Through this flip I have had break ins, I have had contractors cheat me and pull knives on me, one of them hit my dog in the face with a drill.

Is looking online at sites like LoopNet sufficient? 

I only recommend this route if furnishing the STR is not the long item.  

Is it me or is it the process?

He talks about how you can purchase a rental property, manage it as a short term rental during the year you acquire it, do a cost segregation study, use those "losses" to significantly reduce your taxable income that year, and then turn the property into a long term rental in the following year. 

He plans to do more with me and bigger pockets (no pun intended) if the deal goes well.

I maybe met some of you at the recent meet up at Ironton.

Welcome to the show.

I know mortgage lien will be extinguished but not sure the other types.

not sure what your trying to learn or do.. but just pay them by the door.IE  10k 20k 30 k 50k.. each GC will have their own fee.Myself I pay on the low end because i do all the accounting for the GC he only has to cordinate the subs ..