This totally makes sense and is probably what I would end up doing, but my partner and I are going through some health challenges that require us to have our own private unit for now, so we can’t go the SFH route.

I don't have any super bad experience but the worst story I heard from a Landlord friend is that they screened a "perfect" couple who turned out to be human traffickers and turned the house into a brothel.

One of the biggest things new investors ignore is risk management, yet it represents, by far, the most significant threat to your financial health if you ignore it. 

The human mind is magnificent. 

But to try to give you value and answer your question... with the fine print being DO NOT DO DMM...1) Talk like a normal human being , not like a desperate car salesperson2) Include a picture of you and smile!

Are there any humane alternatives or do we just walk away from the deal?

This will also allow you to know what items you can overbuy that will be typically used and potentially just rent a storage unit for product.Example of this would be; We use a storage unit filled with LVP, Shower and Sink Faucets, Interior Fixtures, Doorknobs, Outdoor Fixtures, Undersink PVC fittings, Smart Home Devices, Appliances and Screen Mesh.Always give your service workers a bonus or feed them for finishing quality work ahead of schedule.Always send a bottle of wine and snacks to your title attorney, insurance team, and county clerkAlways send a bottle of champaign to your hard money lender as a thank youAlways host a monthly party with all of your collaborators^^^^ These things are far better than any planning you can do because they speed up your timeline simply because you're human, people like you, want to see you succeed, and love free s***.

It is rare for bed bugs to travel between residences "randomly" because they can't travel far and they tend to stay next to a food source (animals or humans).

Its better to make the human connection, rather than going through email, text, etc.Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

I've been a truck driver for 21 years and my wife is head of acquisitions for Habitat for Humanity restores.