Starke Florida and a community with a seemingly endless flow of less than savory applicants.

[Kenneth Davis]

Im sorry to offend anyone who favors this hamlet of a city, but so far my advertising infront of the property which is, just across the tracks in downtown, all the unqualified applicants one should only see in maybe a life time! I have seen what appear to be respectable looking individuals throughout the area, but I have only attracted those with poor credit, an eviction or two, criminal records, sob story tellers etc. Is HUD the way to go on this property? I own it flat out and only have to pay those taxes and so it has so far sat vacant and with the aid of a full time job I had to resort too, can afford to keep it vacant I suppose a few solid years or atleast until I sell it. I have successful rentals in Jacksonville and Lakecity Florida which aways get good renters and ones that have chosen to this date stay for years, not months. I am am strict in my screening process, you name it and I do it as far as the background screening of all applicants goes. My thinking sadly, perhaps is guilty until proven innocent in the screening of tenants and I do look for nearly the best I can find. I have not had the luxury of attending court to evict any tenant in nearly 10-12 years now!

[Marcia Maynard]

I agree with @Account Closed. We stopped using yard signs/window signs. We advertise on-line and note some of our key rental criteria in the ad. This works as an initial screening. Dramatically cuts down on the number of people calling who will flat out not qualify. Craigslist still works for us and also Padlister, Postlets, Zillow, etc. They all will automatically show up on Padmapper, which many folks are using to find properties in the neighborhoods that interest them. 

Our niche is affordable housing and we rent to low income and fixed income folks. Even to folks with a ding in their credit and/or legal history if certain conditions are met. We also do telephone screening before we show a place. (See our Rental Criteria and Tenant Screening Questions in the BP File Place.) Section 8 works for us too. Our two longest term tenants (26 years and 23 years in place) are in that program and are good tenants.