Currently, we ask tenants to apply using an online resource and at that point they are asked to provide a credit report (its a soft pull, they elect to share it with me the landlord).

Of course do not be soft but show compassion.

Market was soft for 1-2 years, and then back on.

Sue Kelly, your advice is sound - I would  sell it, but the area has a very soft market and I don't see it going up in the near future. 

I don't know if you have heard about the "distressed, blighted, zombie" properties on Long Island or not....I have found, on my own, over 50 of these properties by driving around on my own and because I was once a very good Republian Girlfriend..to, well.....a very good Republican ex Boyfriend.... whom Is still a close friend..... 

There is a huge risk, how about this one:http://www.daycare.com/california/state35.html$200 fine per day for the operation of an unlicensed daycare in the State of California.Do you think the tenant who will have done a runner is going to pay this - or the landlord (soft target) who knew about it and did nothing?

heh, i'm always worried about this situations as i'm a pet admirer myself and do find them so invaluable to wellness especially for the elderly, the disabled, and a few other niches like seizure predictions, etc. ditto for horticulture/gardening but fortunately houseplants dont normally cause any damages or liabilities like a tenants' lethal dog bites suddenly becoming the liability of the landlord as certain court cases in america have actually found (the landlord to be the statutory owner responsible for the dog's damages). i couldn't decide whether to put a 2M or 250M price tag on a toddler's loss of life, my bad in the story line!

I'm still on his list, but in a phone call to said wholesaler he told me the market had got soft, and a former wholesaler in the area also told me the same and recommended I look other places for now and that was October last year.Anyway, as much as I despise rentals, if I knew how to make-a-living-NOW at it, I would get into it.

One of my duplexes is stuck with 18" vanities so some extra shelves and towel bars helped me there.

It is a serious business I guess I am just too soft to the stories.