Many landlords are seeing more late payments over the past couple of years as household budgets have gotten tighter.From my experience self-managing rentals, the biggest factors usually come down to rent-to-income ratios and consistency in screening criteria.

Anyone quoting a flat number without context is oversimplifying.If you are looking for funding for a specific deal, consider posting in the Classifieds section as well.

Hey Kevin,For beginners, I generally prefer buying vacant so I can use my own screening, lease, and systems, and I’m not inheriting someone else’s tenant or lease problems.

Put it with a realtor for a flat rate and I’m under contract to sell it for $35k.  

For those actively buying here, do you order full title on every potential deal, or do you use some lighter pre-screening process first?

Flat fee, paid upfront before scheduling.If you're considering a property in the Mena or surrounding area and need eyes on the ground, feel free to reach out.

Which again, makes it easy in screening.

A proper screening is about much more than a paystub and a Credit Score.

Pierre, that 0.7% rent-to-price ratio as a quick DSCR screen is really useful.

The opposite is also true -- I won't chase appreciation in dead-flat markets just hoping.Where are you seeing the best opportunities right now -- cash-flowing markets or appreciation-driven areas?