Looking for a long term play with rent stability more than making huge cash flow.

I don't know CLE per se (I'm based in STL), but I know the financial side of gut rehabs in urban centers of big cities.

If you’ve yet to build up substantial credit in the U.S. you can apply for foreign national specific loans that don’t take credit history into consideration when qualifying as in some circumstances you can get better rates and terms applying as a FN when your U.S. based credit history is in it’s infancy.

Permit eligibility is based on region (usually the west side of town) and density (quantity of surrounding STR's in the area) as well as percentage of landscaping and minimum parking requirements. 

Building trust is not easy and don't trust someone just based on their word.

I was very happy with the first management company and then widely disappointed based on the expectations that were set by the first one.  

My wife and I have obtained three traditional loans and one lease with the option to purchase, resulting in most banks turning us down based on debt to income (non-portfolio lenders). 

Note: We do 50+ investment property loans a month and the most important thing I tell BUYERS of properties being sold as or soon to be STR is make sure you are paying the market price per square foot and do NOT buy based on income approach/CAP rate.

DSCR loans are based off of down payment, credit score and either actual or market rents so it helps to supercharge an investor's real estate goals and net worth.

Most lenders will vary how aggressive they will get based on the experience of the operator (you), but I don't know any that will lender to someone who's never done a spec build like you're contemplating.