There are three costs you must be very familiar with LandSoft (carrying costs, entitlements, impact fees, association if applicable, maintenance, etc)Hard (home construction as well as site construction)Have done numerous MF and SF developments. 

In Minnesota, a standard purchase agreement should set the terms with closing date that includes the standard Contract for Deed addendum. 

Be sure to check out all the areas of the site.

There is a park manager that would live on-site to maintain the park and is willing to stay on and help expansion if necessary.Half of our team is not sure that we should purchase since it is in a small city with little plan for growth.

Have you done a member search on this site for attorneys @Cheryl Wilson?

Lot of it has do with intent, I think ppl use a year as a safe guideline, but if you're going to be there for at least nine months, but potentially beyond and you really don't have a definitive end date, I don't think using a VA loan would be acting in bad faith.

If that fails look for the funeral home web site and see if they have any info.  

You said there is no appreciation in site, I think it would be better to find a multi family in the "path of progress" or even in a better area that will be stable, with potential upside, as opposed to this deal that seems mostly negative.  

I’ve found a few good articles on Bigger Pockets – but honestly it seems like there is way too much information on this site to shift through6.

He needs to provide you real dates for milestones, and assurance he will hit them.