Be aware that some dogs can start a fire on a gas range if food is left on the burner. 

I've got one or two potentials private seller deals on the burner for 2020, so we'll see.

Should I put investing on the back burner and focus 100% of my effort on finding employment in UT?

Part of the go big or go home problem is that many investors are not necessarily going to write a fat check to a newbie who has no track record.

The fridge could have been returned because it doesn't work or the ice maker leaks like crazy or in the case of a stove one of the burners don't work or stuff along those lines.

@Sue Chen I agree with @Mike McCarthy first tell them that you want to see the problem, that will give you the opportunity to go into the unit and take pictures which will be an evidence if they trash the place.Then you can call a tech and schedule for 2 weeks later.Reminds me when my tenant was late on rent and when i sent the written demand for rent they texted me at 9 pm "the hot water is not working for two weeks already - please fix"  and i responded immediately "I'm heading over now to fix it" and surprisingly they "figured out" how to light the burner themselves... :)  

1) Keep SFH(rental), purchase the nice new home using  that 150K and put investing in real estate on the back burner? 

I would also let them know you will cancel the lease to save them from being subjected to whatever is really bothering them.Only concern is they might hit you with some medical bills saying one of them has a lung infection, feeling eye irritation, coughing, shortness of breath, and asthma symptoms and holding you responsible, hoping you will write a fat check in exchange for some sort of hold harmless papers.

Oil burners don't like to be shut off though, they can be difficult to restart.Yes, A ton of stuff in MA, I have never found a way to leverage them for my MA home but its there...

Here's some fat, go trim it.If you are working with a wholesale mortgage broker that 'defaults' to starting with true par pricing, there's nothing to negotiate.