but keep in mind CA has higher taxes and reg fees and I’m not doing more than 1-2 flips (short timeframe flips)  a year and many years do 0 flipsDo most flippers put flips into LLC Or in personal name (sole proprietor)  in CA (where you must pay $800 yearly plus accounting and other fees $300to $600+ yearly to maintain LLC) Pros for personal name-save on taxes accounting.

From what I have researched they seem legitimate but the person I am working with is flakey, takes forever to answer questions so I thought I would see if anyone else had experience with this lender.  

We can close under a personal name, but most chose the LLC option.

Or can you still run everything through your personal return (just want to make sure that I can deduct things such as HOA fees which I can do if it is a rental).2) If I do decide to run everything thru my personal tax return (save on LLC fees), should I at the least set up a separate bank account to track costs separately?

So, you are "earning" 5.16%/yr on your $73k investment, or have an 18 yr payback.  

Quote from @Ashish Acharya: @Niklas Zhu If you tear down your STR in 2025 and convert it to personal use, depreciation recapture does not occur at the time of conversion.

I have a friend that owns over 60 rentals in his personal name and he's never been sued.

Call 3 references:  Verify that they work there, or that it is an actual person by asking where they work first, and don't mention who you are until after.  

I think I can open another personal checking account at the bank I already have and it'll be under my name but i'm trying to buy out of state rentals with an LLC I own.

The one who thinks that they are masters of the universe in EVERY area of life, has 30 different businesses, claims to be fit as a fiddle, with a life in perfect harmony, shows off huge toys, has 30 different businesses, including selling their time by the hour to provide coaching... this person is not running a real estate syndication business.