Going to a funding platform who thinks their job is to reject 99.9% of applicants because of their resource constraints is a recipe for failure.  

The rules you hear about (50%, 1%, 2%) are not applicable today in most markets.

Also if you purchase a property that has a rent controlled tenant in it...they are grandfathered in even if it is not applicable to you.I would stay away from Takoma Parks multis as TP has rent control beginning at either 1 or 2 units, and it is much much more restrictive than DCs.  

Both markets are very hot for appreciation but also carry positive cash flow.There are numerous turnkey companies down in those areas for cash buyers.

I agree more with the "work to learn" mentality with application, not the soft theories I'm taught at school.

What can be helpful for them as a perspective tenant (which you can tell your agent to advertise to applicants that fall short of the requirements) and yourself as a landlord, is to use a guarantor company.

But I want to make sure that I don't have to be a real estate broker in order to do that.Here are the services that I'm planning to provide as part of my screening, not sure which ones or any require me to be a broker.Landlord submits information about applicant (rental application, release authorization)I run the credit report on applicant and evictions report.

I am usually inundated with applications.

The policy is designed to comply with all applicable federal and state regulatory requirements and establishes minimum standards for the extension of credit.

Application / invitation required?