Repainted interior & exterior, improved curb appeal with landscaping and shutters, and tackled a very large deck.

You’d need rents or market cap rates to improve significantly to force value and make that spread work.2.

Refinancing has been a key move for many landlords looking to expand.Cash-out refis can free up capital for new acquisitions while rate-term refis improve monthly cash flow.Have you refinanced lately, and if so, did you use the funds to scale or just improve your position?

Planning ahead with a CPA familiar with multi-state real estate can save you from surprises.Rehab expenses can help now: Any improvement costs you incur during the rehab phase may provide deductions or impact cost basis.

Specifically:What were your biggest challenges (zoning, drainage, ventilation, fire code, utilities, tenant improvements)?

Any "improvements" they make stay with the house, of course.

Also, you need to do a price improvement.

I love the term price improvement  :)  rural W Wa I suspect is buyers market but in some of those town the lack of inventory keeps things moving. 

It depends on your objective:1. trying to generate chunks of money = flips2. want an extra couple/few hundred dollars a month = buy a rental 3. want to live for free and redeploy what you would have spent on a mortgage = househack 4. want to acquire properties without a lot of money = BRRRRHousehacking immediately improves your quality of life financially.

The operators are focused on improving cash flow and positioning for future refinancing opportunities.