Im a little late to this post but I hold a real estate license in AZ and own a construction company.

If you are in a heavy sun, high cost of electricity and high rate of usage market, and you buy the panels, and you can resell to the provider rather than maintain your own batteries, you probably will make money especially if you hold long enough.

We are seasonable and we getting bookings a year in advance so having it not listed could hold you back if that is the sort of bookings you get.

@Sean PetrieYes it’s a bad time unless you find some stellar off market dealThe other option is if you are looking to hold something for 7+ years then usually never a bad time to buy

I know vacancy is part of the game (We have about 12 other doors, including residential and commercial)....but how do I judge whether an area just isn't getting a lot of folks renting in it?

I agree it's great to temper supply and balance the overall market, but it also is somewhat sad that investors that now want to get in the game will likely have a way more difficult time doing so than in the past.

As an agent, I would never hold a Buyer to a contract if they were unhappy.

A judge won't hold them responsible for a long duration lease it they break it but I would bet they will hold you responsible if you try to break it. 

On that playing field, everyone's costs go up just to stay in the game, only to end up in exactly the same place competitively.Better to spend the money on acquiring (or trading up to) properties with really defensible differentiators like a great view, great location, or lots of bedrooms.  

Carrying costs aka holdings costs, such as hard money payments, can be written off in the year that they happen.