Straight answers.
Fees, leasing, maintenance, money and Maryland compliance. Search below or browse by topic.
20 answers
When do you open?
We open in January 2027. Our founder is completing Maryland real estate licensing, and management will run under a Maryland-licensed sponsoring broker. Owners on the founding list get the first calls.
What kinds of properties do you manage?
Single-family homes, rowhouses, townhomes, condos, duplexes and small multifamily buildings of 2–20 units in the Baltimore area.
Do I need to live nearby?
No. Many owners live out of state. Everything works online: agreements, approvals, statements and documents.
Can you take over from my current manager?
Yes. We handle the handoff: leases, ledgers, deposits moved trust to trust, keys and vendor history.
What do you charge?
9% of rent collected, 75% of one month's rent to place a tenant, $200 per renewal. No setup fee, no vacancy fee, and no markup on maintenance. Every fee is on the pricing page.
Is the fee on rent due or rent collected?
Rent collected.
Do you mark up maintenance?
No. You pay published rates, and you see the invoice.
Is there a setup or vacancy fee?
No and no.
How do you set the rent?
From comparable homes that actually leased recently, nearby, adjusted for condition and features. You get a range and our recommendation.
How do you screen tenants?
Written criteria published up front and applied the same way to every applicant: verified income and rental history, credit as one factor, and individualized review. We follow federal and Maryland fair housing law, including source-of-income protection.
Do you accept housing vouchers?
Maryland prohibits refusing an applicant because of their source of income, including vouchers. Voucher holders are evaluated under the same criteria as everyone else.
How big is the security deposit?
For leases signed on or after October 1, 2024, Maryland generally caps deposits at one month's rent. We hold deposits in the broker's escrow account.
Who does the repairs?
Routine work goes to our affiliated crew, 5 Star Pros DMV, at published rates with 0% markup. That relationship is disclosed in writing in every agreement. Anything above your approval limit needs your sign-off, and you can request a second bid on jobs over $1,500.
What's my approval limit?
You set it. The default is $500. Anything above it comes to you with photos and a price first, except emergencies, which we stabilize right away.
How fast are turns?
Our target is rent-ready about 10 days after a typical move-out. Heavy damage takes longer, and we'll tell you up front.
Can I use my own contractor?
Yes, for any job.
When do I get paid?
Statements and owner draws go out by the 10th of each month.
Where is the rent held?
In the sponsoring broker's escrow (trust) account, as Maryland law requires. It's never mixed with operating funds.
Do you handle rental licenses and lead certificates?
Yes. We track every date, coordinate the inspections and file the paperwork.
What happens if a tenant stops paying?
Reminders, a late notice within Maryland's 5% cap, then a call. If the rent still isn't paid, we review options with you. Any court filing is handled by a Maryland attorney through the proper process, never by shortcuts.
Your rental, always on watch.
We open in January 2027. Owners on the founding list get the first calls and a full rental analysis of their property before we go live.