However there is one bank in Croatia that helps foreigners with loans.

What exactly does the realtor do in this situation?  

I want to be able to do a cash deal to get a lower price and avoid all the cost that go along with a lot loan, fees, points, etc.

You pay your agent at closing (think of it as an additional closing cost) Depending of the situation and of these options can be used by you and your agent to negotiate with the seller.

and then getting a standard mortgage after that vs. getting a construction loan to pay during the build and then convert. 

Credit pulls for the same type of loan within a short window (usually 14-45 days) are treated as one inquiry, so your score should be fine.

Look for off-market deals, seller financing opportunities, or even house hacking a small multi-family with an FHA loan (3.5% down) if you plan to live in one unit.For creative financing, explore seller financing, subject-to deals, and lease options.

All situations are specific to individuals.Our best wishes and empathy go out to those LA individuals and communities.It’s been about 6 years since one of our storage locations was flooded for about 4 months.  2 feet over the roof.  

construction loan How did you add value to the deal?

If you have any questions or need help on a loan, DM or email me, I'm licensed in Georgia.