Potential tenant

[James H.]

Hey guys,

I have just completed the rehab to my first ever investment property low income sfh rental.

Most prospective applicants don't bother to show up at the set meeting time (or at all). Not a big deal as I like to check on the properties.

The first applicant that we received was a married couple with three boys and two pit bulls and out of state driver license numbers - no thank you! their credit was terrible (not that I expect any different for my 550 month 2 br house) and I won't rent to pet owners with unapproachable animals. So I declined them. They were the very first app so I didn't charge just because I already knew the answer based on the dogs, but I still wanted to go through the process for practice.

The next applicant had golden 5 year rental history, although only 6 months (verified) at current employer. We didn't charge app fee for them because my wife handled them (Spanish speakers) and messed up. This won't happen again. Anyways, they have no skin in the game and have not followed up to execute even though we approved them.

Now I am looking at my third app. We charged for this one. They even gave us the 300 deposit (refundable if we say no) to hold the place for them. They showed up when they said they would to see the place and then a second time to give me the app and money. Present employment of the husband is 6 months and previous employment was 2 years. The wife doesn't work. Last 6 months at their apartment checks out and personal references check out. They have insufficient credit to generate a score which is good considering they haven't run up a bunch of charge cards and not paid them.

Here is the problem. They claim to have lived with the husbands dad for the last 5 years prior to the apartment they have lived in (verified) for the last 6 months. However, his references give conflicting stories and there is an apartment collection for about 900 bucks or so from 2008.

I don't like that there is likely false info on the application. I don't like that there is a collection from an apartment within 5 years.

Even so, they seam better than all but one of any of the people who have expressed sincere interest in the house and the ONLY ones to back it up with money.

I'd like to get a tenant in place and the last 6 months for them check out good.

I guess my biggest concern is the dishonesty on the app, but considering the collections from 2008, I can see why they would lie. But even though it was less than 5 years ago, it was still 3.5 years ago and this is an early 20's couple, so a long time for them compared to a mid 30's or older.

Considering it makes me nervous to show half of the people the house because I'm afraid they could just be scoping it out to come and steel my copper and a/c compressor later, what is your opinion. This is my first rental and my judgement just isn't that developed yet. I'm putting myself out here-I want to take the chance, but if you all tell me I am heading for disaster, I need to hear that to re-assess my judgement.