What areas are you liking for SFH, buy/hold with some cashflow to keep the lights on in 2025 and beyond? 

The property is undergoing a light rehab (new paint, new LVP flooring, new toilets, new kitchen, new vanities etc).

He threatened me if I'm not paying him he gonna put lien on my property, I've never encounter these thing in my whole life...He seems very cold blood and likes to take his client to court or put lien on the property, looks like he had done these stuff many times in his career...I just don't suggest you to work with him for the below reasons:1.He is never willing to communicate about the project progress and he just notify you that you have to pay for next-phase otherwise he will STOP the work and take all the stuff out2.He will never take responsibility on warranty or the stuff he had done, if you ask, that is all your fault, and you have to pay your own bills3.Finally if nothing of these lightly threaten works, he will say: "I will give you 3 days, if you don't pay me, I will put lien on your property, I will take you to the court"I never done business into this situation in my whole life, but it looks like that's how Robert Mincey makes money and if you work with him, you will probably end up like me with tons of sleepless nights...If there are any chance, in the future I will post my whole experience while working with him.Hope this helps!

But if I wanted lights and refrigerator etc, I had no choice but solar, this is why you're correctly alluding to the rural aspect.... 

In light of this, would lenders see me as a higher risk if I have a history of paying off mortgages early? 

. - New windows, AC ducts, attic insulation, gutters, appliances, fans & lighting, paint, and tile.

Keep sharing stories, it helps people like me that find it hard to see the light at the end off the tunnel.  

The light will boost the value to a tenant but it doesnt count as a bedroom legally until it has it.

You need to understand the market, advertise to buyers, show it in the best light, know what to say and what not to say, be skilled at negotiation, understand contracts, and much more.If you don't know how valuable a good agent can be, it's because you've never used one, or they made it look easy because they are skilled. 

this is where the deals are .Ones that can bite you though are higher end homes where the previous owner strips them takes every cabinet every door every light fixture basically deconstructs the inside of the houseAnd this is how rental property will look over time in many C D markets just beat to holly heck.It's really surprising (when you first start out) how people can abuse a house and what they will actually live in....It's usually either substance abuse or just a bit nuts....or the worst is when it's both.....We should get all the veteran investors on here together and write a book.