hard money can only be used for investment unless its a departing bridge in most cases 

This is a long game that requires persistence.Make the money when you buy.

@Nia BookerReal estate investors can use various funding options, such as Other People's Money (OPM), hard money loans, seller financing, business credit leveraging, and borrowing against a 401k.

You can still work with an unlicensed person, as long as they know what they are doing, and you can hire a licensed representative if you have to fight the IRS later.The single most important factor in selecting your tax person is technical competence.

Should I try to have him fill out a W9 and sign some sort of contract since money over $600 is being exchanged for services? 

Who is making money off this - other than the people that supply the Hemp...?

So, you could be stuck with that money tied up for the length of the wrap.If the Subject To teacher you learned that from told you this was a good idea, go get your money back.

The person I spoke with excited me about the possibilities; however, when it came time to deliver our XML file of properties, they quit responding, much like ShowMojo, making me think that they were not yet live.

It is entirely possible to not need any money out of pocket to refinance a property. 

It will depend on the other businesses, investments, personal and financial circumstances specific to you.