[gtojohn]

Welcome to the forum! Hot water, easy to make with solar, probably hardest in New York but your further south locations should be easy.
If there is a reliable power grid its much cheaper and simpler to build a grid tie electrical system. You can also expand it as needed.
If you want to go completely off the grid and be independent thats the most expensive and will require the most knowledgeand planning. Batteries will be expensive and require maintenance and eventual replacement. What I've seen on a few other sites about solar requirements for just a fridge was its still expensive.