Compare 10 real estate CPA Austin firms for 2027, from local firms on Congress Avenue to national practices, plus the Texas tax points rental investors need.
Austin investors own a mix of short-term rentals, small multifamily, build-to-rent communities and commercial property along the I-35 and Hill Country corridors. This list is for owners, developers and syndicators looking for a real estate CPA Austin investors can meet locally. For the national field, see our list of the top real estate CPA firms for investors.
Every firm below has an Austin office shown on its own website and a real estate practice or real estate investor focus. We included Austin-based firms, Texas regional firms and national firms with Austin teams. Each Austin real estate accountant on the list handles tax planning and returns; we note who also covers audits, fund work and outsourced accounting.
The key Texas real estate tax point: Texas has no personal income tax, so for most individual owners the depreciation benefit is purely federal. Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed July 4, 2025, 100% bonus depreciation is permanent for qualifying property acquired after January 19, 2025. Entities such as LLCs and partnerships may still have Texas franchise tax filings, and Travis County property taxes are a separate issue. Confirm the details with your CPA.
Austin Real Estate CPA Firms At A Glance
Company
Headquarters
Best For
Standout
Maxwell Locke & Ritter
Austin, TX
Investors, developers and builders
Austin-based, 35+ years
Atchley & Associates
Austin, TX
Partnerships and local developers
Austin firm since 1999
Whitley Penn
Texas firm (Austin office)
Fund managers and REITs
Fund administration and REIT services
Weaver
Texas firm (Austin office)
Commercial owners and developers
70 years serving real estate
Haynie & Company
Multi-state firm (Austin office)
Portfolio owners and PE funds
Cost segregation in house
Armanino
National firm (Austin office)
Operators wanting cloud accounting
Yardi, RealPage and Timberline integrations
Baker Tilly
National firm (Austin office)
Syndicators and family offices
Fund administration plus property tax appeals
RSM US
National firm (Austin office)
Middle-market owners and fund managers
Yardi implementation and fund admin
Cherry Bekaert
National firm (Austin office)
Investors doing 1031 and TIC deals
Section 704(c) and REIT testing
CBIZ
National firm (Austin office)
Developers wanting tax plus insurance
Cost segregation and valuation in one firm
Best Real Estate CPA Firms In Austin In 2027
1. Maxwell Locke & Ritter — Austin-Based Firm With A Real Estate And Construction Practice
Maxwell Locke & Ritter (ML&R) is based at 401 Congress Avenue in downtown Austin and cites more than 35 years of experience. Its real estate and construction practice works with investors, developers and operators, plus general and specialty contractors and builders of all sizes.
On the tax side, ML&R lists income tax compliance and advisory, property acquisition and sale planning, 1031 like-kind exchanges, target allocations and carried interest analysis, cost segregation and succession planning. Assurance services include audits, reviews and agreed-upon procedures, which matters if a lender or investor partner requires reviewed or audited statements.
Because it is headquartered in Austin, ML&R knows the local developer and builder community well. It suits investors who want a local firm big enough to handle partnership allocations and audits, but still Austin-rooted.
Best for: Austin investors and developers who want the largest locally based option with a real estate team.
2. Atchley & Associates — Austin Firm Since 1999 With Partnership Allocation Expertise
Atchley & Associates has operated in Austin since 1999 and is based on La Posada Drive. Its real estate practice serves investors, commercial and residential developers, realtors, brokers, property managers and property owner associations across Austin and Texas.
The services track a property’s life: acquisitions, subdivision and development, sales, exchanges and foreclosures, with the tax implications of each. Atchley also helps with partnership economics, including special allocations and preferred returns, which is useful for small syndications and joint ventures where the operating agreement drives the tax result.
It adds contract review, cash flow projections, entity selection and IRS representation. That mix suits investors who want a smaller firm to review deal documents as well as file returns.
Best for: Local investors and small syndications that need help with partnership allocations and entity choice.
3. Whitley Penn — Texas Firm With Fund Administration And REIT Services
Whitley Penn has an Austin office on North Capital of Texas Highway and seven other Texas offices. It has been in business for 43 years and serves private, public and private equity-backed real estate companies.
