Lawton definitely has its reputation, and you're right about the single-industry concern and the high crime perception, which makes it counterintuitive for many investors.

Generally, I've found that people are more concerned with the content, thoroughness and responsiveness of my emails than what suffix is attached to them.

Matthew, there are lots of good way to learn about syndications (and CrowdFunding...which are syndications that can be marketed over the internet).This is the book I wish I'd read when I started...and I think it should be required reading for every beginner and pro.

The sandbags also concerned me and I would be looking in other parts of town for sure.

If your concern is liability, what I did was get an umbrella insurance policy on the properties I house hacked under my name.

Land trusts can be an ideal choice in Florida, especially when working to shield properties and address Due on Sale (DOS) clause concerns effectively.

It's a good concern.

I understand her concerns and her thoughts but she could have done it in a professional manner.

A bigger concern is someone who clearly fits the rules as they are written and intentionally acts in good faith, only to have the IRS comb through their time logs and arbitrarily finds some of those time entries invalid and/or inflated.

There are good selections of rugs that you can wash to place under the bed for warmth if that is your main concern.