In most cases, neither is warranted.Warning: I am not an attorney, and this can be a complicated topic.

It's a little more complicated in CA, even though my properties are not in CA, and the LLC is not from CA, this bloodsucking state still requires an extortion fee of $800 per LLC. 

The process of selling is a bit more complicated and is a much larger transaction that can have a lot of nuances depending on the deal.

I’ve had clients pay $100k for a sewer line though (commercial properties, complicated lines running under parking lots, sidewalks, landscaping and the bid includes replacing the landscaping too, etc. or requiring a permit from the city to close off the road for the day with traffic control, etc.).

Given that your governing documents state HOA liens are junior to mortgages, it further complicates their claim, as they may not have the right to impose a super lien in this instance.

As mentioned if the holding company is not solely holding or owning assets together funneling monies as a loan would further complicate if there is a default but also cause you to file extra tax returns = $...Yes you are taxed on interest income or any money that you make, does not matter how you structure it, what comes into play is not how much your taxed but how much you pay someone to figure out for you how much you need to pay and each layer is an added cost. 

Right now I only have three properties that all rent for approx the same amount so it's easier for me but I worry once I'm at 4 or 5 it's going to get a bit complicated.

If your going the CC wrote, which Crum you just made it sound very complicated (moving parts to pay a bill), might as well get the three CC's and the max limit you can. 

Easy fix but they like to make it more complicated and more expensive so that they make more money.

They do hundreds of transactions a month and can guide you better than most attorneys when it comes to title issues.They use a complicated form that creates extra work and confusion with no benefit to the buyer or the seller.