After we gave him additional time to come up with the money (a mistake I know), he said he COULD pay, but that it would only be in cash (not in the lease) and we would have to come pick it up.  

The solar system adds no value to my property for rental purposes, and I may even be ripping up the roof & replacing it in the new year.Beyond sending a nasty letter through my attorney via certified mail, demanding the company come pick up their equipment, am I required to take any further action or fulfill any obligations regarding these contracts?

If you do pick a market with heavy single-family or mobile home segments, keep your eyes peeled for local property management teams who actually cater to that niche.

Debt financing will be slim pickings

They must first move out, leave the property broom-cleaned, and then they can pick up the funds at our attorney's office.Most won't agree to all this - so they are liars.

After picking up my life in Los Angeles and moving to Fayetteville, AR for a house-hack, I do have a word of wisdom: make sure you like the place you're going to live if you're moving across the country to start your real estate investing journey.

I would pick a market area you like and start doing a bunch of deep dive deal analysis, but from a rental and not a life style standpoint.  

The key is to pick a lane—focus on improving as an investor, finding great deals, and letting a solid property manager handle the operations.

If this is your first purchase, Remember it is also okay to pick your closest metro as a starting place.

I'm considering a fixer upper to retain as a rental but need guidance on how to pick reputable contractors.