How to Successfully Conduct Applicant Credit & Background Checks for Your Boca Raton Rental Property

Florida PMServices • July 17, 2020
How to Successfully Conduct Applicant Credit & Background Checks for Your Boca Raton Rental Property
In trying times, it’s imperative that you provide a home for people and protect your hard-earned investment. A rental background check is one of the most important steps that will help you do both. Looking into a prospective renter’s credit and background details will give you a good picture as to whether they would be someone you’d like to deal with often. After all, the best tenants are the ones who will stay in the property for a long time, pay their rent promptly every month, and take care of the house as if it were their own.
 
At Florida Property Management Services, we have a tried and tested three-part tenant screening process: background and credit checks, proof of income research, and character screening. Let me tell you more about the first part: how to successfully conduct background and credit checks:
 
Tenant Background Check
 
Before you start renting out your property, you need to write down your personal policy on who you’d accept as a tenant. This does not mean that you’ll discriminate against someone based on their race, country of origin, religion, gender, sexuality, or other characteristics. Rather, you need to determine when you should show compassion and where you draw the line with regards to someone’s criminal history.
 
Would you accept a tenant who had one minor misdemeanor decades ago? Would you accept someone with more than one mark on their criminal record? Would you accept someone with a more serious offense? By answering these questions and writing them down in a policy, you can be consistent in who you accept as a tenant based on the results of their background check. Be sure to have this policy checked by a lawyer as you wouldn’t want to be charged for discrimination. Plus, there may be some laws, such as the proximity of sex offenders to schools and parks, that may affect your property.
 
Once you have a prospective tenant, the next property management step is to get their written consent to a background check. At this point, you may ask them questions about their history or ask for references from previous landlords. 
 
Afterward, you can do the tenant background check. You can do it yourself if you have the time and energy to do so. You can start with a simple Google search of the applicant’s name with terms like “arrests” or “mugshot”. This search may reveal some things, but not everything. So, it’s best to check other databases.
 
You can look for arrests and convictions in Florida’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension database (or its equivalent in a different state, if your applicant is moving from interstate). You can also look at court searches and the sex offender list.
 
If this sounds time-consuming and confusing, Florida Property Management Service can take the stress away from you. We have a tenant screening service that will thoroughly comb through all the records for you.

Tenant Credit Check
Tenant Credit Check

You should also look at your prospective applicant’s credit history before accepting them as a renter. As with the background check, you need to have a policy about credit scores.

 

At Florida Property Management Services, we consider individuals with scores of 600 and above to be good candidates. This score indicates a minimum of a fair credit rating in both FICO and Vantage systems. They will be more likely to get loans and credit than those with lower scores.

 

However, you also need to look at the actual history when doing your credit check for renters. Have they had a consistent score or is this a new level for them? What circumstances have affected their credit rating?

 

As with the background check, you need to know when to show compassion and where to draw the line when doing a credit check for renters. Maybe this person had a bit of bad luck and they’re getting back on their feet again. Maybe they needed a few extensions on their medical bills. Maybe they forgot to pay rent a few times five years ago but they’ve been more consistent since then. A written policy allows you to be consistent with your decisions on who to accept based on their credit history.

 

Once you have this policy in place and you have written consent from your applicants, you can use a credit checking service. They’ll provide you with a detailed report for you to read. You can then accept or reject the applicant according to your policy.

 

If you have questions about how to conduct applicant checks or if you need more help, Florida Property Management Services would be happy to serve you. Plus, if your investment is in Boca Raton, Weston, Cape Coral, or nearby; we can help you manage it. Please contact us today.

