The cities he picked are skew towards being "a little more landlord friendly".

Local meetups. https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/521Explore Auctions and Foreclosures: Properties in your price range may be available through local auctions or bank foreclosures.Partner with an Investor-Friendly Agent: An agent familiar with BRRRR deals can help you find off-market listings or properties about to hit the MLS.

You don't want to decide how the end user will use it so you have your price for the real estate and land, and the rest is negotiable.

Quote from @Joanna Mendoza: Asking for a friend.

Anyone  with user reviews on any of these?

@Ian Miller, there is a reason almost everyone starts with people they know: friends, family, coworkers.  

Would love to connect, both DSCR and Hard Money are great investor-friendly common loans.

Skip the vacations, skip eating out with friends.  

Quote from @Stan Sudarso: Quote from @Doug Smith: I had good friends/business contacts that worked there...all have fled to greener pastures.

For me, I would, put together a prospectus for the STR and approach my friends and family to see if they would be interested in a partnership on it.