They have excellent payment history, and their credit can be explained with a history of opening several credit cards and a brief period during covid with a few missed payments.  

Some lenders can do foreign nationals, but most are able to lend to green cards and most visa-type holders.

Ask if they take debit cards and credit cards or must you write a check, The way I am comfortable with paying is payment for the job x amount, payment for the decorations according to a gross budget for everything, as they are purchased vs giving a pool of money to draw from.

RecsCraig Curelop- The House Hacking Strategy: How to Use Your Home To Achieve Financial FreedomChad Carson- Small & Mighty InvestorBiggerPockets & BiggerPockets Rookie PodcastsGood luck!

There is a reason credit card rates are 20-30%... 

Work out a payment plan, put it in on a credit card, but get the thing replaced! 

I got my bill for my house in Lake Oswego from Safeco which I had had for years and it was always around 2k to 2.3 k  i get the bill its 6k.. i call my agent and told him no way.. and he hunted around and found me something maybe 500 cheaper .. so I thought I have a aaa card I know they sell insurance and are reputable.. walk in there 1800 bucks done and I have full  basement ( which is rare on a new home in Oregon) and they gave me a much higher insurance amount if my sump pump fails.. bottom line shop.u

I think it really comes down to what you are comfortable with but I don't think background check, credit card check, etc on top of a signed lease (and even small security deposit) is unreasonable for an MTR. 

- Is the license itself intrinsically useful for networking, or does nobody really need a rookie agent?

Speaking pretty bluntly here, but the cards are completely stacked against you.