So, I will say this: offering to pay a whole year up front is a bit of a red flag. Even though you think it shows financial strength, it can come off to the landlord as “why is this person so desperate…why doesn’t anyone else want to rent to them?”

I’d would 100% rent to you if I had confidence that your source of income was stable. If your wages are from a w-2, the bigger concern to me is “what industry is this person in, and what’s their educational background/likely salary progression/ability to find replacement work if they are downsized?”

The fact that your fiancé is going to make a ton of money in FUTURE years is wonderful for you both. BUT…to expect a landlord to value that TODAY means you are asking them to take you on as business partners and absorb risk that she will be able to get her green-card and land that job. This is a year or so away (by your admission) and it does zero for a landlord wanting to know how the next 12 months of rent will get paid.

My advice would be to condense your elevator pitch down to only the critical stuff a landlord wants to hear. I’d lead with “I have PERFECT credit. I pay all my bills. We are educated and successful. My fiancé is anticipating a large salary bump down the road (maybe hint at her industry if it’s medicine or law, but don’t mention immigration status - it’s none of a landlords business and will only work against you) and in the meantime, we have plenty of money saved up since we have always been a frugal and financially responsible couple. We are quiet, clean professionals and this place seems perfect for what we are looking for (flattery is always nice and shows you are sincere about wanting that apartment and not indifferent/flakey/looking at thirty similar units). The rent amount and deposits aren’t a problem for us, we can meet to sign a lease and give deposits as soon as you are ready. (being able to move quickly and decisively is really important). Look forward to hearing back from you!”

I say this all because a landlord’s three biggest concerns are (in order):

1. is this person sincere about wanting this place, or if I take it off the market…will they waste three weeks with stories about why they can’t scrap together a deposit

2. will I get paid on time

3. will these tenants take care of the place/be a hassle/wreck the place.

All you are trying to do when applying is prove that you are presenting zero worries about either of those three things.

I’ve been a landlord/developer for almost 30 years in almost every Boston neighborhood. This underwriting approach to tenants has never failed me. I had zero Covid deadbeats and have had 100% occupancy for well over a decade in dozens of units.