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.  

You picked a good week to meet other investors: the RPA is hosting their annual RPA-CON Friday and Saturday in Milwaukee.

One cabin owner I spoke with mentioned that even mid-week bookings picked up when they offered flexible check-in times and promoted the property as a remote work getaway.A quick tip: before committing, check Johnson City’s regulations on short-term rentals.

If you want an actionable plan one thing you could do is pick the town/city you are thinking of investing in and start doing market research on it.

And don’t hesitate to tap into local investor groups or meetups; you’ll pick up tons of wisdom from folks who’ve been in your shoes.

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.

Thank God the utilities weren't more expensive.So let's agree to disagree and count it as a lesson of doing business and picking the right people to be on your team! 

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?

Debt financing will be slim pickings

When I shop for new vendors, I pick who I like the most and has the best reputation, not who bids the cheapest.