The exception would be IRS liens and/or tax liens.

The Atty suggested I consult with a Tax professional for tax implications, etc.

They will end up paying 30% of their "net" income (after taxes and some deductions like cost of child care and a utility allowance number based on your location, which may or may not be actual utility costs) as their portion.

Now I'm trying to figure out where to invest the proceeds - I estimate it will be about $400k - and defer taxes.

I think taxes are $63,000.

I am looking for a CPA who charges hourly and I need help with 2023 tax preparation (I will be qualifying for 100hrs STR rule) and some minor book keeping.

They use these types of stores and organizations to recoup their costs or for tax write-offs.

It has all to do with the risks associated with an investment vs. the almost guaranteed returns from paying off the debt.Note that when you do the math you do have to adjust for the tax treatment if you really want to be precise about all of this.Coming back to the initial point.

BUT...if you're American and can still get loans in the US (the silver lining of having to still file US income taxes while living abroad), then why not use leverage?   

The property has alot of deferred maintenance.