What is a sure way to tell if a lender is legitimate?

If I ask them to fix the leaks and they say no, aren't we just back where we were or does that actually enable then to leave the deal?

This assumes the deductions are legitimate in all scenarios. 

Liability risk management for me involves an "onion layered" approach.Layer 1: Know the law, follow the law.Layer 2: Respond promptly and professionally to legitimate repair requests.Layer 3: Properties held in Limited Liability CompanyLayer 4: Carry adequate liability insurance. 

I can’t find a legitimate site that has accurate And updated listings to buy a REO //PRE foreclosure homes in my area.

But then, If the buyer's name/personal info on that other offer is redacted, would that still be convincing to you that it's a legitimate offer?

I don't see anything here that isn't a legitimate tenant complaint, except for maybe the squirrel.

A Heloc would keep your current loan in tact but also enable you to pull the trigger should a deal present itself.

@Shane Ward The OP is from the Philly area, so a legitimate alternative option to buying an STR in a market they aren't close to / familiar with would be taking those funds to buy an actual investment property, and using the cashflow to fund vacations indefinitely at whatever destination they choose (especially since they already rotate between 3 different vacation markets due to friends & family).

At that point your return on investment drops significantly and it is extremely hard to recover the majority of your purchase price and rental expenses with the refi.So really, the BRRRR method enables investors to access cash flow in a hot Market when it usually wouldn't make sense.