[QUOTE=TrudyM;634871]
How can I be sure the person really owns the place? I hate to send off a huge check only to find out it is a scam. I am sure I read how somewhere here in the past but can't find it in my notes or under search.
This is a good question. I would try the county tax assessor and the county tax collector to see who is listed as the owner of the house.
There is also a software program that can be used to find the names of your neighbors (I do not recall the program) but once you know the name of someone in the neighborhood you could call then and see if they can verify the owner and if he normal rents. Just found this from searching. Don't know how good it is. Click on Resident. Try your own address to test.
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I also would check to see if they are listed on standard rental sites.