Pondering kitchen cabinets and countertops in my rental

[Glen E]

I have a medium-priced rental in the greater Atlanta area. 9-yr tenant just moved out and I'm getting the house ready for another renter. This house was built in the 1980s and still has what are probably the original wood cabinets and laminate countertops. They're in decent shape but of course very dated. Perhaps I should upgrade to granite countertops and the modern white-look cabinets, but I'd prefer not to spend that much money if I can avoid it. (Renter demand is generally good in this area and I can probably get a good renter either way - I think!) So:

1) I'm wondering if I can get away with leaving the countertops as-is, and painting the cabinets a white color to (at least somewhat) give a more modern look. Have others out there done that? If so, are there folks with better interior decorating expertise than I have (which is none at all!) who would suggest any a specific brand, shade of white, and level of glossiness of paint for the cabinets?

2) Any other low-cost suggestions to spruce up a kitchen without doing whole new cabinets/countertops?

3) Or do you strongly suggest that I just bite the bullet and pay the money for the kitchen remodel?