moving out of state for the first time

Hey Habib!Your question raises an important point, but I must acknowledge it's a challenging situation. Landlords and their agents prioritize risk management, and without the ability to verify background and rental history, they face significant uncertainties. Typically, potential tenants are required to submit a valid ID (often a passport) along with proof of income to support monthly rent payments, such as an offer letter from a future employer.However, it's essential to be prepared for skepticism and potential rejections due to these limitations. In the short term, it might be easier to explore options for assisting your family in finding an apartment until their circumstances allow for a smoother rental process. I would maybe consider a higher-than-normal security deposit or a zoom/facetime call to the listing agent and owners. Best of luck!

Showings via agent preview like zooms or FaceTime. Possibly a higher security deposit than the norm.

Showings via agent preview like zooms or FaceTime. Possibly a higher security deposit than the norm.

Habib! Great question, but I wont lie, tough situation! This is mostly because landlords and their agents top priority is managing risk. Without being able to verify background and rental history, they have two major factors out of play. At the very least, along with an application, a potential tenant will need to provide valid ID (generally passport in this case) and proof of some type of income that will support the monthly rent, even if that is an offer letter from a future employer. Now, having said that you are going to come across a wide array of skepticism and ultimately nos. It may be easier to help your folks into an apartment at least for the near future. But, if they are adamant about a single family home, have their documents ready, and send them out to as many potential properties as possible, prior to touring and see what landlords are going to be open to exploring your client as a potential tenant further. A higher deposit and/or even a large chunk of rent paid up front may help too. Best of luck!