It will be fun, we'll have drinks and meet at a local vacation rental-this is a great way to learn more if you are interested in this type of investment.  

can you invest locally instead?  

I would simply get away from any large bank and go to a small local community bank that will cherish your deposit relationship..

Just a tip: make sure you go into it with an experienced brokerage who really know their way around.I’ve personally been helping international investors get into the Dubai scene and work with experienced local companies that handle everything from start to finish. 

We teach how to find those so here are some ways:ProbatesTired LandlordsVacation HomesExpired off of the MLSPre-Foreclosuresand so onand they are often located by mailings, cold calls, door knocking, "Bandit" signs, word of mouth, Local REIA meetings

A landlord does not need to provide a reasonable accommodation for an emotional support animal when:The property is an owner-occupied building with four or fewer unitsThe property is a single-family home sold or rented by the owner without the use of an agentThe emotional support animal poses a risk to the health or safety of other people, or a risk of substantial damage to property (but this risk must be specific to the animal and cannot be based solely on assumptions about the animal’s breed)"Definitely have a chat with a local attorney to ensure your local laws apply, nonetheless since its an owner occupant, it sounds like you have some recourse to deny this request. 

Included with the offer is a bank statement showing the buyer has $127k in liquid cash sitting in a checking account at a local bank.  4.

The median rent is projected to continue its slight upward trend, reflecting the broader housing market dynamics​​.Key InsightsPrice Growth: Anticipated 9.3% increase in home prices over the next year.Inventory Increase: Slow rise in inventory levels, still favoring sellers.Buyer Demand: Strong out-of-state interest and local job growth driving demand.Mortgage Rates: Expected stabilization, potentially easing affordability issues.Rental Market: Stable with slight monthly rent increases.Overall, the Birmingham real estate market is poised for continued growth, with rising property values, strong demand, and improving inventory levels.

If you like the house and the area and want to live there and its habitable, go ahead and try to get a plain vanilla conventional loan from the local credit union and mortgage broker. 

I am trying to reach out to local bank to see if they can give any options.