Establishing partnerships with sponsors for real estate deals requires a significant level of trust, which is typically fostered through experience and time.

@Cody Sims, your dad has some good options. 

Currently, I am a REALTOR in Auburn, AL, and the surrounding areas (I selected the location as Birmingham because that is the closest option to me).

They will provide you quick financing, almost always interest only, then allow you to exit the bridge once the long-term solution is ready without penalty.The main goal of the bridge loan is to provide a quick financing option for a property prior to the final financing being ready.

Now, if you're traveling out of the country you will (typically) still have a place of residence here so that shouldn't be a problem.That being said, I'm pretty sure each lender has a requirement for what percentage of the year you need to be actually living in the property for it to qualify as your residence.

There are a couple but its going to have to be pretty permanently attached to the land to protect the foreclosure option

Only thing I would add is that typically, water/sewer/trash are often all one utility depending on what part of the town/state you live in. 

The all in one is an excellent option

Not sure if it would make sense for you specifically, would need to know a bit more about your situation and everything, some people we help that are looking to consolidate debt consider refinancing to lump all their payments together since a primary residence lending option has lower rates than some of the alternatives. 

I think most locals are aware of the history of STRs proposals/cases in Portsmouth, Laconia’s existing restrictions limiting non-owner occupied STRs to resort/shorefront only, VT's local option tax that allows a 1% tax above the state's existing 9% tax, Portland cap on STR permits and increases tied to inflation, and it's also probably a good idea for folks to understand NH's Senate Bill 249, which proposed a "ban of local bans" around STRs and basically died on the floor(?)