or get this sold or is the interest rate too hard to get past? 

We plan to build a cabin or cabins for our family use and an STR.

Does anyone have any advise on the area or some good resources?

BiggerPockets is full of resources designed to help you along your journey, whether you are just getting started or a seasoned investor.

times 3 years or $52k in interest.

Gas or electric would be a much better option, safety wise, from a house fire standpoint, CO danger, or danger to children or pets from the open flames. 

For the first 4 loans or so, lenders are going to be less aggressive (requiring more down) than if you have several under your belt.

I'm hoping for $4000 or less... sent a DM

VERY unlikely unless you either source an off-market property yourself or you find a unicorn deal (our last semi-BRRRR was a B-neighborhood property we sourced from an out of town wholesaler in late 2023, but couldn't get all our capital back out on refi).  

One of their so called instructors from one of the training sessions asks the students to go to the five star hotels, or go play golf, or go horse riding, or go hang out at the high end night clubs for the sake of fund raising.