Do I need to replace this in terms of mitigating my risk when renting?

This could be a big help to mitigate the tight timelines of the 1031

SAVE learn then apply what you learn @Bob Stevens I get your sentiment but the tone seems a bit off putting.Seems like you’re biting off more than you’ve experienced with this deal, failure can be more rewarding that success but you can mitigate painful learning experiences by bringing the deal to an experienced real estate investor and apprenticing the deal under them.

Barrier to entry w/ cost to list could also be another mitigating factor.

I stand by the fact that the huge discrepancy between the judgment amount and the property value coupled with a borrower lack of action on over 100k of equity should've raised mayor redflags....starting with the loss mitigation department.  

I would consider a higher rent to mitigate the higher turnover risk.

The insurance carriers mitigate their risk on the Builders Risk by having an insured GC doing the work. 

To mitigate this risk, I would like to kindly request that you employ a licensed arborist to inspect and, if necessary, trim or remove any trees that might pose a threat.By doing this, it can help us both avoid any future damages or legal complications.

Or would the benefit to them nowadays be that you're mitigating their risks with raw land  -- KNOWing it will perc, KNOWing there's water, etc?

Deal risk can be mitigated by choosing a sponsor who has a track record of good deals, and can be further mitigated by investing in a fund.