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Updated over 4 years ago,
Rookie uneasy about a tenant
Hello I am a relatively new Investor and am uneasy about a potential tenant. Would some of the more experienced landlords please give me some input? (Be gentle) I have an A+ SFH a week away from completion in an A+ neighborhood and I'm asking top of market rent. A friend of mine (retired mailman) met a drinking buddy at the Moose Lodge. Guy just moved here as a carpenter for work and is looking for a rental home. He connected the dots. Guy is ready to move in on completion, full ask, full deposit, no pets, no smokers. The house is in an A+ neighborhood and the best schools in the area. I have had the house listed for about 2 weeks without many hard bites. I believe this is due to COVID shutting down school many families are not aggressively looking to get into this area. So this seems like a great deal until...
Guy submits his application and I see 5 arrest records. All minor traffic incidents many years ago (No insurance, failure to register vehicle, failure to wear seatbelt, driving without a license etc.) but solid income and no prior evictions we could see. Then I then look this guy up on Facebook and see all kinds of "F This, F that", angry political rants against BLM, middle finger selfies etc.
Am I letting my beliefs and moral compass keep me from lording over this land well or are these easy red flags? I mean if he wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed he wouldn't be a renter right? Am I crazy for holding out for lotto winning nuns and peace corp trust fund doctors as tenants?