When they help get a tenant approved quickly, I sent them cookies or candy as a thank you, and make a point to stop in when we're in FL.Condos/townhouses have been a good investment for us.

We are not, any of us, purely rational economic actors.  

There will always be bad actors, doesn't mean we have to go to the movie

That isn't too far off really.......he was definitely an actor.

I am desperately trying not to act or seem like I don't know what I am doing as this will be my first deal!

There are many bad actors out there.Networking is the key in RE.

Getting bad actors to correct their ways is not often seen by them as a favor to them, put it really is, if they continue they can get in worse trouble later on, they usually don't look at it like that.

I'm also an actor too so maybe we can work on a film together as well.

In Vegas we have a MAJOR problem with them handing out building permits like candy.

But, I guess you need to clarify what "red flags" are to you.Someone could be killing it/raking it in with sterling credit, income, etc. for that all to change when the cards fall if they are behind a ponzi scheme or even an honest profession that fizzled out (e.g. an actor, model, lottery winner or sports star who blew threw their cash.)Thus, a good tenant in the past could be lousy in the future and vice versa.