Renters are certainly more plentiful in this market with all the foreclosures and we landlord should be prepared to take advantage of this wealth of good renters. It should be obvious, but many landlords don't seem to understand how they can attract better quality renters for their properties. Renters are much like buyers when it comes to what they expect when looking for a home. They expect the home to be neat, clean and in near perfect condition. If you try to rent a property that is dirty and unkept, you will be considered a "slum lord" and your renters will be low quality renters. A little paint, neat yard, clean carpet, well kept bathrooms, and spotless kitchens will garner you better renters who will pay more than market for your rental. So, do not be penny wise and pound foolish when preparing your rental property. I know this sounds too simple but it certainly works for me and it will for you. You also need to promptly address any problems that come up in the home. If you are slow getting to repairs and addressing problems, you stand to lose good renters. Since plumbing is the most often occurring problem, I set up with a local plumber to be "on call". I even give my renters his number so they can get any problem taken care of in a hurry. A little common sense certainly goes a long way to keeping your rentals full with good renters.