As a novice investor, is it standard practice to bring the contractor with you when you go to tour the home?

The best bet for housing interns and others over the short term is helping them find vetted rooms for rent in private homes or as part of a sublet.

You can also consider partnering with another investor, or finding a private money lender to help you acquire the funds necessary to purchase this new property should you not want to refinance your current living property. 

I am a syndicator and help other investors source financing (private and institutional) for deals. 

Because we get no benefits, we have to pay for private healthcare insurance, and save for retirement out of our income with no matching funds from an employer.  

If they ask why you are evicting you tell them tour business partner does not want tenants associating with known felons at the property.

You could lose everything.If you can find one, and you can if you ask enough people, find a private lender to make a loan to you.

@Shay Singh probably the easiest and most passive way to earn the 4K a month would be to lend it out as a private money lender by buying notes.

You aren't borrowing from hard money lenders. you borrow from Private lenders. 

I use a Private Money Lender and Hard Money Lender.