In my experience it is common and customary for the landlord or builder to provide TIA, tenant improvement allowance, to the tenant to assist if not cover the majority of the internal buildout. 

.: Quote from @Basit Siddiqi: I think it lies in that a lot of service providers in the real estate space are incentivized(money wise) to promote thier business.Real Estate agents are a small business, the more clients they have, the more money they make.Property managers are a small business, the more clients they have, the more money they make.Lenders, correct me if im wrong, are tied to some sort of bonus structure, the more loans they generate, the more money they make.More promotion leads to more awareness which leads to more money With all do respect I think REA's are commissioned sales people.

I also am a member of the International Real Estate Federation, and can connect you with agents who are able to help with your purchase.  

I haven't researched international STR.

Offer your services as an "intern". 

The city has excellent fundamentals...strong Ed's and Med's which are some of the most stable employers, huge investments made in the life science sector,  proximity and easy access to NYC and DC, international airport, port city to name a few. 

Quote from @Gregory Wilson: A few things there, Brendan.First, an LLC with you as a member and your (wife, son, pal, etc.) partner as a 1% member will file a Form 1065 which is about one tenth as likely to be audited by the IRS as a Form 1040 with a Schedule E rental activity (which I presume you will attempt to show is an active business).Second, you want an LLC because when your local Alabama handyman drives his girlfriend's uninsured truck into a van load of U of A medical school interns on I-22 when he goes  to get some shingles for your roof, on your business, you don't lose everything you have or ever will have to an uninsured claim. 

I am currently a student at Florida International University, studying International Business.

I have many international customers and know lenders that understand this. 

We have internal funds, our passive note platform, lines of credit along with over 10 institutional capital investors that allow us to provide a variety of loan programs to fit the needs of residential investors from wholesalers to flippers to BRRRR or turnkey investors to land and residential developers.Kevin HillCEO - Aloha Capital