Replying to Rental agreement

alright i need some help!

we're 4 danish guys who are travelling to mammoth mountain for 3 months (january 1st - march 31st). we have been offered a condo but the owner wants us to send the 500 dollars deposit before anythng is signed. perhaps i should mention that we've found the condo on mammoth mountains forum - so it's not through a rental company but through a private landlord

Now i would think the way to do this would be if he would send us 2 signed copies of the contract and we would return one of them incl. the 500 dollars to him - doesn't that sound reasonable?

are there any way we could check if he's an honest guy? i mean this could all just be a hoax!

this is how the contract looks - is that good enough?

This is a short term rental agreement for the condominium located at XXX, Mammoth Lakes, CA from January 1, 2009 to March 31, 2009.

The agreed upon rent is $1600.00 US dollars per month plus electricity charges.

Rent is payable by cash or money order on the 1st of each month. Electricity charges will be due Feb 1st., March 1st and March 31st, 2009.. Owner will send the tenant a copy of each month’s bill.

A damage deposit of $500 is due at the time of signature of this agreement.

Tenant agrees to vacate the premises and return keys on March 31st, 2009. Damage deposit will be returned at that time.

_________________ Date____________

Tenant

Johan XXX

_________________ Date____________

Owner

XXX