Why Real Estate Controllers Choose Offshore Accounting Staff Over Hiring In-House

The real estate market is still expanding at a record rate. The global real estate market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2% from 2022 to 2030, reaching USD 5.85 trillion.

However, complexity comes with growth.

Rising local salaries, compliance risks, talent shortages, and the never-ending cycle of hiring and turnover are some of the challenges facing real estate controllers, who are in charge of accounting and financial management for portfolios.

In the past, businesses relied on internal accounting departments. However, more controllers are now using nearshore and offshore accounting staff augmentation, a more intelligent and adaptable model that offers accountants real estate training at a fraction of the price without the strict overhead of traditional BPO providers.

Why In-House Accounting Creates Roadblocks

Rising Overhead & Salaries

Margin-eroding costs such as salaries, benefits, insurance, training, and office space are necessary for local hires.

Limited Talent in the Area

Accounting for real estate is specialized. Few applicants receive training in property taxes, lease terms, tenant ledgers, and CAM reconciliations.

Slow Turnover and Hiring

It takes months to recruit. High attrition means controllers are frequently starting over, even after training.

Why Controllers Are Choosing Offshore Accounting

Expertise in Real Estate

Higher accuracy and fewer mistakes are produced by offshore accountants with training in AP/AR, property tax, reconciliations, and compliance.

Cost savings of 50–70%

Controllers save money on infrastructure, salaries, and benefits, which frees up funds for expansion and property upgrades.

Risk-Free Scalability

Without having to deal with layoffs, scale up support during busy times and scale down during slower seasons.

Work while you’re Asleep

Reports and reconciliations are prepared by morning because offshore teams operate across time zones.

The Benefit of Technology

With training in Yardi, QuickBooks, Xero, MRI, AppFolio, and Yardi Breeze, offshore employees provide controllers with enterprise-level reporting without incurring additional license fees.

Also See: Staff Augmentation in Commercial Real Estate Accounting

Relay vs Traditional BPOs: What’s the Difference?

FactorÂ	In-House StaffÂ	Traditional BPOÂ	Relay Offshore StaffÂ
CostÂ	High salaries and benefitsÂ	Cost savings, but rigid contractsÂ	50–70% savings, flexible contractsÂ
Talent PoolÂ	LimitedÂ	GeneralizedÂ	Real estate–trained accountantsÂ
ScalabilityÂ	Fixed headcountÂ	Slow to adjustÂ	On-demand scalingÂ
IntegrationÂ	Easy but expensiveÂ	Limited customizationÂ	Seamless with your tools (Yardi, MRI, QuickBooks, Xero)Â
EngagementÂ	DirectÂ	TransactionalÂ	Dedicated offshore team, aligned with your workflowsÂ
Data SecurityÂ	Internal controlÂ	VariableÂ	Enterprise-grade data security (ISO-compliant offices)Â

How Relay Onboarding Works

It’s easy to get started. In less than two weeks, the majority of clients are operational.

1. Discovery Call: Recognize your accounting pain points, systems, and portfolio.
2. Alignment & Setup: Assign you to qualified offshore accountants who are knowledgeable about your resources.
3. Get Started in Days, Not Months: Your remote team quickly produces outcomes by integrating with your workflows.

Also See: 5 Signs You Need an Offshore Team

Conclusion: The Better Way Ahead

Financial efficiency is a competitive advantage for today’s real estate controllers, not an option. Employees in offshore accounting provide:  

• Reduced expenses without sacrificing quality 
• Specialized knowledge of property accounting 
• scalability to accommodate business cycles 
• trustworthy data security and dependability 

By working with Relay Human Cloud, you get more than just accountants; you get a global partner who helps you scale, maintain compliance, and concentrate on expansion.

Are you prepared to streamline accounting for real estate? Speak with a Relay Specialist →

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

Q1. How is Relay different from a BPO? 

Instead of outsourcing, Relay provides staff augmentation. Instead of a shared service desk, you get committed to offshore accountants who work only for your company and are in line with your procedures.

Q2. What about data security? 

Your financial information is protected because every Relay office is enterprise-grade and ISO-compliant.

Q3. Will offshore accountants understand U.S. real estate compliance? 

Yes, Relay employees receive training on lease accounting, property tax, U.S. GAAP, and compliance standards.

Q4. Can they work with my accounting software? 

Of course. Relay accountants are proficient in MRI, Xero, AppFolio, QuickBooks, Yardi, and Yardi Breeze.

Q5. How quickly can I scale my offshore team? 

You can scale up or down in as little as a week with Relay’s bench-ready talent.