We attend an REIA where another member has inquired about renting properties from us - he would sign a lease, pay market rent, etc but he would be using it to run exclusively as an AirBNB.

For off-market commercial deals, it's very common for there not to be a buyer broker involved, and if there is one involved, it's common for the buyer to be paying for it out-of-pocket.After the CRE broker gets the listing agreement, they will shop it directly to their exclusive list of investors.

It just seems like these mentors making money on their exclusive groups instead of actually doing deals. 

Stick to the basic luxuries, an HDTV with a Roku and a BluRay player with some adult movies. 

It is a good idea to:Spur them into action to redeem; and/orLegally gain official possession of the property in case there might ever be some dispute about whether you were physically in exclusive and continuous possession.

Option - In legal language, a real estate option is an agreement that grants the party owning the option, the optionee, the exclusive, unrestricted, and irrevocable right to purchase property from the party selling the option, the optionor, during the specified period of time that the option is in effect.I'm wondering if it is possible to control a house using an option to purchase in order to renovate the property (fix and flip) without actually buying the assett with a HML. 

Further the adult children may with to move out on their own during the lease period.

Recently another BP member was having issues with their agent because they were trying to give offers at 80-90% of value and the agent said they were low balling and demanded a $5000 retainer (or something), plus that they sign an exclusive contract (which I understand is more normal than when I last bought). 

She would get the primary residence exclusion of the first $250K of profit tax free if she has lived in it for 2 out of the 5 years immediately prior to sale.If it's a rental now then you can do a 1031 but she will not be able to move into one of the properties for a year or two since the 1031 is for the sale and purchase of investment property only. 

If you have a home office (used exclusively for business / rental), you can take deduction for your trips to and from your properties.