i agree with @rick@Rick Baggenstoss undefined when new development comes to these areas it puts a sense of excitement in the people that live in area. the risk comes in your ability to weed out the tenants that will be long term and be there for a while verse the tenants that will not pay on time or at all and won't be there for long for one reason or another. i personally prefer nurses or someone with a more stable job then a temp agency or kmart can offer. i also look for what kind of car they drive. its newer they might have a loan out which is a sign of a more stable income. also how long where they at their last address 3 years or more is a good sign. but even with all that under their belt the more personally issues might make them a headache to rent to.in regards to most "warzones" being black is entirely untrue. most are a mixture of all race. the term warzone comes from the crime rate within the city not the neighborhood and condition of the buildings within. there are some great people with these buildings that make great tenants and live very stable lives. thousand of diffrent situations that make them bad tenants and good tenants. your screening process makes all the difference in these areas but thats still no reason to shy away from them. real estate investing is suppose to be challenging and if your in it for just the easy deal minus the tuff then your in the wrong game.

Most of the serious applicants then print it off themselves, fill it out and return it at the time of viewing.I'd definitely shoot down any unnecessary repairs immediately at the viewing.

Do some digging on the screening process.

Numbers, saving and investing is boring, it is much more fun to spend and buy stuff like a new big screen to watch the Walking Dead or Dancing with the Stars.

Screening applicants is not hard.

Unfortunately, what Bill said is not true in California.According to multiple attorneys I asked, a lease cannot be bk-proof, even prior to the lease being signed.A signed statement from a prospect also does not stop the landlord from being named as a future creditor.Basically, the old rules still apply- screen well to minimize risk.I met the prospect today, and she told me her husband and son just went to an MLB baseball game.Yeah, now I know why she's planning to file for BK.

Do you find you have trouble screening for reliable renters in the L/A area?

I understand I can use the more costly services such as FedEX, UPS, and USPS Certified Mail, but I am trying to avoid the unnecessary expenses if I can do it digitally.For wholesalers doing deals out of State, what is your process?

I need to fire my current tenant screening company....I've got my choices narrowed down to Mr.Landlord and NTN.

Also, how to screen builders ?