Look for an agent who at least has a 4 year degree.

What are you typically willing to accept regarding credit score? 

If I have already a few accepted offers in December I start writing offers with 60 day closings and delay them a little longer into spring.

But, a Ph.D. education is a wonderful, socially acceptable way to say, "no, I want to spend a ridiculous amount of time learning more, for a while, before getting a 'real' job."

You can accept a deposit before the start of the lease and another after the 12 months and use that as a down payment towards the home.It's also worth noting that Texas is one of the states where you can retire a title (or SOL) to the land and also separate it again later if needed.

We still get a lot of acceptances and can not take them all.

They don't wanna accept the fact it is probably only worth 85k or so instead of 135k.

I pay for this service at no additional cost to my buyers.The option can not be exercised if an eviction takes place per my "breach of contract" clause which states:If the Tenant/Buyer shall fail to keep and perform any of the covenants, agreements, or provisions of this Lease/Option, or If the Tenant/Buyer shall abandon the property; it shall be lawful for the Landlord/Seller to repossess, and enjoy the same as if this Lease/Option had not been made, and thereupon this Lease/Option and everything herein contained on the part of the Landlord/Seller to be done and performed shall cease, determine and be utterly void.The tenant/buyer is clear about their maintenance responsibility as future owners of the property per the clause in the lease that states:The Tenant/Buyer accepts the property “as is" on the date of execution of this Lease/Option The Tenant/Buyer shall henceforth be responsible for all maintenance and repair upon said property, both interior and exterior.

We have quite a bit of interest, but are wondering if we should accept applications for the rental before our appraisal is done on our new home?

You may end up being the only one to put in an offer and the bank may end up accepting it rather than letting it go to auction.