Would You Rent to Him?

[Jackie Sladky]

We have an applicant who lived in another place nearby for 8 yrs and is looking because the property that he and his two teenage sons live in will be sold.   He seems pleasant and is approaching 60, landlord liked him, never an issue.  Here is the reason that I am hesitating: he does not hold a job and come across as a nervous type.  His brother who has large income co-signed for him before and will do so again.  If he works out, more likely we will have a long-term tenant.  But we can only get reference from one landlord, who is the current.  

What can I do to make sure that he's not a weirdo.  I plan to ask why he's not working and where his income comes from.  That may help explain things, but if anyone has ideas of what else I should do, please let me know

I love all my current tenants, and we are expecting one other group of serious, younger people applying.  I like these people but believe that they won't stay as long as the nervous man.