I used to be a leasing agent ages ago and without question the credit check is the most important thing. You can't make that one up. Short of that, assets over employment. If someone can't pay their rent, they have probably lost their job anyway so any judgement you get won't matter if you can't seize their paychecks. But that paid off car is a 3k bonus sitting in your driveway.
If you have nothing else to go on, your gut feeling is usually not a bad bet. Personally I've had problems with tenants only when I've been too eager to get a place rented and took the first live one I got. If you're looking for a demographic, students are great, they don't seem to realize not paying rent is an option. Noise can be an issue with basement suites though. Also if your suite isn't legal, a pissy tenant can cause you a nightmare. That's something you'll just have to get a feel from the tenant.
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