Intel is a great example, who is building the largest chip manufacturing plant in the US right here, and it will be a $20 billion dollar investment that brings a few new thousand jobs.https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/01/21/intel-ohio-building-computer-chip-factories-licking-county-jersey-township/9173472002/ Another example of economic growth is the upcoming Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Inpatient Hospital which is a 1.9million square foot hospital that will bring over 800 new beds and a thousand new jobs. https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/new-osu-hospital-expected-to-transform-health-careHere are a few more recent investments https://www.10tv.com/article/money/business/hydrogen-power-company-hyperion-bringing-700-jobs-to-columbus/530-25907aab-5517-4661-a9f3-d2ed2d5be6b0 https://news.wosu.org/news/2022-02-08/rumpke-to-build-50-million-recycling-facility-in-columbus Check out The Complete Guide to the Columbus, Ohio Real Estate Market which goes through the Columbus, Ohio market in depth and will give you a better scope of where the highest levels of growth are taking place and where to look to invest.  

The local economy is supported by several diverse sectors, including healthcare, manufacturing, and retail, which sustain employment levels and underpin rental demand.

Take a look at BAC, Scotiabank, Prival or public banks such as BCR or Banco Nacional (they have a bad reputation of being slower than private banks with foreigners).

Having worked in and around real estate including loan side for both residential and smaller specialized commercial (medical), renovation and new construction/new build with a broker & brokerage founder (who has since retired) I know from him that in addition to reputable property managers, contractors and architects we had accountants including a forensic accountant on the loan side and a handful of real estate attorneys with one on retainer.

The area has a reputation for being "sketchy". 

Check out different lenders, compare their rates and terms, and read reviews to make sure that you’re working with a reputable company.

While you like to trash a very reputable forum such as The Great MortgageGrapevine and the trolls and tools that reside there. 

I highly doubt a Chinese modular home manufacturer is going to be even remotely familiar with US building codes. 

the main risk for those you mentioned is Reputation and I think investors especially heavy BP followers rely on reputation bias quite a bit.

Yeah...you have to be careful with your reputation.