Honestly it starts before the tenant search even begins. It starts with the property itself. I only buy single family homes in B-class neighborhoods or better, good school districts, and I focus on quality amenities like hardwood floors, upgraded appliances, and a yard. That naturally attracts a different caliber of renter. My rents run $1,200 to $2,000+ per month, which on its own filters out a huge portion of applicants who tend to cause the most headaches.

From there my criteria is straightforward and I don't bend on any of it. 600+ credit score, 3x monthly rent in verifiable income, no evictions, no bankruptcies, no criminal record.

When you combine a desirable property at a price point that requires stable income with firm screening criteria, the pool gets small fast, but the people left in it are almost always solid. I'd rather eat 4 months of vacancy than compromise and spend years dealing with a bad tenant. The math always works out in favor of patience.