It is a much more affordable market to get into, yet we are seeing great appreciation returns, with a stable job market to include education, solar, energy, manufacturing and military presence requiring housing for all.

While you may receive numerous inquiries from individuals casually browsing listings, focus your time and energy on serious prospects.

What other strategies in real estate investing should I divert my energy towards and look at? 

Along with negotiating the feasibility period and due diligence periods I'd concurrently do 2 things based on your plan:1. talk to the solar companies in the area and understand their site selection process, how they structure their deals, how they operate, etc. 2. talk to the power company and see if they need more renewable energy and if building another solar project in that area makes sense. 

Meaning listing a home for sale will require MORE actions, efforts, energy, intelligence.     

Do you want to put all the money, time, and energy into owning this home/investment?

Real estate had it's reckoning and it's timing, if you didn't get into it and you ever invested in physical assets with size(i'm talking infrastructure, energy, etc.) you'll realize most of these assets are never intrinsic(ITM).

i bought a home warranty once and never would again. they rarely have things taken care of in a timely manner, which can be fine for your primary in some cases, but not for a rental. and the companies they contract to do the work, are getting paid pennies on the dollar for those jobs based on the deal they negotiated, so they're in NO rush to get out to you. and like any insurance company, they do all they can to get out of stuff. it was a waste of not only money, but also time and energy.

Animal control broke the door and the apartment was destroyed, the energy was shut off so the fridge was full of magots.

The time and energy you will spend pursuing a remedy is not worth it.