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June 2026 Newsletter

By Florida PMServices • June 9, 2026
Welcome to this month’s Investor Newsletter. With market conditions varying widely from one metro to the next, staying informed has never been more important. This edition dives into the shift away from a one-size-fits-all housing market, highlights the hidden value of assumable mortgages, and covers the SFR headlines worth watching this month. Let’s dive in! The Death of the “National Housing Market”: Why Local Knowledge Is the New Investor Edge For years, real estate investors could rely on a familiar narrative: the housing market is hot or the market is cooling. But in 2026, that headline is becoming less and less applicable as there is no longer just one housing market. Instead, there are thousands of local markets moving at different speeds. At the national level, housing appears more balanced than it has in years. According to Realtor.com’s Housing Market Report , April contract signings rose 4.5% year over year, while new listings reached their highest level since 2022. On paper, that suggests momentum is returning, but beneath the surface, the story can change by region, metro, and even ZIP code. Realtor.com found that performance across the top 50 U.S. metros varies widely, buyer activity is picking up in some areas, while others remain slow. In fact, many of the strongest-performing housing markets in early 2026 have been concentrated in the Midwest rather than the typically strongest Sun Belt region. A recent Fortune analysis noted that affordability and home pricing are helping Midwest markets outperform many southern metros in which are now facing softer demand and rising inventory. Rental performance is becoming just as localized too. The latest SFR Index found rent growth slowing significantly compared to prior years, with standalone SFR rents increasing just 0.8% year over year nationally in February. Meanwhile, some markets continue to stabilize while others face more pressure from new supply and affordability challenges. Additionally, according to a Yardi Matrix report , areas with more new construction, particularly in parts of the Sun Belt, are seeing weaker rent growth. Local market changes often show up first in property management data. Leasing activity, renewal rates, concessions, and tenant demand tend to change at the neighborhood level long before national housing reports reflect them. One area may remain highly competitive while a nearby neighborhood sees slower leasing activity. As an investor, it may be time to look beyond national headlines and even citywide trends when evaluating markets. You may want to look at where homes are leasing fastest and which neighborhoods are seeing new supply. Competitive edge may not come from choosing the right city, but from understanding the right block. As your property management company, we are here to help, so please reach out if you have any questions about your market. Did You Know: Assumable Mortgages Everything You Need to Know in 60 Seconds! What exactly is an assumable mortgage? Instead of getting a brand-new loan, the buyer takes over (or “assumes”) the seller’s existing mortgage, including the current interest rate, remaining balance, and loan terms. Not all loans qualify, but many FHA, VA, and USDA loans do, while most conventional loans do not. Who can use this? Real estate investors, homebuyers, and sellers can all benefit. For investors, assumable loans can be attractive when today’s interest rates are much higher than the seller’s existing loan rate. On the other side, it can also be used as a major selling point. Where can investors find this? Assumable mortgages can be found nationwide, but availability depends on the financing already attached to the property. Most conventional bank loans have a "due-on-sale" clause, which means they cannot be assumed. When is the best time to use this? These loans become especially valuable when current mortgage rates are much higher than rates from previous years. Assuming a mortgage at 3% instead of getting a new loan at 7% could dramatically reduce monthly payments for investors. Why does this matter? As a buyer, an assumable mortgage can help improve cash flow, lower financing costs, and make a property more attractive to future buyers. As a seller, it acts as a massive marketing tool. Offering a built-in low interest rate allows your property to stand out. Investor Takeaway: A low-rate assumable mortgage can be a valuable opportunity when buying AND a strong selling feature when it’s time to exit an investment. SFR Trending Headlines Stay Up to Date on the Hottest SFR News & Stories Are Single-Family Rentals Climbing While Apartments Slump? The Summer Pause : Why Zillow Says the Housing Recovery Just Hit a Wall Lizzo Offloads Her Beverly Hills Compound at a Massive $4M Discount Wall Street Is Betting $15 Billion on a Brand-New Wave of Housing Supply Why Ellen DeGeneres Just Listed Her $30M Eco-Farmhouse and Left for the UK Rate Update: We've Partnered with LendingOne to Bring You The Best DSCR Rates & Terms! DSCR Loan Advantages: Rates Often Lower Than Banks No Personal Income Requirement No Tax Returns Needed Not Reported on Credit Faster Closing Times Specialized Loans for Investors Only! To Inquire about Single Family Investor loans by email us at office@properties.rent Until Next Month! The Florida Property Management Services Team
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