But this is because the people advising me know that I have history in construction and I can spot major issues in the foundation and structure or if the house has a moisture problem.

I know this is really ignorant - be gentle.

Perhaps we;'ll get a gentle stream of replies over time.Thanks for your post, Jay!

Also the moisture content in the home was high as the paint is separating from the drywall, and this can be a sign of mold growing in drywall.

When we took moisture readings in that area during the pre-purchase inspection, they were off the scale ... as was the odor.In this case, there was a 3/4" plywood subfloor with ~2" of hard foam (polystyrene) insulation between it and the concrete slab.

I can also purchase information pamphlets on mold/moisture and lead-based paint that I am required (by federal law) to give to tenants upon move in.

You want to try and keep moisture level consistent around the entire perimeter of the foundation.

I hate the hollow sound of laminate and the effects of moisture so I won't use those.That is some cheap laminate from HD.

It's an inferior product and if moisture becomes an issue, you'll have to redo the whole thing.You can usually save a lot of money on lumber by buying from a building supply store (lumberyard) instead of Home Depot.  

Should I value my potential time lost, the stress, and expense this instance could cause when the tenant can nick pick everything wrong and harass you, damage your property, make it hard and inconvenient to gain access for inspection or regular maintenance,  call any number of housing authorities with no recourse.The tenant can argue the home had moisture and a potential mold problem, it was hot and HVAC wasn't working properly, there was risk of electrical issues making the property uninhabitable for that period.