Id keep looking if it was not an approved short sale ( even an approved short sale takes a very very long time and theres no guarantee that you will even close on the house after months of waiting). q1)There are plenty of non traditional lenders that could offer you construction financing if the numbers make sense but it will cost you with points and a higher rate.

Inherently the steps are the same as if you were purchasing with financing save potentially less closing costs and ability to close sooner (if needed).The terms of your offer (ie -contingencies, closing cost splits etc) will determine what is different. 

What are the pros and cons of each, and which offers the least restrictions, flexibility and cost savings for my intended purposes?

Haven't bought a property in awhile.If I submit an offer, does the offer include the commission or not?  

Offering flexibility has allowed my borrowers to swing into deals they would not have been able to do previously.You’ve made a great point about the importance of being easy to work with and fostering strong relationships with lenders.

No, in this particular case it's not 700k property being sold as 500k if it's offered cash.Cash offer in my case helps with 30-40k.

Terms are often more flexible and negotiated case-by-case.

Both Conventional loans and DSCR loans can offer this flexibility, depending on the specific scenario and borrower qualifications.

I love the flexibility they offer for traveling professionals, military families, or folks in between moves.My main questions:Have you noticed increased demand for midterm rentals in this area, particularly from military personnel at nearby bases or healthcare workers at local hospitals?

Over the years, I’ve learned that offering tiered returns can be a win-win strategy—it rewards investors for their level of commitment while helping us maintain flexibility in our business.