Denying a tenant while the property is still available?

[Mike Roberts]

I am currently closing on a SFH that will be a rental in NC. The area is kind of rural, and I don't expect to see a huge number of applicants. Say somebody applies, they have good credit, no criminal history, job, etc, but for whatever reason I just do not want them as a tenant. How should I deny this person without breaking the law or being too rude? I don't want to give them a specific reason why, I just want to say something like "sorry, we have chosen a different tenant".

BUT...if the house stays on the market after that, it's going to be obvious that I don't really have another tenant, I just don't want that particular one. I can't just wait until I have multiple applications to choose from, it may take a month or more for that to happen.

With that in mind, what is the best way to tell a "protected class" that you aren't interested in their business, without getting sued?