From my own experience, landlords may not prefer fence sitters. Last year when I was searching for rental, one landlord called me and explained he had selected someone else. Basically, the fact that my credit score/history/income was “head and shoulders” above any other applicant was a sign that was not going to stay there for long time. His son works in biotech and after seeing my position in that field he said that people like me don’t rent.

Some landlords like people who will rent ‘forever’, good enough income to comfortably cover the rent, but not able to buy. They prefer stable tenants, not people who can move anytime. For them, any change means lost $$, stress with showing the house and screenings of prospective tenants.

This may differ for FB’s who hope to sell the house in 1-2 years, but that landlord was in the rental business for 20+ years and had no intention to ever sell the house.