Cook County is the only most populous county that lost population (182,066) in the last ten years with a 3.4% decline and I grew tired of the harsh winters and high property taxes there.

Here is my process for EVERYONE.Complete a rental appProvide their last 4 paystubs (all working adults)Run credit check (this for me verifies possible rto clients)Criminal Background ChecksLandlord verifications for last 2 years(and addresses that show on credit report)Sex Offender check(know one wants that kind of drama)Plus phone interview.Im just a stickler on tenants.

@Charles Soper,that is what I figured and I didn't mean to be harsh on you... over the years I've heard all kinds of questions and ideas.

I would reduce the drama and let the girlfriend out of the lease agreement.A lease agreement can be amended upon agreement all parties involved.

Also brokers/agents like to work with other professionals where they know that side of the transaction (hopefully) is handled smoothly without a lot of drama and headaches. 2. 

Encountered any drama?

I certainly would not purchase this property if I did not expect continuing rent appreciation as it is detached duplex (two tenants are typically twice the work of one) and the current cash flow is too low for me to justify the effort.So far the extent of our value adds has been rehabs with potentially adding bathrooms.I have significant confidence of continued rent increases over the next few years at least: 1) rents lag property appreciation. 2) vacancy rate is real low. 3) cost to add more than ADU is high - it coasts around $100K to break ground for residential in San Diego (permits, surveys, etc.). 4) Minimum wage increases already approved.  5) one of the best weather climates in the US.  6) rising population: one recent study had San Diego as 13 highest population increase of large US cities.  7) geographically constrained: Constrained by Mexico to the South, Pacific to the West, Camp Pendleton to the North, and the East quickly gets harsh.  8) good and varied employment: Hard to manage a employment category melt down that could impact the range of employment in San Diego.  9) environmentally diverse from mountains to desert to beach to happening urban center.This weekend I plan to send 2 rent increase notices. 

There's always some sort of drama in the background somewhere. 

However, because I did not have him sign a lease and set certain expectations, this led to a little bit of drama.2.

@Gareth FisherThanks for the post.I think the corollary of your argument is that we are so conditioned to hear the success stories to motivate us to go out and do things or buy stuff that there is little room for the harsh reality of business being anything but an endless string of success stories.