It's likely a scam anytime they sound like AI or the grammar is weird or they use the word "kindly", if they ask for you to respond to them off-platform, if they say their employer will pay for it, if they ask if the dates they've specified are still open (when they can clearly see they are open on your calendar), if they ask for a video of your property (they probably want to set up a duplicate listing with your photos and video and scam others out of money), or if they want a long term booking and they have just joined the platform and have no reviews (could have been evicted from somewhere else, and hope a newbie will let them in with no background check, they'll end up not paying or credit card is bad).  

Of course SF’s über liberal city gov absolutely hates this phenomena, and activity taxes and limits new “market rate” housing in many different ways.

By paying a commission and taxes, you get more money from the property by doing a Refi. 

You need to build your credit.

Often times you will pay much more in taxes than if you pulled the money out, paid the taxes and penalty and then started investing in real estate.For example, with the financing you mentioned, the IRA must pay taxes on the portion of the profit earned by financing. 

Home went to tax sale county kept excess proceeds.

You are hopefully getting good cash flow, appreciation, mortgage paydown and tax benefits.   

., I left Anderson for a small firm that will do the actual taxes and then another company that specializes in tax strategy. 

I didn’t see your location in your profile or your post, but assume at least 17% state/federal taxes leaves you with $10k/yr. 

I would  show you purchase strategies, real estate monetization, rent roll leveraging, portfolio margining and asset protection/deep tax deductions