Answers

What does property management cost in San Diego? (2026)

The two fee models, honestly compared

Percentage-plus model: a monthly percentage PLUS a leasing fee that is often a large share of the first month’s rent, plus renewal fees, inspection fees, maintenance markups, or technology fees. None of these are inherently dishonest, but the sticker rate is not the real rate. Ask for the entire fee schedule in writing before comparing anyone, including us.

Flat-and-published model (ours): 7% of collected rent means we earn nothing on vacancy, so your vacancy is our problem too. $700 tenant placement is flat whether your rent is $1,800 or $3,800. $100 renewal. $0 hidden fees. The fee schedule on our pricing page is the whole fee schedule.

What that looks like on a real rent

On a $2,414 rent (the City of San Diego median, Census ACS 2024): management runs $169 a month; a tenant placement is $700 once; a renewal is $100 a year. No percentage-of-rent leasing fee, which on that rent commonly exceeds $1,200 elsewhere when charged at half a month or more.

Questions owners actually ask

Is 7% of collected rent different from 7% of rent?

Yes, and the word matters: collected. If the unit sits vacant or the rent goes unpaid, we are not billing you management on money you never received.

Do you mark up maintenance?

No. Vendor invoices land in your owner portal as the vendor issued them, with an audit trail on every dollar.

What is the contract commitment?

Month to month. If we stop earning it, you leave. No lock-in.