I am looking for a personal reference that is not related to them, typically a minister, pastor, someone like that that usually wouldn't lie about their character.  

I like to only use an appraiser that I have used in the past or one that has been recommended to me by someone I trust.

You should be able to look at a basement foundation and tell whether there are cracks or bulges in it or termites in your walls and you should be able to climb in the attic and see if the roof has leaked in the past or is still leaking.

Although people are more likely to take on a "pastor" tenant because they think that means they will always pay the rent. 

(I'm not joking either.))But it doesn't matter which route you take, they both had the same thing in common, they made money, and they always made sound business decisions.Success wasn't about feeling good about yourself, it wasn't about reading the Bible (no offense, I say that as a pastors son), it was about making good decisions all the time.Something I hear constantly from the $15ph people "I work hard".

She is a older woman and her husband is a pastor of a church.

A pastor friend of mine recently preached about it in a sermon he did. 

You have to spend 90% of your time finding a good deal and talking with prospective buyers or in activities that will make you money first.Regarding your original question though, how I did it in the past or to get my first deal is to literally make 50 offers on the 50 houses that my realtor showed me.

I was the Youth Pastor and his kids were in my youth group. 

If you have part of the SSN it helps, otherwise enter name and you can find if any past or current actions have been filed.