How to screen potential tenants?

[Pramod Ponna]

Hello. I am new to real estate. I have a few questions about tenant screening.

1) Do we screen all the applications simultaneously or screen one application after another based on first come, first served?

2) If two applicants have similar profiles, but you like the second application better than the first one, what reason do you provide to the first applicant without violating the Fair Housing Act?

3) What if one of the applicants applied very late but offered 200 or 300 dollars more monthly for rent and requested that his application be approved? Is it okay to lease the property to this applicant without violating the Fair Housing Act? 

P.S: All the applicants have good credit scores, 3x income, and no criminal or eviction history.