I understand I would be taking a gamble by spending the extra money for some items now with the risk being I may not be successful at re-zoning.

If it's just taking a flyer on a deal with funds you can't afford to lose, because you hope the property will go up, that's just gambling.  

I hate to lose more cash but it may be good "gamble" at this point.I've had 5-6 showings but no bites.  

Overall, it looks like you are answering your own question throughout your post ie. you recognise that it appears to be quite a gamble, not REALLY what you want!

It sounds like your ready to just get it over with though, and I know most highly successful people believe in settlements instead of gambling at trial.

Include a $1 scratch off lottery ticket and say "thanks for not gambling with your home purchase"This will stick in their mind better than a simple thanks for your business card.Congrats on the sale!

How ever, when I was younger I invested in bitcoin(more like gambled).

Never gamble on appreciation.

Is it a really nice area of Temecula or Corona, which will almost certainly still be really nice in 20 years, or do you want to make more of a gamble and go for a place that seems like a bit beat up now but on upward trajectory?  

If you have to cycle thru a few tenants, it's going to be rough.The area is not good where you're looking, but for a decent house and a decent tenant, it's probably worth the gamble.