I am looking to close on the mortgage BEFORE construction begins, so that all rates and stipulations are locked in now as opposed to over a year from now.

The seller was not pleased but agreed to the stipulation.

They don't then turn around and stipulate that you won't get the savings until you're 45.

The ones I manage myself from out of state, the tenants know before they sign the lease and the lease stipulates that they agree to schedule access for repairmen in a timely manner.  

(Or stipulating that only a government agency can thus check a persons credit without 'misusing' the person's unique identification number?!)

So my question is, should I require the tenant to sign up for the gas companies monthly payment plan as a stipulation of the loan?

I don't buy anything with existing tenants for reasons just like this, but if you are going to, you need to have copies of the legal agreements with the tenants before you close, all legal funds held in care of the tenants (i.e. deposits) added to your funds disbursed or placed into escrow with a disinterested third party, with language stipulating access, affidavits of no outstanding mechanic's liens, etc. 

If you do decide to go 50/50 then include an addendum stipulating that rent is still due to you,landlord, even though you both went half.

I would have him sign a personal guarranty for the lease term with a stipulation that the last months rent would be a draw down against late payments and, if used to cover current rent, is to be immediately replaced.  

CA's legal interest rate charge is 10%, but there are stipulations around when you can charge that.