Tax consulting covers acquiring, managing and selling property, including 1031 exchanges, Qualified Opportunity Zones and cost segregation studies. The firm also offers fund administration for REIT and non-REIT funds, including investor reporting and distribution waterfall calculations, and REIT services for REITs with assets up to $1 billion.
Outsourced accounting covers CAM reconciliations, tenant invoicing and monthly bookkeeping. Whitley Penn belongs to NCREIF, CREW and NAIOP. For sponsors raising outside capital, having fund administration and tax at the same firm reduces handoffs.
Best for: Fund managers and sponsors who need waterfall calculations and investor reporting.
4. Weaver — Texas Firm With A Downtown Austin Office And Long Real Estate History
Weaver’s Austin office is on the 32nd floor at 400 West 6th Street. The firm says it has served the real estate industry for 70 years and works with developers, commercial and residential owners and operators, master-planned communities, REITs, funds, homebuilders, property managers and brokers.
Its real estate services include cost segregation and energy tax consultation, like-kind exchange planning, choice-of-entity analysis, acquisition due diligence, lease audits and rehabilitation and low-income housing credit planning. Weaver also offers outsourced CFO and controller services.
The master-planned community and homebuilder experience is relevant in the Austin metro, where suburban development has been strong. Weaver also serves hospitality clients, which can help investors with hotel or event properties. It also offers fraud investigation, IT security reviews and sales and use tax consultation, which matter more to larger operators.
Best for: Commercial owners, homebuilders and developers who want a Texas firm with broad real estate services.
5. Haynie & Company — Multi-State Firm With An Austin Real Estate Page And Cost Segregation
Haynie & Company lists six Texas offices, including Austin, among 15 locations, and says it has operated for 60 years. Its Austin real estate page focuses on cost segregation studies, tax credits and estate planning for inherited property.
For larger portfolios, including private equity funds, Haynie lists distribution ratio analysis, projections of renovation costs and appreciation, and appraisals to support rent increases. It describes a holistic approach that connects real estate accounting with tax planning.
Having cost segregation and tax preparation at the same firm can simplify the handoff between the study and your return, especially when Form 3115 catch-up depreciation is involved. Compare its study pricing with specialist providers before committing. Because Haynie works across many states, ask which office and which people will staff your engagement.
Best for: Owners and funds who want cost segregation and tax work coordinated by one firm.
6. Armanino — National Firm That Grew In Austin Through Holtzman Partners
Armanino added Austin firm Holtzman Partners on January 1, 2022, and lists an Austin office at 401 South 1st Street. Holtzman’s former managing partner leads Armanino’s Austin offices.
Its real estate practice serves developers, owners and operators, construction companies and real estate investors. Tax work includes 1031 exchanges, and advisory services cover valuations, lease accounting, due diligence and distressed property workouts.
Armanino’s distinguishing feature is technology. It offers cloud accounting, financial close automation, reporting and business intelligence, and integrations with Yardi, Timberline and RealPage. That suits operators whose property management and accounting systems need to work together as the portfolio grows. Advisory services also cover ASC 842 lease accounting, cybersecurity and risk assurance.
Best for: Growing operators who want outsourced accounting and software integration with their tax work.
7. Baker Tilly — National Practice With Fund Administration And Property Tax Appeals
Baker Tilly lists an Austin office on South MoPac Expressway. Its real estate practice serves developers, owners, investors, property managers, private equity real estate funds, REITs, syndicators, lenders, high-net-worth individuals and family offices.
Tax services include cost segregation, Opportunity Zones, REIT advisory, property tax appeals and credits such as LIHTC. Managed services include fund administration, construction draw management and property management accounting, and consulting covers market and feasibility studies and site selection.
Property tax appeals matter in Texas, where there is no personal income tax and property taxes are often the largest annual tax bill. Baker Tilly describes itself as the sixth largest accounting firm in the US. A client testimonial on its real estate page describes growing from fewer than 30 to almost 400 outside investors over three years.
Best for: Syndicators and family offices who want fund administration, tax and property tax help together.
8. RSM US — Middle-Market Real Estate Practice With A Colorado Street Office
RSM US lists an Austin office at 300 Colorado Street. Its real estate practice serves owners and operators, investors in funds and REITs, industrial, office and multifamily developers, construction firms, property managers and family office groups.
