The owner is currently employed.  

Lots of rules but basically you need a project that will employ enough people to qualify.

Though something always comes up I currently am not working and have no promise from an employer of future work.

I am currently employed and although it is a low salaried position, I do enjoy what I do and the potentials in growing and advancing as things grow. 

I wouldn't employ this technique more than once - do some research into the going rate for comparable rentals and then post the property again with the appropriate market-rate.As for denying the dog, make sure it isn't a service animal.

We have been using a company called ACUTRAQ for several years with great results.They perform credit, national criminal search, eviction search, they they even call the landlords for verification of rental history and employers for verification of income.  

I am employed at a full time job that I plan to leave behind as soon as possible.

The Chicago Metro now has 420,000 more people employed than at the trough of the last recession and 80,000 more than the last peak employment of 2001.

I would not advise paying the same, there is a big risk that you will get a crappy one (i have a really rigorous screening method), but my pay range is $15-25/hr (for clients plus 35% = 8% employer share taxes, 15% work comp, 12% overhead & profit).

I do know some self employed guys that were forced to use obamacare and pay over $3000/mo for a family of four.