In the meantime I read every book I could find on commercial real estate; attended every commercial real estate meeting in the Houston area, and spoke to numerous commercial brokers.

First Republic - CAFremont Bank- up to 60% CAFrost Bank - TXFulton Bank, PA, NJGFA Federal Credit Union 10 yr draw, 10 yr repay, MA, NHGolden1 California HELOCGranite State CU, NH 90-100%Great Lakes Credit Union, Chicago area ILGTE Financial, Tampa, Sarasota area FL w 2 yrs tax history on propertyHanscom FCU, TXHarborOne, RI
HSBC 70%, for premier clients only.

I am in the similar boat and planning to expand to other areas to scale up. 

Does anyone have any experience owning/operating a short term rental in Blue Ridge (or surrounding areas)?

write the owner see whats up.90% its not the owner being a slumlord its the area and the type of tenants that will live there are slumlord type tenants.. pretty hard to turn those around .

There are a few communities that do allow rentals, but be very careful with these. 

This is the real estate investors meetup group in the area. : https://www.meetup.com/north-country-real-estate-investing-c...

Opportunity Zone InvestmentsAn Opportunity Zone are areas that struggle with poverty and lack the necessary access to economic opportunities.

I’m hoping to find somebody in the area who flips or remodels houses and can give us some ideas and may have some connections to some guys that can help with the project.

I would appreciate being connected with any reliable nonprofit REIA or Meetup clubs in New York so I can gain knowledge in this area.