Any prospective resident with bad credit or a prior eviction is going to have an impossible time finding a place to live.  

Get a free report from the credit agencies.

At the numbers you are talking about and where the market is heading you could pick up some very high quality NNN national credit tenant properties as commercial continues to recover. 

So I get this referral from a relative about a tenant who has good credit score, no criminal history, and a good paying job.

Any tips/pointers, etc?  

I put a new build under contract early this month, and are now working on the loan with a credit union.

PRO TIP: Some counties will work with you as the new "owner" on code violations.

Pro tip--make sure your exhaust fan in the bathroom is vented to the atmosphere--meaning out to the outside.....go out the roof or out the side of the unit or secured to an opening in a soffit vent grille off the house. 

That affects your credit for instance.A better way to look at it is voluntarily making the mortgage payment for someone.

Either would be a great option; I'd probably choose Roseville because it's more established, but the City of Elk Grove deserves a lot of credit for its impactful growth programs, so it wouldn't be a bad option.