If something feels off, or bad reviews, do not rent to them.

I'm ASSUMING (a bad idea, I know) that they were a married couple and had joint ownership. 

The website 51west.properties also scores low on scam advisor ("owner is using a service to hide their identity, high number of suspicious websites on the server, registrar has a high % of spammers and fraud sites, website is (very) young, website appears to be hosted by a company with a bad reputation", all according to https://www.scamadviser.com/check-website/51west.properties...)Trust your instincts. 

It’s not as bad or expensive as it sounds.

Sort of same situation but the home was not in that bad of shape. 

The best thing you can do to protect yourself is to follow the law and treat people honestly and fairly. 

It's not a bad idea to use equity to pay off high interest debt but I wouldn't pull cash just to put it an account if you don't really need it for anything right now. 

If I meet someone who wants to do what I do, I share the same opportunity I had and get a decent "thank you" bonus from the Education company.I hear some people had a bad experience, and I'm sorry to hear that.

A 1031 exchange is NOT available for owner occupied property so that’s the bad news.The good news is for owner occupied primary residences, for married couples, the first $500,000 of pain is tax free.No need to worry about a 1031, live in the house, sell it, use the $500,000 exclusion and you pay KP tax on whatever profit may exist,2.

Just drive by and it doesn't look all that bad.