So I added one of my listings on booking.com and got my first booking coming up this week for 4 nights.

Additional escrow may be added for security for the seller.

Tom, Based on what you've provided, if the property was held over one year, you'd be subject to the long term capital gains rates and any depreciation that you took on the property in the past would have to be "recaptured" (Added to your income) at the short term tax rates (but it will not exceed 25%). 

He strongly discouraged adding a backwater preventer bc he said he's seen it make things worse.

I hadn't even heard of an ad section before your mention of it.

It sounds like an ad you might’ve seen for fix-and-flip loans—lenders have been getting more aggressive in that space.

Then I consider letters of reference, cosigners, and added security deposit in order to meet approval. 

Everything went really well except for the fact that they sold the loan to a hedge fund before closing and the hedge fund's fees were added to the loanguys fees and it all added up quite a bit so I changed my mind at the closing table and used a private lender that is friends with the closing attorney. 

Bridge Loan with Refinancing Exit: A bridge loan could provide a short-term solution to pull the cash you need now, especially if you’ve already added value through your rehab.

BBB has them at a D-  rating because previous similar bad outcome 3- If you are really in the same boat as us, you need to start a class action lawsuit that involves all the investors in that project and/or sent a complaint to the attorney general in Florida that involves all of us get him to liquidate his assets, pay us back and get him behind bars.