IMO the best options are the trades (carpenter, plumber, electrician, HVAC--and those skills pay dividends if you go into BRRRR or flipping later), or, an IT path where you can start out at a decent beginner wage in a help desk or call center, use some of that income to invest in certifications, and then use the certifications to get the next higher paying IT job. 

The problem you have is; if you really want to know how well the heating and cooling system is, and the condition of the roof, plumbing and electrical system then you need to hire a plumber, electrician and roofer because believe it or not general contractors do not specialize in those trades unless they have a license specific for each or any of those trades.The problem I run into when calling contractor for inspections is I get a lot of b.s..

No big, national, publicly traded banks will do this loan type.

Get a part-time job in one of the trades.

In the event that the tenant still doesn't leave, what is the next course of action that I can take?

1031 exchange is a like-kind trade, property for property. 

While I agree with you that it 'might' not be the best business practice, I'm genuinely curious-- which law(s) you are referring to that would be violated by the actions you mentioned above?

Kudos and congrats to you for taking action.

These clauses are there to protect the builder and the trades from losing money.

You should probably engage an attorney to figure out your best course of action.