Like narwhal said with emphasis on the credit check. Try to get parents to co-sign if you can. If your a true rookie you may want to hire a property managment company to handle to whole deal, you will get more rent to offset the cost, plus they do the collecting so you don't have to worry about packing your 9mm to collect rent.

Although renting can be fairly easy the managment option may help stop you from having to pay for a costly lesson. I call it tuition.