Services include tax, audit, consulting, fund administration, property accounting and outsourcing. RSM also offers Yardi implementation and optimization, which helps owners whose property management system and general ledger do not reconcile cleanly.
RSM is active in The Real Estate Roundtable, NAREIT, NCREIF, PREA and CREW Network. It fits sponsors and operators who are scaling toward audited funds or private REITs more than single-property landlords. The practice serves private and public companies across all real estate sectors and asset classes, so it can stay with a sponsor as funds grow.
Best for: Middle-market operators and fund managers with multi-state portfolios.
9. Cherry Bekaert — 1031 And Partnership Specialists With A West Sixth Street Office
Cherry Bekaert lists an Austin office at 221 West Sixth Street. Its real estate and construction practice serves developers across property types, land bankers, property managers, REITs and investment funds.
Tax services include 1031 exchanges and tenant-in-common transactions, cost segregation, Section 704(c) work for partnerships, Opportunity Zone and housing credits, and acquisition and disposition planning. Advisory services include lease analysis, joint venture structuring, operating agreement review and distressed asset analysis, and the firm offers REIT testing.
Section 704(c) comes up when partners contribute appreciated property to a partnership, which is common in family real estate and joint ventures. Having that expertise on hand helps avoid surprises at sale. The firm reports more than 2,400 real estate and construction clients and ranks on Construction Executive’s 2026 Top 50 Construction Accounting Firms list.
Best for: Investors in partnerships, TICs or joint ventures with contributed property.
10. CBIZ — Real Estate Tax, Valuation And Insurance From A North Austin Office
CBIZ lists an Austin office on Research Boulevard in North Austin. Its real estate practice serves developers, owner-operators, investors, property management firms, REITs and brokerages.
Services include audit, outsourced accounting, cost segregation studies, entity structuring, property tax consulting, tax outsourcing and Opportunity Zone advisory. CBIZ also offers real estate valuation and property and liability insurance, which can simplify things for developers managing several vendors.
Its case studies include a $23 million first-year deduction on a $90 million multifamily development, which shows its focus on larger projects. Smaller investors may find a local firm a better fit. Testimonials cite client relationships of 20 to 40 years, and CBIZ also offers risk management and benefits consulting for real estate companies with staff.
Best for: Developers and larger owners who want tax, valuation and insurance under one provider.
How To Choose A Real Estate CPA In Austin
Do They Understand Short-Term Rental Rules?
Many Austin investors own short-term rentals. Ask whether the firm regularly applies the average-stay and material participation tests behind the short-term rental tax loophole, and how it documents them.
Will They Coordinate A Cost Segregation Study?
Some firms here perform studies, while others coordinate with outside specialists. Compare both routes using our list of cost segregation firms in Texas.
How Do They Handle Texas Franchise Tax And Property Tax?
Ask whether the firm prepares Texas franchise tax reports for your LLCs and whether it works with property tax consultants on Travis County protests.
Do They Serve Clients Your Size?
An Austin CPA for rental property owners with three doors is different from a firm built for funds. Ask about typical client size, property types and the number of K-1s they prepare.
Who Will Do The Work?
Ask who prepares and reviews your return and how the firm handles questions during the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Texas Tax Rental Income?
Texas has no personal income tax, so individuals do not pay state income tax on rental income. Some entities may have Texas franchise tax obligations, so confirm your filings with a CPA.
Is Bonus Depreciation Still Available In 2027?
Yes. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act made 100% bonus depreciation permanent for qualifying property acquired after January 19, 2025. Older acquisitions follow the earlier phase-down rules.
Do I Need A Local Austin CPA?
Not always, but a local firm knows Travis County appraisal issues and Austin short-term rental rules. If you own across Texas, a regional firm with several Texas offices can cover all of it.
Conclusion
Austin has a strong set of real estate accountants, from long-established local firms on Congress Avenue and La Posada Drive to Texas regional firms and national practices. Pick the firm whose clients look like you, confirm how it handles short-term rentals and franchise tax, and compare it with our national real estate CPA list.
This article is general information, not tax or legal advice.
