC licensing exam: This exam evaluates your understanding of national and state-specific real estate principles and laws. Once passed, you can be sponsored by a licensed broker and begin working as a property manager in Texas.
What can an unlicensed property manager do in Texas?
While many core property management tasks require a real estate license, there are certain functions that can legally be performed without one. Some management companies also hire assistant property managers to support licensed managers with documentation, communication, and compliance tasks. These roles can be a strong stepping stone while pursuing licensure.However, responsibilities can easily overlap, so it’s critical to review TREC’s guidelines and consult with a qualified professional if you’re unsure.
Skills of great property managers in Texas
Successfully managing the staff within a Texas community requires strong leadership skills, community financial stewardship, group decision-making, technical knowledge, effective communication, and efficient time management. That’s why training property managers in this area is so important.Community financial stewardship
One of the most important aspects of managing a community is understanding its financial position in order to help expand its resources. A manager that fully comprehends their community’s financials can accurately assess the current budgetary status of the association, better advise the board when they are making important spending decisions and set priorities for both short and long term goals.A knowledgeable property manager can better prepare your association for maintenance needs, repairs, necessary special assessments, and resident delinquencies. This requires a good working knowledge of your community’s financial reports, such as its:
- Balance sheet
- Income statement
- Cash flow statement
- General ledger
- Accounts payable report
- Account delinquency report
- Cash disbursements ledger
Making decisions as a group
Community associations are unique in that very little is decided by a single person. Group decision-making is at the heart of how a community functions, and success often depends on consensus building and cooperation. It’s more of an art than a science, and your property manager needs to be a collaborative leader by learning how to facilitate decision-making on your board.Using software and technical tools
Like most other roles today, Texas property managers who need to execute their responsibilities efficiently must become well acquainted with the technology that supports their job functions. Whether it’s proprietary property management software, accounting software, or an association communication platform, your manager must learn how to use these tools to their full potential.A great property management company typically offers comprehensive and ongoing training on its in-house technologies as they are developed and/or updated. Technology training can teach property managers how to navigate the internal tools used for accounting, communication, tracking work orders, reservations, amenity and service management, vendor invoice and payment tracking, and is typically offered via online training modules or video instruction.
Communicating with Texas boards and residents
Effectively supporting the diversity of people and personalities that make up a community requires purposeful communication. Property manager training will cover various techniques for communicating with different audiences and types of people, such as board members or residents."At the end of the day, our managers need to be proficient in how they communicate with all different types of people. We provide training to the managers on the different communication styles that exist and how to adapt their own style with other styles of communication so that their interactions are always open, and nothing is getting in the way of clear communication."
Jennifer Fischel, vice president of operations at FirstService Residential
Managing time effectively
It's essential for a Texas property manager with dozens of calls to make, documents to read and appointments to keep, to understand how to best prioritize tasks. Time management strategies are crucial to getting the job done in an organized, timely manner.At FirstService Residential, we are fully committed to the ongoing education and growth of our property managers. We invest a significant amount of time and effort into their pursuit of it. They have access to both in-person instruction and online training modules through FirstService Residential University that give them the skills they need to excel in their role and help your community thrive.
To learn more about how FirstService Residential can serve your Texas community, contact us today.