When not 'full income' verification, which can even allow for high 55%+ DTI there are alternative income verification guidelines like bank statement, P&L, DSCR, Foreign National, Asset depletion, bridge and portfolio programs that allow expanded ways for borrowers to qualify. 

This opens you up to advance on your plan or pivot into an alternate path.  

The alternative is that we all pass on deals all the time that could have been.  

Are there alternative ways to do this that are more hands free for me but still effective? 

You should be able to get water trucked in for a bit, but call a few more places to see about getting a well drilled. 

Perhaps emptying it so that it can attract an owner occupied buyer is a good alternative or hiring a PM company to off load some of the work there for you.

More than likely they are working on a contingent fee basis because the plaintiff does not have the means or alternatively would rather part with some of the upside for contingent fee representation.

Might be able to get a contract with the buyer of the cherries and thow some cash at you upfront for signing a agreement to buy the crop but I don't know what the alternate bearing looks like on Cherries in Washington and the brokers may not be willing to pay upfront in that area... or a upfront lease payment from the renter... 

Given that it's almost a 50% increase from the existing rent price, you might want to set a timeline of 2 or 3 months before it taking effect so they can find alternative housing if they plan on vacating instead of staying at that price point.Another option could be to ask for the rent increase, but offer something in return.

Any advice or alternative routes I can do to move forward without having to start from 0 somewhere else is extremely appreciated.