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Updated over 4 years ago, 07/10/2020

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1,888
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1,045
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Jack B.
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Seattle, WA
1,045
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1,888
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Would you rent to these room mates or not?

Jack B.
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Seattle, WA
Posted

It was slow in February and March finding a tenant for another rental, though I ended up with 5 qualified applicants and filled it before I had any vacancy. Now I have another  house vacant for 3 months and almost no qualified applicants, whereas the place has usually gone within a week or two to qualified applicants. People are coming up with 600 credit scores (mostly 550), pitbulls, etc.

I have one application that is comprised of 3 room mates (common). Two are on unemployment (1 of which also gets disability) and the third just started a new job just 1 month ago. Two of the three are service workers (bartender, trade shows). One has really low credit. None have great credit, 2/3 are unemployed but getting UE and 1 is brand new at his job. One has a domestic violence conviction (a female). 

I have no other applicants. I'm still hesitant to rent to them due to eviction moratoriums. I've considered a higher security deposit, and would be collecting first/last as usual. But it still makes me uneasy. Under normal circumstances, I would absolutely NOT consider them. But do I risk going into fall with it sitting empty? They do have verified unemployment income and disability income. One has a new job. 

I AM getting a flood of interest since dropping the price from 2,200 to $2,000. Much more so than before. 

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