If you truly are limited on time or can't make investing a priority, you should look for smaller projects as others have recommended.1) General Contractors are available to run your project, but most are too expensive to make ROI work on smaller projects. 2) A great PMC can act as a Project Coordinator for rehabs, but many won't be transparent about the costs, so you know what you are paying for.

Finally, the data they are using to demonstrate the price hike is WAY out-dated.

HUD 4000.1 (I believe) is the latest HUD handbook and it goes over all requirements for originating the loan, including but not limited to occupancy requirements and exemptions.FHA occupancy : "At least one Borrower must occupy the Property within 60 Days of signing the security instrument and intend to continue occupancy for at least one year."

My initial thought is that the developers may have gotten a much better deal than they would have otherwise given the clear limitations on the land's use.

As @Jonathan Greene mentioned this is kind of a dated strategy in the new price/interest rate environment.

Your income isn't high enough for it to make sense as a rental and the closer you get to your residence limit the greater pressure you will have to sell it before losing your exclusion in whole or part. 500k right now can make $15k per year income with zero maintenance or tenant risks. 

If you were limited in cash reserves atleast you'll have the HELOC as a 2nd or 3rd back up source of funds to weather storms.

Consider getting a statement signed by all parties which states that everyone has agreed to terminate the current lease early on X date and all obligations by all parties have been paid in full and that the deposit will be kept by the landlord and will be applied to the new lease. 

Generally, the coverage of the policy will state; “The coverage of this policy shall continue in force as of Date of Policy in favor of an Insured after acquisition of the Title by an Insured or after conveyance by an Insured, but only so long as the Insured retains an estate or interest in the Land, or holds an obligation secured by a purchase money Mortgage given by a purchaser from the Insured, or only so long as the Insured shall have liability by reason of warranties in any transfer or conveyance of the Title.”

But he has clear advantage of getting much larger deposit (landlord in most jurisdictions is limited to collecting 1.5 or 2 months' rent payment, which he must place in an escrow vs. $8000-$10000 Scott can collect and use for any purpose the next day).