What you do not want is a pet adversely impacting other tenants which is why they work OK in a SFR.Also, what can't be ignored is taking the tenants entire profile into consideration.  

I am more risk adverse so I would not count on long term appreciation with a negative cash flow property especially in DC/NOVA...there is always a ceiling on how high the appreciation can go when you are already starting out with average home costs for a basic house that needs heavy cosmetic rehab funding on top of the over $350K - $450K house in an Ok area of DC/NOVA.I submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request at the County Code Enforcement office and got a list of blighted (Vacant) and other code violation properties.  

In the future when I become an Attorney (because in life you actually have to work towards things in life), when I receive such advertisements from individuals like you, who cannot strive through adversity without reaching out for a freebie, I will burn their "26lbs. bright white paper" while it is still in the "#10 envelope from Staples" without even looking at it.

Third - just doing some very cursory research brought me to the infamous north Texas squatter story and the obscure Adverse Possession law.  

An AP (adverse possession) deal is one option yet because of lingering distant family members I am hesitant.

@Mitchell Gisi you may be able to use adverse possession law to claim ownership.

Sometime back I had listened or read about people bragging about gaining title by adverse possession.

Look, the meaning of life is adversity.

Even if the law in our state allows declining a spouse with adverse action, I would not use it, in this case it seems unreasonable to ruin the opportunity for these folks, we only want to protect ourselves if the situation changes.

Would an adverse action letter be required for each of these potential tenants who has requested a showing or submitted an application (I did not invite anyone else to apply yet, but some have applied immediately upon seeing the listing without any pre-screening).Any insights would be very much appreciated.