PaySec + Buildium: Zero Processing Fees for Property Management
How property managers using Buildium are eliminating credit card processing fees on rent payments and tenant transactions with PaySec.
Property management is a margin business. Every dollar of net operating income matters — whether you are managing 50 units or 1,000. One of the most overlooked drains on NOI is the processing fee charged when tenants pay rent by credit or debit card. As more tenants prefer the convenience of card payments over mailing checks, the volume of fees grows. A property manager collecting $500,000 per month in rent with just 30% of tenants paying by card is losing over $49,000 per year in processing fees alone.
Buildium is the property management platform for residential managers — handling leasing, accounting, maintenance, and rent collection in one system. It does an excellent job of streamlining operations. But every card payment processed through Buildium's standard payment tools costs you money. PaySec brings Network Offset Pricing to Buildium, eliminating those fees entirely.
What Is the PaySec + Buildium Integration?
PaySec integrates with Buildium's tenant payment portal to display dual pricing on every transaction. When a tenant goes to pay rent, they see two options: the base amount for ACH/bank transfer and a slightly adjusted amount for credit card payment. The tenant picks their preferred method, the payment processes, and it posts to the tenant ledger in Buildium automatically.
This is Network Offset Pricing (NOP) — a transparent, legal approach to payment processing that is compliant in all 50 states and meets all card network rules. The property owner or manager receives the full rent amount regardless of which payment method the tenant selects. There are no hidden fees or surcharges added after the fact.
The Real Cost of Processing Fees for Property Managers
| Portfolio Size | Avg Monthly Rent | Card Payers (30%) | Annual Fees (2.75%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 units | $1,200 | 15 tenants | $5,940 |
| 150 units | $1,400 | 45 tenants | $20,790 |
| 500 units | $1,500 | 150 tenants | $74,250 |
| 1,000 units | $1,600 | 300 tenants | $158,400 |
These fees come directly out of revenue that should be flowing to property owners or improving your management company's bottom line. As card adoption among tenants increases — and it does every year — this cost accelerates.
How Network Offset Pricing Works for Rent Collection
A tenant receives their rent invoice or notification through Buildium. When they click to pay, the payment portal shows both options clearly:
- $1,400 — ACH / bank transfer
- $1,456 — credit card
The tenant chooses how to pay. Most tenants who see both options opt for ACH because the savings are obvious on a high-value recurring payment like rent. Either way, the property manager receives the full $1,400.
Application Fees and Move-In Costs
NOP applies to every payment type, not just monthly rent:
| Fee Type | ACH Price | Card Price | Fee Saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $50 | $52 | $1.38 |
| Security deposit | $2,800 | $2,912 | $77.00 |
| First month rent | $1,400 | $1,456 | $38.50 |
| Pet deposit | $500 | $520 | $13.75 |
A single move-in transaction with security deposit, first month rent, and pet deposit can save over $125 in processing fees.
Maintenance and Other Charges
Late fees, utility chargebacks, parking fees, and maintenance charges all process through PaySec at zero cost. Every payment type that flows through Buildium benefits from NOP.
Integration Features
Automatic Ledger Posting: Payments processed through PaySec post directly to the correct tenant ledger in Buildium, keeping your accounting records accurate without manual entry.
Online Payment Portal: Tenants see dual pricing when they log in to pay through Buildium's portal. No separate website or login required.
PCI Level 1 Compliance: PaySec handles all card data through PCI Level 1 certified infrastructure. Sensitive payment information never touches your systems.
No Contracts, No Minimums: PaySec does not require long-term contracts or minimum transaction volumes. Scale your portfolio up or down without payment processing commitments.
Multi-Property Support: Configure PaySec across your entire Buildium portfolio with centralized reporting and per-property settlement.
Who Is This For?
The PaySec + Buildium integration is built for residential property managers who are tired of watching processing fees eat into their NOI. Whether you manage a 50-unit apartment complex or a 1,000-unit portfolio across multiple properties, every card-paying tenant costs you money under traditional processing. PaySec eliminates that cost.
Property management companies focused on maximizing owner distributions will find this particularly valuable — eliminating processing fees directly improves the return delivered to property owners without raising rents or cutting services.
Property Management Savings
| Portfolio | Monthly Collections | Annual Savings |
|---|---|---|
| 50 units | $18,000 | $5,940 |
| 150 units | $63,000 | $20,790 |
| 500 units | $225,000 | $74,250 |
| 1,000 units | $480,000 | $158,400 |
Getting Started
- Contact PaySec for a property management merchant account — approval typically takes 3-5 business days
- Connect PaySec to your Buildium tenant payment portal — PaySec's team handles the integration configuration
- Configure dual pricing on payment pages — both options display clearly on every tenant-facing payment screen
- Tenants see both options on their next rent payment — no tenant communication or onboarding required
- Zero-fee collections begin immediately — you keep 100% of every payment from day one
Setup is fast and does not disrupt your existing Buildium workflow. Tenants simply see an additional payment option the next time they log in to pay. Most property managers are fully live within two weeks of signing up.
PaySec + Buildium: property management that maximizes NOI by eliminating rent payment processing fees. Every unit, every payment, every month.