Single recent widow w/ one small dog/ no other residents

Owns own home in town; still has low payments on it

Looking to downsize and not have to do maintenance

Taxes are not escrowed; this year's taxes are overdue

Has a specific/designated bank account to pay property/school taxes

Water bill is paid, last years' school taxes are paid

Credit score above 800

On budget billing for utilities; approx $850 shortage over the year

Not yet official retirement age (late fifties) but retired w/ pension and does on call work when called upon

Just over 3X income to rent

Buy her house on contract with a deal on the rent?

Out of the ball park! Especially compared to many of the losers I've seen in the last couple years. Yay!

I've been told that people with higher credit scores can be fussy and picky. I have a tenant similar to her situation now but she is fine.

I can see why you may have a concern, in spite of her credit score, since she hasn't kept up with utilities & taxes. I would want to find out why, and confirm it. Is it a problem that will be eliminated with her downsizing?

You say her current mortgage payment is low. How does it compare to the new rent? Will she be able to make both payments until her house sells?

Fussy and Picky:

The time for her to do that is when she views the place, before entering into a contract to rent it.

Explain that & make sure you both understand it clearly & abide by it.

It is rented AS IS - what you see is what you get.

If you get the sense that she feels she is "settling" for it, like it will be OK, but just needs .... then decline her - she won't be happy.

Well .. why are you asking? Do you have a "gut feeling" that's saying "I shouldn't" or is there something else?

If this person is a recent widow, that could explain the "issue" with the taxes (you state they aren't paid yet but has an account). My question is - how much money is in the account? Just having a separate account doesn't mean much if there isn't any discipline to put the amount needed in it monthly to be able to pay out what's owed.

Behind (or short?) on utilities by $850. Not sure what this means exactly - so National Greed (or whatever company) is not getting paid? If that's the case then unless your property comes with utilities included... I don't think they will end up just letting her "move" and forget the balance due.

Just did the 2 minute in home visit and met her dog yesterday. She's ready to go and am sending out the Holding Fee paperwork which I explained to her yesterday.

Ray-N-Pa, we all know what an ideal candidate is, so the point is moot. You and NE are in (currently but who knows for how long) landlord friendly PA.

Woot!

I don't think someone who has a 800 credit score is ideal. I'm alright with someone who has a 680-credit score on a class B place for example, if they are otherwise fully qualified.

If the score is too high, they are less likely to stay as long. To error is human, the question I have is how likely they are. Where the rental is doesn't address how trainable a lead is. It doesn't address how well landlord is willing is in investing in that lead either. Those are tough calls, that require that first-hand knowledge that comes with meeting them.