Example: you can option to have a fireplace with two windows on either side.

@German Fernandez Love those options!

I work with investors out of the country and have a few contacts I can connect with you on funding options. 

Would a home equity loan be a viable option in this situation, especially in regards to eliminating some of the red tape I'm running into with a refinancing an scorp-owned property?

They likely will be a bid on the 2 year balloon options, too, in 2025. 

The other option would have been to get it done at the US consulate, and I suspect that would have been a bumpier road.

Typically, the investors I work with purchase properties in their personal names and then quit-claim the title into their LLC after the deed has been recorded.Markets like OKC, Memphis, and Little Rock offer some excellent, affordable growth opportunities, and I’d be happy to chat with you to explore these options further.

Gas or electric would be a much better option, safety wise, from a house fire standpoint, CO danger, or danger to children or pets from the open flames. 

I am currently seeking a lending partner that offers 100% or near 100% financing options for new construction properties in the Philadelphia region.

House hacking is probably your best option.