The standard file: government-issued photo identification, proof of income such as recent pay statements or an employment letter, recent bank statements, and prior landlord references. Landlords are underwriting one question, whether the rent will be paid on time, and the file exists to answer it.
Self-employed renters substitute tax returns or business bank statements for pay stubs. Newcomers without US credit history, common in Miami, can usually bridge the gap with a larger deposit, prepaid months where the landlord agrees, or documentation of foreign income and assets. Condo buildings add an association application with its own documents and processing time.
The strategic point is to assemble everything before the search starts. In a market where good units receive multiple applications, the complete file wins. Rangely tells her renters exactly what to prepare for the specific buildings they are targeting, anywhere from Miami up to Fort Lauderdale.