B of A and Chase paused HELOC products for primary residences this year, to provide context.To address your DP question, my lenders do not have any issue using HELOC funds to purchase but step one will be a hurdle that many not be achievable. 

However, due to the low volume and the impact of the Revised QM Rule, they have paused the acquisition of high LTV refinance loans.  

Maybe I'm getting a little too far down the road, but these are things that would make me pause for these types of rural properties.  

But an agent who's also an investor would have given pause to a $277k house that rents for 1750, and made sure you were aware of the numbers on it not being favorable for cash flow. 

We are still close and want to try to rebuild our relations and stay together unmarried for foreseeable futureShe told me to pause on removing the funds from 401k for now and I’m hoping to not have to ever remove those for a home purchase for her, however she wants a home that would be hers in the event of my demise or if we couldn’t stay together.

We've paused acquisitions in markets like Charlotte, ATL, and Tampa for this reason.  

Because of the catastrophe, your attorney (if you have one) should communicate that the deal is on pause because of what happened.  

In short, should I continue maxing out my Roth or should I pause for a few years to pursue more real estate investments?

A traditional shingle would give me pause as that rains on the parade a bit, pun intended

Definitely start the eviction process, as you can always pause later if/when you discover that this is all legitimate (I wouldn't count on it).