With the limited info, I would say #1 is your smartest option but there are a lot of variables missing.

@Noah BaconDo you have contact info for them?

It can also be an opportunity to discuss house rules and expectations to ensure you're on the same page.While being cost-conscious is understandable, investing a little upfront for proper screening can save you a lot of trouble in the long run.

It’s a cleaner, more reliable solution, and while the higher subscription cost can feel like a drawback, it’ll save you a lot of headaches and time in the long run.

Note with over 3 months of vacancy, a professional that placed a tenant in one month would have saved you money.  

You can use some of that Salsa dancing and spanish to help you get more info from locals and professionals lol :)

States that are non-disclosure don't have as much public information and Zillow doesn't have access to non-public info for their analytics. 

So if you do an exchange you are saving $100k in taxes today.

For more info on Cleveland you'll want to read The Ultimate Guide to Grading Cleveland Neighborhoods.

You hustle like crazy for a year.  20hrs evening plus 20hrs on the weekend even at $10hr is $20000, make more and save more...$15hr is $30000.