This implies rents have increase ~$1000/month in the last 10 years.

So Cal market is very different from a majority of markets in the US.Here are some of my thoughts:VA loan I believe implies house hack.Appreciation has historically created wealth while cash flow is used to pay the bills. 

"As a former trainer/coach I would HAPPILY speak with a  prospective client to ensure that we work well especially given the investment and that I would be working with that person every week for the next year.

But the actual original post asks questions that imply they are real offers, so I was a bit confused. 

This implies many people booking for August are making the booking in June or sooner. 

Also, I look at their credit history to see if there are any recent (within 12 mos) late payments, collections, or any derogatory credit that may imply that the applicant is going through financial difficulty or just simply does not pay their bills.

Thanks, @Kenneth Garrett, and yes I certainly didn't want to imply all inspectors are on a power trip.

That would imply property is rather old or has less than good school district (I'm in Austin and a good 2BR apartment rents here easily for $1100+ in good school district but comparison may not be applicable here, we do have very very high taxes thus pushing rent up all the time.) .

This implies a much different scenario (entirely possible, but rather unexpected).

Also note that some REIA groups are a part of National REIA and we have a once a year event where we compare notes on trainers and the trainers that do a bad job don't get invited back, the speakers that everyone is happy with, get referred.Plus if you do buy training from a trainer through the local REIA group, our buying power and combined forces nationwide that could get them barred from most stages, is very helpful when a problem comes up from time to time.