If a potential tenant in this order recieves lease agreement then makes payment including security deposit, first and last months rent  via certified cashiers check is the agreement valid if it’s not signed? 

Keep a goal in mind, start building your portfolio and then check back yearly to see where you stand.

Do you have family or friends anywhere else that you could check out?

Always write him a check not through rent reduction so there is a traceability.  

We are actually going to be driving through next week heading to Seattle so we are going to check things out while there and maybe meet a few people to discuss this with while in Vegas

To check if they have liens, you can take it to your local title company but what happens if there’s a lot of properties you want to invest in, since it can cost some money to check the liens on the property, is there a cheaper way to verify this information so that you don’t purchase a 20,000 home with a 60,000 lien on it?

@Garrett Olsen before you proceed I HIGHLY recommend that you check zoning on this first.

If you are not properly capitalized or prepared for the fight C class rentals can be a tough road to travel.For more info on Cleveland check out The Ultimate Guide to Grading Cleveland Neighborhoods.

I would have saved myself a lot of headaches and money by doing a background and credit check on existing tenants.

Give her a call and check out her website.