The rule of thumb is that you make your money when you buy the house; in other words, it is imperative that you buy the property for the right price so that you can make your repairs and face obstacles and still come out ahead in next to all circumstances. 

I got the distinct impression from several of them that they thought they may be getting scammed. 

In your case you would have to be able to say that you had intended to build this house and hold it but there are now substantial mitigating circumstances you can demonstrate for why you are selling it so quickly.In general new construction and fix n flips do not qualify for 1031 treatment.

That's our choices in these types of circumstances... 

This is an unusual set of circumstances.

Luck, persistence and circumstance were the ingredients for finding it.

To fast forward, essentially the husband had work across many different states/projects and their circumstances changed causing them to move back to their hometown within 3.5 months of starting their 1 year lease.The signed lease was very tight (no PM, just realtor, great neighborhood/friends and us) and covered us for many situations but I do want to get some clarification or advice on best course of action for the following:(please note this info is just from my googling/common sense and again I have no claims to be right in any situation here)1.

What reasonable person would let this tenant under the circumstances show to a prospective tenant???

The only time there is a distinction is financing.

I've never had a partner and I'm curious to know if there's a distinct role that partners take in REI situations.