Definitely go ahead with the background check (plus refs form the previous landlord).  

Are landlords required to keep the security deposit in a non-personal account?

It doesn’t matter if you are a new investor just getting started or have been a landlord for years, what you don’t know can hurt you.

@Rick Baggenstoss  I grew up in Glenn Garry glen ross my dad was a land man just like Al Pacino... and Jack Lemmon would have done better if he did what my dad did.. my dad bought a printing press and I had to make door hangers after work then on weekends I had to put them out door to door.. so my dad got 20 leads a week and did not use the company leads like everyone else.. soon was number one then in 2 years started his own company... thanks for the memories.. my exerpince with this company is on the front lines one of my vendors bought a property through these yahoos  total fabrication on the rehab and resale value these guys are ruthless in their approach and in my mind have little concern other than to make a fee and move on totally CAVEAT EMPTOR if working with these folks..

Hello,I am looking for a little advice on the best way to use a couple of different types of money towards down payments of a couple of properties that we want to buy at pretty much the same time (retiring landlord selling portfolio).

I'm sorry you are faced with this so early in your landlording foray.  

I'm going to paraphrase here:"COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS LAND COURT DEPARTMENT OF THE TRIAL COURTORDER OF NOTICE TO: (Previous owner's name), and to all persons entitled to the benefit of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act; Wells Fargo Bank...Asset-Backed Pass-Through Certificates...claiming to have interest in a mortgage covering real property at (address), given by: (name) to (mortgage company) dated May 2005...and now held by Plaintiff by assignment, has/have filed with this court a complaint for determination of defendants service members status...If you object to the foreclosure of the property above then you or your attorney must file a written appearance and answer this before OCT 31, 2016 or you will be forever barred from claiming that you are entitled to the benefits of said Act"Now, forgive me for my ignorance, but is this just a foreclosure notice?

They are asking 299,900 Land locked, no room for expansion.Total Income     22,187Insurance              189Liability Ins.           767Interest Expense   174Loan Interest     10534Labor                  6400Repairs                 646Supplies                90Taxes                 2532  (Not sure what value amount this is on)Telephone            841Utilities (G & E)     802******I talked to commercial lender today and he said they require 30% down, financed commercially at possible 5.3 to 5.6% + for 15 or 20 years.  

Here is the text that maters in your situation DEFINITIONS OF WORKING RELATIONSHIPSFor purposes of this document, seller also means “landlord” (which includes sublandlord) and buyer also means “tenant” (which includes subtenant).Seller’s Agent: A seller’s agent (or listing agent) works solely on behalf of the seller to promote the interests of the seller with the utmost good faith, loyalty and fidelity.

Depending if said mobile home was surrendered to DMV and now is an improvement on land and not movable.