I came across conflicting information online, so I wanted to double-check with the knowledgeable folks on this forum. 

I will most definitely check them out(: 

hey @Matthew Toporowski, at the least I would check their financials/tax returns to see how profitable they are (which translates into how easy it will be to pay your rent).

A month back he asked me to add his brother and his wife to the lease and I asked him that they need to go through criminal and other checks that we went through.

You might also want to check out Austin, San Antonio, and Fort Worth - all have their own strengths.

He reminded me that he had come out a month earlier and offered to help identify the leak, but my tenant told him they had already checked and didn’t find anything (an oversight on my tenant’s part).

He paid monthly for 14 months until he forgot a check, got hit with a late fee, then paid the remaining 10 months in one check.He moved out at the end of his lease with no issues.Of course, this is the exception, not the norm.

1) Check with state building dept to see if they have a valid builder's license and if any negative issues with it. - PRO TIP: many builders lose their license then create new company in name of wife or other relative/friend.2) Check Better Business Bureau, but don't assume all the complaints are legit. - If there area MANY, then that is a problem.

It would be worth paying a third party to go and check the work for you to confirm it's completed before sending the funds. 

Check with the plan administrator and use that verbiage.  2.  59.5 is when you can take distributions without penalty.