I've been using Quicken for well over a decade. I typically upgrade to the latest version about every 2 years (there generally aren't enough changes/enhancements to justify upgrading every year), and with the release of 2010, I was due for an upgrade.
I've always liked the Quicken user interface; probably because I've been using it so long that it's simply what I'm used to. Some years ago, I did give Microsoft Money a try, but didn't like the differences in the user interface -- I found it more difficult to use. So, I eventually switched back to Quicken, and I've been using Quicken ever since.
I picked up the Rental Property Manager version because I do, in fact, own a rental property. Prior to this version, I was trying to manage it using Quicken Home & Business (with the rental property operating as a business). I had also picked up the separate Rental Property Manager software (that was ONLY for managing rental properties) but it didn't work very well for me. With the 2010 Quicken Rental Property Manager I was FINALLY able to get all of my finances organized in one piece of software in a manner that actually works well for me.
One caveat I should provide here: When I upgraded to this version, I did decide to start from scratch, rather than updating my data files. That said, I did upgrade the data files initially, and used this version of the software to reconcile all of my outstanding transactions over the course of a month, while simultaneously entering new transactions in a "clean" data file that I started from scratch. One of the reasons I did this was in the hopes of straightening out a long-running problem I had been having with the Debt Reduction Planner in prior versions of Quicken.
The Debt Reduction Planner problem I had was this: some years ago, I had run the Debt Reduction Planner to put together a plan for paying off all of my bills (credit cards, mortgage, car payments, etc). This worked fine, initially. However, at some point, I tried to "recalculate" the plan and, somehow, the payment for one of my bills got converted to a negative number...This resulted in the projected balance for that bill constantly going up (based upon their recommended payment) rather than down. I tried numerous times to correct this, but never could get it straightened out, even after upgrading through at least 2 additional versions (I kept hoping it was a problem with a prior version that got straightened out with a new released). In the end, I decided the problem must have been in the data file; and that's why I chose to start with a fresh data file (rather than the file I've been using since 1994). So far, I haven't had this problem in the 2010 Rental Property Manager version.
As for managing the rental property, this software works much better than prior versions of Quicken. You're able to define your properties, set up records for your renters, schedule and track the rent payments, etc. In fact, you can set up accounts and associate them with the rental property. For example, I try to keep my personal finances separate from my rental property. So, I have a separate checking account that I only use for the rental, and a credit card that I only use for the rental. I also have a mortgage and escrow account for the property. By creating these associations, Quicken is able to provide at-a-glance views of the monthly cash flow for the property. I can easily track maintenance expenses, insurance, rents paid, rents due, property taxes, etc.
There are a number of features I don't use, like downloading transactions from my bank and credit cards. I prefer to enter everything manually, so my records account for expenditures that I've made regardless of whether they've posted to the account or not. I simply sit down with my receipts every night and update the accounts with all payments, income, and expenditures. I tried the download feature, but determined that I prefer to do the entry manually because of the lag in some postings (some purchases would take 2 or 3 days to show up on the account). If you're as meticulous as I am, you'll probably prefer to turn off the automatic downloads; but, if you're like most people, you'll probably like that feature and use it rather than having to enter data every night.
All in all, I'm very happy with this product, and won't hesitate to upgrade again when the 2012 version is released.Get more detail about Quicken Rental Property Manager [DOWNLOAD].
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