I do a bit of flipping, BRRRR, long term rentals, and wholesale.

Inherently the steps are the same as if you were purchasing with financing save potentially less closing costs and ability to close sooner (if needed).The terms of your offer (ie -contingencies, closing cost splits etc) will determine what is different. 

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).  

He's changing the terms of the agreement, and you can choose to accept it or reject it.I don't think it's fair to pass this cost onto the tenant just because you are unwilling to stand up to the contractor.

Secondly, I'd chat with a realtor and get some recs on lenders to truly see what you're working with in terms of buying power.

Are you asking in terms of lending?

They also have a home vacancy tax in a lot of areas which applies to short term rentals. 

I am here to create a business strategy that protects personal and business investments and mitigates risk,  procure a coach or mentor, and set up tax strategies to create long-term wealth for myself and my family. 

Hi there, if you're open to holding onto the property, converting it into an Airbnb or short-term rental could significantly increase your cash flow, especially with the current demand for rental properties.

With that said, the income can still offset the cost of holding the property as a long-term investment.