Other effective filters to screen your guests include signing of a Vacation rental agreement, Document Identification, security deposit and guest insurance.Screening your guest is about much more than just avoiding parties or damages to your properties, it also helps your short term rental company cater to the ideal guest you’ve developed your property for and also create a memorable experience for guests.

A few things to note as a foreign investor to begin investing in the US (if you don't want to go the $500K route you mention):Obtain a US-based LLCApply for an EIN (Employer Identification Number)Execute an operating agreement with partnersThe first 3 can all be done with the assistance of a company like Corporate Direct.

So far some topics and agenda points we have for this are: Market analysis and identification of the opportunities within the market, discussing real numbers on real deal potentials available and recently closed.

Identification of mold and risk assessment is beyond the scope of this visual inspection.

Potentially asking for multiple forms of identification earlier in the process by whoever is posting the property, the lender, or even the title company and comparing it to identification kept with the deed from the previous transaction (something that is not currently done to my knowledge) could also cut down on the potential?

Being able to execute a 1031 vs paying taxes is fantastic but the 45 day identification period can feel short when the market it hot and you may be forced to buy a less than optimal investment to avoid taxes. 

Proper handling of identification and conversion per the 1031 stated timeline would be required.Do I need convert the property to a rental to take advantage of 1031 exchange?

I'm pretty comfortable with this tactic. as I'm nervous about running up against my 45 day identification deadline.  

I'm pretty comfortable with this tactic. as I'm nervous about running up against my 45 day identification deadline.

In most cases the above situation would pass for identification of investor sources.