Thank you, Jane. yes, you can't stop people from going bankrupt, losing a job, divorcing... Thsi is life and there is risk. When it is prepaid, there are fewer risks, not more risks, and this is a tough notion for some agents.

Mary - thank you. makes sense, and this is what counts

Carol - so true. Why are we so curious, when there is no reason for that whatsoever?

Joe - so true. Your gut feeling may have more weight that the Credit Check Report. It is like appraisal. It tells you how it was, not how it will be.

Grteat credit report shows how good things were for the person, not how great they will be in the future.

Robert - sure, cash is better than the best credit report. Thank you

Karen Anne - I do KNOW :) nd appreciate your voice. In this discussion I am sometimes puzzled, as agents explain why they like Credit Check, and I have a feeling that they are missing the whole point of why they need a credit check report.

It is sort of the best thing if you do not have cash. But here is a twist in circumstances, and they seem not to notice it.

Strange.

William - I am not an authority either, was simply looking at reasoning why things should be done one way and one way only, and could not see it

And still can't:)

Elizabeth - good comment, thank you. If people submit a credit report and you did not find anything bad there, it only tells you about them in the past. If they start doing all these things after they move in, you are as vulnerable, as you can be.

Hotels uses credit cards when you check in for exactly different purprose, i.e. to make sure they will get compensated if you leave and there is damage. Then they can charge you without you being able to stop it, unless you later contest it with their CC provider.

Cash upfront is not a guarantee of their good behaviour, but a guarantee of payment, which is already made. Credit check report is not a guarantee of their behaviour, only a weak indicator, however, it does not guarantee the payment, while cash IS payment.

Dealing with immigrants, you would find people, who are extablished in the country, and live here for a long time, and maight be doctors, and other professionals, well paid, and you might to your surprise find that they may have 0 credit.

I know a real estate broker right here, who has 0 credit. never used it, everything is for cash. It is considered very bad to use credit in many cultures, believe it or not.

But if they come and pay me for a year ahead, why would I ask about their checking account? To make sure they can pay? But they have already paid me...

Michael (#23) - I see your point, but not necessarily agree for the following reason: they earned the right to hide by prepaying for the service. "You want either the gurantee that I would pay, or the full payment. I paid, why do you need anything else?"

They wouldn't have qualified as tenants paying every month, due to whatever problem they have, so they mitigate it with the cash advance covering the full term.

Destroying the property is not exclusive to cash buyers, your "regular" tenants could be destroying it as well.

With the cash tenant, who paid upfront, if you notice that they destroy your home (and you can), then you can claim breach of the rental agreement, which has the provision that the Landlord has the right to protect the property, and you can force the tenant out, and not return money. With a "regular" tenenat you can evict or eject, but not get the money, so I do not see any more protection here.

Sharon - it is really sad, as then they are asking why general public does not have high regard for real estate professionals. One answer is that they read what we say, and when all they see is an attemot to protect from any liability, and avoid any responsibility, the public understands, that they are getting the short end of the stick.

If we so often come up incredibly shallow, then we can't blame customers for lack of respect. Over relying on systems is about us, not customers. It is about how WE treat customers, it is about how WE protect ourselves... What is there for Principals?

Bill - you are just proving the point that Credit Check report does not mean much. Bad credit does not necessarily mean bad people.

Joan - I agree with you regarding background check. Cash resolves the financial issue, and background check would help to determine the rest. But not the credit check, as it is only supposed to indicate that the tenant will be paying rent, and he has already paid.

On the surface seems logical.

And the example you use perfectly illustrates it. Thank you

Frank - in Florida as it pertains to rentals laws are favorouble for Landlords, I read about it. 6 to 12 months waiting for eviction is not something we deal with here, if we follow the appropriate steps.

As for agents looking out for their client's best interest, I donot necessarily agree with the assumption that Credit Report is a protector from all these things happening, not even a really good indicator.

You may have perfect tenants and perfect report, and then they lose a job, get sick, divorce... and you have a problem. having money for one year is more safety than a credit report and PROMISE to pay for one year.

Basically, no matter how we look at it, cash in hand is better than promise to pay. None is a guarantee of what would happen in a year, when the term is over, but before the term is over, one promises money, the other one gives the money.

Of course, this is the opinion and you are welcome to disagree.