Find out what a typical nightly rate is for your area (not what air bnb charges, the actual nightly rate the owner will receive not including the cleaning fee).

Does anyone have any tips on the best way to finance renovations/improvements for properties like this?

I first bought while stationed with the Air Force in England.  

So I’m in a bit of a bind, I have a duplex I’m house hacking we remodeled entire thing, new hvac, electric panels, electric main, updated plumbing, water heaters, furnace, install central air, roof.

(forced air, steam radiator, hot water baseboard, etc)?

My plan was to buy, improve a bit (house was not in bad shape, just need some TLC), and rent out and hold at least 2~3 years. 

If they are below market rent, that is OK as long as there is room for improvement and tenants won't be an issue.

We stuck it out over a year hoping things would improve but they have not. 

That’s the second-straight month of index improvement, and it’s been driven by — you guessed it — lower mortgage rates over the past 4 months.

House-hacking a smaller multi-family is also a great way to get oriented with being a landlord, property maintenance, property improvements and other things, while also helping to pay your mortgage!