I thought the whole exchange was odd since I told him from the beginning I wasn't even looking for funding at this time but he definitely wasn't legitimate. 

Also we have had some good luck purchasing properties in areas we vet out by posting in the local and LEGITIMATE owner group sites for developments "in town and have $400k, interested in 3 bed, 2 bath houses in location xyz" you would be surprised what you can find.

Assuming these are legitimate offices, this seems like a good size organization.

These include falsely claiming to have closed dozens of deals when none were ever closed, illegal payment of undisclosed sales commissions to bundlers and independent contractors, advertising the funds as safe and appropriate to investors with obvious near-term needs for their capital, creating fund of funds en masse assembly line fashion with no corresponding SEC filings, unregistered brokers/financial advisors acting in that capacity absent licensure, having customers wire money claim the fund is fully subscribed and putting them into a high yield promissory note, accepting funds from unaccredited investors, misrepresentations about the debt put on the project, lies about experience level of the principals, omissions of material facts, and at least two straight up Ponzi schemes.While it's true that some legitimate operators are having issues in their portfolios, today's circumstances are a perfect example of the idiom, "you can only discover who is swimming naked when the tide goes out."

If there is a legitimate issue we address it.

Also as @Mike Dymski elaborated earlier there are legitimate ways to access your retirement funds prior to retirement.Another good reason is to pass some of your legacy to the next generation.

Meaning, I can't tell if it's legitimate or not because it seems too good to be true if that makes sense.

It's an important distinction to make.You're right that passing on legitimate increased costs to customers is a normal business practice.

Many guru's have introduced REI to people who have made legitimate millions, who might have otherwise been stuck in a much lesser life.

Assuming it was still in process.How do property managers handle applicants that legitimately had their identity stolen?