Chris I think we are talking apples and Oranges here. the company that the OP is talking about is originating their own loans and it appears in CA based. and is running under a CA RE broker's license (just like I did/do when I did HML in CA).And again, I suspect what's happening is the company will have a loan for sale Just like Peer st. 

We are getting an Apple HQ over the next few years so you'll see continued job and wage growth.I also work with a handful of out-state-investors in both the Raleigh/Durham and Greensboro markets on purchasing rental properties with great success to take advantage of the aforementioned appreciation, great ROI on rental rates, and continued rent growth with the limited housing inventory and incredible demand.You can't go wrong buying in this market especially with the amount of capital you have and what I can only assume to be a strong DTI based on your original post.

A year ago we got into STR rentals and overall it has been fine, but the sheer number of guests means there are some bad apples.

Your getting the referral to save time of weeding out the bad apples so I gladly paid for the architects contact info. 

I know that it is a great time to sell, but with the population boom and companies like Apple coming to the area should I consider renting instead?

It's simply absurd and only results in increase costs for all tenants because of some bad apples.

Just want to make sure they are as close to apples to apples for this new investor.

Makes it easier to compare apples to apples. 

Yes, Apple can charge $1000 for a phone because they have spent decades produce a BRAND NAME that is known WORLD WIDE and has a WORLD WIDE buyer.

But BEFORE you make that decision, you need to get with your experienced RE CPA to do a side by side and apples to apples comparison of your cash out refi, what investment you get using that cash (and the returns from it) vs selling this as your primary residence (since you lived there for 2 of the last 5 years) and have a $250k exemption to capital gains tax (as a single person) and $500k as a married couple.