I was thinking of doing half and using the other money for a gazebo/ with grill and dog park. 

It ask them the basics like you mentioned and things like salary, people on that would be living there, previous and current landlord, dogs/pet info etc.You don't have to login to get the application and take a look at it.I charge a $40 application fee before paying to run the check.

Oh well, it was my dog now.  

I am a behavioral therapist currently located in Southern California, SGV.

Everyone, their aunt and their dog was getting a "stated income" loan to buy dirt or a house they couldn't afford, silencing the inner voice of reason, letting greed take over and hoping for appreciation to take care of being way too overleveraged.

People were paying ridiculous prices for SFR because everyone, their aunt, and their dog received a “stated income” loan.

My renovated rental is not getting the responses that I thought I was going to get - 3 interested people, 2 of which flaked out and the other wants me to negotiate (a dog but I do not want dogs). 

Finding deals for other real estate investors by bird dogging and wholesaling are other avenues you may want to pursue.

An easy example of this is that your tenant owns a dog know to you to bite and you did not try to have the dog removed.

Some of his behavior is absolutely illegal and I would never recommend anyone follow his lead, but it's worked for him.