As I developed expertise in real estate I learned that a property is only as valuable as the neighborhood surrounding it. whether its a McMansion in the suburbs or an urban 2 story its always about the three Ls of real estate location, location and location. In 1992 I built an amazing 4 bedroom on a 2 acre lot in a subdivision which was 10 years old. The housing prices in the subdivision at the time were around 280-320K. So, basically the value of this unbelievable all white brick and stucco house with two fireplaces and a mancave with a Vermont casting ceramic stove was limited by the comparable properties around it.
So, I definitely overimproved the property considering the property values around it. If you are going to live in the house for years you can wait for the appreciation and pay down the mortgage. If you are rehabbing and flipping it is not a good strategy to enhance the property beyond the clear value of similar nearby properties. A fix and hold is less risky. You must be sure you are close enough to the gentrification to cash in on the property when you anticipate selling it. One answer does not fit all.
An aerial of the the property I built can be viewed at: 6388 Winding Road, Coopersburg, Pa 18018 https://www.zillow.com/homedet...
The property is worth 600k today it was worth 309k when I sold it in 1999